This public procurement record has 10 releases in its history.

Award

09 Jan 2026 at 16:03

Tender

01 Jul 2025 at 09:28

Award

28 Jan 2025 at 11:49

TenderUpdate

12 Nov 2024 at 09:48

Tender

15 Oct 2024 at 10:46

Award

10 Jan 2024 at 14:31

TenderUpdate

12 Sep 2023 at 08:51

Tender

07 Sep 2023 at 16:50

Award

17 May 2023 at 09:20

Tender

01 Mar 2023 at 16:11

Summary of the contracting process

Dumfries and Galloway Council is seeking to address its statutory duty of providing early learning and childcare services through a flexible framework contract focused on "Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services." The procurement process, classified under child daycare services, has completed its awarding stage as of January 2026, following an open procedure. The awarded contracts are set to enable providers to register children for upcoming placements starting in Q2 2025 and officially commencing funded services by August 2025. The procurement will accommodate a range of settings across the UKM92 region, including private and third sector settings, excluding childminders, childminders, and childcare brokerage. This phase marks the July 2025 re-opening of the framework, confirming that awarded providers do not need to reapply.

This procurement initiative opens substantial opportunities for early education providers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) like First Steps Nursery and Midget Gems Childminder, who have already secured contracts. With an emphasis on quality criteria and flexible framework participation, this tender is well-suited to businesses offering innovative and adaptable services tailored to early years education. Organisations can leverage these contracts, valued at £48,686,143 per lot, as a significant growth opportunity by extending or commencing services within the defined contractual terms, thus expanding their operational footprint within the Dumfries region and meeting rising educational needs. Businesses demonstrating compliance with statutory guidance and procurement standards set by the Council are encouraged to participate, contributing to a competitive market that responds efficiently to community needs.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services

Notice Description

The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance set out the increased entitlement to 1140 hours for eligible children which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands enabling them to access their child's funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework enabling them to register children in 2025 to commence Brokerage placements from Q2 2025 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2025. This is the July 2025 re-opening of the framework. If you have already been awarded a place on this framework, you do not need to re-apply.

Lot Information

ELC - Childminders

The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance set out the increased entitlement to 1140 hours for eligible children which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands enabling them to access their child's funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework enabling them to register children in 2025 to commence Brokerage placements from Q2 2025 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2025.

Renewal: The framework was awarded in February 2023 for an initial five year period with an optional extension of a further two years.

Lot 3- Childcare Brokerage

The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance set out the increased entitlement to 1140 hours for eligible children which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands enabling them to access their child's funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework enabling them to register children in 2025 to commence Brokerage placements from Q2 2025 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2025.

Renewal: The framework was awarded in February 2023 for an initial five year period with an optional extension of a further two years.

ELC - Private and Third Sector Settings (excluding Childminders)

The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance set out the increased entitlement to 1140 hours for eligible children which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands enabling them to access their child's funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework enabling them to register children in 2025 to commence Brokerage placements from Q2 2025 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2025.

Renewal: The framework was awarded in February 2023 for an initial five year period with an optional extension of a further two years.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-03ad59
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002004-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

80100000 - Primary education services

80110000 - Pre-school education services

85312110 - Child daycare services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£48,686,143 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jan 20267 months ago
Submission Deadline
31 Jul 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 May 20233 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
This framework re-opens annually and if you have already been awarded a place on the framework, you DO NOT need to re-apply.

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active, Unsuccessful
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DUMFRIES
Postcode
DG1 2HP
Postcode Area
Dumfries and Galloway
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM9 Southern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway
Delivery Location
TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway

Local Authority
Dumfries and Galloway
Electoral Ward
Nith
Westminster Constituency
Dumfries and Galloway

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
9
Supplier Names

Amanda's Childminding

First Steps Nursery

Home Grown Early Learning and Childcare

Little Gems Childcare

Little Wren’s Montessori Childcare

Midget Gems Chilminder

Penpont, Keir and Tynron Preschool

Steph's Super Stars

Wee Barn Owls Nursery

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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