Award

Provision of Nursery Operator Services

ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 9 releases in its history.

Award

08 Dec 2025 at 09:28

Award

15 Sep 2025 at 14:25

Tender

17 Apr 2025 at 09:25

TenderUpdate

17 Apr 2025 at 09:25

Award

12 Feb 2025 at 14:07

Award

12 Feb 2025 at 14:06

TenderUpdate

13 Jan 2025 at 16:14

Tender

11 Dec 2024 at 08:52

Planning

17 May 2024 at 11:04

Summary of the contracting process

Orkney Islands Council is in the process of procuring services for the "Provision of Nursery Operator Services," aiming to accommodate up to 51 children aged 0-5 years old within a newly built, council-owned nursery in Kirkwall next to UHI Orkney. The procurement, under the CPV classification of pre-school education services, is currently in the award stage, with previous attempts marked unsuccessful. The anticipated completion of the new nursery facility is by mid-April 2025, with a concession contract on offer for an initial term of four years and the possibility of four one-year extensions. The tender is conducted as a restricted procedure, requiring interested parties to submit detailed proposals following initial selection stages. A Meet the Buyer event is scheduled on 5 June 2024, in Kirkwall, providing further opportunities for interested providers to engage with the council and understand the service requirements.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in childcare or nursery operations. With no existing private or third-sector nursery providers in Orkney, there is a gap in the market for experienced operators. The potential to partner with the local authority to provide funded early learning and childcare broadens the scope for those with the capacity to meet regulatory and educational standards, such as Care Inspectorate registration and Scottish Social Services Council requirements. The flexible contract terms further appeal to operators looking to establish a long-term business presence in the region. Additionally, the project encourages community engagement, offering substantial potential for growth through partnerships with Orkney College for educational collaboration, and creating apprenticeships or work placements, thereby supporting local employment and skill development initiatives.

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Notice Title

Provision of Nursery Operator Services

Notice Description

Orkney Islands Council seek expressions of interest from providers/concessionaires who are interested in providing childcare to up to 51 0-5 year old children, within a Council owned purpose built nursery setting.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Orkney currently has no private or third sector nursery provider. The council has been running a small temporary day care service for children aged 0-3 since August 2021 in an effort to meet the childcare needs of working families. In June 2020, Orkney Islands Council agreed to build a new 51 place 0-5 nursery provision next UHI Orkney in Kirkwall. It was agreed that the running of this provision would be tendered, creating a new opportunity for an interested operator. With the building project entering the next phase, with an anticipated completion of the end of October 2024, the newly built nursery will be, fit for purpose, high quality, and have impactful learning environments. The new service will replace an emergency childcare provision for children aged 0-3 operated by the council out of temporary premises. The provider will deliver the service in the setting and will provide childcare for children aged 0-5 with the option of being in partnership with the Local Authority to provide funded early learning and childcare for eligible children aged 2-5. The services will be registered with the Care Inspectorate as day care of children services. The contract will be a concession contract for a period of four (4) years with the option of four one-year extensions. It is the intention of the Authority to host a Meet the Buyer event at Keelylang Early Years Base, Pickaquoy Road in Kirkwall on Wednesday 5 June 2024 5.30 - 6.30pm. The purpose of the Meet the Buyer event is to give providers interested in tendering for the Provision of Nursery Operator Services the opportunity to learn more about the overall requirements for the service and to provide feedback to the Authority on the proposals. Parties who are interested in the project will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this Meet the Buyer Event Notice. Nor shall a response to this Meet the Buyer Event Notice guarantee an invitation to participate in any future procurement process that OIC may conduct. For the avoidance of doubt, this Meet the Buyer Event Notice does not constitute a call for competition to procure any works or services and is not published with the intent to reduce the time limit for the receipt of tenders. OIC will not be liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to this Meet the Buyer Event Notice or any party who may participate in any future procurement process. In the event that OIC decides to proceed with any procurement, it is currently assumed that such procurement will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Council's Contract Standing Orders rules and that of the relevant Procurement Legislation. Additional information: The contract will be for an initial 4 year period with 4, 12 month extensions available

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-045a62
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080436-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure with prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

80110000 - Pre-school education services

85312110 - Child daycare services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,452,367 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£6,452,367 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
21 Apr 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
8 Dec 20252 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Unsuccessful
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Unsuccessful
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL
Contact Name
Procurement
Contact Email
procurement@orkney.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 01856873535

Buyer Location

Locality
KIRKWALL
Postcode
KW15 1NY
Post Town
Kirkwall
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM65 Orkney Islands

Local Authority
Orkney Islands
Electoral Ward
Kirkwall East
Westminster Constituency
Orkney and Shetland

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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