Award

Nursery

DARTFORD AND GRAVESHAM NHS TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

28 Mar 2025 at 11:47

Summary of the contracting process

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust has completed the procurement process for the provision of nursery services at Darent Valley Hospital. The Trust intends to grant Bright Horizons a lease of land, enabling them to construct and operate a nursery for the hospital staff. This procurement process is classified under the child daycare services industry (CPV 85312110) and is taking place in the region of Dartford, UKJ4. The contract award was finalised on 26 March 2025, and the total contract value is £5,000,000. The procurement method was limited, executed without a prior call for competition, as it concerns the creation of land interests exempt from standard public works regulations. The overarching documents include Heads of Terms, an Agreement for Lease, and a Lease with relevant statutory requirements.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in construction and childcare services. Companies with substantial experience in developing and operating nursery facilities, as well as those meeting high corporate assessment and sustainability standards, are well-suited for such projects. With the contract awarded to Bright Horizons, an established large-scale nursery operator, other businesses can explore subcontracting opportunities or future collaborations. The project entails constructing and managing a nursery, requiring proficiency in meeting statutory requirements and the safe operation of childcare services, making it ideal for companies with expertise in these areas looking to expand their portfolios in the healthcare sector.

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Notice Title

Nursery

Notice Description

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (the Trust) intends to enter into arrangements with [Bright Horizons] (the Operator) to grant the Operator a lease of land at the Darent Valley Hospital (the Hospital) to enable the Operator to construct and operate a nursery which staff at the Hospital will be able to use. The documents to be entered into by the Trust comprise Heads of Terms, an Agreement for Lease and a Lease.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Trust intends to enter into (1) the Heads of Terms and (2) the Agreement for Lease, which provides the Operator with the option to construct a nursery on the Site. In the event that it does so, following completion of the nursery, the Trust will grant the Operator a Lease of the Site.

The arrangements are a land deal and do not amount to a public works contract or a works concession contract for the purposes of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the PCR), the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016 (the CCR) or the Procurement Act 2023 (the Act). Additional information: The Trust identified the Operator following a competitive process, which was carried out outside the PCR, CCR and Act, which provided market operators within the sector with the opportunity to submit proposals to be granted a lease of the Site that would permit operation of a nursery.

The Trust proposes to enter into the Heads of Terms, followed by an Agreement for Lease in respect of the Site. The Agreement for Lease will contain break rights in favour of the Trust in the event that the Operator opts not to exercise its right to develop a nursery at the Site. Where the Operator chooses to exercise its rights to develop a nursery at the Site, the Trust will grant a Lease of the Site to the Operator following completion of the relevant works. The Operator is under no obligation to undertake development at the Site. No public contract arises due to a lack of enforceable obligation.

The Lease will contain tenant covenants which limit the permitted use of the Site to nursery facilities and requirements to ensure that any buildings are constructed and maintained in line with statutory requirements and that any nursery services are carried out in line with statutory requirements and in a way that does not obstruct the wider operation of the Hospital. These obligations are consistent with the grant of a lease to permit development and operation of facilities on a live hospital site. The Trust is not specifying requirements for the nursery if constructed, or providing any guarantee that staff will use the nursery's services if constructed and there is no enforceable obligation on the Operator to deliver the nursery.

As such, no public contract or concession contract arises under the PCR, CCR or Procurement Act.
The Trust will not enter into any contract or agreement with [Bright Horizons] before the expiry of the 10 day standstill period following publication of this notice.

Procurement Information

The Trust proposes to enter into the Heads of Terms, followed by an Agreement for Lease in respect of the Site. These provide for the creation of land interests, which are exempt under the PCR, CCR and Procurement Act. <br/> <br/>The Agreement for Lease will contain break rights in favour of the Trust in the event that the Operator opts not to exercise its right to develop a nursery at the Site. Where the Operator chooses to exercise its rights to develop a nursery at the Site, the Trust will grant a Lease of the Site to the Operator following completion of the relevant works. The Operator is under no obligation to undertake development at the Site. No public contract arises due to a lack of enforceable obligation. <br/> <br/>The Lease will contain tenant covenants which limit the permitted use of the Site to nursery facilities and requirements to ensure that any buildings are constructed and maintained in line with statutory requirements and that any nursery services are carried out in line with statutory requirements and in a way that does not obstruct the wider operation of the Hospital. These obligations are consistent with the grant of a lease to permit development and operation of facilities on a live hospital site. The Trust is not specifying requirements for the nursery if constructed, or providing any guarantee that staff will use the nursery's services if constructed and there is no enforceable obligation on the Operator to deliver the nursery. <br/> <br/>As such, no public contract or concession contract arises under the PCR, CCR or Procurement Act.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04f9f7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011738-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85312110 - Child daycare services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Mar 202511 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
26 Mar 202511 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DARTFORD AND GRAVESHAM NHS TRUST
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DARTFORD
Postcode
DA2 8DA
Post Town
Dartford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ43 Kent Thames Gateway
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent

Local Authority
Dartford
Electoral Ward
Bean & Village Park
Westminster Constituency
Dartford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BRIGHT HORIZONS

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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