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Provision of Nursery Operator Services

Orkney Islands Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

15 Sep 2025 at 01:00

OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts)
TenderUpdate

17 Apr 2025 at 01:00

OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum
Tender

19 Mar 2025 at 00:00

OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts)
Summary of the contracting process

Orkney Islands Council is seeking to procure services for a new nursery operator, focusing on the provision of childcare for up to 51 children aged 0-5 years within a purpose-built facility in Kirkwall. This procurement, under a selective process termed as a "Restricted procedure," was initially active as of March 2025 and was scheduled to close on 22nd April 2025, following an amendment to avoid a public holiday. However, the procurement status was later updated to cancelled in September 2025. The industry category is services with classifications focusing on childcare and early learning, and the location is specified as Kirkwall within the UK's region UKM65.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses that specialise in childcare services, particularly those capable of operating a high-quality, impactful learning environment for young children. It is especially suited to enterprises looking to establish or expand their presence in the public early childhood education sector. The contract would have been a concession contract for four years, with options for extension, giving stable long-term potential for successful bidders. Although the procurement is currently cancelled, businesses can still view this as a preparatory opportunity for when such requirements arise again, especially in areas without an existing private nursery sector, like Kirkwall.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Nursery Operator Services

Notice Description

Orkney Islands Council seeks submissions from providers / concessionaires who are interested in providing up to 51 places for children aged 0-5 years old, within a newbuild Council owned purpose built nursery setting. 0-5 childcare

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 Mid April 2025, 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.. The contract will be for an initial 4 yr term with 4 x 12 months extensions available at the sole discretion of the Authority. The estimated value has been updated from original estimate in the Prior Information Notice and now based on existing level of fees for the Authority's interim nursery, however it will be up to individual bidders to decide on fees to be charged upon successful award.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000793779
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539252
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts)
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
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
15 Sep 202511 months ago
Submission Deadline
21 Apr 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
15 Sep 202511 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Orkney Islands 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
KIRKWALL
Postcode
KW15 1NY
Postcode Area
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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