---
title: "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2021"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-029ce4"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-029ce4"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-029ce4.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-029ce4.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL"
published: "2022-03-08"
---

# NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2021

Buyer: NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-029ce4

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## Summary

The North Ayrshire Council is currently managing a public procurement process titled "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2021". This tender falls within the services industry category, specifically under "Child daycare services". The procurement stage is active, with submissions due by 19 April 2021. This initiative aims to enhance early learning and childcare services for eligible children in the UKM93 region and will operate as a Flexible Framework, allowing providers to apply every six months, with a total contract duration of five years.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in early learning and childcare services, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to broaden their market presence. Providers that meet the national standards and are well-versed in delivering quality childcare services will be particularly well-suited to compete in this framework. By participating, they can secure a stable stream of work, thereby fostering business growth in a sector that is increasingly supported by public funding initiatives.

## Notice

North Ayrshire Council (the "Council") is required by Scottish Government, under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, to provide a funded placement of 1140 hours per year to all eligible 2 year olds and all children aged from 3 to those not yet attending Primary School, effective from August 2020. In accordance with The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Regulation 74, the Council intend to establish a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council's internal early learning and childcare provision. The proposed Framework will be for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months.

### Lot Information

Childminding Services

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 of 600 hours, including the provision for eligible children and places a duty on the Council to offer increased flexibility to parents as to where and how their child can access their Early Learning and Childcare entitlement. Scottish Government has since made a commitment to extend the entitlement to all eligible children to 1140 hours Early Learning and Childcare by 2020/2021 as set out in 'A Blueprint for 2020; Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland' (2016). The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands allowing them to access their child's funded entitlement with a range of ELC providers, therefore the Council are seeking to set up a Flexible Framework for the provision of early learning and childcare services under the Light Touch Rules contained within the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Lot 2 of this Flexible Framework sets out the minimum standards required from the childminders setting. All providers who apply and meet the national standards, legislation, 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 able to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework.

Applicants where the Setting has been registered with the Care Inspectorate for less than 12 months

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 of 600 hours, including the provision for eligible children and places a duty on the Council to offer increased flexibility to parents as to where and how their child can access their Early Learning and Childcare entitlement. Scottish Government has since made a commitment to extend the entitlement to all eligible children to 1140 hours Early Learning and Childcare by 2020/2021 as set out in 'A Blueprint for 2020; Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland' (2016). The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands allowing them to access their child's funded entitlement with a range of ELC providers, therefore the Council are seeking to set up a Flexible Framework for the provision of early learning and childcare services under the Light Touch Rules contained within the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Lot 3 of this Flexible Framework sets out the minimum standards required from the childminders setting. All providers who apply and meet the national standards, legislation, 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 able to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework.

Nursery Services (Including private and third sector settings)

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 and places a duty on the Council to offer increased flexibility to parents as to where and how their child can access their Early Learning and Childcare entitlement. Scottish Government made a commitment to extend the entitlement to all eligible children to 1140 hours for Early Learning and Childcare by 2020/2021 as set out in 'A Blueprint for 2020; Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland' (2016). The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands allowing them to access their child's funded entitlement with a range of ELC providers, therefore the Council are seeking to set up a Flexible Framework for the provision of early learning and childcare services under the Light Touch Rules contained within the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Lot 1 of this Flexible Framework sets out the minimum standards required from the private, voluntary and independent setting. All providers who apply and meet the national standards, legislation, 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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006306-2022 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Mar 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 19 Apr 2021 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 8 Mar 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,200,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Unsuccessful |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Unsuccessful |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL |
| Locality | IRVINE |
| Post town | Kilmarnock |
| Postcode | KA12 8EE |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire |
| Local authority | North Ayrshire |
| Electoral ward | Irvine South |
| Westminster constituency | Central Ayrshire |
| Delivery location | TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services
- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 80110000 - Pre-school education services
- 85312110 - Child daycare services

## Release History

- 8 Mar 2022 at 13:44 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006306-2022
- 18 Mar 2021 at 11:32 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005491-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
- https://www.gov.scot/publications/funding-follows-child-national-standard-early-learning-childcare-providers-principles-practice/
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00337
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-029ce4. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-029ce4.json.