---
title: "Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03ad59"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03ad59"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03ad59.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03ad59.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-01-09"
---

# Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services

Buyer: DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03ad59

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## Summary

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.

## Notice

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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002004-2026 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 31 Jul 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 9 May 2023 |
| Contract period | 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. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £48,686,143 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active, Unsuccessful |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL |
| Locality | DUMFRIES |
| Post town | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Postcode | DG1 2HP |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway |
| Local authority | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Electoral ward | Nith |
| Westminster constituency | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Delivery location | TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 80100000 - Primary education services
- 80110000 - Pre-school education services
- 85312110 - Child daycare services

## Release History

- 9 Jan 2026 at 16:03 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002004-2026
- 1 Jul 2025 at 08:28 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036287-2025
- 28 Jan 2025 at 11:49 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002810-2025
- 12 Nov 2024 at 09:48 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036516-2024
- 15 Oct 2024 at 09:46 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033105-2024
- 10 Jan 2024 at 14:31 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000814-2024
- 12 Sep 2023 at 07:51 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026871-2023
- 7 Sep 2023 at 15:50 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026520-2023
- 17 May 2023 at 08:20 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013995-2023
- 1 Mar 2023 at 16:11 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006054-2023

## Notice URLs

- http://www.dumgal.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000721741
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000743752
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000780590
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000802999
- https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:195458-2023:TEXT:EN:HTML
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00219

## 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-03ad59. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03ad59.json.