---
title: "Early Education and Childcare Flexible Framework"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-040da2"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-040da2"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040da2.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040da2.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "CUMBERLAND COUNCIL"
published: "2023-10-20"
---

# Early Education and Childcare Flexible Framework

Buyer: CUMBERLAND COUNCIL  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-040da2

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## Summary

The Cumberland Council has initiated a tender process for the Early Education and Childcare Flexible Framework in the services category. The framework aims to secure free childcare places for eligible two, three, and four-year-olds. Following the dissolution of Cumbria County Council on April 1, 2023, two new unitary authorities, Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council, were established. The tender involves the replacement of the countywide framework with new agreements managed by the two authorities. The contract period ends on August 31, 2025, with optional extensions. The procurement method is an open procedure under the light touch regime, with submission deadline on August 31, 2025.

This tender presents opportunities for childcare providers to engage with the new authorities and access the framework for service provision. Businesses in the child daycare services sector would be well-suited to compete for this tender. Interested providers can find more details and submit their proposals electronically. The Cumberland Council is the buying organisation overseeing this tender process, and all enquiries should be directed to Mrs Corrina McCleary Hill at corrina.mccleary-hill@cumbria.gov.uk.

## Notice

THIS IS NOT A NEW CONTRACT AWARD - THIS IS INFORMATION FOLLOWING LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION Local authorities have a legislative duty to secure free childcare places for eligible two, three and four year olds. Every child is eligible for up to 570 hours (1140 for families eligible for 30 hours free childcare per academic year over no fewer than 38 weeks and up to 52 weeks of the year. Local Authorities have a duty to ensure that each child is able to access their free entitlement no later than the beginning of the term following the meeting of the eligibility criteria On 01 April 2023, Cumbria County Council ceased to exist and is replaced by two new unitary authorities; Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council. The current countywide framework for Early Education and Childcare was due to end on 31st August 2023. This notice seeks to inform the replacement of Cumbria County Council to the two new authorities. New framework agreements from each authority were issued to existing providers and will be issued to new providers with effect from the 1st April 2023 which will reflect both Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness new local authority footprints. From this time, each new council will manage the addition of new providers on to their framework. Existing providers already on the framework do not need to re-apply to this framework. New providers can access the framework at www.the-chest.gov.uk or by contacting free.entitlement@cumberland.gov.uk or free.entitlement@waf.gov.uk

### Lot Information

Lot 1

THIS IS NOT A NEW CONTRACT AWARD - THIS IS INFORMATION FOLLOWING LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION Local authorities have a legislative duty to secure free childcare places for eligible two, three and four year olds. Every child is eligible for up to 570 hours (1140 for families eligible for 30 hours free childcare per academic year over no fewer than 38 weeks and up to 52 weeks of the year. Local Authorities have a duty to ensure that each child is able to access their free entitlement no later than the beginning of the term following the meeting of the eligibility criteria On 01 April 2023, Cumbria County Council ceased to exist and is replaced by two new unitary authorities; Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council. The current countywide framework for Early Education and Childcare was due to end on 31st August 2023. This notice seeks to inform the replacement of Cumbria County Council to the two new authorities. New framework agreements from each authority were issued to existing providers and will be issued to new providers with effect from the 1st April 2023 which will reflect both Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness new local authority footprints. From this time, each new council will manage the addition of new providers on to their framework. Existing providers already on the framework do not need to re-apply to this framework. New providers can access the framework at www.the-chest.gov.uk or by contacting free.entitlement@cumberland.gov.uk or free.entitlement@waf.gov.uk

Renewal: Optional extensions available detailed in the tender documentation.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031001-2023 |
| 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 |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 20 Oct 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 31 Aug 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CUMBERLAND COUNCIL |
| Locality | CARLISLE |
| Post town | Carlisle |
| Postcode | CA1 1RD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD1 Cumbria |
| ITL 3 | TLD13 Cumberland |
| Local authority | Cumberland |
| Electoral ward | Castle |
| Westminster constituency | Carlisle |
| Delivery location | TLD1 Cumbria |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85312110 - Child daycare services

## Release History

- 20 Oct 2023 at 10:24 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031001-2023

## Notice URLs

- http://www.cumberland.gov.uk/
- https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=197a0306-f416-e811-80ea-005056b64545

## 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-040da2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040da2.json.