--- title: "Provision of Nursery Operator Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-045a62" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-045a62" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-045a62.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-045a62.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL" published: "2025-12-08" --- # Provision of Nursery Operator Services Buyer: ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-045a62 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-045a62) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-045a62.json) ## Summary Orkney Islands Council is in the process of procuring services for the "Provision of Nursery Operator Services," aiming to accommodate up to 51 children aged 0-5 years old within a newly built, council-owned nursery in Kirkwall next to UHI Orkney. The procurement, under the CPV classification of pre-school education services, is currently in the award stage, with previous attempts marked unsuccessful. The anticipated completion of the new nursery facility is by mid-April 2025, with a concession contract on offer for an initial term of four years and the possibility of four one-year extensions. The tender is conducted as a restricted procedure, requiring interested parties to submit detailed proposals following initial selection stages. A Meet the Buyer event is scheduled on 5 June 2024, in Kirkwall, providing further opportunities for interested providers to engage with the council and understand the service requirements. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in childcare or nursery operations. With no existing private or third-sector nursery providers in Orkney, there is a gap in the market for experienced operators. The potential to partner with the local authority to provide funded early learning and childcare broadens the scope for those with the capacity to meet regulatory and educational standards, such as Care Inspectorate registration and Scottish Social Services Council requirements. The flexible contract terms further appeal to operators looking to establish a long-term business presence in the region. Additionally, the project encourages community engagement, offering substantial potential for growth through partnerships with Orkney College for educational collaboration, and creating apprenticeships or work placements, thereby supporting local employment and skill development initiatives. ## Notice Orkney Islands Council seek expressions of interest from providers/concessionaires who are interested in providing childcare to up to 51 0-5 year old children, within a Council owned purpose built nursery setting. ### 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 the end of October 2024, 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. It is the intention of the Authority to host a Meet the Buyer event at Keelylang Early Years Base, Pickaquoy Road in Kirkwall on Wednesday 5 June 2024 5.30 - 6.30pm. The purpose of the Meet the Buyer event is to give providers interested in tendering for the Provision of Nursery Operator Services the opportunity to learn more about the overall requirements for the service and to provide feedback to the Authority on the proposals. Parties who are interested in the project will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this Meet the Buyer Event Notice. Nor shall a response to this Meet the Buyer Event Notice guarantee an invitation to participate in any future procurement process that OIC may conduct. For the avoidance of doubt, this Meet the Buyer Event Notice does not constitute a call for competition to procure any works or services and is not published with the intent to reduce the time limit for the receipt of tenders. OIC will not be liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to this Meet the Buyer Event Notice or any party who may participate in any future procurement process. In the event that OIC decides to proceed with any procurement, it is currently assumed that such procurement will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Council's Contract Standing Orders rules and that of the relevant Procurement Legislation. Additional information: The contract will be for an initial 4 year period with 4, 12 month extensions available ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080436-2025 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Award procedure with prior publication of a call for competition | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Dec 2025 | | Submission deadline | 21 Apr 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 8 Dec 2025 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £6,452,367 | | Lots value | £6,452,367 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Unsuccessful | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Unsuccessful | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL | | Locality | KIRKWALL | | Post town | Kirkwall | | Postcode | KW15 1NY | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands | | ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands | | Local authority | Orkney Islands | | Electoral ward | Kirkwall East | | Westminster constituency | Orkney and Shetland | | Delivery location | TLM65 Orkney Islands | ## 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 Dec 2025 at 09:28 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080436-2025 - 15 Sep 2025 at 14:25 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056633-2025 - 17 Apr 2025 at 09:25 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010244-2025 - 17 Apr 2025 at 09:25 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015793-2025 - 12 Feb 2025 at 14:07 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004752-2025 - 12 Feb 2025 at 14:06 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004751-2025 - 13 Jan 2025 at 16:14 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001076-2025 - 11 Dec 2024 at 08:52 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039827-2024 - 17 May 2024 at 11:04 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015691-2024 ## Notice URLs - http://www.orkney.gov.uk - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk - http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000750364 - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000784863 - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000793779 - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00369 ## 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-045a62. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-045a62.json.