---
title: "Early Learning & Childcare Provision Framework (New Applicants October 2026)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-079046"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-079046"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-079046.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-079046.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "East Ayrshire Council"
published: "2026-10-26"
---

# Early Learning & Childcare Provision Framework (New Applicants October 2026)

Buyer: East Ayrshire Council  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-079046

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## Summary

East Ayrshire Council is inviting new providers to join its flexible framework for funded early learning and childcare. The services support the Council’s duty to make funded provision available to eligible children when required, covering pre-school education and childcare in East Ayrshire. This is a reopening for new applicants under the framework’s existing terms; providers already included do not need to reapply. The framework was established to support continuity of service for parents and carers. Delivery is in East Ayrshire, with the Council based in Kilmarnock.

The Council reached the tender stage and invited applications through an open procedure for the framework. The deadline to express interest was 12 noon on 7 December 2026, and the submission deadline was 12 noon on 10 December 2026. The framework’s initial five-year term began on 1 April 2021 and was extended to 31 March 2028. It was originally intended to be reopened annually to new applicants. The procurement is divided into one lot and applications are submitted electronically. The evaluation basis and further application requirements are set out in the application and framework documentation. The framework operates under the same terms as the original application exercise.

This opportunity suits providers able to deliver funded early learning and childcare for eligible children in East Ayrshire, on an as-required basis. Applicants must meet relevant requirements under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, as amended. The Council requires applicants to provide the names and qualifications of staff assigned to the service, so suppliers should be able to demonstrate an appropriately qualified delivery team. The framework is intended for service providers seeking to supply childcare and pre-school education within a flexible, continuing arrangement. Contract performance requirements and the detailed application criteria are contained in the application and framework documentation.

## Notice

Framework Agreement for Early Learning and Childcare Provision - New Applicants October 2026 OCTOBER 2026 REOPENING OF FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK - NOTE THAT FUNDED PROVIDERS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE FRAMEWORK DO NOT REQUIRE TO RE-APPLY, THIS NOTICE IS APPLICABLE FOR NEW APPLICANTS ONLY

### Lot Information

Lot 1

As per the previously advertised Notice, the Flexible Framework commenced in April 2021 and in accordance with the terms therein, it is now being re-opened for new applicants to be included under the same terms as the original application exercise. Note that the initial 5 year term of the Framework commenced on 1 April 2021, therefore the end of the initial term of the contract ended on 31 March 2026 for all Providers included in the Framework, however an extension to this has been invoked as allowed under the terms of the Framework and therefore the new end date is 31 March 2028. ORIGINAL CONTRACT NOTICE TEXT: East Ayrshire Council require to set up a flexible Framework Agreement with Early Learning and Childcare Providers to support its statutory duty to make available funded early learning and childcare for all eligible children on an as required basis. The Framework Agreement will be for a period of 5 years with the option to extend for a further 2-years and will be re-opened for new applications to become a funded provider annually.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101073-2026 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 26 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Dec 2026 |
| 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 | East Ayrshire Council |
| Locality | KILMARNOCK |
| Postcode area | Kilmarnock |
| Postcode | KA3 7BU |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire |
| Local authority | East Ayrshire |
| Electoral ward | Kilmarnock East and Hurlford |
| Westminster constituency | Kilmarnock and Loudoun |
| 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

- 26 Oct 2026 at 14:17 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101073-2026

## Notice URLs

- http://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845571
- https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:547580-2020:TEXT:EN:HTML
- https://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/Procurement/policy/ProcurementReform/implementEUDirProcRef
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00223
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html

## 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-079046. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-079046.json.