---
title: "Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000630385"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000630385"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000630385.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000630385.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL"
published: "2021-02-02"
---

# Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services

Buyer: DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000630385

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## Summary

Dumfries and Galloway Council is inviting tenders for the "Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services" project, which encompasses essential childcare services for parents and carers in Dumfries and Galloway. The procurement is currently in the Award stage, with the contract value set at £21,105,000. This open procedure allows for wide participation, and the submission deadline for applications was on 6 November 2020. The services focus on delivering high-quality early learning, childcare, and brokerage support, specifically targeting children up to 18 years with additional support needs.

This tender presents significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specialising in childcare and related services to engage with the local authority. Businesses such as childminders, educational childcare providers, and childcare brokerage services are ideally suited to compete for these contracts. With the initiative aimed at increasing flexibility and choice for parents, providers demonstrating adherence to national standards and the Council's requirements can benefit substantially, given the ongoing demand for quality childcare solutions in the region.

## Notice

Early Learning & Childcare and Childcare Brokerage services are two key strands of statutory childcare services offered to parents and carers of children in Dumfries and Galloway.

### Lot Information

Early Learning and Childcare - PVI Setting

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 2020/21 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, therefore the Council have set up a Flexibile 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 th 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.. Providers approved with a place on the Flexible Framework do not need to re-apply when the framework re-opens on an annual basis. Further details of the ELC and national standards can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/policies/early-education-and-care/

Options: Following the initial 12 month duration, the Flexible Framework may be extended for a further 12 months.

Renewal: 12-24 months for renewal of the flexible framework, depending on if the extension period is exercised by Dumfries and Galloway Council. The flexible framework shall re-open at 12 month intervals, however Dumfries and Galloway Council may re-open the framework for applications at any time where geographical coverage is required to meet the needs of service.

Early Learning and Childcare - 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 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 made a commitment to extend the entitlement to all eligible children to 1140 hours for Early Learning and Childcare by 2020/21 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, therefore the Council have set up a Flexibile 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.. Providers approved with a place on the Flexible Framework do not need to re-apply when the framework re-opens on an annual basis. Further details of the ELC and national standards can be found here: https://www/gov.scot/policies/early-education-and-care/

Options: Following the initial 12 month duration, the Flexible Framework may be extended for a further 12 months.

Renewal: 12-24 months for the flexible framework, depending on if the extension period is exercised by Dumfries and Galloway Council. The flexible framework shall re-open at 12 month intervals, however Dumfries and Galloway Council may re-open the framework for applications at any time where geographical coverage is required to meet the needs of service.

Childcare Brokerage Service

Dumfries and Galloway Council Social Work Services provides support to enable vulnerable families to access affordable childcare in times of crisis or to be included in the child's plan to ensure that their needs are being met. The service is aimed at supporting children aged 2 and under or for young poeple up to 18 years old if they have Additional Support Needs and/or Disability. The Childcare Brokerage model enables parents' and carers' to access childcare from any setting, commissioned by the Council - in the public, private or third sector, including from a childminder - who meets the applicable National Standards, has a place available and is willing to entr into a contract with the local authority. The National Standard, which underpins the approach, will provide parents and carers with the certainty that those settings delivering funded hours are offering high quality Brokerage provision. Quality is underpinned by the National Standard for Early Learning and Childcare Providers. This service is being procured as a lot within a Flexible Framework 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 to deliver the childcare brokerage service. All providers who apply and meet the applicable national ELC standrads, legislation, the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tendre and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be able to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework.. Providers approved with a place on the Flexible Framework do not need to re-apply when the framework re-opens on an annual basis.

Options: Following the initial 12 month duration, the Flexible Framework may be extended for a further 12 months.

Renewal: 12-24 months for the flexible framework, depending on if the extension period is exercised by Dumfries and Galloway Council. The flexible framework shall re-open at 12 month intervals, however Dumfries and Galloway Council may re-open the framework for applications at any time where geographical coverage us required to meet the needs of service.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB405611 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Feb 2021 |
| Submission deadline | 6 Nov 2020 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 8 Dec 2020 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | 12-24 months but will re-open on an annual basis or more regularly if required by the Council. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £21,105,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| 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 | 2 |
| Supplier names | LITTLE WREN’S MONTESSORI CHILDCARE; WEE BAIRNS CHILDMINDING |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 80100000 - Primary education services
- 80110000 - Pre-school education services
- 85311300 - Welfare services for children and young people
- 85312110 - Child daycare services
- 85312120 - Daycare services for handicapped children and young people

## Release History

- 2 Feb 2021 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB405611
- 11 Sep 2020 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP394584

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP394584&idx=6
  6th October 2020 - Brokerage Specification
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP394584&idx=5
  6th October 2020 - ELC Specification
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP394584&idx=4
  6th October 2020 - Terms and Conditions
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP394584&idx=3
  6th October 2020 - Part B Application Form
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP394584&idx=2
  6th October 2020 - Part A Application Form
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP394584&idx=1
  6th October 2020 - General Information for Applicants
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP394584
  Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services - Early Learning & Childcare and Childcare Brokerage services are two key strands of statutory childcare services offered to parents and carers of children in Dumfries and Galloway.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB405611
  Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services - Early Learning & Childcare and Childcare Brokerage services are two key strands of statutory childcare services offered to parents and carers of children in Dumfries and Galloway.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.dumgal.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000630385
- https://www.gov.scot/policies/early-education-and-care/
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html
- https://www/gov.scot/policies/early-education-and-care/

## 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-r6ebe6-0000630385. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000630385.json.