--- title: "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2021" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000647408" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000647408" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000647408.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000647408.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL" published: "2022-03-08" --- # NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2021 Buyer: NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000647408 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000647408) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000647408.json) ## Summary The North Ayrshire Council is currently conducting a tender process for the "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2021" project, which aims to provide a funded placement of 1140 hours annually for eligible children aged 2 to those not yet in Primary School. This procurement falls under the services category and is located in Irvine, UK. The tender is at the active stage and submissions are due by 19 April 2021. The council intends to establish a Flexible Framework to secure external childcare providers, with the contract expected to run for five years, assessed through an open procurement method. This tender represents an excellent opportunity for businesses involved in early learning and childcare services, such as nurseries and childminders, to expand their capabilities and reach within the region. Applying service providers that meet the legislative standards and can offer flexibility to parents are encouraged to participate. The council's approach allows for new entrants to join the framework every six months, thereby providing ongoing chances for businesses to engage and grow in a competitive environment focused on quality childcare provision. ## Notice North Ayrshire Council (the "Council") is required by Scottish Government, under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, to provide a funded placement of 1140 hours per year to all eligible 2 year olds and all children aged from 3 to those not yet attending Primary School, effective from August 2020. In accordance with The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Regulation 74, the Council intend to establish a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council's internal early learning and childcare provision. The proposed Framework will be for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months. ### Lot Information Childminding Services 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 of 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 since made a commitment to extend the entitlement to all eligible children to 1140 hours Early Learning and Childcare by 2020/2021 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 with a range of ELC providers, therefore the Council are seeking to set up a Flexible 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. Applicants where the Setting has been registered with the Care Inspectorate for less than 12 months 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 of 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 since made a commitment to extend the entitlement to all eligible children to 1140 hours Early Learning and Childcare by 2020/2021 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 with a range of ELC providers, therefore the Council are seeking to set up a Flexible Framework for the provision of early learning and childcare services 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 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. Nursery Services (Including private and third sector settings) 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 2020/2021 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 with a range of ELC providers, therefore the Council are seeking to set up a Flexible 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 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 accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR442828 | | 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 | Not specified | | All stages | Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Mar 2022 | | Submission deadline | 19 Apr 2021 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 8 Mar 2022 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £3,200,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Unsuccessful | | Lots status | Unsuccessful | | Awards status | Unsuccessful | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL | | Locality | IRVINE | | Post town | Kilmarnock | | Postcode | KA12 8EE | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire | | Local authority | North Ayrshire | | Electoral ward | Irvine South | | Westminster constituency | Central Ayrshire | | 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 - 8 Mar 2022 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR442828 - 18 Mar 2021 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR409801 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR409801 NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2021 - North Ayrshire Council (the "Council") is required by Scottish Government, under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, to provide a funded placement of 1140 hours per year to all eligible 2 year olds and all children aged from 3 to those not yet attending Primary School, effective from August 2020. In accordance with The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Regulation 74, the Council intend to establish a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council's internal early learning and childcare provision. The proposed Framework will be for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months. - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR442828 NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement Re-open March 2021 - North Ayrshire Council (the "Council") is required by Scottish Government, under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, to provide a funded placement of 1140 hours per year to all eligible 2 year olds and all children aged from 3 to those not yet attending Primary School, effective from August 2020. In accordance with The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Regulation 74, the Council intend to establish a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council's internal early learning and childcare provision. The proposed Framework will be for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months. ## Notice URLs - http:// - http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343 - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000647408 - https://www.gov.scot/publications/funding-follows-child-national-standard-early-learning-childcare-providers-principles-practice/ - https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk ## 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-r6ebe6-0000647408. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000647408.json.