---
title: "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement (Re-open to New Providers)"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000717088"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000717088"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000717088.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000717088.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL"
published: "2023-01-18"
---

# NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement (Re-open to New Providers)

Buyer: NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000717088

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## Summary

The North Ayrshire Council has initiated an open procedure tender titled "NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement (Re-open to New Providers)". This procurement process falls under the "services" main procurement category. The Council aims to provide funded placements for early learning and childcare services according to Scottish Government requirements. The tender is currently at the award stage, with a tender period ending on February 15, 2023.

This tender presents business growth opportunities for providers of nursery services, childminding services, and settings with Care Inspectorate registration under the Flexible Framework established by North Ayrshire Council. Businesses that meet national standards, procedural requirements, and contractual terms set by the Council can apply. The estimated contract value is £9,300,000 GBP. Submission is through electronic means, with additional information available at the public contracts website. The re-opening covers obligations from August 2022 and February 2023, offering potential for long-term service 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 have established a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council's internal early learning and childcare provision. The Framework is for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months. The estimated value is for the remainder of the framework across all suppliers, this is not the available amount for each supplier. This re-opening will cover both the August 2022 and February 2023 re-opening obligations.

### Lot Information

Lot 1 - Nursery Services (Including Private and Third Sector Setting)

NAC 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 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 have 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. This re-opening will cover both the August 2022 and February 2023 re-opening obligations.

Lot 2 - 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 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 have 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. This re-opening will cover both the August 2022 and February 2023 re-opening obligations.

Lot 3 - Settings where the Applicant has been registered with the Care Inspectorate 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 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 have 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. This re-opening will cover both the August 2022 and February 2023 re-opening obligations.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JAN468872 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| 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 | 18 Jan 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 15 Feb 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £9,300,000 |
| 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 | 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

- 18 Jan 2023 at 00:00 - Tender - PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JAN468872

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JAN468872
  NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement (Re-open to New Providers) - 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 have established a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council's internal early learning and childcare provision. The Framework is for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months. The estimated value is for the remainder of the framework across all suppliers, this is not the available amount for each supplier. This re-opening will cover both the August 2022 and February 2023 re-opening obligations.

## Notice URLs

- 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-r6ebe6-0000717088
- https://www.gov.scot/publications/funding-follows-child-national-standard-early-learning-childcare-providers-principles-practice/
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- https://www.scotcourts.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-r6ebe6-0000717088. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000717088.json.