--- title: "Provision of Nursery Operator Services" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000793779" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000793779" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000793779.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000793779.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL" published: "2025-09-15" --- # Provision of Nursery Operator Services Buyer: ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000793779 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000793779) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000793779.json) ## Summary Orkney Islands Council is seeking to procure services for a new nursery operator, focusing on the provision of childcare for up to 51 children aged 0-5 years within a purpose-built facility in Kirkwall. This procurement, under a selective process termed as a "Restricted procedure," was initially active as of March 2025 and was scheduled to close on 22nd April 2025, following an amendment to avoid a public holiday. However, the procurement status was later updated to cancelled in September 2025. The industry category is services with classifications focusing on childcare and early learning, and the location is specified as Kirkwall within the UK's region UKM65. This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses that specialise in childcare services, particularly those capable of operating a high-quality, impactful learning environment for young children. It is especially suited to enterprises looking to establish or expand their presence in the public early childhood education sector. The contract would have been a concession contract for four years, with options for extension, giving stable long-term potential for successful bidders. Although the procurement is currently cancelled, businesses can still view this as a preparatory opportunity for when such requirements arise again, especially in areas without an existing private nursery sector, like Kirkwall. ## Notice Orkney Islands Council seeks submissions from providers / concessionaires who are interested in providing up to 51 places for children aged 0-5 years old, within a newbuild Council owned purpose built nursery setting. 0-5 childcare ### 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 Mid April 2025, 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.. The contract will be for an initial 4 yr term with 4 x 12 months extensions available at the sole discretion of the Authority. The estimated value has been updated from original estimate in the Prior Information Notice and now based on existing level of fees for the Authority's interim nursery, however it will be up to individual bidders to decide on fees to be charged upon successful award. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539252 | | Notice type | OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts) | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Restricted procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 15 Sep 2025 | | Submission deadline | 21 Apr 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 15 Sep 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 | Cancelled | | Lots status | Cancelled | | 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 - 15 Sep 2025 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts) - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539252 - 17 Apr 2025 at 00:00 - TenderUpdate - OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR528594 - 19 Mar 2025 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts) - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR526395 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=MAR526395&idx=1 19th March 2025 - New Nursery Plans - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR526395 Provision of Nursery Operator Services - Orkney Islands Council seeks submissions from providers / concessionaires who are interested in providing up to 51 places for children aged 0-5 years old, within a newbuild Council owned purpose built nursery setting. 0-5 childcare - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539252 Provision of Nursery Operator Services - Orkney Islands Council seeks submissions from providers / concessionaires who are interested in providing up to 51 places for children aged 0-5 years old, within a newbuild Council owned purpose built nursery setting. 0-5 childcare ## Notice URLs - http:// - http://www.orkney.gov.uk - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk - http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000793779 ## 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-r6ebe6-0000793779. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000793779.json.