--- title: "2025 - Flexible Early Learning and Childcare Service - Funded Providers (Aberdeen City Council & Aberdeenshire Council)" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000799774" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000799774" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000799774.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000799774.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL & ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL" published: "2025-06-06" --- # 2025 - Flexible Early Learning and Childcare Service - Funded Providers (Aberdeen City Council & Aberdeenshire Council) Buyer: ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL & ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000799774 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000799774) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000799774.json) ## Summary Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council are planning a procurement process for a Flexible Early Learning and Childcare Service, set to begin on 6th June 2025. This initiative falls under the education industry category and aims to provide a funded placement of 1140 hours per year for eligible children, complying with the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. The procurement will establish a Flexible Framework to secure external providers, supplementing the Councils' internal provisions. This requirement covers the Aberdeen region in Scotland (UKM50). The process is currently at the planning stage, with applications to be continuously reviewed following the initial 6-week period through dedicated email channels. This tender presents a significant opportunity for early learning and childcare providers looking to expand their services within the Aberdeen region. Businesses that can deliver early learning and childcare services in compliance with national standards and the Councils' procedural requirements are encouraged to apply. The procurement process allows providers to apply to the Flexible Framework every three months, offering flexibility and consistent opportunities for engagement. Both small and medium-sized enterprises experienced in education services would be well-suited to compete and benefit from the funded entitlement framework, facilitating sustained business growth in the educational sector. ## Notice Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council are 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. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council are 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 2 years, with an option to extend for two additional years. There will also be options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 3 months. *Please note, you will not come into partnership with either Council's until the term after your acceptance. 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. All providers who apply and meet the national standards, legislation, the Council's procedural requirements and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework. ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL APPLICANTS The application process opens on 6th June 2025 and the initial review of applications will take 6 weeks with applications being reviewed thereafter on an ongoing basis. All applications are to be sent to the eyfunding@aberdeencity.gov.uk email address. Ideally, applications should be completed electronically, rather than scanned and sent. This will ensure that the process is kept as efficient as possible. The application form and further relevant information can be accessed via the following link: https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/education-and-childcare/become-funded-provider If you require further assistance, please contact Shelley McDonald (smcdonald@aberdeencity.gov.uk) or Louise Beaton (lbeaton@aberdeencity.gov.uk) ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL APPLICANTS The application process opens on 6th June 2025 and the initial review of applications will take 6 weeks with applications being reviewed thereafter on an ongoing basis. All applications should be submitted via Microsoft Forms. Once complete, applications are automatically sent to the 1140fundedprovidercontract@aberdeenshire.gov.uk email address where they will be reviewed. Ideally, applications should be completed electronically, rather than scanned and sent. This will ensure that the process is kept as efficient as possible. The application form and further relevant information can be accessed via the following link: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/schools/childcare-and-early-learning/become-funded-provider/ If you require further assistance, please contact Natalie Stewart (natalie.stewart@aberdeenshire.gov.uk) or Julia Matthew (julia.matthew@aberdeenshire.gov.uk) ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN531993 | | Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 6 Jun 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 2 Jun 2025 | | 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 | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL & ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL | | Additional buyers | ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL; ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL | | Locality | ABERDEEN | | Post town | Aberdeen | | Postcode | AB101AB&AB16 5GB | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM5 North Eastern Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire | | Local authority | Aberdeen City | | Electoral ward | George St/Harbour | | Westminster constituency | Aberdeen South | | Delivery location | TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services ## Release History - 6 Jun 2025 at 00:00 - Planning - PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN531993 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN531993 2025 - Flexible Early Learning and Childcare Service - Funded Providers (Aberdeen City Council & Aberdeenshire Council) - Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council are 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. ## Notice URLs - http:// - http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000799774 - https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/education-and-childcare/become-funded-provider - https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/schools/childcare-and-early-learning/become-funded-provider/ - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=799774 ## 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-r6ebe6-0000799774. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000799774.json.