---
title: "Award of Review the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Equity and Excellence Lead Programme"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000804465"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000804465"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000804465.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000804465.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT"
published: "2025-09-22"
---

# Award of Review the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Equity and Excellence Lead Programme

Buyer: SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000804465

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## Summary

The Scottish Government, located in Edinburgh, has awarded a contract titled "Review the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Equity and Excellence Lead Programme". This procurement falls under the services category, specifically focusing on research and social research services. The awarding of the contract is a critical stage in the procurement process, marking its completion. The research aims to evaluate the deployment and impact of the ELC programme through a series of focused studies and fact-finding exercises in selected local authority areas. The contract was awarded to Craigforth Consultancy and Research, based in Stirling, for a total of £34,386.25. The tender process involved competitive bidding, with a specified deadline of 6th December 2026 for the completion of services.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in research services, particularly those with expertise in educational and social research sectors. Companies capable of proposing innovative research methodologies and effectively analysing programme impacts would find this contract highly suitable for showcasing their capabilities. Engaging with government contracts, particularly in sectors that support children and families, allows businesses to expand their expertise, gain credibility, and build a portfolio that could pave the way for similar future opportunities within public sectors. This project not only supports educational improvements but also contributes to enhancing business growth through strategic involvement in impactful government initiatives.

## Notice

The Scottish Government Early Learning and Childcare Division (Children and Families Directorate), on behalf of Scottish Ministers, wishes to commission a research project to review the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Equity and Excellence Lead (EE Lead) Programme.The review will support wider work to ensure benefits for children and families are maximised, to generate learning on best practice to improve delivery and to ensure effective support for post-holders. It is hoped that the research will provide an insight into two elements, namely:1. How EE Leads/ equivalent post holders are being deployed, what interventions are being put in place to close the poverty-related outcomes gap and good practice in delivery of the programme - through a fact-finding exercise with all local authorities; and2. The extent to which the programme is contributing to the identified outcomes - through focused research in a illustrative sample of 3-4 local authority areas.This specification sets out what is required, provides background information and suggestions on methodology. Bidders are also encouraged to propose additional or alternative methods for carrying out this work within the available budget and timescale.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539667 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Quick Quote Award |
| 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 | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 6 Dec 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 22 Sep 2025 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £34,386 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Not specified |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT |
| Additional buyers | EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL; FALKIRK COUNCIL; FORESTRY AND LAND SCOTLAND; HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND; MORAY COUNCIL; NATIONAL GALLERIES OF SCOTLAND; PERTH & KINROSS COUNCIL; REGISTERS OF SCOTLAND; SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT- SASA; SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL; THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL |
| Locality | PERTH |
| Post town | Perth |
| Postcode | PH1 5PH |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | Inverleith |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh West |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 29 |
| Supplier names | ACE TAXIS PERTH; AKHTER COMPUTERS; APEM; ATKINSREALIS; BARNETT WADDINGHAM; CRAIGFORTH CONSULTANCY AND RESEARCH; DATAVITA; DECIDING MATTERS; EKOS; ELEVATOR; ELIS; FISHERS SERVICES; GCU; GMG CONTRACTORS; GTR CONTRACTS; HAGS-SMP; HAYS SPECIALIST RECRUITMENT; HEARTS & MINDS; IPSOS MORI; JUMP RESEARCH; LEITH CREATIVE AGENCY LTD (T/A LEITH AGENCY; MAM CONTRACTING; SCOT J C B; THE LINES BETWEEN; THINKPROJECT; THOMAS & ADAMSON INTERNATIONAL; TONY WEIR CONTRACTOR; VENESKY BROWN; VENESKY-BROWN RECRUITMENT |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services
- 79315000 - Social research services

## Release History

- 22 Sep 2025 at 10:24 - Award - PCS Notice - Quick Quote Award - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539667

## Notice URLs

- http://historicenvironment.scot
- http://https://forestryandland.gov.scot
- http://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk
- http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk
- http://www.falkirk.gov.uk
- http://www.moray.gov.uk
- http://www.nationalgalleries.org
- http://www.pkc.gov.uk
- http://www.ros.gov.uk
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk
- http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/procurement/

## 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-r6ebe6-0000804465. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000804465.json.