---
title: "Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000840871"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000840871"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000840871.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000840871.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "Dumfries and Galloway Council"
published: "2026-09-17"
---

# Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services

Buyer: Dumfries and Galloway Council  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000840871

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## Summary

Dumfries and Galloway Council is procuring early learning, childcare and childcare brokerage services in Dumfries and Galloway. The requirement supports the Council’s statutory duty to provide funded pre-school education, including the 1,140-hour entitlement for eligible children. Through a flexible framework, approved providers will deliver funded Early Learning and Childcare placements and brokerage placements, allowing parents and carers to choose a provider that suits their needs. The opportunity is divided into three service areas: private and third-sector early learning and childcare settings, excluding childminders; childminder-delivered early learning and childcare; and childcare brokerage. The services are classified under CPV 85312110, covering pre-school education and childcare services. The framework is intended for providers able to register children for the relevant funded provision.

The process has reached tender: the Council invited offers through an open procedure using electronic submission. This is the September 2026 reopening of an existing flexible framework, with places available across all three lots; suppliers may bid for any number of lots. Offers must be submitted by 19 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC, when they will be opened by the Procurement Team. The framework is planned for 2,520 days, with an option to renew; it was originally awarded in February 2023 for five years with a possible further two-year extension. The framework may have up to 100 participants. Bids must remain valid for 90 days and be submitted in English. Selection covers suitability, economic and technical criteria, with service delivery reserved to a particular profession. Rates and Council contract terms must be accepted.

This opportunity suits established childcare providers, private and third-sector early learning settings, registered childminders and organisations capable of delivering childcare brokerage. It is relevant to suppliers that can provide funded early learning and childcare in line with the required standards, legislation and the Council’s procedural requirements. Providers must be prepared to accept the Council’s specified rates and contract terms rather than propose variants. The technical requirement indicates that delivery is reserved to a particular profession, so bidders should hold the professional standing and service capability required for their relevant childcare role. The framework structure can suit organisations seeking a place on a recurring public-sector arrangement, with separate routes for childcare settings, childminders and brokerage services. Existing framework providers do not need to re-apply.

## Notice

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 which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands enabling them to access their child's funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and 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 enabling them to register children in 2027 to commence Brokerage placements from Q3 2027 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2027. This is the September 2026 re-opening of the framework. If you have already been awarded a place on this framework, you do not need to re-apply.

### Lot Information

ELC - Private and Third Sector Settings (excluding Childminders)

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 which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands enabling them to access their child's funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and 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 enabling them to register children in 2027 to commence Brokerage placements from Q3 2027 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2027.

Renewal: The framework was awarded in February 2023 for an initial five year period with an optional extension of a further two years.

ELC - Childminders

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 which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands enabling them to access their child's funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and 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 enabling them to register children in 2027 to commence Brokerage placements from Q3 2027 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2027.

Renewal: The framework was awarded in February 2023 for an initial five year period with an optional extension of a further two years.

Lot 3- Childcare Brokerage

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 which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands enabling them to access their child's funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and 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 enabling them to register children in 2027 to commence Brokerage placements from Q3 2027 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2027.

Renewal: The framework was awarded in February 2023 for an initial five year period with an optional extension of a further two years.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564752 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F2 - Contract 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 |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | This framework re-opens annually and if you have already been awarded a place on the framework, you DO NOT need to re-apply. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| 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 | Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| Locality | DUMFRIES |
| Postcode area | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Postcode | DG1 2HP |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway |
| Local authority | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Electoral ward | Nith |
| Westminster constituency | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Delivery location | TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services
- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 80100000 - Primary education services
- 80110000 - Pre-school education services
- 85312110 - Child daycare services

## Release History

- 17 Sep 2026 at 01:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564752

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564752
  Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage 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 to 1140 hours for eligible children which became a statutory duty from August 2021. The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents' and carers' hands enabling them to access their child's funded entitlement with a provider that best suits their needs. All providers who apply and meet the expected standard, legislation and 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 enabling them to register children in 2027 to commence Brokerage placements from Q3 2027 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2027. This is the September 2026 re-opening of the framework. If you have already been awarded a place on this framework, you do not need to re-apply.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.dumgal.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=840871
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000840871
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html

## 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-r6ebe6-0000840871. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000840871.json.