---
title: "Early Learning & Childcare Provision Framework (New Applicants October 2026)"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000845571"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845571"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845571.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845571.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "East Ayrshire Council"
published: "2026-10-26"
---

# Early Learning & Childcare Provision Framework (New Applicants October 2026)

Buyer: East Ayrshire Council  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000845571

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## Summary

East Ayrshire Council is seeking new providers of funded early learning and childcare for eligible children across East Ayrshire. The service supports the council’s statutory duty to make funded provision available to children when required. This is a flexible framework, reopened for new applicants; providers already included do not need to apply again. The work is early years education and childcare provision (CPV 80110000), with childcare services also classified under CPV 85312110. The framework allows the council to draw on providers as needed to deliver places for eligible children. Applications are for providers able to deliver the required service locally in East Ayrshire.

The council invited applications through an open procedure for admission to a flexible framework, with electronic submission. The first step was to express interest by 7 December 2026 at 12 noon; the application deadline is 10 December 2026 at 12 noon. The framework began on 1 April 2021, and its initial five-year term has been extended to 31 March 2028. No estimated contract value is stated. There is one lot covering the childcare provision. The service is reserved to a particular profession, and applicants must provide the names and qualifications of staff assigned to the work. The application and framework documentation sets out the evaluation and remaining selection requirements. English is the stated application language.

This opportunity is suited to early learning and childcare providers seeking to join a local authority framework and deliver funded places for eligible children in East Ayrshire. Applicants need to be able to provide the childcare service and meet the professional requirements applying to its delivery. The requirement to name assigned staff and provide their qualifications means providers should have suitably qualified personnel identified for the work. The framework’s flexible, as-required model may suit providers able to accommodate demand for funded provision, rather than a single specified volume of work. Existing funded providers already on the framework are not expected to reapply; the reopening is directed at new applicants. The council’s application and framework documentation contains the detailed requirements against which providers will be assessed.

## Notice

Framework Agreement for Early Learning and Childcare Provision - New Applicants October 2026 OCTOBER 2026 REOPENING OF FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK - NOTE THAT FUNDED PROVIDERS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE FRAMEWORK DO NOT REQUIRE TO RE-APPLY, THIS NOTICE IS APPLICABLE FOR NEW APPLICANTS ONLY

### Lot Information

Lot 1

As per the previously advertised Notice, the Flexible Framework commenced in April 2021 and in accordance with the terms therein, it is now being re-opened for new applicants to be included under the same terms as the original application exercise. Note that the initial 5 year term of the Framework commenced on 1 April 2021, therefore the end of the initial term of the contract ended on 31 March 2026 for all Providers included in the Framework, however an extension to this has been invoked as allowed under the terms of the Framework and therefore the new end date is 31 March 2028. ORIGINAL CONTRACT NOTICE TEXT: East Ayrshire Council require to set up a flexible Framework Agreement with Early Learning and Childcare Providers to support its statutory duty to make available funded early learning and childcare for all eligible children on an as required basis. The Framework Agreement will be for a period of 5 years with the option to extend for a further 2-years and will be re-opened for new applications to become a funded provider annually.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT567377 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts) |
| 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 | 26 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Dec 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| 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 | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | East Ayrshire Council |
| Locality | KILMARNOCK |
| Postcode area | Kilmarnock |
| Postcode | KA3 7BU |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire |
| Local authority | East Ayrshire |
| Electoral ward | Kilmarnock East and Hurlford |
| Westminster constituency | Kilmarnock and Loudoun |
| 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

- 26 Oct 2026 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F21 - Social And other Specific Services (Public Contracts) - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT567377

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT567377
  Early Learning & Childcare Provision Framework (New Applicants October 2026) - Framework Agreement for Early Learning and Childcare Provision - New Applicants October 2026 OCTOBER 2026 REOPENING OF FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK - NOTE THAT FUNDED PROVIDERS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE FRAMEWORK DO NOT REQUIRE TO RE-APPLY, THIS NOTICE IS APPLICABLE FOR NEW APPLICANTS ONLY

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000845571
- https://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/Procurement/policy/ProcurementReform/implementEUDirProcRef
- 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-r6ebe6-0000845571. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000845571.json.