Open tenderClosing in 3 weeks

Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services

Details

Topic
Primary education services
Published
1 March 2023
Submission
19 October 2026in 3 weeks

Tender description

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 1: 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. Lot 2: 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. Lot 3: 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.

Timeline

  1. Completed: Tender published1 March 2023
    Current notice
  2. Next: Submission date19 October 2026in 3 weeks

About the buyer

Dumfries and Galloway Council is the local authority for the Dumfries and Galloway region in south-west Scotland. Tenders are advertised through Public Contracts Scotland, the national portal used by public bodies across Scotland. Larger contracts often route through Scotland Excel framework agreements, the collaborative procurement body owned by Scottish councils. A dedicated procurement team operates from Carruthers House in Dumfries, the council's headquarters. Low-value, low-risk work goes out as direct quotes rather than full tenders, a route aimed at small, local suppliers. Annual procurement performance is reported under the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.

UK local government drives £140bn in annual procurement, led by social protection (£66.6bn) and education (£57.1bn).

Over the past 5 years, most of Dumfries and Galloway Council's contract awards have been in health and social work, construction work and repair and maintenance.

Relevant CPV codes

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

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