Contract

Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services

  • Dumfries and Galloway Council

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-002810

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03ad59

Published 28 January 2025, 11:49am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Dumfries and Galloway Council

Procurement Team, Carruthers House

Dumfries

DG1 2HP

Contact

Craig Wilson

Email

Procurement.PeopleandProjects@dumgal.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM92 - Dumfries & Galloway

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.dumgal.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00219

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Early Learning, Childcare and Brokerage Services

Reference number

DGCP-0175

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85312110 - Child daycare services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short 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 2023 to commence Brokerage placements from Q2 2023 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2023.

This is the October 2024 re-opening of the framework that was awarded in January 2024.

If you have already been awarded a place on this framework, you do not need to re-apply.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £48,686,143

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

ELC - Private and Third Sector Settings (excluding Childminders)

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

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

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM92 - Dumfries & Galloway

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

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 2023 to commence Brokerage placements from Q2 2023 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2023.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100

Price - Weighting: 0

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

ELC - Childminders

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

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

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM92 - Dumfries & Galloway

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

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 2023 to commence Brokerage placements from Q2 2023 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2023.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100

Price - Weighting: 0

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 3- Childcare Brokerage

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

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

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM92 - Dumfries & Galloway

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

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 2023 to commence Brokerage placements from Q2 2023 and funded Early Learning and Childcare placements from August 2023.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100

Price - Weighting: 0

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2024/S 000-033105


Section five. Award of contract

Lot No

1

Title

ELC - Private and Third Sector Settings (excluding Childminders)

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

14 January 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Little Gems Childcare

Marchmount House, Marchmount Avenue

Dumfries

DG1 1PW

Telephone

+44 7743266846

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: £48,686,143


Section five. Award of contract

Lot No

2

Title

ELC - Childminders

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

14 January 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 3

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 3

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 3

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 3

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Little Gems Childcare

Marchmount House, Marchmount Avenue

Dumfries

DG1 1PW

Telephone

+44 7743266846

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Little Wren’s Montessori Childcare

3 Annfield Cottages, Amisfield

Dumfries

DG1 3NZ

Telephone

+44 7506738667

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKM92 - Dumfries & Galloway
The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: £48,686,143


Section five. Award of contract

Lot No

3

Title

Lot 3- Childcare Brokerage

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

14 January 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Little Gems Childcare

Marchmount House, Marchmount Avenue

Dumfries

DG1 1PW

Telephone

+44 7743266846

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: £48,686,143


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

(SC Ref:788969)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Dumfries Sheriff Court

Buccleuch Street

Dumfries

Country

United Kingdom