Tender

Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Flying Start Childcare placements

  • Torfaen County Borough Council

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-063006

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-044469 (view related notices)

Published 7 October 2025, 4:15pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Torfaen County Borough Council

Civic Centre, Pontypool

Torfaen

NP4 6YB

Contact

Emma Treadgold

Email

emma.treadgold@torfaen.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1633647360

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKL16 - Gwent Valleys

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.torfaen.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0498

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local authority

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Flying Start Childcare placements

Reference number

T.4602

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85312110 - Child daycare services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

This DPS opportunity for an open procurement procedure and is being tendered in accordance with Section 9 (Light touch contracts) of the Act defines a ‘light touch contract’ and provides for regulations to specify which services (referred to in the regulations as ‘light touch services’) can be procured under a light touch contract.

Under these regulations the Council is not required to procure these services in line with the full extent of the 2023 Regulations and is able to determine itself the arrangement structure and the procedures for awarding contracts, subject to ensuring compliance with the principles of transparency and equal treatment of Service Provider. To best meet the needs of the services the Council shall regulation 69-71 for light touch frameworks.

The procurement process, as stated within the tender documents follows a clear, structured and transparent process to ensure a fair and level playing field is maintained at all times and that all Service Providers are treated equally and fairly.

The Council reserves the right to terminate this procedure and cancel this DPS at any given time. Additionally, if you are successful in being selected onto this DPS, the Council reserves the right to terminate the selection, if at any time it is discovered that a Service Provider has made any material misrepresentation and/or have not notified the Council about any material changes in relation to the information provided as part of the pre-qualification process

The Council reserves the right to remove such Organisation from this procurement process. In the event mini competitions and associated procurement documents have been issued, the Council may require the Organisation to return the tender documents which will be deemed void. If an error or misrepresentation is not discovered until after the contract is awarded, the Council reserves the right to terminate the contract and recover all costs incurred as a result of the termination from the Organisation.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £1,200,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85312100 - Daycare services
  • 80100000 - Primary education services
  • 80110000 - Pre-school education services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL16 - Gwent Valleys

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The purpose of the Flying Start programme is to support families to give children the best start in life; offer improved child opportunities through high quality registered childcare and universal parenting support programmes, for example, Early Language Development; and improve engagement of families with Flying Start opportunities by offering local services based within Flying Start communities. The Flying Start programme is Welsh Government funded.

The Flying Start childcare provision will be provided for children who live in the Flying Start postcode catchment areas from the term after their second birthday until the term of their third birthday, to enable smooth transition into their rising 3 place in Early Years Education.

Welsh Government Flying Start Guidance states that Childcare is required to run 5 days for 2.5 hours a day for 39 weeks a year (term time) with some Council and setting discretion for flexibility where parents are attending training or working. Settings should be able to offer some flexibility for no more than 2 sessions per day, but this arrangement is exceptional and must be agreed by the Council in advance of the offer being made to the family. Any arrangements made without prior Council approval of placement, will be the responsibility of the setting to finance.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

48

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

With the option to extend for up to a further period of forty-eight (48) months.

two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited

Envisaged number of candidates: 5

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

three.1.2) Economic and financial standing

List and brief description of selection criteria

As stated in the Dynamic Purchasing Documentation

three.1.3) Technical and professional ability

List and brief description of selection criteria

As stated in the Dynamic Purchasing Documentation


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Restricted procedure

four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system

The procurement involves the setting up of a dynamic purchasing system

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 000-006570

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

30 October 2029

Local time

12:00pm

four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates

6 November 2029

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English, Welsh

four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 48 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.2) Information about electronic workflows

Electronic ordering will be used

Electronic invoicing will be accepted

Electronic payment will be used

six.3) Additional information

The tender and all supporting documentation are only available from the Proactis Supplier Portal, which can be directly accessed following registration.

NB: Tender information and any questions and answers relating to the tender will only be available directly from the portal and will not be communicated by any other means.

Tender submissions will only be accepted via the portal and not by any other means unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Council.

E-Tender access information:

— Go to https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login

You can access the opportunity by completing the following steps:

If you have not already signed-up to the Proactis Supplier Portal, click "Signup", complete the required information and then click "Register".

— Registration should only be performed once for each Organisation.

— If you think that someone in your Organisation may have already registered on this Portal then you must not register again.

— Please contact the Primary Contact in order to arrange access to the Portal.

An activation email will be sent to the email address of your primary contact.

Click on the link contained within the email to activate your account.

Sign into the Proactis Supplier Portal by entering your Login Name that you previously provided. Enter the temporary password that was provided in the activation e-mail.

Complete the Self Registration/Organisation Details. Click the < and > arrows to move from page to page; on page 8, create a new password.

Click "Complete Registration"

Click on the Red Box marked "Opportunities", type Torfaen in the box at the top of the page called "Search by customer reference, title or customer name..." and click "Search"

Identify the Opportunity with the title of “T.4602- Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Flying Start Childcare placements “and click the White Arrow in a Blue Circle on the right-hand side of the line.

Click "Register Interest" Then click the Telescope button on the left-hand side of the page, then enter "Torfaen" in the box at the top of the page called "Search by customer reference, title or customer name... and click "Search".

You will now see that the “T.4602- Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Flying Start Childcare placements” Opportunity now to Private. Click the White Arrow in a Blue Circle.

It is recommended that you read the information provided in the documents that can be found if you click the line marked "Request Documents" before attempting to answer any of the questions.

(WA Ref:156362)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The High Court

Royal Courts Of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Country

United Kingdom