Contract

Provision of Early Learning and Childcare Services

  • Argyll and Bute Council

F21: Social and other specific services – public contracts (contract award notice)

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-081794

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05f367

Published 11 December 2025, 10:20am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Argyll and Bute Council

Kilmory

Lochgilphead

PA31 8RT

Email

samantha.torrie@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1546604145

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM - Scotland

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00063

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

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Provision of Early Learning and Childcare Services

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 80110000 - Pre-school education services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Argyll and Bute Council invites providers to submit an application to provide Early Learning and Childcare Services. Applications available from Samantha.Torrie@argyll-bute.gov.uk.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Partner Providers - Early Learning and Childcare Centres

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 80110000 - Pre-school education services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM63 - Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute
  • UKM81 - East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh & Lomond
Main site or place of performance

Argyll and Bute

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Procurement of funded Early Learning and Childcare places from ELC Centres in Argyll and Bute.

Funded early learning and childcare (ELC) is available to all three and four year olds and eligible two year olds.

Any resulting contracts will be for 1140 hours per child, per annum.

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.2.14) Additional information

Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Interested parties are asked to contact Samantha.Torrie@argyll-bute.gov.uk for an application pack.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Partner Providers - Early Learning and Childcare Services Childminders

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 80110000 - Pre-school education services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM63 - Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute
  • UKM81 - East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh & Lomond

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Procurement of funded Early Learning and Childcare places from ELC partner childminders in Argyll and Bute.

Funded early learning and childcare (ELC) is available to all three and four year olds and eligible two year olds.

Any resulting contracts will be for 1140 hours per child, per annum.

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.2.14) Additional information

Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Interested parties are asked to contact Samantha.Torrie@argyll-bute.gov.uk for an application pack.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Community Childminding Services

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85312110 - Child daycare services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM63 - Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute
  • UKM81 - East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh & Lomond
Main site or place of performance

Argyll and Bute

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Procurement of Community Childminding Services as described by the Scottish Childminding Association.

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.2.14) Additional information

Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Interested parties are asked to contact Samantha.Torrie@argyll-bute.gov.uk for an application pack.


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Form of procedure

Open procedure

four.1.10) Identification of the national rules applicable to the procedure

Information about national procedures is available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/446/contents/made

four.1.11) Main features of the award procedure

Please contact Samantha.Torrie@argyll-bute.gov.uk for an application pack which contains all details.

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2020/S 134-331442

four.2.9) Information about termination of call for competition in the form of a prior information notice

The contracting authority will not award any further contracts based on the above prior information notice


Section five. Award of contract

Lot No

1

Title

Partner Providers - Early Learning and Childcare Centres

A contract/lot is awarded: No

five.1) Information on non-award

The contract/lot is not awarded

Other reasons (discontinuation of procedure)


Section five. Award of contract

Lot No

2

Title

Partner Providers - Early Learning and Childcare Services Childminders

A contract/lot is awarded: No

five.1) Information on non-award

The contract/lot is not awarded

Other reasons (discontinuation of procedure)


Section five. Award of contract

Lot No

3

Title

Community Childminding Services

A contract/lot is awarded: No

five.1) Information on non-award

The contract/lot is not awarded

Other reasons (discontinuation of procedure)


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

This is a flexible framework to which new providers can be added at any time. The deadline and dates on this notice are necessary to conclude the procurement process but it does not prohibit contract awards to additional providers at any stage during the contract term. New providers can request an application pack at any time.

The services described are described as they would be expected if there was no impact on services from the Covid-19 pandemic. Argyll and Bute Council will monitor the situation along with any guidance or requirements from the Scottish Govt and the expectation of service delivery may change.

(SC Ref:818218)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Oban Sheriff Court

Oban

Country

United Kingdom