Coming up· published 19 Aug 2025
Early Learning and Childcare Flexible Framework Agreement (New Entrants)
North Ayrshire Council · North Ayrshire, Scotland
North Ayrshire Council is planning Early Learning and Childcare Flexible Framework Agreement (New Entrants). It is a framework for other health and social care in North Ayrshire.
Source: Find a Tender, published 19 Aug 2025. Details are refreshed every 30 minutes.
Key dates
2025
Pipeline notice published
Planning Notice · 08:26
View notice2026
Tender notice expected
Date given in the buyer's earlier notice
About this tender
In brief
North Ayrshire Council is planning Early Learning and Childcare Flexible Framework Agreement (New Entrants). It is a framework for other health and social care in North Ayrshire. The buyer has published an early notice. It gives providers time to prepare before the tender opens.
Find a Tender published it on 19 August 2025. The notice number is 049693-2025. The OCDS ID is ocds-h6vhtk-058a40. Bids are made through the buyer's Public Contracts Scotland portal.
Summary of the contracting process
North Ayrshire Council is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for the "Early Learning and Childcare Flexible Framework Agreement (New Entrants)." This tender, located in North Ayrshire, aims to establish a framework for daycare and pre-school education services under industry category CPV 85312110.
The framework is divided into two lots: Lot 1 focuses on Early Learning and Childcare Services including private, voluntary, and third sector settings, and Lot 2 is dedicated to Childminding Services. Applications for this flexible framework are ongoing, with successful providers invited to deliver services until the framework's expiry on 31st July 2025.
The procurement process is designed to assess applicants against national standards, with a 4-6 week evaluation period from the application date. Interested suppliers can benefit from joining throughout the contract period. Private, voluntary, and third sector nurseries, and childminders in North Ayrshire are encouraged to apply.
This opportunity allows smaller enterprises, like SMEs, to access important public sector contracts by meeting the framework's criteria and conditions, paving the way for potential business growth within the region.
About this tender
North Ayrshire Council's Early Learning and Childcare Flexible Framework Agreement is now live, and in accordance with the terms of the framework new applicants are invited to join the framework throughout the contract duration.
All providers who apply and meet the miniumum conditions of the Flexible Framework agreement (i.e. the National Standards & relevant legislation as noted in the attached documentation) and who accept the rates/framework terms and conditions shall be accepted to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework Agreement. Please review the attached documentation for further information. Completed applications should be sent to procurement@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.
Applications received during the Flexible Framework period will be evaluated in a 4-6 week period from the application date. Providers successfully appointed to the framework will be eligible to deliver funded placements from their date of appointment (i.e. the date an award letter is issued) until the Framework expiry date (31st July 2025).
Please note, the purpose of the Flexible Framework Agreement is to ensure that Providers meet the National Standards and requirements to be eligible to deliver funded placements. Providers should note that being appointed to the Flexible Framework Agreement does not provide any guarantee of business. The terms and conditions of the Flexible Framework Agreement will be the Early Learning and Childcare Model Terms and Conditions.
Lots (2)
- 01
Lot 1 - Early Learning and Childcare Services (Including Private, Voluntary and Third Sector Settings)Planned
Lot 1 of this Flexible Framework Agreement sets out the minimum standards required from Early Learning and Childcare (Nursery) Services (including Private, Voluntary and Third Sector settings).
To apply for this Lot Providers must: 1) Read and review all documentation attached to this notice; 2) Submit a completed Part A (Information and Requirements) Form; and 3) Provide all required evidence listed in Part B (Provider Evidence Requirements) for Lot 1 Where initial evidence submitted does not provide sufficient assurance, additional evidence may be sought by the Council.
Potential additional evidence that may be sought is outlined in the attached documents.
- 02
Lot 2 - Childminding ServicesPlanned
Lot 2 of this Flexible Framework Agreement sets out the minimum standards required from Childminding Services.
To apply for this Lot Providers must: 1) Read and review all documentation attached to this notice; 2) Submit a completed Part A (Information and Requirements) Form; and 3) Provide all required evidence listed in Part B (Provider Evidence Requirements) for Lot 2 Where initial evidence submitted does not provide sufficient assurance, additional evidence may be sought by the Council.
Potential additional evidence that may be sought is outlined in the attached documents.
Key facts
Contract
- Service
- Other
- Procurement type
- Framework
- Category
- Services
- Contract period
- Not specified - Not specified
- Lots
- 2
Procedure
- Notice type
- Planning Notice
- Current stage
- Planning
- Stages so far
- Planning
- Published on
- Find a Tender Service
- Buyer's portal
- Public Contracts Scotland
Not stated in the notice: procurement method, awardee scale.
Values
Not stated in the notice: tender value, lots value, awards value, contracts value.
Status
- Tender
- Planned
- Lots
- Planned
Not stated in the notice: awards, contracts.
References
- Find a Tender notice
- 049693-2025
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-058a40
- CPV code
- 80110000 - Pre-school education services; 85312100 - Daycare services; 85312110 - Child daycare services
- CPV division
- 80 - Education and training services; 85 - Health and social work services
Location
- Local authority
- North Ayrshire
- Town
- Kilmarnock
- Postcode
- KA12 8EE
- Electoral ward
- Irvine South
- Constituency
- Central Ayrshire
- Delivery area
- North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire
- Region
- Scotland
- Sub-region
- North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire
- Area
- Southern Scotland
- Country
- Scotland
Buyer
Contracting authority
- Organisation
- North Ayrshire Council
- Category
- Services
- Phone
- +44 1294310000
- Address
- Irvine, KA12 8EE · Scotland · Scotland
Not stated in the notice: contact.
Documents and links
- Public Contracts Scotland portal, to register and bidapi.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice
- Publiccontractsscotland.gov.ukpubliccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- Publiccontractsscotland.gov.ukpubliccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx
- Publiccontractsscotland.gov.ukpubliccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx
- Latest noticefind-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049693-2025
- OCDS record ocds-h6vhtk-058a40 (JSON)find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/ocds-h…
Questions about Early Learning and Childcare Flexible Framework Agreement (New Entrants)
When will the Early Learning and Childcare Flexible Framework Agreement (New Entrants) tender open?
North Ayrshire Council has not yet given a date for the tender notice. An early notice is the time to answer any market engagement questions and gather the evidence a bid will need.
Who is the buyer for Early Learning and Childcare Flexible Framework Agreement (New Entrants)?
North Ayrshire Council, based in North Ayrshire, Scotland.
How do I bid for Early Learning and Childcare Flexible Framework Agreement (New Entrants)?
Register on the buyer's Public Contracts Scotland portal, download the tender pack and check every condition of participation before you start writing. Care Sync Experts writes and reviews care tender bids from £1,500 + VAT.
Want help winning this tender?
We write and review care tender bids: quality answers, case studies and social value, checked against how the buyer scores before you submit.
What to do next
- Read the early notice in full.
- Answer any market engagement questions.
- Gather your evidence and case studies now.
- Check your policies are up to date.
- Watch for the tender notice.
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