Social and other specific services – public contracts
Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Orkney Islands Council
Council Offices, School Place
Kirkwall
KW15 1NY
UK
Contact person: Rosemary Colsell
Telephone: +44 01856873535
E-mail: rosemary.colsell@orkney.gov.uk
Fax: +44 01856876158
NUTS: UKM65
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.orkney.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00369
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Provision of Nursery Operator Services
Reference number: OIC/PROC/1806
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80110000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Orkney Islands Council seeks submissions from providers / concessionaires who are interested in providing up to 51 places for children aged 0-5 years old, within a newbuild Council owned purpose built nursery setting.
0-5 childcare
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
6 452 367.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85312110
80110000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM65
Main site or place of performance:
Kirkwall
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Orkney currently has no private or third sector nursery provider. The council has been running a small temporary day care service for children aged 0-3 since August 2021 in an effort to meet the childcare needs of working families.
In June 2020, Orkney Islands Council agreed to build a new 51 place 0-5 nursery provision next UHI Orkney in Kirkwall. It was agreed that the running of this provision would be tendered, creating a new opportunity for an interested operator. With the building project entering the next phase, with an anticipated completion of Mid April 2025, the newly built nursery will be, fit for purpose, high quality, and have impactful learning environments. The new service will replace an emergency childcare provision for children aged 0-3 operated by the council out of temporary premises. The provider will deliver the service in the setting and will provide childcare for children aged 0-5 with the option of being in partnership with the Local Authority to provide funded early learning and childcare for eligible children aged 2-5.
The services will be registered with the Care Inspectorate as day care of children services.
The contract will be a concession contract for a period of four (4) years with the option of four one-year extensions.
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
6 452 367.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 96
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
The contract will be for an initial 4 yr term with 4 x 12 months extensions available at the sole discretion of the Authority. The estimated value has been updated from original estimate in the Prior Information Notice and now based on existing level of fees for the Authority’s interim nursery, however it will be up to individual bidders to decide on fees to be charged upon successful award.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.4) Objective rules and criteria for participation
Bidders are required to be suitably qualified and experienced to operate the nursery provision as described in this notice and in the subsequent tender documentation to be release following the selection process as detailed in the SPD.
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Participation is reserved to a particular profession: Yes
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:
Registration requirements as required by the Care Inspectorate and Scottish Social Services Council requirements for Practitioners for Day Care for Children.
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
To be detailed in the tender documentation
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
IV.1.11) Main features of the award procedure:
To be detailed in the tender documentation.
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-004752
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
21/04/2025
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
Please note that this is a restricted procurement procedure which means that following the evaluation of the completed SPD, successful bidders will be issued with the Invitation to Tender Documentation at Stage Two of the process. Bidders will be provided with details of the service to be provided and bidders will be required to submit a detailed proposal in response. Orkney Islands Council reserves the right to cancel the procurement at any stage and not award a Contract, the expenditure, work or effort undertaken by bidders prior to the award of any Contract is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of bidders. Late tenders will not be considered by the Council and all questions are to be submitted via the Questions and Answers section of this contract advertisement on PCS, An economic operator that suffers, or risks suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Concession Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016 may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or Court of Session.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=793779.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
The Contracting Authority does not intend to include a sub-contract clause as part of community benefits (as per Section 25 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) in this contract for the following reason:
This service is not suitable for sub-contracting as a main service operator required
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
A summary of the expected community benefits will include but not be limited to the following;
a) Additional services to be provided to children and their parents / carers
b) Partnership working with Orkney College
c) Providing apprenticeships, supervised work placements and work experience opportunities where appropriate
d) Providing parent groups or activities to improve parents / carers experiences
e) Intergenerational working
(SC Ref:793779)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=793779
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Kirkwall Sheriff Court
Watergate
Kirkwall
KW15 1DP
UK
Telephone: +44 1856872110
E-mail: kirkwall@scotcourts.gov.uk
Internet address(es)
URL: http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk
VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Kirkwall Sheriff Court
Watergate
Kirkwall
KW15 1DP
UK
Telephone: +44 1856872110
E-mail: kirkwall@scotcourts.gov.uk
Internet address(es)
URL: http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk
VI.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Kirkwall Sheriff Court
Watergate
Kirkwall
KW15 1DP
UK
Telephone: +44 1856872110
E-mail: kirkwall@scotcourts.gov.uk
Internet address(es)
URL: http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
19/03/2025