Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Dundee City Council
Dundee House, 50 North Lindsay Street
Dundee
DD1 1NZ
UK
Telephone: +44 7443716298
E-mail: kelly.oconnor@dundeecity.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM71
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.dundeecity.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00220
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
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
Quality Funded Early Learning and Childcare (1140 Hours)
Reference number: C&F/ELC/REOPENING/NOV25
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85312110
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Dundee City Council invites bid submissions from suitably qualified and experienced providers to supplement its existing framework (Contract Reference: C&F/ELC/MAIN/25) for Quality Funded Early Learning and Childcare. This opportunity ensures that all eligible children residing in Dundee can access their entitlement to 1140 hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
25 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Early Learning and Childcare for eligible 2 Year Olds
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80110000
85312110
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM71
Main site or place of performance:
Dundee
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
To support its own services and existing framework providers under Framework C&F/ELC/MAIN/25 (Quality Funded Early Learning and Childcare), Dundee City Council will re-open the framework to new providers using the flexibility of the Light Touch Regime under Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations.
Scope of Lot 1:
Provision of funded Early Learning and Childcare for eligible 2-year-old children where either:
The parent or carer is in receipt of specified benefits; or
The child or parent has experienced care.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
05/01/2026
End:
18/08/2029
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Early Learning and Childcare for Eligible 3-5 Year olds
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85312110
80110000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM71
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
To support its own services and existing framework providers under Framework C&F/ELC/MAIN/25 (Quality Funded Early Learning and Childcare), Dundee City Council will re-open the framework to new providers using the flexibility of the Light Touch Regime under Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations.
Scope of Lot 2:
Provision of funded Early Learning and Childcare for eligible 3–5-year-old children. Children become eligible on the first day of the school term following their third birthday.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
05/01/2026
End:
18/08/2029
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
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:
All ELC providers are required to demonstrate that they meet the National Standard for Early Learning and Childcare before they can access funding to deliver the funded hours, whether they are in the public, private or third sectors or are childminders.
The Invitation to Tender (ITT) document attached to this contract notice provides more detail about the requirements.
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Performance conditions
The following Mandatory conditions must be met:
1. The Service Providers must be able to meet the National Standards criteria - Good or Above.
2. Service Providers must be registered with the Care Inspectorate as a Day Care of Children Service or a Childminding Service
The Invitation to Tender (ITT) document attached to this contract notice provides more detail of the contract conditions and requirements.
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
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-018328
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
08/12/2025
Local time: 09:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
08/12/2025
Local time: 09:30
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure:
Social Care Contracts Team
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
Providers are strongly advised to prepare their submission in advance to avoid delays or rejection. This includes:
Completing all questions in the eligibility questionnaire.
Ensuring the Single Procurement Document (SPD) is fully completed.
Uploading all required evidence and supporting documents (e.g., Care Inspectorate registration)
Incomplete submissions or missing documentation may result in delays in evaluation or rejection of the application.
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=814521.
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:
It is not applicable for this contract.
The Contracting Authority does not intend to include any community benefit requirements in this contract for the following reason:
Community benefits requirements have not been included because the nature of the services—funded Early Learning and Childcare delivered by multiple small and medium-sized providers—makes it impractical to impose additional community benefit obligations without creating a disproportionate burden. The primary purpose of this framework is to deliver statutory funded hours for eligible children, which in itself provides significant social and economic benefit to the local community.
(SC Ref:814521)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=814521
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Dundee Sheriff Court House
6 West Bell Street
Dundee
DD1 9AD
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
03/11/2025