NAC/5011 Early Learning and Childcare Funded Entitlement (Re-open to New Providers)

North Ayrshire Council (the “Council”) is required by Scottish Government, under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, to provide a funded placement of 1140 hours per year to all eligible 2 year olds and all children aged from 3 to those not yet attending Primary School, effective from August 2020.

In accordance with The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Regulation 74, the Council have established a Flexible Framework to secure external providers who can supplement the Council’s internal early learning and childcare provision. The Framework is for 5 years, with options for Tenderers to apply to the Framework every 6 months.

The estimated value is for the remainder of the framework across all suppliers, this is not the available amount for each supplier.

This re-opening will cover both the August 2022 and February 2023 re-opening obligations.

The Council has a statutory duty to make pre-school education available for eligible children under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2000. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance set out the increased entitlement of 600 hours, including the provision for eligible children and places a duty on the Council to offer increased flexibility to parents as to where and how their child can access their Early Learning and Childcare entitlement. Scottish Government has since made a commitment to extend the entitlement to all eligible children to 1140 hours Early Learning and Childcare as set out in ‘A Blueprint for 2020; Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland’ (2016).

The Funding Follows the Child approach places choice in parents’ and carers’ hands allowing them to access their child’s funded entitlement with a range of ELC providers, therefore the Council have set up a Flexible Framework for the provision of early learning and childcare services under the Light Touch Rules contained within the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Lot 2 of this Flexible Framework sets out the minimum standards required from the childminders setting.

All providers who apply and meet the national standards, legislation, the Council's procedural requirements as set out in the Invitation to Tender and accept the rates and contract terms set out by the Council shall be able to deliver funded provision through the Flexible Framework.

This re-opening will cover both the August 2022 and February 2023 re-opening obligations.

Further entry points to the Framework will be permitted every 6 months for new entrants and any Tenderer who were not awarded to the initial Framework entry point. The same Requirements will apply.

The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 47362. For more information see:

http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343

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:

The framework has been divided into lots to support SMEs to gain access to opportunities through the flexible framework. The nature of the services delivered are unlikely to be delivered through sub-contractors and therefore a sub-contract clause is not suitable for this type of services framework.

The Contracting Authority does not intend to include any community benefit requirements in this contract for the following reason:

The Flexible Framework does not provide a guarantee of work, therefore community benefits are not being made mandatory within the tender.

The award of a funded placement is dictated by parental choice therefore no work is guaranteed.

This re-opening will cover both the August 2022 and February 2023 re-opening obligations.

The contract value reflects the remaining value for the remainder of the contract.

The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 47362. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343

The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 47362. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343