AwardedAwarded 31 March 2026

Flexible Framework for Early Learning and Childcare Places August 2025

Renfrewshire Council · Local authority

In brief

Renfrewshire Council awarded care work to Thrive Childcare and Education, 3 Bears Nursery Limited and Bright Starts Nursery (Inchinnan) Ltd and 32 others on 31 March 2026.

It is split into 2 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

What the notice says

Renfrewshire Council is seeking to establish a multi–Provider Flexible Framework Agreement (Flexible Framework) for Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Places. The Council is seeking to procure the service of local Providers in respect of the future provision of early learning and childcare places within the Renfrewshire Council Area in addition to and to supplement the service provided at Council premises. This will allow the Council flexibility to offer Parents and Carers (including kinship carers) a choice of Provider for the funded ELC entitlement via a Council owned and managed nursery or from an independent or third sector Provider. The Flexible Framework is for a period of 4 years…Read the full description
Renfrewshire Council is seeking to establish a multi–Provider Flexible Framework Agreement (Flexible Framework) for Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Places. The Council is seeking to procure the service of local Providers in respect of the future provision of early learning and childcare places within the Renfrewshire Council Area in addition to and to supplement the service provided at Council premises. This will allow the Council flexibility to offer Parents and Carers (including kinship carers) a choice of Provider for the funded ELC entitlement via a Council owned and managed nursery or from an independent or third sector Provider. The Flexible Framework is for a period of 4 years with the option to extend for up to 12 months on 3 separate occasions, subject to satisfactory operation and performance. The Flexible Framework commenced on the 7th April 2026 and will expire on the 6th April 2030. Should all extension options be taken, the End Date will be the 6th April 2033. Providers’ successful in obtaining a place on the Flexible Framework may have an Appointed Date which differs from the Commencement Date. The length of any Commissioned Place made under this Flexible Framework will be stated in the relevant Commissioned Place. A Commissioned Place may expire after the Flexible Framework End Date. Tenderers should note there is no guaranteed level of spend for any Commissioned Place awarded under the Flexible Framework; there is also no guarantee of payment being made to a Provider solely by appointment to the Flexible Framework. A flexible approach has been designed which will allow New Entrants to apply to be on the Flexible Framework.

Lots

LotTradeValue
Registered Child Day Care Providers
What this lot covers

The Tender Procedure was conducted in accordance with an above Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) Threshold as an Open procedure relating to Services under Schedule 3 – Social and Other Specific Services of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. The scope of Services to be provided by a Provider under this Flexible Framework falls within the definition of a Chapter 3 Section 7 “Social and Other Specific Service” of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, as amended (Regulations) and therefore the Flexible Framework is not subject to the full requirements of the aforementioned Regulations. A flexible approach has been designed which will allow New Entrants to apply to be on the Flexible Framework throughout the Period of Contract. The Council will call off from the Flexible Framework. Tenderers should note there is no guaranteed level of spend for any Commissioned Place awarded under the Flexible Framework; there is also no guarantee of payment being made to a Provider solely by appointment to the Flexible Framework. Additional information: Tenderers must accept the Price as detailed in the Tender Documents. Tenderers must meet the selection criteria as detailed in this Contract Notice and also meet the required technical criteria as detailed in the Tender Documents.

Social and domiciliary care—
Registered Childminder
What this lot covers

The Tender Procedure was conducted in accordance with an above Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) Threshold as an Open procedure relating to Services under Schedule 3 – Social and Other Specific Services of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. The scope of Services to be provided by a Provider under this Flexible Framework falls within the definition of a Chapter 3 Section 7 “Social and Other Specific Service” of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, as amended (Regulations) and therefore the Flexible Framework is not subject to the full requirements of the aforementioned Regulations. A flexible approach has been designed which will allow New Entrants to apply to be on the Flexible Framework throughout the Period of Contract. The Council will call off from the Flexible Framework. Tenderers should note there is no guaranteed level of spend for any Commissioned Place awarded under the Flexible Framework; there is also no guarantee of payment being made to a Provider solely by appointment to the Flexible Framework. Additional information: Tenderers must accept the Price as detailed in the Tender Documents. Tenderers must meet the selection criteria as detailed in this Contract Notice and also meet the required technical criteria as detailed in the Tender Documents.

Social and domiciliary care—

Who won

WinnerLotValueDates
Thrive Childcare and Education (SME)
3 Bears Nursery Limited (SME)
Bright Starts Nursery (Inchinnan) Ltd (SME)
Abbeymill Childcare Limited (SME)
Cairellot Nursery Limited (SME)
Carli's Kindergarten Ltd (Linwood) (SME)
Carli's Kindergarten Ltd (Erskine) (SME)
Childcare First Limited (SME)
Children's Hour Limited (SME)
Erskine Community Nursery SCIO (Bargarran) (SME)
Genesis (J & T) Limited (SME)
Heather Murphy t/a Carriagehill Nursery (SME)
Inchinnan Community Nursery (SME)
Kibbleworks
Kilbarchan Community Nursery (SCIO) (SME)
Kilpatrick Leisure Limited (SME)
Leaps And Bounds (Scotland) Limited (SME)
Little Flowers Limited (SME)
Little Stars (Stirling) Limited (SME)
Maxwellton Park Nursery & OSC (SME)
Orchard Grove Nurseries Limited (SME)
Roin Limited (SME)
Lorna Bradley and Michael Brown, a partnership trading as "Stepping Stones" (SME)
The Committee of Linwood Community Care (SME)
28 bids received
Registered Child Day Care Providers£125,000,000
Carole McLachlan (SME)
Catherine Whyte (SME)
Catherine Young (SME)
Claire Crawford (SME)
Elaine Parkhill (SME)
Karen Chalmers (SME)
Karen Finnie (SME)
Kelly Rix (SME)
Kerry Goudie (SME)
Malgorzata Kowalik trading as Little Rabbit (SME)
Sharon Wallace (SME)
11 bids received
Registered Childminder£125,000,000

Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.

Timeline

  1. Contract award notice · notice 055220-2026

About the buyer

Renfrewshire CouncilLast 12 months

Procurements

45

Awards

24

Suppliers it has used most for care

  • 3 Bears Nursery Limited1 contract
  • Abbeymill Childcare Limited1 contract
  • Bright Starts Nursery (Inchinnan) Ltd1 contract
  • Cairellot Nursery Limited1 contract
  • Carli's Kindergarten Ltd (Erskine)1 contract

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From notice 055220-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 11 June 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.