Provision of Nursery Operator Services

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 the end of October 2024, 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.

It is the intention of the Authority to host a Meet the Buyer event at Keelylang Early Years Base, Pickaquoy Road in Kirkwall on Wednesday 5 June 2024 5.30 - 6.30pm.

The purpose of the Meet the Buyer event is to give providers interested in tendering for the Provision of Nursery Operator Services the opportunity to learn more about the overall requirements for the service and to provide feedback to the Authority on the proposals.

Parties who are interested in the project will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this Meet the Buyer Event Notice. Nor shall a response to this Meet the Buyer Event Notice guarantee an invitation to participate in any future procurement process that OIC may conduct. For the avoidance of doubt, this Meet the Buyer Event Notice does not constitute a call for competition to procure any works or services and is not published with the intent to reduce the time limit for the receipt of tenders.

OIC will not be liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to this Meet the Buyer Event Notice or any party who may participate in any future procurement process. In the event that OIC decides to proceed with any procurement, it is currently assumed that such procurement will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Contract Standing Orders rules and that of the relevant Procurement Legislation. Additional information: The contract will be for an initial 4 year period with 4, 12 month extensions available