Three Contracts for Early Learning and Childcare Places – November 2025
Renfrewshire Council · 5 February 2026
Back to Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board — 5 February 2026 and its agenda
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board On: 5 February 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: The Director of Finance and Resources and the Director of Children’s Services ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Contract Authorisation Report for Three Contracts for Early Learning and Childcare Places – November 2025 (RC-CPU-25-070, RC-CPU- 25-083 and RC-CPU-25-084) ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The purpose of this report is to seek the approval of the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board to enter into three separate Contracts for Early Learning and Childcare Places as detailed in paragraph 2 (i) below. 1.2 The procurement exercise for each of these Contracts was conducted as a Negotiated Procedure in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, as amended, for Social and Other Specific Services. 1.3 A Contract Strategy covering all three Contracts was approved by the Interim Corporate Procurement Manager on 31 July 2025 and the Head of Education, Children’s Services on 7 August 2025. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board: (i) Authorises the Head of Corporate Governance to enter into three separate Contracts:
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PUBLIC 1.1. RC-CPU-25-070 Early Learning and Childcare Places to RAM 204 Limited (CRN SC348088, Care Inspectorate Service Number CS2008186651 and Provider Number SP2008010093), for a contract period of up to 1 year with the option to extend for a period of up to 1 year, with a maximum value of up to £744,431, excluding VAT; 1.2. RC-CPU-25-083 Early Learning and Childcare Places to Gryffe Manor Nursery Ltd (CRN SC554988, Care Inspectorate Service Number CS2017360728 and Provider Number SP2017012994), for a contract period of up to 1 year with the option to extend for a period of up to 1 year, with a maximum value of up to £1,040,971, excluding VAT; 1.3. RC-CPU-25-084 Early Learning and Childcare Places to Heather Murphy trading as Carriagehill Nursery (Green Road) (Sole Trader, Care Inspectorate Service Number CS2003043988 and Provider Number SP2003001028), for a contract period of up to 1 year with the option to extend for a period of up to 1 year, with a maximum value of up to £914,041, excluding VAT. (ii) Notes that each of these three Contracts are intended to commence on 7 April 2026, the exact Commencement Date will be confirmed in the respective Letter of Acceptance. _________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 Renfrewshire Council has a statutory duty to provide Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) places to eligible children. Children’s Services manages the provision of Scottish Government Funding in respect of eligible pre-school children who attend nurseries or childminders (Settings) within the Renfrewshire Council area. In addition to the Council run Settings, the Council commissions ELC places in private and voluntary sector nurseries and with childminders through a Flexible Framework. This allows the Council flexibility to offer Parents a choice of Provider for the funded ELC entitlement. The current Flexible Framework for Early Learning and Childcare Places (RC-CPU-20-113) will expire on 23 May 2026. 3.2 Scottish Government Funding Follows the Child (FFtC) and the National Standard for ELC Providers: Operating Guidance (Published December 2023) informs of the universal funded entitlement to high quality, nurturing ELC for all 3 to 5 year old and eligible 2 year old children in Scotland. The minimum requirement of the National Standard is for Providers to hold evaluations of ‘Good or better’ in Care Inspectorate inspections. The three Providers recommended for award
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PUBLIC of a shorter term negotiated contract do not currently meet evaluations of ‘Good or better’ across all Care Inspectorate quality themes inspected and therefore would not be eligible to participate in the Council’s Flexible Framework until they meet this minimum requirement. 3.3 The three short term negotiated contracts are required to ensure continuity of provision for children currently attending these Settings and to ensure adequate provision in these localities within Renfrewshire Council area for new Commissioned Places. This approach allows the Council to work with current Settings providing support to improve their inspection evaluations. 3.4 All three Providers would be encouraged to apply at the next available opening of the Council’s Flexible Framework for Early Learning and Childcare Places (RC-CPU-25-008) when the minimum evaluation requirements are met. 3.5 The Interim Corporate Procurement Manager approved the procedure for procurement of individual negotiated contracts without competition in accordance with the Renfrewshire Council Standing Orders Relating to Contracts and in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, as amended, for Social and Other Specific Services. 3.6 Each Invitation to Contract was published on 7 November 2025 with Tender Submission responses to be made by the return deadline of 12 noon on 08 December 2025. 3.7 The following providers were invited to respond to these specific opportunities: A. RC-CPU-25-070 Early Learning and Childcare Places – RAM 204 Limited; B. RC-CPU-25-083 Early Learning and Childcare Places – Gryffe Manor Nursery Ltd; C. RC-CPU-25-084 Early Learning and Childcare Places – Heather Murphy trading as Carriagehill Nursery (Green Road). 3.8 Each of the providers invited to submit a response replied to the relevant Invitation to Contract. The evaluation was carried out by representatives from Children’s Services, Corporate Procurement Unit (CPU), Health and Safety, Finance, Risk and Security and Compliance teams.
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PUBLIC 3.9 The Tender submission received for each contract was considered against predetermined criteria in the form of the Single Procurement Document (SPD) (Scotland). 3.10 Following review of the 3 SPD (Scotland) received: A. Tender submission for RC-CPU-25-070 Early Learning and Childcare Places from RAM 204 Limited is compliant with the selection criteria set out within the SPD (Scotland); B. Tender submission for RC-CPU-25-083 Early Learning and Childcare Places from Gryffe Manor Nursery Ltd is compliant with the selection criteria set out within the SPD (Scotland); C. Tender submission for RC-CPU-25-084 Early Learning and Childcare Places from Heather Murphy trading as Carriagehill Nursery (Green Road) is compliant with the selection criteria set out within the SPD (Scotland). 3.11 Each response was then evaluated against the Price/Quality Award Criteria detailed in the respective Invitation to Contract. 3.12 The evaluation outcome for each Contract is noted as follows: 3.12.1 Tender Submission for RC-CPU-25-070 Early Learning and Childcare Places: • RAM 204 Limited submission met the requirements set out in the Invitation to Contract; • RAM 204 Limited confirmed they will deliver the Service for the agreed Price; 3.12.2 Tender Submission for RC-CPU-25-083 Early Learning and Childcare Places: • Gryffe Manor Nursery Ltd submission met the requirements set out in the Invitation to Contract; • Gryffe Manor Nursery Ltd confirmed they will deliver the Service for the agreed Price; 3.12.3 Tender Submission for RC-CPU-25-084 Early Learning and Childcare Places: • Heather Murphy trading as Carriagehill Nursery (Green Road) submission met the requirements set out in the Invitation to Contract;
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PUBLIC • Heather Murphy trading as Carriagehill Nursery (Green Road) confirmed they will deliver the Service for the agreed Price; 3.13 Community Benefits were requested as part of these Contracts. The following Community Benefits will be delivered under the respective Contract: RC-CPU-25-070 RAM 204 Limited Community Benefit Number Offered Modern Apprenticeship 2 S/NVQ (or equivalent) for • New Employee • Existing Employee • Supply Chain Employee 1 RC-CPU-25-083 Gryffe Manor Nursery Ltd Community Benefit Number Offered Modern Apprenticeship 3 S/NVQ (or equivalent) for • New Employee • Existing Employee • Supply Chain Employee 2 Industry Awareness Events • Schools • Invest in Renfrewshire – Employability • Further Education 1 Industry Skill Transfer to Schools 1 RC-CPU-25-084 Heather Murphy trading as Carriagehill Nursery (Green Road) Community Benefit Number Offered Modern Apprenticeship 1 Work Experience Placement for an individual 16+ years of age 2 S/NVQ (or equivalent) for • New Employee • Existing Employee • Supply Chain Employee 1 ___________________________________________________________________
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PUBLIC Implications of the Report 1. Financial - The maximum contract values are as follows: RC-CPU-25- 070 up to £744,431 excluding VAT; RC-CPU-25-083 up to £1,040,971 excluding VAT; RC-CPU-25-084 up to £914,041 excluding VAT; for the initial up to 1 year period plus further up to 1 year extension will be met from the Early Learning and Childcare revenue budget. The anticipated Commencement Date for each of these three Contracts is 07 April 2026. 2. HR & Organisational Development - None directly arising from this report. 3. Community/Council Planning – • Our Renfrewshire is well - o Promoting wellbeing and good mental health, particularly in our young people; o Developing strong community-based services that respond to local need. • Our Renfrewshire is fair – o Ensuring our children get the best possible start in life; o Addressing the poverty related attainment gap, and young people can achieve success after school; o Ensuring all eligible receive their entitlement of 1140 hours of early learning and childcare. • Our Renfrewshire is safe – o Protecting vulnerable adults and children, ensuring they can live safely and independently. • Fair - nurturing bright, happy and healthy futures for all o Reducing child poverty in Renfrewshire and improving outcomes for children and families currently living in poverty; o Protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities, including children and young people who are at risk; o Supporting and nurturing children and families, with particular focus on early intervention and mental health and wellbeing, to ensure positive outcomes for children and young people; o Placing the rights and needs of every child and young person at the centre of our decision making and service delivery; o Promoting a shared vision and refreshed understanding of inclusion for our children and young people; and o Raising educational attainment while ensuring equity for all our children and young people.
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PUBLIC 4. Legal - Each of these three contracts is for Social and Other Specific Services for an above GPA threshold contract in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 as amended for and the Council Standing Orders relating to Contracts. Legal risk including a challenge from other Providers has been considered and balanced against the need to ensure continuity and availability of service provision within Renfrewshire and recognising Parent/Carer choice of Provider/Setting. 5. Property/Assets - None directly arising from this report. 6. Information Technology - The cyber submissions for each of the three tender submissions were evaluated by the Council’s Security and Compliance team and were all scored “Pass” as satisfying the Council’s requirements: • RC-CPU-25-070 Early Learning and Childcare Places – RAM 204 Limited (Pass); • RC-CPU-25-083 Early Learning and Childcare Places – Gryffe Manor Nursery Ltd (Pass); • RC-CPU-25-084 Early Learning and Childcare Places – Heather Murphy trading as Carriagehill Nursery (Green Road) (Pass). 7. Equality & Human Rights - The recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored. 8. Health & Safety - The Health and Safety submissions for each of the three tender submissions were evaluated by Health and Safety and were all scored “Pass” as satisfying the Council’s requirements: • RC-CPU-25-070 Early Learning and Childcare Places – RAM 204 Limited (Pass); • RC-CPU-25-083 Early Learning and Childcare Places – Gryffe Manor Nursery Ltd (Pass); • RC-CPU-25-084 Early Learning and Childcare Places – Heather Murphy trading as Carriagehill Nursery (Green Road) (Pass).
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PUBLIC 9. Procurement – The procurement procedures outlined within this report comply with the principles of procurement in accordance with Regulation 76 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. 10. Risk - The insurance documents submitted with each tender submission for each contract was assessed by Renfrewshire Council’s Risk Officer, and all were all scored “Pass” as satisfying the Council’s requirements: • RC-CPU-25-070 Early Learning and Childcare Places – RAM 204 Limited (Pass); • RC-CPU-25-083 Early Learning and Childcare Places – Gryffe Manor Nursery Ltd (Pass); • RC-CPU-25-084 Early Learning and Childcare Places – Heather Murphy trading as Carriagehill Nursery (Green Road) (Pass). 11. Privacy Impact - All three contracts contain Renfrewshire Council’s General Conditions of Contract including Data Protection Conditions. Each Provider (RAM 204 Limited, Gryffe Manor Nursery Ltd and Heather Murphy trading as Carriagehill Nursery (Green Road)) will be a Data Controller under the respective Contract and, as such, have a legal responsibility to comply with Data Protection legislation when collecting, processing and storing personal data. 12. Climate Risk – The level of impact associated with the services was assessed using the Scottish Government Sustainability Test and is considered to be low impact. 13. Children’s Rights – This report demonstrates compliance with Articles 1 – 42 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. 14. Cosla Policy Position – None directly arising from this report. _________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers – None ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Sarah Ford, Senior Procurement Specialist, Corporate Procurement Unit, sarah.ford@renfrewshire.gov.uk