Official UK procurement notice
Nursery Provision of Early Years & Childcare for RAF Marham and RAF Cranwell
Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe Authority intends to run a Tender process for the provision of RAF Nurseries using Open Competition with Lots. The Tender will be open for 25 Calendar days. The locations will be split into Lots as outlined below:
Lot 1 to include RAF Cranwell, Wellesley Way, Cranwell, Sleaford NG34 8HB.
Lot 2 to include RAF Marham, Elm Road, Upper Marham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE33 9NF.
All suppliers are to submit a response to all evaluation questions (even if not applicable) relating to the Lot/s they wish to bid for. Failure to do so will render your bid non-compliant.
Suppliers can bid for one lot or both lots within the Tender.
For any bids you do not wish to bid for please leave the questions blank.
Description of the procurement:
The below provides a brief illustration of the current provision and operational delivery of the nursery and childcare sites. Please note this is an illustration and detail can be subject to change. There will be scope to work with each station to adapt the operational delivery and outputs of the setting to meet the needs of service families and the station’s statement of requirements.
RAF Cranwell
The nursery operates out of a purpose-built nursery that is located inside of the wire at RAF Cranwell, Sleaford NG34 8HB. The nursery is currently open Mon – Fri from 07.30 – 18.00 for 51 days of the year providing up to 76 places for children aged 0-5 years, including an offer of full, half day and sessional options to meet the needs of service families living and working at RAF Cranwell. There are currently 92 children under 5 on roll at the nursery. Wraparound childcare and holiday provision for up to 40 places is also offered to children aged 4 – 11 years at other sites within close proximity to the nursery. There are 35 staff employed to work with the children. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged 9months+.
RAF Marham
The nursery and childcare provision operates out of a purpose built-building facility that is located outside the wire at RAF Marham. The setting is currently open 0700 – 1800 and operates all year round providing up to 186 places at any one time for children aged 0 – 11 years including an offer of full days, part time, sessional and wraparound childcare options to meet the needs of service families. There are 44 staff employed to work with the children. The setting provides funded early education for children aged 9 months+.
CPV: Pre-school education services
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value (£2 together) · same conditions of participation on every lotLot #1RAF CranwellAwardedRenewal East MidlandsPublished value£1
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Condition of participation
As outlined in the tender documentation
Lot #2RAF MarhamAwardedRenewal East of EnglandPublished value£1
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Condition of participation
As outlined in the tender documentation
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- Condition of participation
As outlined in the tender documentation
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Below threshold - open competition
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Below threshold
- Regulatory regime
- Concession
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 8 May 2026, 15:12 BST
- Last source update
- 29 Jul 2026, 09:13 BST
- Authority reference
715842488- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-042621- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0694e8Find a Tender
- Reserved participation area
- E10000019
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 5 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 22 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
Timeline
8 May 2026 → 1 Sept 2026 · 5 dates- Tender notice published161 days ago8 May 2026, 15:12 BST
- Clarification questions by147 days ago22 May 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline133 days ago5 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Latest notice published79 days ago29 Jul 2026, 09:13 BST
- Contract starts45 days ago1 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
10 events · 6 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 May 2026- Tender notice published8 May 2026, 15:12 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published27 May 2026, 15:05 BSTUK4
- Deadline moved to 5 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST27 May 2026, 15:05 BST+3 days · was 2 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Contract award notice published7 Jul 2026, 11:24 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete7 Jul 2026, 11:24 BST
- Contract award notice published8 Jul 2026, 13:54 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected15 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract signature expected20 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published28 Jul 2026, 10:06 BSTUK7
- Contract details notice published29 Jul 2026, 09:13 BSTUK7
Published amendments (1)
Tender deadline has been extended to 05/06/2026 at 12:00
Routine re-releases (6)
- 2026-07: 1 release · 7 Jul 2026
- 2026-05: 2 releases · 8 May 2026, 27 May 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · RAF Cranwell1 award | |||
| Rafa Kidz LimitedSMENursery Provision of Early Years & Childcare for RAF Cranwell1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 · up to 31 Aug 2033Extensions: 1 optional 2 year extension | £1 | 8 Jul 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · RAF Marham1 award | |||
| Rafa Kidz LimitedSMENursery Provision of Early Years & Childcare for RAF Marham1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 · up to 31 Aug 2033Extensions: 1 optional 2 year extension | — | 25 Jun 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
715842488 - Nursery Provision of Early Years & Childcare for RAF Marham · Rafa Kidz LimitedSME
- Signed
- 28 Jul 2026
- Value
- —
- Period
- 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 · up to 31 Aug 2033 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- One optional 2 year extension
Nursery Provision of Early Years & Childcare for RAF Cranwell · Rafa Kidz LimitedSME
- Signed
- 28 Jul 2026
- Value
- £1
- Period
- 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 · up to 31 Aug 2033 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- One optional 2 year extension
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · RAF Cranwell | 1final-stage tenders · 2 at stage one | 1 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Rafa Kidz LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (6)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender