Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice
Published 8 May 2026, 15:12 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Nursery Provision of Early Years & Childcare for RAF Marham and RAF Cranwell

Official notice

Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)

2 lotsServicesBelow threshold - open competitionBelow thresholdConcessionReserved for SMEs and VCSEsReserved: E10000019SME suitableVCSE suitable
Concession value (operator's revenue)£2envelope for 2 lots · operator revenue, not the authority's budget
Submissions closed 5 Jun 2026awarded 8 Jul 2026
Awarded to Rafa Kidz Limited2 awards
Contract term 5 yrsends 31 Aug 2031 · up to 31 Aug 2033 with extensions · starts 1 Sept 2026

What is being bought2 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The 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 lot
Lot #1RAF CranwellAwardedRenewal East Midlands 5 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£1

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 (5 yrs) · up to 31 Aug 2033 with extensionsValue: £1 exc. VAT · £1 inc. VAT
Delivery: East MidlandsEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: One optional 2 year extension period
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Condition of participation

    As outlined in the tender documentation

Lot #2RAF MarhamAwardedRenewal East of England 5 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£1

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2031 (5 yrs) · up to 31 Aug 2033 with extensionsValue: £1 exc. VAT · £1 inc. VAT
Delivery: East of EnglandEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: One optional 2 year extension period
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Condition of participation

    As outlined in the tender documentation

What it takes to win
i

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 more
Conditions of participation · identical on every lot1
  • 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)
Pre-school education services
Delivery area
East Midlands (UKF3)East of England (UKH1)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0694e8 Find a Tender
Contract terms
Reserved participation area
E10000019

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Defence Sourcing Portal · Who buys & how to bid on MOD DSP
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowed
Access & registration note: Free · registration requires an NCAGE code — obtain in advance · before you can bid: NCAGE
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
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

8 May 2026 → 1 Sept 2026 · 5 dates
  1. Tender notice published161 days ago
    8 May 2026, 15:12 BST
  2. Clarification questions by147 days ago
    22 May 2026, 12:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline133 days ago
    5 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
  4. Latest notice published79 days ago
    29 Jul 2026, 09:13 BST
  5. Contract starts45 days ago
    1 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

10 events · 6 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 May 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    8 May 2026, 15:12 BST
    UK4
  2. Tender notice published
    27 May 2026, 15:05 BST
    UK4
  3. Deadline moved to 5 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
    27 May 2026, 15:05 BST
    +3 days · was 2 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
  4. Contract award notice published
    7 Jul 2026, 11:24 BST
    UK6
  5. Status changed to complete
    7 Jul 2026, 11:24 BST
  6. Contract award notice published
    8 Jul 2026, 13:54 BST
    UK6
  7. Contract signature expected
    15 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  8. Contract signature expected
    20 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  9. Contract details notice published
    28 Jul 2026, 10:06 BST
    UK7
  10. Contract details notice published
    29 Jul 2026, 09:13 BST
    UK7
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
Awards 2
Awarded value £11 award exc. VAT
Bids received 11 from SMEs
Contracts signed 2latest 28 Jul 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
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£18 Jul 2026Awarded
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 2026Awarded

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

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · RAF Cranwell1final-stage tenders · 2 at stage one10—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Ministry of Defence

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PHVX-4316-ZVGZ Nimrod Building, 3 Site, High Wycombe, South East, HP14 4UEContact name, email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Rafa Kidz LimitedAwarded supplierGB-COH: 11927027 Atlas House, Wembley Road, Leicester, East Midlands, LE3 1UTContact email

Official documents & specifications (6)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender