Blakestown Community Resource Centre is a multipurpose community facility providing a wide range of services and activities. It serves as a hub for the local community. The centre provides a variety of fitness classes, sports clubs, dance classes, and other recreational and educational activities. It also has facilities for hire, including a sports hall, meeting rooms, a youth room, and a coffee shop.
Blakestown Community Centre serves a direct catchment area (within a 1km radius of the centre) of 18,770 residents*, a notable proportion of whom are under 15 years of age. The board have recently identified a need for the provision of childcare from the centre to cover early morning breakfast clubs to evening after school childcare provision.
The Board of Management of Blakestown Community Resource Centre C.L.G. is seeking expressions of interest from qualified parties to provide a childcare service at the Community Centre. We welcome submissions from both private commercial and not-for-profit operators. This initial market sounding aims to help us understand the potential operational models and capabilities of interested providers, which will inform our formal procurement process.
About the Facility
The Community Centre’s childcare space includes the following:
- Childcare Room 1: 4.4m x 6.5m, with an adjoining kitchen area (2.1m x 2.6m), a utility room (2.2m x 1.3m), and a toilet (1.2m x 2.3m).
- Childcare Room 2: 4.5m x 4.6m.
- Outdoor Play Area: Both rooms have access to an outdoor play area through the main centre entrance.
- Additional Space: When available, the sports hall may be accessed if there is no existing booking.
- Catering: If food services are required, the appointed provider is expected to use the catering available through the Community Centre.
We anticipate that the successful provider will acquire the space for full-time use, 12 months a year, via a user agreement. The final fit-out of the creche unit will be the responsibility of the successful tenderer.
Submission Process
Interested parties should submit a brief concept document, no more than three pages, via email to
manager@blakestowncrc.com by 5pm on October 17th.
The concept document should outline a summary of your proposed service and include details on the following:
- Potential models for childcare service operation.
- Potential final fit-out requirements for the creche unit.
- Any operational issues relevant to locating a childcare service within the unit.
- Your indicative rental expectation.
- Proposed non-term time service provision and camps.
Should a service provider wish to visit the premises prior to submitting a concept document, they must contact the manager and state the service on whose behalf they are contacting him.
Next Steps
If your concept document is satisfactory, you will be invited to submit a more detailed proposal and meet with the Board. The expected terms and conditions of hire will be provided at that stage. The Board will then evaluate all proposals with independent guidance, check references, and offer a contract to the successful service. Please note that this preliminary exercise will not affect the evaluation of respondents in a subsequent procurement process
*As per Census 2022