The Department of Social Welfare and Inclusion of the Island Council of Lanzarote announces the publication of the tender for the management of the residential care centers for minors Yaiza I, Yaiza II, and Alegranza, with a base budget of 3,497,611.58 euros. The contract will ensure comprehensive care for a total of 25 minors in vulnerable situations.
The President of the Institution, Oswaldo Betancort, has underlined that this tender represents "a decisive step to strengthen the island's child protection network. We are talking about minors who need a safe, stable, and professional environment, and our duty is to guarantee it with the highest quality. The reorganization of the centers, adaptation to regulations, and improvement of staff working conditions reflect our strong commitment," he saidFor his part, the Minister of Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marci Acuña, has reiterated that "every child and adolescent under the guardianship of this Council will receive the attention they deserve," making it clear that this island government "will continue working to make Lanzarote and La Graciosa a benchmark in social protection and the defense of childhood," he stated.
The tender, published on December 4, 2025, is being processed through an open procedure and advance processing, allowing administrative steps to be taken early to ensure service continuity in the next fiscal year. The contract will have an initial duration of two years, extendable for up to two additional years.
The explanatory memorandum of the file explains that this contract responds to the powers attributed to the island councils in Law 1/1997 on Comprehensive Care for Minors, which assigns them the management of specialized foster care resources.
Likewise, it is detailed that, after the Canary Islands Government took over the initial reception of migrant minors in April 2024, the island centers ceased to be first-response facilities, having to transform into stable resources in accordance with Decree 40/2000, which regulates child care centers in the Canary Islands Autonomous Community. The regulation establishes a maximum of ten minors per center, which is why the former Yaiza Children's Center - which had 15 places - is now reorganized into two independent resources: Yaiza I, with 8 places; and Yaiza II, with 7 places.
For its part, the reception facility for unaccompanied foreign minors is configured as the Alegranza Center, with a capacity for 10 places.
Project quality over price
The contract is being tendered as a single lot, considering that the integrated management of the three centers allows for greater efficiency, coordination in care, shared use of specialized personnel, and better technical execution of the service.
The object of the contract includes the provision of a comprehensive service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, covering reception and cohabitation, accommodation and maintenance, social, educational, and healthcare services, school monitoring, leisure activities, health protection, and accompaniment on visits and outings.
The procedure establishes award criteria where the technical quality of the project carries significant weight, reaching 40 points for the evaluation of the educational project, methodology, specific programs, and internal procedures. Other criteria include staff training, investment in furniture, collaboration for the labor insertion of young people, and translation and interpretation services.
The price is evaluated, but it is not the predominant element, maintaining the focus on the quality of service provided to minors
Better working conditions
In line with the Cabildo's commitment to dignifying the working conditions of personnel in the social sector, the Department of Social Welfare and Inclusion has incorporated a pioneering clause in the Canary Islands into this tender: the inclusion of the island bonus, in accordance with Article 68 of the relevant Collective Agreement.
"This commitment is fundamental to improving the working conditions of the sector's employees. They are the foundation of a system that protects those most in need, the vulnerable minors residing on the island of Lanzarote. It is our responsibility to ensure that those who care for our most vulnerable young people do so in dignified conditions," the counselor emphasized
