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Face to Face Translation Services Contract

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

18 Sep 2026 at 16:01

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The participating NHS and healthcare organisations require a professionally managed face-to-face foreign-language interpretation service. It will support communication between patients, carers and healthcare professionals when English is not the patient’s first or preferred language. The service is intended to replace existing arrangements and provide consistent, reliable and responsive interpreting that supports patient safety, equitable access to healthcare and a positive patient experience. The participating organisations are University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Devon Partnership NHS Trust and Livewell Southwest CIC. The work is associated with Plymouth, including delivery at the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust site, and is classified as interpretation services. This is a healthcare language-services opportunity rather than a general translation or document-production contract.

The procurement has reached tender: the participating organisations invited suppliers to submit offers through an open procedure above threshold. The tender submission deadline set by the buyer is 26 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC. The planned contract period is from 11 December 2026 to 10 December 2029. The total estimated procurement value is £300,000. The requirement is presented as a single service procurement rather than divided into lots. It is a services contract for face-to-face foreign-language interpretation. Suppliers should apply through the Atamis e-sourcing portal. The published procurement information identifies the procedure and service scope, but does not set out a separate evaluation weighting or award formula. The opportunity is intended to establish replacement arrangements for the participating healthcare organisations.

This opportunity suits specialist language-service providers able to deliver professional face-to-face foreign-language interpreting in healthcare settings. Strong candidates will have reliable access to suitably qualified interpreters, broad language coverage and the operational systems needed to match requests quickly and consistently. The service demands dependable scheduling, responsive handling of bookings and changes, and effective management across several NHS and healthcare organisations. Experience supporting communication between patients, carers and healthcare professionals would be particularly relevant, especially where accuracy, confidentiality, patient safety and equitable access to care are important. Providers should be able to demonstrate quality assurance, interpreter standards and service continuity rather than offering ad hoc individual interpreting. The procurement is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so organisations of those types may compete if they can provide the required reach and resilience.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Face to Face Translation Services Contract

Notice Description

This procurement is being undertaken jointly by: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust Devon Partnership NHS Trust Livewell Southwest CIC Collectively referred to throughout this specification as the Participating Organisations. The Participating Organisations require the provision of a professionally managed Face to Face Foreign Language Interpretation Service to support communication between patients, carers and healthcare professionals where English is not the patient's first or preferred language. The purpose of this procurement is to establish replacement arrangements for existing contracts and to secure a high quality, efficient and reliable interpretation service that supports patient safety, equitable access to healthcare services and a positive patient experience. Consistency in service delivery, interpreter quality and responsiveness are key priorities for the Participating Organisations. Additional information: To express interest and participate in the tender, please register and apply via Atamis e-sourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome. Should Tenderers have any queries, or having problems using the portal, they should contact Helpdesk at: Phone: 0800 9956035 E-mail: support-health@atamis.co.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-0104c0df-5996-44e2-92ea-ce578146ab12
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b118e7b7-1061-4dc8-aab8-8f7e83420bce
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79540000 - Interpretation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
26 Oct 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 Dec 2026 - 10 Dec 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PLYMOUTH
Postcode
PL6 8DH
Postcode Area
Plymouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK41 Plymouth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Plymouth
Electoral Ward
Moor View
Westminster Constituency
Plymouth Moor View

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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