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Framework Agreement for the Provision of Interpreting, Translation and Related Language and Communication Support Services

Norfolk County Council

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Award

03 Sep 2026 at 10:32

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

14 May 2026 at 18:22

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

22 Oct 2025 at 14:07

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

22 Oct 2025 at 12:30

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

22 Oct 2025 at 12:17

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

24 May 2025 at 11:34

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Norfolk County Council established a multi-provider framework for interpreting, translation and related language and communication support services on behalf of the INTRAN Partnership. The requirement supports equitable access to public information and services for people who are Deaf and for speakers of languages or dialects other than English who have limited or no English proficiency. Services cover face-to-face and remote English/British Sign Language interpreting, translation and communication support; face-to-face and remote interpreting for other languages and dialects; on-demand telephone, audio and video interpreting; video relay services for British Sign Language users; and translation and other communication support. Delivery covers the East of England and surrounding regions, including the East Midlands, East of England and South East England. The framework can be used by public bodies, NHS organisations, local authorities, housing associations, educational institutions, charities and voluntary organisations.

The procurement was awarded through a selective competitive flexible procedure, with a framework allowing direct awards and further competitions among admitted suppliers. Awards were made on 14 May 2026: Lot 1 to Clarion Interpreting and Topp Language Solutions for £1,600,000 net (£1,920,000 gross); Lot 2 to DCVS Trading and AA Global Language Services for £4,500,000 net (£5,400,000 gross); Lot 3 to Clarion Interpreting and Language Line for £3,500,000 net (£4,200,000 gross); Lot 4 to Sign Solutions and Significan’t for £200,000 net (£240,000 gross); and Lot 5 to Translate Plus and Language Line for £2,500,000 net (£3,000,000 gross). Contracts were signed on 13 August 2026 and run to 30 June 2030. Evaluation weighted quality and price, with price worth 30%; further competitions set cost weighting between 10% and 40%. A 5% award fee applied, excluding travel for Lots 1 and 2.

This award demonstrates sustained public-sector demand for scalable interpreting and translation services across multiple channels and user groups. Relevant suppliers would need reliable access to qualified English, British Sign Language and other-language interpreters and translators, including capability for face-to-face, remote, telephone, audio, video and video-relay delivery. Credible delivery depends on robust booking systems, rapid fulfilment and deployment, pre-recruitment and deployment checks, quality assurance and monitoring, customer service, performance management and management information. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate a sound operational and management structure, value-for-money controls, compliance and effective collaboration with a multi-agency public-service partnership. Interview, demonstration and test-call capability is important for some service types. The framework was suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, showing that specialist providers can compete alongside larger language-service businesses.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Framework Agreement for the Provision of Interpreting, Translation and Related Language and Communication Support Services

Notice Description

Norfolk County Council (NCC), on behalf of and delegated by the INTRAN Partnership, have let a Multi-Provider Framework for the provision of high quality, value-for-money and innovative Interpreting, Translation and Related Language and Communication Support Services in the East of England and surrounding regions. Norfolk County Council has assigned expert suppliers to the framework, for each lot, who can provide services from interpreters, translators and other language and communication professionals to successfully respond to booking requests made by our member organisations. INTRAN is a public-facing multi-agency partnership that ensures people who are Deaf, and speakers of other languages or dialects than English with limited or no English proficiency, have equitable access to information and services through the provision of professional interpreting, translation, transcription and other language and communication support services. Two applicants have been admitted to the Framework under Lots 1,2,3,4 and 5.

Lot Information

Face to Face and Remote English/British Sign Language Interpreting, Translation and Other Language and Communication Support Services Face to Face and Remote English/Other Languages and Dialects Interpreting Telephone, audio and video Interpreting services (English/BSL/Other languages and Dialects than English) on demand and related goods and services Video Relay Services for BSL users Translation Services and Other Communication Support Services

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-052592
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083343-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79530000 - Translation services

79540000 - Interpretation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£10,040,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£10,040,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£12,300,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£12,300,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
14 May 20265 months ago
Contract Period
13 Aug 2026 - 30 Jun 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Norfolk County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NORWICH
Postcode
NR1 2DH
Postcode Area
Norwich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH5 Norfolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH51 Norwich and East Norfolk
Delivery Location
TLF East Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Norwich
Electoral Ward
Lakenham
Westminster Constituency
Norwich South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
8
Supplier Names

Clarion Interpreting Limited

Topp Language Solutions

DCVS Trading Ltd

AA Global Language Services Ltd

Language Line Limited

Sign Solutions (SLIA) Ltd

SIGNIFICAN'T (UK) LIMITED

translate plus

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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