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Interpreting Services and Digital Language Services - Market Engagement

MILTON KEYNES CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

02 Jul 2025 at 15:36

Planning

02 Jul 2025 at 15:32

Summary of the contracting process

Milton Keynes City Council is engaging in a planning stage for procuring interpreting services and digital language services. The initiative aims to enhance language access through traditional and digital methods under a new contract model, starting from 1 May 2026. It focuses on areas such as face-to-face, telephone, and video interpreting, along with AI-supported language tools like translation and transcription technologies. Suppliers are invited to participate in the market engagement, with responses due by 5pm on 16 July 2025. An engagement event is set for the week commencing 28 July 2025. The procurement addresses the services category and is targeted to improve service delivery within the UKJ12 region, particularly in the locality of Milton Keynes.

This procurement opportunity is ideal for businesses specialising in translation services, foreign language software, and digital communication technologies. It provides an avenue for growth, especially for SMEs and VCSEs looking to expand their operations in the public sector. The endeavour allows companies to leverage innovative digital solutions alongside traditional methods, ensuring a comprehensive approach to language service delivery. Businesses with expertise in developing multilingual technology solutions or providing efficient interpreting services stand to benefit significantly from contributing to this project’s development. The procurement process is structured to encourage collaborative partnerships and innovative approaches to meet the council's evolving needs.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Interpreting Services and Digital Language Services - Market Engagement

Notice Description

Milton Keynes City Council ('the Council') would like to engage in discussions with providers of Interpreter Service to develop collaborative approaches to increasing local sufficiency. Milton Keynes City Council is seeking early engagement with the market to inform the development of a new contract model that reflects both traditional and digital approaches to language access. This will ensure continued support and improved service delivery; it is proposed that the Interpreter Service be recommissioned from 1 May 2026 under a new contract structure. The contract will be looking to cover both traditional and digital approaches to language access. The recommissioned service will be: 1. Traditional Interpreting Services: (Face-to-Face, Telephone, and Video Interpreting - Spoken and Non-Spoken) 2. Digital and AI-Supported Language Tools: (Translation, Transcription, and Communication Support Technologies) We are keen to hear from providers on the questions given in the market engagement document. The responses to the questions will help the Council in developing the specification and the tender. Please respond to the questions within the attached document by latest 5pm on 16th July 2025 via In-Tend Correspondence section/market engagement stage. A provider engagement event will be held w/c 28th July 2025, please indicate in the attached document if you would like to receive an invitation. The Market Engagement document can be accessed on our e-tendering portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home

Planning Information

Milton Keynes City Council ('the Council') would like to engage in discussions with providers of Interpreter Service to develop collaborative approaches to increasing local sufficiency. Milton Keynes City Council is seeking early engagement with the market to inform the development of a new contract model that reflects both traditional and digital approaches to language access. This will ensure continued support and improved service delivery; it is proposed that the Interpreter Service be recommissioned from 1 May 2026 under a new contract structure. The contract will be looking to cover both traditional and digital approaches to language access. The recommissioned service will be: 1. Traditional Interpreting Services: (Face-to-Face, Telephone, and Video Interpreting - Spoken and Non-Spoken) 2. Digital and AI-Supported Language Tools: (Translation, Transcription, and Communication Support Technologies) We are keen to hear from providers on the questions given in the market engagement document. The responses to the questions will help the Council in developing the specification and the tender. Please respond to the questions within the attached document by latest 5pm on 16th July 2025 via In-Tend Correspondence section/market engagement stage. A provider engagement event will be held w/c 28th July 2025, please indicate in the attached document if you would like to receive an invitation. The Market Engagement document can be accessed on our e-tendering portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0557e0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036934-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

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


CPV Codes

48740000 - Foreign language translation software package

72212740 - Foreign language translation software development services

79530000 - Translation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£260,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Jul 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Apr 2026 - 30 Apr 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MILTON KEYNES CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Procurement Team
Contact Email
corporateprocurement@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Contact Phone
01908691691

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK9 3EJ
Post Town
Milton Keynes
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
TLJ12 Milton Keynes

Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Central Milton Keynes
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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