Planning

Provision of Professional Interpreting and Translation Services

KING'S COLLEGE HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

08 Aug 2025 at 14:32

Summary of the contracting process

The King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is initiating a procurement process for the "Provision of Professional Interpreting and Translation Services" as part of their commitment to equitable healthcare access for patients with diverse linguistic needs. The process is currently at the planning stage, with a market engagement notice circulated to gather insights from prospective suppliers. A Request for Information will be issued in August 2025, with a milestone due date scheduled for 3rd November 2025. This upcoming tender will cover various services, including spoken and non-spoken language interpreting as well as document translation. The procurement encompasses services within London, UK (region UKI45), and seeks innovative solutions aligned with NHS standards.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in translation and interpretation services, particularly those capable of delivering diverse language solutions, including British Sign Language and other non-spoken formats. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary community and social enterprises (VCSEs) are particularly encouraged to engage, given the emphasis on inclusive service delivery. The contract, valued at £2,580,000 gross, extends from 1st April 2026 and could be renewed until 31st March 2031, providing a substantial opportunity for sustained growth and partnership with a leading healthcare provider. This tender aligns with the Trust's strategic objectives, ensuring consistent service excellence and offering innovative pathways for qualified suppliers to expand their market presence in the UK healthcare sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Professional Interpreting and Translation Services

Notice Description

To ensure equitable healthcare access for patients with diverse linguistic and communication needs. The contract will cover: - Spoken language services (face-to-face, telephone, and video interpreting). - Non-spoken language services (BSL, lip reading, Makaton, etc.). - Document translation (including Braille and Easy Read formats). - Patient feedback and continuous improvement.

Planning Information

This engagement will focus on engagement with prospective suppliers on high-quality Translation and Interpretation Service to support the communication needs of patients across King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. As part of this process, a Request for Information (RFI) will be issued in August 2025 to the market to gain insight into current industry trends, innovative service delivery models, and potential efficiencies. The RFI will enable the Trust to better understand supplier capabilities and market direction, helping to shape a well-informed tender specification. The ultimate objective is to ensure the successful implementation of a service model underpinned by the appropriate tools, systems, and expertise to provide consistent, reliable, and compliant translation and interpretation support. The selected supplier will be expected to meet NHS standards while facilitating equitable access to healthcare services for all patients, regardless of language or communication needs.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05846e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047368-2025
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

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


CPV Codes

79530000 - Translation services

79540000 - Interpretation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,150,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Aug 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
3 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 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
KING'S COLLEGE HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Additional Buyers

KCH INTERVENTIONAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT LLP

KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Contact Name
David Kayondo, Sunday Okhria
Contact Email
david.kayondo@nhs.net, s.okhiria1@nhs.net
Contact Phone
0204 566 8234, 02045340573

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SE5 9NY
Post Town
South East London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI45 Lambeth
Delivery Location
TLI London, TLI45 Lambeth

Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction
Westminster Constituency
Dulwich and West Norwood

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05846e-2025-08-08T15:32:30+01:00",
    "date": "2025-08-08T15:32:30+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05846e",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PXLV-9225-PRBN",
            "name": "King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PXLV-9225-PRBN"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "KCH Business Park, 129 Coldharbour Lane",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SE5 9NY",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI45"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "David Kayondo",
                "email": "david.kayondo@nhs.net",
                "telephone": "0204 566 8234"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.kch.nhs.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDWQ-2826-VTWP",
            "name": "KCH Interventional Facilities Management LLP",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDWQ-2826-VTWP"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Unit 1, KCH Business Park, 129 Coldharbour Lane",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SE5 9NY",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI45"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Sunday Okhria",
                "email": "s.okhiria1@nhs.net",
                "telephone": "02045340573"
            },
            "roles": [
                "procuringEntity"
            ],
            "roleDetails": "Overseeing and delivering end-to-end procurement services on behalf of the Trust. In this capacity, KFM's primary role is to ensure that all procurement activities are conducted in a compliant, transparent, and commercially effective manner, aligned with both NHS procurement regulations and the Trust's strategic objectives.",
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.kings-fm.co.uk/"
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PXLV-9225-PRBN",
        "name": "King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "This engagement will focus on engagement with prospective suppliers on high-quality Translation and Interpretation Service to support the communication needs of patients across King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. As part of this process, a Request for Information (RFI) will be issued in August 2025 to the market to gain insight into current industry trends, innovative service delivery models, and potential efficiencies. The RFI will enable the Trust to better understand supplier capabilities and market direction, helping to shape a well-informed tender specification. The ultimate objective is to ensure the successful implementation of a service model underpinned by the appropriate tools, systems, and expertise to provide consistent, reliable, and compliant translation and interpretation support. The selected supplier will be expected to meet NHS standards while facilitating equitable access to healthcare services for all patients, regardless of language or communication needs.",
                "dueDate": "2025-11-03T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "047368-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047368-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-08-08T15:32:30+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "W192454",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Provision of Professional Interpreting and Translation Services",
        "description": "To ensure equitable healthcare access for patients with diverse linguistic and communication needs. The contract will cover: - Spoken language services (face-to-face, telephone, and video interpreting). - Non-spoken language services (BSL, lip reading, Makaton, etc.). - Document translation (including Braille and Easy Read formats). - Patient feedback and continuous improvement.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79540000",
                        "description": "Interpretation services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79530000",
                        "description": "Translation services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKI45",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKI",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 2580000,
            "amount": 2150000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2031-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2025-11-03T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}