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CBC-1880-T-SK - Translation and Interpretation Services

Central Bedfordshire Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

29 Jul 2026 at 10:39

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

20 May 2026 at 09:27

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

05 Dec 2025 at 11:52

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Central Bedfordshire Council has procured comprehensive interpretation and translation services for its requirements in Central Bedfordshire. The service covers spoken and non-spoken face-to-face interpreting, telephone interpreting and video interpreting, alongside written translation and associated language support. This is a public-sector language services requirement classified under translation and interpretation services. The appointed provider is expected to support communication across the Council’s services, using several delivery channels and both spoken and written language capability. It is relevant to established language service providers, interpreting agencies and translation businesses able to coordinate a broad service rather than supplying only a single specialist language or delivery method. The requirement is delivered for Central Bedfordshire Council within the United Kingdom.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to Absolute Interpreting and Translations Ltd. It used an above-threshold open procedure. The estimated tender value was £300,000 excluding VAT and £350,000 including VAT. The tender deadline was 12 January 2026 at 12:00, the enquiry deadline was 30 December 2025 at 17:00, and the evaluation period ended on 16 February 2026. The award was made on 8 May 2026 for £255,105.05 including VAT, with a standstill period ending on 1 June 2026. The contract was signed on 28 July 2026 and runs from 28 July 2026 to 27 July 2029, with an optional extension allowing it to continue to 22 June 2031. Evaluation weighted methodology and quality at 50%, price at 40%, and social value at 10%. Twelve bids reached the final stage.

This requirement demonstrates demand for an integrated public-sector language service covering face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, written translation, non-spoken interpreting and wider language support. A credible competitor would need operational capacity across these channels, the ability to provide both interpreting and translation, and robust coordination arrangements for varied Council requirements. The evaluation places greater emphasis on methodology and quality than on price alone, while social value also contributes to the outcome, so suppliers should be able to evidence reliable delivery, service management and meaningful social value commitments alongside competitive pricing. The successful supplier was an SME, showing that the requirement can be delivered by a suitably capable specialist business without being limited to a large national provider. The recurring nature of the Council’s need makes this buyer relevant to language services firms tracking similar requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CBC-1880-T-SK - Translation and Interpretation Services

Notice Description

Central Bedfordshire Council has awarded the contract for Interpretation and Translation Services to Absolute Interpreting and Translations Ltd. The contract covers the delivery of comprehensive interpretation and translation services, including spoken and non-spoken face-to-face interpreting, telephone and video interpreting, written translation services, and associated language support services, following the completion of a competitive tender process.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: 2 Years at expiry date subject to Council Requirements

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ef83
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071563-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
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
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£255,105 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£255,105 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jul 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
12 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
8 May 20263 months ago
Contract Period
28 Jul 2026 - 27 Jul 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
2031-03-31

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Central Bedfordshire 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
SHEFFORD
Postcode
SG17 5TQ
Postcode Area
Stevenage
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH25 Central Bedfordshire
Delivery Location
TLH25 Central Bedfordshire
Local Authority
Central Bedfordshire
Electoral Ward
Shefford
Westminster Constituency
Hitchin

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Absolute Interpreting and Translations Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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