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Interpreting, Communication Support and Transcription Services

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

08 Sep 2026 at 14:10

Tender Notice
Tender

04 Sep 2026 at 13:42

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is procuring interpreting, communication support and transcription services for patients, carers, families and healthcare staff across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lanarkshire. The requirement is divided into seven service areas: face-to-face spoken-language interpreting; British Sign Language interpreting; Deaf Relay Interpreting; International Sign Language interpreting; lip-speaking, note-taking and speech-to-text reporting; telephone and video interpreting; and written translation and transcription. Services will support healthcare appointments, clinical interactions, group sessions, mental health, safeguarding, consent, multidisciplinary meetings, end-of-life care, community visits and routine, urgent and emergency care. Written work includes patient information, records, clinical documents, letters and guidance. Delivery is centred on healthcare services in Glasgow and Lanarkshire, with some remote provision where clinically appropriate.

The procurement has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submissions in English. The revised tender deadline is 13:00 on 23 October 2026; this replaced the original 16 October deadline. Each lot has an initial two-year contract starting 1 April 2027, with an option to extend for up to two further 12-month periods. The seven lots cover the separate service areas described above, allowing suppliers to target relevant capabilities. Electronic invoicing is allowed and electronic payment will be used. Bidders must inform the Health Board if they intend to subcontract. Community benefits form part of the requirement, with suppliers expected either to propose benefits or engage with NHS Scotland’s Community Benefits Gateway.

This opportunity suits specialist language-service providers, communication-support organisations and translation agencies able to deliver safe, confidential and person-centred services in healthcare settings. Relevant capability includes professionally qualified interpreters for spoken languages, BSL, Deaf Relay and International Sign, as well as experienced lip-speakers, note-takers, speech-to-text reporters and translators. Suppliers may need to provide both in-person and secure telephone or video services, including out-of-hours support and rapid responses for urgent and emergency care. The requirement favours organisations with broad language and dialect coverage, reliable regional capacity, secure digital platforms and experience supporting sensitive clinical situations. Providers should also be able to report proposed community benefits or work through the NHS Scotland Community Benefits Gateway.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Interpreting, Communication Support and Transcription Services

Notice Description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde requires the delivery of a comprehensive interpreting service to support the current and future needs of the Health Board.

Lot Information

Spoken Language Face to Face Interpreting (NHSGGC & NHSL)

Lot 1 covers the provision of comprehensive spoken face to face interpreting (simultaneous, consecutive and whispered interpreting) where an interpreter attends in person and conveys the spoken content from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or any other languages as requested by the Board. Services under this lot include- Provision of face to face interpreters at health appointments across the services outlined in the introduction section of this document (page 1) within both NHSGGC and NHS Lanarkshire Interpreting support for informational and therapeutic group sessions Delivery of services both during standard hours out of hours, to meet the capacity from the in house interpreting service team Additional information: The initial term of the contract is 2 years commencing 1st April 2027 with the option to extend for a maximum of 2 x 12 month periods.

British Sign Language Interpreting (NHSGGC & NHSL)

Lot 2 covers the provision of British Sign Language interpretation, where the meaning of spoken English is conveyed into BSL and vice versa by an interpreter attending in person. The services included under this lot are - Provision of professionally qualified BSL interpreters to attend healthcare appointments and clinical interactions in person. Services will support communication between deaf BSL users and NHS staff across all healthcare environments. The service will include: Mental health services Safeguarding meetings Consent discussions Multi-disciplinary team meetings End of life care Community visits Additional information: The initial term of the contract is 2 years commencing 1st April 2027 with the option to extend for a maximum of 2 x 12 month periods.

Deaf Relay Interpreting (NHSGGC & NHSL)

Lot 3 covers the provision of Deaf Relay Interpreting services for deaf individuals whose communication needs cannot be fully met through a standard BSL/English interpreter alone. Deaf Relay Interpreters are Deaf professionals who provide specialist communication support to ensure that information is conveyed accurately, accessibly and in a culturally appropriate manner. Additional information: The initial term of the contract is 2 years commencing 1st April 2027 with the option to extend for a maximum of 2 x 12 month periods.

International Sign Language

Lot 4 covers the provision of International Sign Language interpretation, where the meaning of spoken language is conveyed into spoken or signed form by an interpreter attending in person. International Sign Language is intended for deaf individuals who do not use British Sign Language and may have limited proficiency in their own sign language. Services included under this lot are Provision of International Sign Language interpreters for health appointments across the services outlined in the introduction section of this document, covering both NHSGGC and NHS Lanarkshire Provision of professional International Sign communication services that enable effective communication between deaf patients, carers, families, visitors and healthcare professionals where British Sign Language (BSL) is not the individual's primary signed language. Provision of appropriately qualified International Sign interpreters to facilitate communication for deaf individuals from overseas or those whose preferred method of communication is International Sign. Availability of the service during both core and out-of-hours periods to accommodate any additional demand beyond the capacity of the in-house interpreting service Additional information: The initial term of the contract is 2 years commencing 1st April 2027 with the option to extend for a maximum of 2 x 12 month periods.

Lip Speaking, Note-takers and speech to text reporters (NHSGGC and NHSL)

Lot 5 covers the provision of lip-speaking, note-taking and speech-to-text reporting services for patients, carers and service users with hearing loss or other communication support needs. The service transfers spoken English into clear spoken, written or real-time text English by an appropriately qualified communication support professional attending in person, or remotely where agreed by NHSGGC or NHS Lanarkshire and clinically appropriate. The service supports equitable access to healthcare by enabling effective communication between patients, carers, families and healthcare professionals across NHSGGC and NHS Lanarkshire. The supplier must deliver a safe, responsive, confidential and person-centred service that supports routine, urgent and emergency care requirements. Additional information: The initial term of the contract is 2 years commencing 1st April 2027 with the option to extend for a maximum of 2 x 12 month periods.

Telephone Interpreting & Video Interpreting Services (NHSGGC & NHSL)

Lot 6 covers the provision of consecutive interpreting services delivered via telephone or video conferencing. Telephone and video interpreters facilitate communication by converting spoken language from one language to another, allowing both parties to understand each other effectively. The successful supplier will provide professional consecutive interpreting services via telephone and secure video conferencing platforms that facilitate effective communication between patients, carers, families and healthcare professionals, ensuring equitable access to healthcare services and compliance with statutory obligations. Additional information: The initial term of the contract is 2 years commencing 1st April 2027 with the option to extend for a maximum of 2 x 12 month periods.

Written Translation (NHSGGC & NHSL)

Lot 7 includes the provision of written translation services from English into the patient's requested language, as well as from those languages into English or other languages. Translation involves converting written documents into another language in text form. Services provided under this lot include the translation and transcription of patient information, patient records, clinical documents, patient letters, and guidance materials. Additional information: The initial term of the contract is 2 years commencing 1st April 2027 with the option to extend for a maximum of 2 x 12 month periods.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f24e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084922-2026
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
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
16 Oct 20261 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GLASGOW
Postcode
G4 0SF
Postcode Area
Glasgow
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM32 Glasgow City
Delivery Location
TLM82 Glasgow City
Local Authority
Glasgow City
Electoral Ward
Dennistoun
Westminster Constituency
Glasgow North East

Further Information

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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