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Interpreting, Translation and Transcription

Scottish Government

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

31 Jul 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

08 Aug 2025 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Planning

16 Dec 2024 at 00:00

OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Government established a multi-supplier framework for interpreting, translation and transcription services across the Scottish public sector. It covers four service areas: face-to-face interpreting; telephone and video interpreting, including scheduled remote sessions; translation and transcription between English and a wide range of spoken languages and dialects, including English-to-English work and electronic media; and British and international sign-language interpreting, both face to face and through video remote interpreting. Services support Scottish Ministers, agencies, public bodies, councils, health boards, universities and other eligible Scottish public-sector and voluntary organisations. Delivery is throughout Scotland, with remote services delivered through the relevant public body’s or contractor’s video platform. The principal service classification is CPV 79530000, translation services.

The procurement is complete and has resulted in active contracts under an open procedure. Ten bids were received for Lot 1, 12 for Lot 2, 17 for Lot 3 and four for Lot 4; all bids were electronic and from SMEs. The four-year framework contracts were signed on 13 July 2026, with a 1,440-day contract period and an option for renewal. Lot 1 was awarded to Global Connections (Scotland) Ltd and Global Language Services Ltd for GBP 9,000,000. Lot 2 went to DA Languages Limited and Language Line Limited for GBP 4,000,000. Lot 3 went to DA Languages Limited and Global Connections (Scotland) Ltd for GBP 3,000,000. Lot 4 went to Sign Solutions for GBP 4,000,000. Evaluation weighted quality at 60% and price at 40%.

This procurement shows sustained Scottish public-sector demand for language access and communication services, with opportunities spanning in-person, telephone, video, written, audio, transcription and sign-language delivery. Credible competitors would need broad language and dialect coverage, reliable interpreter availability across Scotland, and the technology and operational capacity to provide scheduled remote sessions. Translation providers would need to handle highly accurate documents, recordings and other electronic media, including English-to-English work. Sign-language specialists would need capability in both British and international languages and video remote interpreting. Suppliers should be able to work within a multi-supplier framework and meet public-sector governance requirements, including professional indemnity insurance of at least GBP 1,000,000 per incident and public liability insurance of at least GBP 1,000,000 per incident. The successful supplier mix indicates that SMEs can compete.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Interpreting, Translation and Transcription

Notice Description

Scottish Ministers are seeking to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription Services for Framework Public Bodies throughout the Scottish Public Sector. The Framework is a multi-lot/multi-supplier agreement and has 4 lots covering the provision of: Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services Lot 2 - Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services Lot 3 - Translation and Transcription Services Lot 4 - Sign Language Services - British and International Under Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a comprehensive face to face interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies Under Lot 2 - Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a telephone and video interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages. This will include a scheduled video interpreting service for Framework Public Body assignments booked in advance. This can be either via the Framework Public Body video portal or via the Contractor video portal. Under Lot 3 - Translation and Transcription Services, the Contractor will provide a translation and transcription service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies. The Contractor will also be required to provide an English-to-English service. The service required includes a highly accurate translation and transcription of style documentation, tapes and other forms of electronic media. Under Lot 4 - Sign Language Services - British and International, the Contractor is required to provide both a comprehensive face to face sign language interpreting service and a Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) sign language service to fulfil the current and evolving needs of the Framework Public Bodies.

Lot Information

Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services

Under Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a comprehensive face to face interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies

Renewal: The Framework will be in place for a 4 year period, after this the Framework may be subject to renewal.

Lot 2 - Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services

Under Lot 2 - Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a telephone and video interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages. This will include a scheduled video interpreting service for Framework Public Body assignments booked in advance. This can be either via the Framework Public Body video portal or via the Contractor video portal.

Renewal: The Framework will be in place for a 4 year period, after this the Framework may be subject to renewal.

Lot 4 - Sign Language Services - British and International

Under Lot 4 - Sign Language Services - British and International, the Contractor is required to provide both a comprehensive face to face sign language interpreting service and a Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) sign language service to fulfil the current and evolving needs of the Framework Public Bodies.

Renewal: The Framework will be in place for a 4 year period, after this the Framework may be subject to renewal.

Lot 3 - Translation and Transcription Services

Under Lot 3 - Translation and Transcription Services, the Contractor will provide a translation and transcription service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies. The Contractor will also be required to provide an English-to-English service. The service required includes a highly accurate translation and transcription of style documentation, tapes and other forms of electronic media.

Renewal: The Framework will be in place for a 4 year period, after this the Framework may be subject to renewal.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000782547
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL561304
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£20,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£20,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£16,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
11 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
14 Apr 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
within 4 years.

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Scottish Government
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH6 6QQ
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Leith
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh North and Leith

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
5
Supplier Names

Global Connections (Scotland) Ltd

Global Language Services Ltd

DA Languages Limited

Language Line Limited

Sign Solutions

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC520387
    Interpreting, Translation and Transcription - Contractors will provide comprehensive face-to-face, remote video and telephone spoken language interpreting services, and document translation and transcription services to fulfil the current and evolving needs of framework public bodies. The scope of the framework for interpreting and translation services is as follows: Interpreting (face-to-face, remote video and telephone) - from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialect and from those languages and dialect into English or other languages as requested by framework public bodies. Translation and transcription services - from English into a wide range of spoken languages and from those languages into English or other languages as requested by framework public bodies including: text to braille - or other tactile or touch formats speech (audio) to text including tape recordings and other electronic media, audio video to text text to speech (audio) - including tape recordings and other electronic media, audio and video
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG536646
    Interpreting, Translation and Transcription - Scottish Ministers are seeking to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription Services for Framework Public Bodies throughout the Scottish Public Sector. The Framework is a multi-lot/multi-supplier agreement and has 4 lots covering the provision of: Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services Lot 2 - Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services Lot 3 - Translation and Transcription Services Lot 4 - Sign Language Services - British and International Under Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a comprehensive face to face interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies Under Lot 2 - Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a telephone and video interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages. This will include a scheduled video interpreting service for Framework Public Body assignments booked in advance. This can be either via the Framework Public Body video portal or via the Contractor video portal. Under Lot 3 - Translation and Transcription Services, the Contractor will provide a translation and transcription service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies. The Contractor will also be required to provide an English-to-English service. The service required includes a highly accurate translation and transcription of style documentation, tapes and other forms of electronic media. Under Lot 4 - Sign Language Services - British and International, the Contractor is required to provide both a comprehensive face to face sign language interpreting service and a Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) sign language service to fulfil the current and evolving needs of the Framework Public Bodies.
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL561304
    Interpreting, Translation and Transcription - Scottish Ministers are seeking to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription Services for Framework Public Bodies throughout the Scottish Public Sector. The Framework is a multi-lot/multi-supplier agreement and has 4 lots covering the provision of: Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services Lot 2 - Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services Lot 3 - Translation and Transcription Services Lot 4 - Sign Language Services - British and International Under Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a comprehensive face to face interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies Under Lot 2 - Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a telephone and video interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages. This will include a scheduled video interpreting service for Framework Public Body assignments booked in advance. This can be either via the Framework Public Body video portal or via the Contractor video portal. Under Lot 3 - Translation and Transcription Services, the Contractor will provide a translation and transcription service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies. The Contractor will also be required to provide an English-to-English service. The service required includes a highly accurate translation and transcription of style documentation, tapes and other forms of electronic media. Under Lot 4 - Sign Language Services - British and International, the Contractor is required to provide both a comprehensive face to face sign language interpreting service and a Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) sign language service to fulfil the current and evolving needs of the Framework Public Bodies.

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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