--- title: "NEPO528 Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System for the Provision of British Sign Language Interpreters" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-066cae" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-066cae" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066cae.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066cae.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS LIMITED" published: "2026-03-17" --- # NEPO528 Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System for the Provision of British Sign Language Interpreters Buyer: THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS LIMITED Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-066cae [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-066cae) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066cae.json) ## Summary The Association of North East Councils Limited has issued a tender titled "NEPO528 Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System for the Provision of British Sign Language Interpreters," classified under services related to the community. Active as of 17 March 2026, this tender is aligned with the Light Touch Regime based on CELEX Regulation 34 via Schedule 3. It extends the validity of the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) originally due to expire in May 2026, now extended to continue until 31 August 2028 across the UK region. This procurement is at the tender stage and offers a total estimated value of £2,000,000 GBP, with suppliers able to bid for a maximum of 999 lots. Interested vendors should register and submit their tenders through the Open eTendering system by the end of the tender period on 31 August 2028. This procurement offers significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in interpretation services for British Sign Language (BSL), catering for both face-to-face engagements and remote video link services. Companies experienced in 24/7 service provision, including speech-to-text and lip-speaking capabilities, will find this an appealing tender due to the varied lot offerings. With a selective procurement method via restricted procedures, businesses that can demonstrate strong economic and technical capabilities stand to benefit from engagement with the regional authority structure to enhance their service delivery footprint across the UK. Suppliers dedicated to innovative approaches in interpreting and who are familiar with dynamic systems will find suitable avenues for establishing or expanding their market presence. ## Notice The NEPO528 - British Sign Language DPS commenced on 24 May 2021 for a term of 60 months and was due to expire on 24 May 2026. The original Contract Notice for this DPS was published on 5 March 2021: 2021/S 000-004508. The purpose of this notice is to extend the period of validity of the DPS for a period of 27 months from 24 May 2026 to 31 August 2028. The value of the DPS remains unchanged and NEPO do not anticipate that the extension of the validity of the DPS requires variation to the published value. NEPO528 - British Sign Language has been established as a 'Dynamic Purchasing System' under a flexible approached based on the concept of Regulation 34 via Schedule 3, under the principles set out in Regulation 74-77 ('The Light Touch Regime'). The opportunity can be accessed via the Open eTendering system. Suppliers wishing to be considered for this Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System must register their expression of interest and submit a tender through the Open eTendering System. Suppliers wishing to access the DPS must first register on the e-Tendering system using the following link https://www.open-uk.org For guidance on how to create an account or submit your response through Open, please visit https://www.open-hub.org/training to access the available Training Guides. If you need technical assistance from the Open Support team, this can be requested via open.support@nepo.org. PLEASE NOTE: Open is accessible 24/7 however, technical support is available Monday to Thursday 08:30 - 17:00 and Friday 08:30 - 16:30. NEPO does not give any guarantee and/or warrant the actual value of orders (if any) which will be placed with the successful suppliers by any Contracting Authority using the Dynamic Purchasing System pursuant to this process and accepts no liability thereof. ### Lot Information Lot 1 - Face to Face and Video Link This Lot incorporates all elements of Lot 2 - Face to Face and Lot 3 - Video Link. Providers must be able to supply against all requirements to be considered: * British Sign Language (face to face and video link) * Speech to Text Operator * Lip speaking (face to face and video link) Services may be required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and Providers must ensure that they can comply with this requirement. Renewal: It is anticipated that this DPS will be subject to future renewals. Lot 2 - Face to Face An Interpreter is physically present in order to allow parties to communicate via the following methods: * British Sign Language * Speech to Text Operator * Lip speaking Services may be required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and Providers must ensure that they can comply with this requirement. Renewal: It is anticipated that this DPS will be subject to future renewals. Lot 3 - Video Link An Interpreter is present via video link to allow parties to communicate via the following methods: * British Sign Language * Lip speaking Services may be required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and Providers must ensure that they can comply with this requirement. Renewal: It is anticipated that this DPS will be subject to renewal. Lot 4 - Specialist Services An Interpreter is present to allow parties to communicate via the following methods: * Deafblind Communication * International Sign Language * Deaf Relay Interpreting Services may be required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and Providers must ensure that they can comply with this requirement. Renewal: It is anticipated that this DPS will be subject to renewal. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024252-2026 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Dynamic | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Restricted procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 17 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | 31 Aug 2028 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £2,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS LIMITED | | Locality | GATESHEAD | | Post town | Newcastle upon Tyne | | Postcode | NE8 3DF | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear | | ITL 3 | TLC43 Tyneside | | Local authority | Gateshead | | Electoral ward | Bridges | | Westminster constituency | Gateshead Central and Whickham | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 75 - Administration, defence and social security services - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 75200000 - Provision of services to the community - 79540000 - Interpretation services ## Release History - 17 Mar 2026 at 16:19 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024252-2026 ## Notice URLs - https://www.nepo.org - https://www.open-hub.org/training - https://www.open-uk.org ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-066cae. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066cae.json.