--- title: "Language Services Framework 2027" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078d29" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078d29" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d29.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d29.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "Bristol City Council" published: "2026-10-21" --- # Language Services Framework 2027 Buyer: Bristol City Council Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078d29 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078d29) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d29.json) ## Summary Bristol City Council is establishing a framework for translation and interpreting services to support accessible and equal access to council services. The work is divided into six service areas: face-to-face interpretation, telephone interpretation, video interpretation, written translation, British Sign Language interpretation, and written or recorded British Sign Language translation. The framework is intended to provide the Council with access to qualified interpreters and suppliers, with consistent service standards and clear contractual arrangements. Delivery is specified across England, including the South West, South East, London, the Midlands, the East of England, the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber. The Council invited offers through an open procedure. The procurement is a framework agreement, with contracts awarded with or without a further competition; suppliers are ranked by their overall scores. It is divided into six lots, and a supplier may receive a place on all six if it meets the criteria, although no supplier may be awarded more than one place per lot. The enquiry deadline was 12 November 2026 at 12:00, and the submission deadline was 20 November 2026 at 12:00. The contract period is due to start on 1 February 2027 and run to 31 January 2029, with two 24-month extensions available. Each lot is valued at £2.3 million excluding VAT (£2.76 million including VAT). Evaluation is 60% price, 23% quality and 17% social value. This opportunity suits translation and interpreting providers able to deliver one or more of the six distinct service types, from in-person, telephone and video interpreting to written translation and British Sign Language services, including recorded translation. Small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises are expressly considered suitable. The Council is seeking a pool of qualified suppliers able to provide high-quality language support, meet defined service standards and respond efficiently to demand. A supplier can compete across all service areas, but the procurement limits awards to one supplier per lot; a successful supplier may nevertheless secure places across all six lots if it meets the requirements. Quality and social value together account for 40% of the evaluation, alongside price. ## Notice Bristol City Council is looking to Procure and establish a new corporate Translation and Interpreting Services (TIS) framework to ensure continued access to high-quality language services at competitive prices, supporting the Council's responsibilities for accessibility and equality. The framework provides a trusted pool of qualified interpreters and suppliers, enabling: 1. Efficient access to appropriate language support without delays 2. Consistent service quality and defined standards 3. Clear contractual arrangements that support transparency and accountability ### Lot Information Lot 1 (Face-to-Face Interpretation) To successfully deliver a high-quality face-to-face interpretation service as per the specified requirements. Options: 24 months with 2 extensions available Renewal: 24 months with 2 extensions available Lot 2 (Telephone Interpretation) To successfully deliver a high-quality telephone interpretation service as per the specified requirements. Options: 24 months with 2 extensions available Renewal: 24 months with 2 extensions available Lot 3 (Video Interpretation) To successfully deliver a high-quality video interpretation service as per the specified requirements Options: 24 months with 2 extensions available Renewal: 24 months with 2 extensions available Lot 4 (Written Translation) To successfully deliver a high-quality written translation service as per the specified requirements. Options: 24 months with 2 extensions available Renewal: 24 months with 2 extensions available Lot 5 (British Sign Language Interpretation) To successfully deliver a high-quality British Sign Language Interpretation service as per the specified requirements. Options: 24 months with 2 extensions available Renewal: 24 months with 2 extensions available Lot 6 (British Sign Language Recorded Translation) To successfully deliver a high-quality British Sign Language (BSL) written/recorded translation service as per the specified requirements. Options: 24 months with 2 extensions available Renewal: 24 months with 2 extensions available ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099618-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 21 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | 20 Nov 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £2,300,000 | | Lots value | £2,300,000 | | 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 | Bristol City Council | | Locality | BRISTOL | | Postcode area | Bristol | | Postcode | BS1 5TR | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England | | ITL 3 | TLK51 Bristol, City of | | Local authority | Bristol, City of | | Electoral ward | Hotwells and Harbourside | | Westminster constituency | Bristol Central | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79530000 - Translation services - 79540000 - Interpretation services ## Release History - 21 Oct 2026 at 15:38 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099618-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099618-2026 21st October 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=c7394bea-57cd-f111-8141-6045bdf14b1f&p=1a2530c9-009e-e511-8107-000c29c9ba21 Please find the Tender opportunity via ProContract using the link below. https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=c7394bea-57cd-f111-8141-6045bdf14b1f&p=1a2530c9-009e-e511-8107-000c29c9ba21 ## Notice URLs - http://www.bristol.gov.uk - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-078d29. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d29.json.