---
title: "Data Transcription Services for Historical Records"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000449371"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000449371"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000449371.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000449371.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH"
published: "2017-02-28"
---

# Data Transcription Services for Historical Records

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000449371

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000449371.json)

## Summary

The University of Edinburgh is conducting a procurement process for Data Transcription Services focused on historical records, specifically the transcription of 18.7 to 25.2 million Scottish vital events records, which includes births, marriages, and deaths dating back to 1856. This contract is categorised under services within the education industry and is located in Edinburgh, UK (postal code EH1 1HT). The procurement is currently in the award stage, with the contract signed on 21st February 2017, following an open procedure tender that started with a notice on 26th October 2016, and concluded with a bid submission deadline of 25th November 2016.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in manual transcription services, particularly those experienced in handling sensitive data and large transcription projects. Bidders are required to demonstrate the capability of transcribing a minimum of 18.7 million records within the stipulated budget and timeframe of 35 months. As subcontracting is not permitted, firms must possess the necessary workforce and technical infrastructure to meet the detailed requirements for accuracy and performance without reliance on third-party contractors. Such criteria create a favourable environment for established transcription companies as well as those with expertise in data processing, particularly in the education sector.

## Notice

The University of Edinburgh requires a supplier to manually transcribe between 18.7 and 25.2 million hand written Scottish vital events records i.e. births, marriages and deaths, since 1856. This has an estimated character count of 3.3 billion characters. Scanned images of the records will be made available to the successful supplier via a web interface. This interface will also provide a pre-existing database into which the transcribed data will be manually inputted by the successful bidder. This requirement is not divided into Lots as this would entail disproportionate duplication of supplier set up costs.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The University of Edinburgh has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to create a multidisciplinary research database from historical vital events records. This Digitising Scotland project is looking for a supplier to manually transcribe between 18.7 and 25.2 million hand written Scottish vital events records i.e. births, marriages and deaths, since 1856. This has an estimated character count of 3.3 billion characters. Scanned images of the records will be made available to the successful supplier via a web interface. This interface will also provide a pre-existing database into which the transcribed data will be manually inputted by the successful bidder. Any supplier wishing to bid must be able to transcribe a minimum of 18.7 million records within the Contract Budget and Timescales. Project set-up and transcription must be completed within 35 months from Contract start Manual transcription services will be required. OCR technology will NOT be suitable for this work As the data is sensitive all transcribers must be direct employees of any successful bidder, no subcontracting allowed.. Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if there are any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015

Options: If further funding is acquired, the inclusion of transcription of records from 1855 may also be included in the scope of this Contract.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR275246 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 Feb 2017 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 21 Feb 2017 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH1 1HT |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | City Centre |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Delivery location | UKM25 Edinburgh, City of |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 72300000 - Data services
- 72310000 - Data-processing services
- 72311100 - Data conversion services
- 72312000 - Data entry services
- 72312100 - Data preparation services
- 72313000 - Data capture services

## Release History

- 28 Feb 2017 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR275246

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR275246
  Data Transcription Services for Historical Records - The University of Edinburgh requires a supplier to manually transcribe between 18.7 and 25.2 million hand written Scottish vital events records i.e. births, marriages and deaths, since 1856. This has an estimated character count of 3.3 billion characters. Scanned images of the records will be made available to the successful supplier via a web interface. This interface will also provide a pre-existing database into which the transcribed data will be manually inputted by the successful bidder. This requirement is not divided into Lots as this would entail disproportionate duplication of supplier set up costs.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/procurement/supplying
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000449371

## 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-r6ebe6-0000449371. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000449371.json.