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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

DfC Collaborative Framework for the Provision of Interpreting and Translation Services

Department for Communities · Tender notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 1 Oct 2026, 05:57.

Opportunity overview

Construction and Procurement Delivery (CPD), on behalf of the Participating Bodies (Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments, Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies, and other Participating Bodies – ‘the Buyer’) is seeking to establish a collaborative framework agreement for the provision of interpreting and translation services. Suppliers should refer to the Specification Schedules for full detail on the requirements of this framework agreement. Neither CPD nor the Participating Bodies can provide any guarantee as to the level of business under this framework agreement.

Classification

  • CPV79530000 — Translation services
  • CPV79540000 — Interpretation services

Lots

  • Face to Face and Video£890k
  • Telephone£3.2m
  • Sign Language (BSL & ISL)£905k
  • Lip Speaking£5k
  • Note Taking£5k
  • Sign Language Translation£5k
  • Written & Transcription£990k

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ID 5981538
Status
active
Procurement Method
open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
Yes
How to submit
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the relevant Call for Tender (CfT) opportunity on eTendersNI, website details immediately below. Paper submissions will not be accepted or considered and will be rejected by the Contracting Authority / Buyer. The tender documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Published risks
The Contracting Authority has identified the following risks as risks that satisfy the criteria of Schedule 8 sub-paragraph (6)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023 i.e. that the risk/s could jeopardise the satisfactory performance of the contract but, because of its/their nature, cannot be addressed in the contract as awarded: - Possibility of a supplier in a niche / limited market no longer prepared, or able, to provide services. The Contracting Authority has concluded that there is a possibility that the contract may have to be modified as a result of a materialisation of the known risk/s at a later date in accordance with Schedule 8 paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023. Exclusions If at any time during the procurement, or post award, it comes to the attention of the Contracting Authority (CA) or CPD, by whatever means, that a Supplier has become ‘excluded’ or ‘excludable’ as per Sec 57 of the PA 2023, the CA, after compliance with its obligations under the PA 23, reserves the right to exclude said Supplier from the procurement procedure or terminate any contract they have been awarded. The Contracting Authority expressly reserves the rights: (I). not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; (II). to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering Competition; (III). to award (a) contract(s) in respect of any part(s) of the services covered by this notice; and (IV). to award contract(s) in stages. and in no circumstances will the Authority be liable for any costs incurred by candidates. The Framework Agreement is to be awarded by Construction and Procurement Delivery on behalf of any public sector organisations requiring services in Northern Ireland including:- Government Departments; Agencies; Non-departmental Public Bodies; or other Contracting Authority (including subsidised bodies or other grant recipients). A list of potential organisations will be included in the tender documentation. This framework Agreement will be used to progress the Government’s wider social, economic and environmental objectives. Suppliers should note that all dates, time periods and figures in relation to values and volumes specified in this notice and the procurement documents are approximate only and the Contracting Authority reserves the right to change any or all of them.

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Covered By

GPA

Techniques

Has Framework Agreement
Yes

Framework Agreement

Method
withoutReopeningCompetition
Type
open
Buyer Categories
Please see document entitled 'ID5981538 - Specification Annex C List of participating bodies'
Description
The term of framework will be 4 years. Lots 1 – 3.4: One Contractor will be appointed under each Lot, the highest ranked supplier from each individual evaluation. Lot 4: Three Contractors will be appointed to this Lot, the highest ranked suppliers from the evaluation. The Buyer reserves the right to appoint less than three Contractors, dependent on the number of compliant suppliers remaining within the process following any exclusions.

Buyer Location Restrictions

Entry 1

Gazetteer

Scheme
GB-ITL

Identifiers

UKN

Submission terms

Electronic Submission Policy
allowed

Languages

en

Tender Period

Ends
29 Jun 2026, 15:00

Enquiry period

Ends
19 Jun 2026, 18:00

Expected award period

Ends
31 Aug 2026, 23:59

Contract terms

Financial Terms
For further details on invoicing procedures please see : https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/ar ticles/account-ni-good-invoicing-practice Non-Account NI user organisations will advise of their invoicing and payment arrangements after award as required. Contract Value: The estimated value figure indicated in the Scope Section represents an overall estimated contract value. The value figures indicated against each individual Lot are also estimated values. These values reflect the potential scale of the contract, but do not however take into account the application of indexation or increases to charges due to increases in the Real Living Wage. Neither CPD, the Contracting Authority and participating bodies can provide any guarantee as to the level of business under this contract. The Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. Suppliers remain responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by them or by any third party acting under instructions from the Supplier in connection with taking part in this procurement process regardless of whether such costs arise as a consequence, directly or indirectly of any amendments made to the procurement documents by the Contracting Authority at any time. No legally binding contract shall arise (and a Supplier shall have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as entry into the Contract has been confirmed by the Contracting Authority.

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Title
Face to Face and Video
Description
Face to Face and Video services
Status
active

Value

Including VAT
1,068,000
Amount
890,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Weighting Description
Contract Lots will be individually assessed and awarded using the following criteria and weightings.

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
AC1 Service Delivery
Description
30.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 3
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 4
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
10.2 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 5
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
40 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 6
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 7
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 8
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 9
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 10
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Criterion 11
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
As per tender documentation

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Sept 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Aug 2030, 23:59
Entry 2
Id
2
Title
Telephone
Description
Telephone translation services
Status
active

Value

Including VAT
3,840,000
Amount
3,200,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Weighting Description
Contract Lots will be individually assessed and awarded using the following criteria and weightings.

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
AC1 Service Delivery
Description
30.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 3
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 4
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
10.2 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 5
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
40 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 6
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 7
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 8
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 9
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 10
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Criterion 11
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
As per tender documentation

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Sept 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Aug 2030, 23:59
Entry 3
Id
3
Title
Sign Language (BSL & ISL)
Description
Sign language interpretation services
Status
active

Value

Including VAT
1,086,000
Amount
905,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Weighting Description
Contract Lots will be individually assessed and awarded using the following criteria and weightings.

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
AC1 Service Delivery
Description
30.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 3
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 4
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
10.2 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 5
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
40 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 6
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 7
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 8
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 9
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 10
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Criterion 11
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
As per tender documentation

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Sept 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Aug 2030, 23:59
Entry 4
Id
4
Title
Lip Speaking
Description
Lip Speaking translation services
Status
active

Value

Including VAT
6,000
Amount
5,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Weighting Description
Contract Lots will be individually assessed and awarded using the following criteria and weightings.

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
AC1 Service Delivery
Description
30.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 3
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 4
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
10.2 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 5
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
40 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 6
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 7
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 8
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 9
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 10
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Criterion 11
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
As per tender documentation

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Sept 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Aug 2030, 23:59
Entry 5
Id
5
Title
Note Taking
Description
Note taking services
Status
active

Value

Including VAT
6,000
Amount
5,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Weighting Description
Contract Lots will be individually assessed and awarded using the following criteria and weightings.

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
AC1 Service Delivery
Description
30.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 3
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 4
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
10.2 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 5
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
40 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 6
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 7
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 8
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 9
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 10
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Criterion 11
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
As per tender documentation

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Sept 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Aug 2030, 23:59
Entry 6
Id
6
Title
Sign Language Translation
Description
Sign language translation services
Status
active

Value

Including VAT
6,000
Amount
5,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Weighting Description
Contract Lots will be individually assessed and awarded using the following criteria and weightings.

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
AC1 Service Delivery
Description
30.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 3
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 4
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
10.2 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 5
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
40 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 6
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 7
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 8
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 9
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 10
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Criterion 11
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
As per tender documentation

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Sept 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Aug 2030, 23:59
Entry 7
Id
7
Title
Written & Transcription
Description
Translation & Transcription services
Status
active

Value

Including VAT
1,188,000
Amount
990,000
Currency
GBP

Award criteria

Weighting Description
Contract Lots will be individually assessed and awarded using the following criteria and weightings.

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
quality
Name
AC1 Service Delivery
Description
30.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 3
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
9.6 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 4
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
10.2 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 5
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
40 percent of total evaluation
Criterion 6
Type
quality
Name
AC2 Quality Assurance
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 7
Type
quality
Name
AC3 Data Protection and Information Security
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 8
Type
quality
Name
AC4 Social Value
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 9
Type
price
Name
AC5 Price
Description
As per tender documentation.
Criterion 10
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Criterion 11
Type
quality
Name
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.
Description
Mandatory field but all criteria already listed.

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
As per tender documentation
Criterion 2
Type
technical
Description
As per tender documentation

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Sept 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Aug 2030, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
79530000
Description
Translation services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
79540000
Description
Interpretation services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKN
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 2
Id
2
Related Lot
2

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
79530000
Description
Translation services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
79540000
Description
Interpretation services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKN
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 3
Id
3
Related Lot
3

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
79530000
Description
Translation services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
79540000
Description
Interpretation services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKN
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 4
Id
4
Related Lot
4

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
79530000
Description
Translation services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
79540000
Description
Interpretation services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKN
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 5
Id
5
Related Lot
5

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
79530000
Description
Translation services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
79540000
Description
Interpretation services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKN
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 6
Id
6
Related Lot
6

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
79530000
Description
Translation services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
79540000
Description
Interpretation services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKN
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 7
Id
7
Related Lot
7

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
79530000
Description
Translation services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
79540000
Description
Interpretation services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKN
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
conflictOfInterest
Document Type
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published
Entry 2
Id
051800-2026
Document Type
tenderNotice
Notice Type
UK4
Description
Tender notice on Find a Tender
Published
2 Jun 2026, 11:31
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Department for Communities
Id
GB-PPON-PXMQ-4585-LJVM

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PXMQ-4585-LJVM

Address

Street Address
Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street
Locality
Belfast
Postal Code
BT2 7EG
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKN06

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthorityCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - central government
Entry 2
Scheme
UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS
Id
GB-NIR
Description
Northern Irish devolved regulations apply
Organisation 2
Name
CPD - Supplies & Services Division
Id
GB-PPON-PVWG-8426-YWXV
Role Details
Construction and Procurement Delivery – Supplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides a central procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland.

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PVWG-8426-YWXV

Address

Street Address
Clare House, 303 Airport Road West
Locality
Belfast
Postal Code
BT3 9ED
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKN06

Contact

Roles

procuringEntity
processContactPoint

Details

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Belfast · UKN06 · BT2 7EG · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKN · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. 051800-2026Tender notice on Find a Tender ·