Language Services Framework 2027 – Bristol City Council

Tender information last checkedLast checked 21 Oct 2026, 19:35.

Opportunity overview

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

Classification

CPV79530000 — Translation services
CPV79540000 — Interpretation services

Lots

Lot 1 (Face-to-Face Interpretation)£2.3m
Lot 2 (Telephone Interpretation)£2.3m
Lot 3 (Video Interpretation)£2.3m
Lot 4 (Written Translation)£2.3m
Lot 5 (British Sign Language Interpretation)£2.3m
Lot 6 (British Sign Language Recorded Translation)£2.3m

Documents and notices

Tender notice on Find a TenderOpen source ↗
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-e511-8107-000c29c9ba21Open source ↗

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: DN827245
Status: active
Procurement Method: open
Procurement Method Details: Open procedure
Main Procurement Category: services
Above Threshold: Yes
How to submit: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=c7394bea-57cd-f111-8141-6045bdf14b1f&p=1a2530c9-009e-e511-8107-000c29c9ba21 ↗

Legal basis

Id: 2023/54
Scheme: UKPGA
Uri: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ↗

Techniques

Has Framework Agreement: Yes

Framework Agreement

Method: withAndWithoutReopeningCompetition
Type: closed
Description: Suppliers will be ranked based on total scores achieved.

Submission terms

Electronic Submission Policy: allowed

Languages

Tender Period

Ends: 20 Nov 2026, 12:00

Enquiry period

Ends: 12 Nov 2026, 12:00

Expected award period

Ends: 10 Jan 2027, 23:59

Lot Details

Maximum Lots Awarded Per Supplier: 1
Award Criteria Details: A supplier can be awarded a place on all 6 Lots, if meets the criteria.

Lots and requirements

Entry 1

Id: 1
Title: Lot 1 (Face-to-Face Interpretation)
Description: To successfully deliver a high-quality face-to-face interpretation service as per the specified requirements.
Status: active
Has Renewal: Yes
Has Options: Yes

Value

Including VAT: 2,760,000
Amount: 2,300,000
Currency: GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1

Type: price
Name: Price

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 60
Weight: percentageExact

Criterion 2

Type: quality
Name: Quality + Social Value
Description: Quality = 23% Social Value = 17%

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 40
Weight: percentageExact

Suitability

Sme: Yes
Vcse: Yes

Contract period

Starts: 1 Feb 2027, 00:00
Ends: 31 Jan 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date: 31 Jan 2031, 23:59

Renewal

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

Options

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

Entry 2

Id: 2
Title: Lot 2 (Telephone Interpretation)
Description: To successfully deliver a high-quality telephone interpretation service as per the specified requirements.
Status: active
Has Renewal: Yes
Has Options: Yes

Value

Including VAT: 2,760,000
Amount: 2,300,000
Currency: GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1

Type: price
Name: Price

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 60
Weight: percentageExact

Criterion 2

Type: quality
Name: Quality + Social Value
Description: Quality = 23% Social Value = 17%

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 40
Weight: percentageExact

Suitability

Sme: Yes
Vcse: Yes

Contract period

Starts: 1 Feb 2027, 00:00
Ends: 31 Jan 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date: 31 Jan 2031, 23:59

Renewal

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

Options

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

Entry 3

Id: 3
Title: Lot 3 (Video Interpretation)
Description: To successfully deliver a high-quality video interpretation service as per the specified requirements
Status: active
Has Renewal: Yes
Has Options: Yes

Value

Including VAT: 2,760,000
Amount: 2,300,000
Currency: GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1

Type: price
Name: Price

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 60
Weight: percentageExact

Criterion 2

Type: quality
Name: Quality + Social Value
Description: Quality = 23% Social Value = 17%

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 40
Weight: percentageExact

Suitability

Sme: Yes
Vcse: Yes

Contract period

Starts: 1 Feb 2027, 00:00
Ends: 31 Jan 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date: 31 Jan 2031, 23:59

Renewal

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

Options

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

Entry 4

Id: 4
Title: Lot 4 (Written Translation)
Description: To successfully deliver a high-quality written translation service as per the specified requirements.
Status: active
Has Renewal: Yes
Has Options: Yes

Value

Including VAT: 2,760,000
Amount: 2,300,000
Currency: GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1

Type: price
Name: Price

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 60
Weight: percentageExact

Criterion 2

Type: quality
Name: Quality + Social Value
Description: Quality = 23% Social Value = 17%

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 40
Weight: percentageExact

Suitability

Sme: Yes
Vcse: Yes

Contract period

Starts: 1 Feb 2027, 00:00
Ends: 31 Jan 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date: 31 Jan 2031, 23:59

Renewal

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

Options

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

Entry 5

Id: 5
Title: Lot 5 (British Sign Language Interpretation)
Description: To successfully deliver a high-quality British Sign Language Interpretation service as per the specified requirements.
Status: active
Has Renewal: Yes
Has Options: Yes

Value

Including VAT: 2,760,000
Amount: 2,300,000
Currency: GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1

Type: price
Name: Price

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 60
Weight: percentageExact

Criterion 2

Type: quality
Name: Quality + Social Value
Description: Quality = 23% Social Value = 17%

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 40
Weight: percentageExact

Suitability

Sme: Yes
Vcse: Yes

Contract period

Starts: 1 Feb 2027, 00:00
Ends: 31 Jan 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date: 31 Jan 2031, 23:59

Renewal

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

Options

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

Entry 6

Id: 6
Title: Lot 6 (British Sign Language Recorded Translation)
Description: To successfully deliver a high-quality British Sign Language (BSL) written/recorded translation service as per the specified requirements.
Status: active
Has Renewal: Yes
Has Options: Yes

Value

Including VAT: 2,760,000
Amount: 2,300,000
Currency: GBP

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1

Type: price
Name: Price

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 60
Weight: percentageExact

Criterion 2

Type: quality
Name: Quality + Social Value
Description: Quality = 23% Social Value = 17%

Numbers

Entry 1

Number: 40
Weight: percentageExact

Suitability

Sme: Yes
Vcse: Yes

Contract period

Starts: 1 Feb 2027, 00:00
Ends: 31 Jan 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date: 31 Jan 2031, 23:59

Renewal

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

Options

Description: 24 months with 2 extensions available

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: UKC
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 2

Region: UKD
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 3

Region: UKE
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 4

Region: UKF
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 5

Region: UKG
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 6

Region: UKH
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 7

Region: UKI
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 8

Region: UKJ
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 9

Region: UKK
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: UKC
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 2

Region: UKD
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 3

Region: UKE
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 4

Region: UKF
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 5

Region: UKG
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 6

Region: UKH
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 7

Region: UKI
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 8

Region: UKJ
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 9

Region: UKK
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: UKC
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 2

Region: UKD
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 3

Region: UKE
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 4

Region: UKF
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 5

Region: UKG
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 6

Region: UKH
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 7

Region: UKI
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 8

Region: UKJ
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 9

Region: UKK
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: UKC
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 2

Region: UKD
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 3

Region: UKE
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 4

Region: UKF
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 5

Region: UKG
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 6

Region: UKH
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 7

Region: UKI
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 8

Region: UKJ
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 9

Region: UKK
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: UKC
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 2

Region: UKD
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 3

Region: UKE
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 4

Region: UKF
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 5

Region: UKG
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 6

Region: UKH
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 7

Region: UKI
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 8

Region: UKJ
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 9

Region: UKK
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: UKC
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 2

Region: UKD
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 3

Region: UKE
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 4

Region: UKF
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 5

Region: UKG
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 6

Region: UKH
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 7

Region: UKI
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 8

Region: UKJ
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Entry 9

Region: UKK
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom

Published documents

Entry 1

Id: conflictOfInterest
Document Type: conflictOfInterest
Description: Not published

Entry 2

Id: L-1
Document Type: biddingDocuments
Description: 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
Url: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=c7394bea-57cd-f111-8141-6045bdf14b1f&p=1a2530c9-009e-e511-8107-000c29c9ba21 ↗

Entry 3

Id: 099618-2026
Document Type: tenderNotice
Notice Type: UK4
Description: Tender notice on Find a Tender
Url: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099618-2026 ↗
Published: 21 Oct 2026, 15:38
Format: text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1

Name: Bristol City Council
Id: GB-PPON-PWXH-3837-PDTD

Identifier

Scheme: GB-PPON
Id: PWXH-3837-PDTD

Address

Street Address: City Hall, College Green
Locality: Bristol
Postal Code: BS1 5TR
Country: GB
Country Name: United Kingdom
Region: UKK11

Contact

Name: Bismah Rahman
Email: bismah.rahman@bristol.gov.uk

Roles

buyer

Details

Url: http://www.bristol.gov.uk ↗

Classifications

Entry 1

Scheme: UK_CA_TYPE
Id: publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description: Public authority - sub-central government

Recorded locations

Buyer location · Bristol · UKK11 · BS1 5TR · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKC · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKD · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKE · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKF · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKG · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKH · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKI · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKJ · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKK · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION

099618-2026Tender notice on Find a Tender · 21 Oct 2026, 15:38

PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS

ProcuraAxis Analysis

Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.

ANALYSIS PREVIEW

Opportunity intelligence at a glance

Bristol City Council is running an open tender for a 2027 framework covering translation and interpreting services. Six lots cover face-to-face, telephone, video and British Sign Language interpretation, plus written and recorded BSL translation. The tender is open, with submissions due 20 November 2026 at 12:00 UTC.

Who this may suit

Relevant to providers able to deliver one or more specified language-service lots. Detailed quality standards, qualification criteria and framework terms are not supplied.

Key points identified

Service qualityHigh-quality language services are sought; detailed standards are not supplied.Evidence: “ensure continued access to high-quality language services” and each lot requires “a high-quality ... service as per the specified requirements.”
Qualified interpreters and suppliersThe framework is intended to provide a trusted pool of qualified interpreters and suppliers; qualification criteria are unknown.Evidence: “The framework provides a trusted pool of qualified interpreters and suppliers”
Service scopeBidders may address the listed interpretation and translation lots.Evidence: Lot titles 1–6 explicitly identify the service types.

91% approved-analysis confidence4 supplier criteria identified3 risks or unknowns

SOURCE AND FRESHNESS

Traceable procurement data

Source: Find a Tender
Notice reference: 099618-2026
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078d29
First published: 21 Oct 2026
Last checked: 21 Oct 2026, 19:35
Notice versions reviewed: 1

View Find a Tender notice ↗

HOW THIS WAS PREPARED

Approved, evidence-bound analysis

ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.

Analysis status: Approved for publication
Analysed: 21 Oct 2026

Read the analysis methodology →

PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS

What the buyer needs

Who this may suit

Relevant to providers able to deliver one or more specified language-service lots. Detailed quality standards, qualification criteria and framework terms are not supplied.

Key deliverables

Face-to-face interpretation
Telephone interpretation
Video interpretation
Written translation
British Sign Language interpretation
British Sign Language written/recorded translation

SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS

4 criteria identified

Service quality

93% confidence

High-quality language services are sought; detailed standards are not supplied.

View supporting evidence

“ensure continued access to high-quality language services” and each lot requires “a high-quality ... service as per the specified requirements.”

Qualified interpreters and suppliers

84% confidence

The framework is intended to provide a trusted pool of qualified interpreters and suppliers; qualification criteria are unknown.

View supporting evidence

“The framework provides a trusted pool of qualified interpreters and suppliers”

Service scope

99% confidence

Bidders may address the listed interpretation and translation lots.

View supporting evidence

Lot titles 1–6 explicitly identify the service types.

Supplier eligibility criteria

99% confidence

Unknown.

View supporting evidence

No eligibility, financial standing, insurance, exclusion or company-size criteria are supplied.

COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY

Contract intelligence

Commercial

Stated maximum value

98% confidence

£2,300,000.

View supporting evidence

Process field value_max: 2300000 GBP.

Lot value treatment

99% confidence

Each of the six supplied lots shows £2,300,000; it is unclear whether this is a framework-wide value repeated per lot or a separate lot value.

View supporting evidence

Lots 1–6 each state value_amount: 2300000 GBP.

Pricing and payment terms

99% confidence

Unknown.

View supporting evidence

No pricing schedule, payment terms or call-off terms are supplied.

Delivery

Delivery coverage

97% confidence

Delivery locations are listed across UKC, UKD, UKE, UKF, UKG, UKH, UKI, UKJ and UKK regions; no further delivery model is supplied.

View supporting evidence

Supplied delivery-location region fields: UKC, UKD, UKE, UKF, UKG, UKH, UKI, UKJ and UKK.

Buyer location

99% confidence

Bristol, United Kingdom.

View supporting evidence

Buyer location: Bristol, BS1 5TR, United Kingdom.

Contract dates

99% confidence

Unknown.

View supporting evidence

contract_start_at and contract_end_at are null.

PROCEDURE

How to respond

Status

99% confidence

Open tender.

View supporting evidence

display_status: “open”; stage: “tender”; source_status: “active”.

Procedure

99% confidence

Open procedure.

View supporting evidence

procurement_method: “open”; procurement_method_details: “Open procedure”.

Submission deadline

99% confidence

20 November 2026, 12:00 UTC.

View supporting evidence

submission_deadline: “2026-11-20T12:00:00Z”.

Tender access

91% confidence

A bidding-documents record directs users to ProContract; submission instructions are not supplied.

View supporting evidence

Document title: “Please find the Tender opportunity via ProContract using the link below.”

RISKS AND UNKNOWNS

Points requiring attention

Scope and qualification detail unavailable

98% confidence

The supplied notice gives lot-level service names but not the referenced specified requirements, quality standards or qualification criteria.

View supporting evidence

Lot descriptions refer to “the specified requirements” without providing them; the framework description refers to “qualified interpreters and suppliers” without criteria.

Lot-value ambiguity

99% confidence

The same £2,300,000 amount is recorded for every lot, so total and per-lot value cannot be determined from the supplied data.

View supporting evidence

Lots 1–6 each state value_amount: 2300000 GBP.

Delivery geography lacks operational detail

95% confidence

Multiple UK regions are listed, but no allocation, service coverage, travel or remote-delivery requirements are provided.

View supporting evidence

Delivery-location entries provide region codes only.

ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.