UK County Issues Translation and Interpreting Tender Valued at GBP 15M

The UK’s East Sussex County Council (ESCC) has issued a two-stage tender notice for translation and interpreting services to replace a framework expiring on December 31, 2025. The multiple-supplier framework’s estimated value is GBP 15m (USD 20m) before VAT. It is slated to last four years, beginning in January 2026.

The ESCC has designated this tender as a Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP), a modality that allows the contracting authorities to design their own specific tender process, while adhering to core procurement mandates. Selected providers will serve a number of public agencies, including the National Health Service (NHS).

The first stage in this CFP consists of a search for qualified organizations across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. The intent is to prequalify prospective providers who submit a request to participate and create a short list for a second qualifying stage in which successful candidates are invited to tender.

The framework includes three lots, each of which might share funds with other lots. A lot is assigned to spoken language remote (telephone and video) and face-to-face interpreting services. A second lot is for sign language remote (video) and face-to-face interpreting services, and a third lot covers translation, transcription, and ancillary services.

To be considered, interested parties must complete a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) found in the Proactis portal and submit all required documentation by June 12, 2025.

Evaluation Criteria

According to the tender instructions, the initial evaluation includes lot selection and criteria for the ESCC to evaluate “technical knowledge and experience, capability/capacity, organizational and financial standing and ability to meet the Council’s minimum and mandatory requirements.”

The evaluation will weigh quality at 60% and price at 40%. Quality assessments will consider factors like demand management, responsiveness to local needs, continuous improvement, safeguarding, and environmental sustainability. Price will be evaluated based on fixed rates.

A key requirement for spoken and non-spoken language interpreting (Lots 1 and 2) involves demonstrating suitable and secure video conferencing technology.

There is also a requirement for providers to contribute a minimum of 5% in social value for each participating authority whose annual spending on their services surpasses GBP 100,000 (USD 133,000) during any year of the framework.

Additionally, successful bidders whose total earnings from all participating authorities reach or exceed GBP 5,000 (USD 6,653) annually (before VAT) will need to pay the ESCC a fee calculated at 2% of total annual earnings under the framework to offset administrative and operational costs.

Shortlisted organizations will have until September 4, 2025, to submit their application packages. The evaluation process is scheduled to run from September 25 to October 10, 2025, and successful bidders will be notified around October 27, 2025.