Open7 days left · closes midday, Friday 20 November 2026

Language Services Framework 2027

In brief

Bristol City Council is looking for suppliers for translation work (North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West).

It is a framework worth up to £2,300,000 excluding VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.

The contract runs for 2 years, up to 4 years with extensions, starting 1 February 2027.

It is split into 6 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Bids close at midday, Friday 20 November 2026.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Key dates

Questions by: midday, Thursday 12 November 2026
Bids by: midday, Friday 20 November 2026

How bids are scored

Price 60% · Quality + Social Value 40%

Price matters most. Expect to compete hard on cost.

Competition

Usually high: a median of 5.5 bids per contract for this buyer (from 30 awards in the last 12 months).

Framework

Winning puts you on a list of suppliers the buyer can call on; it does not guarantee work. The £2,300,000 is the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers over the framework's life, not one contract.

Tender documents

Please find the Tender opportunity via ProContract using the link below.…

What the notice says

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

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

Can you prepare a good bid in 7 days?That is tight, especially for a first bid with this buyer.
Is a contract of about £2,300,000 a size you can deliver?Buyers often check that your turnover is comfortably larger than the yearly contract value.
Can you deliver in North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West?Check the delivery locations in the tender documents.
Is one of the 6 lots a good fit?You can usually bid for one lot without bidding for the others.
Can you meet what the notice mentions: Framework agreement?The tender documents will say exactly what is required.
Are you registered on the Central Digital Platform?You need to be registered to take part under the Procurement Act 2023.
The buyer says this suits small businesses.A good sign if you are an SME, but check the requirements.

How to bid

Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
Submit your bid through the buyer's e-tendering portal: procontract.due-north.com.
Send clarification questions before midday, Thursday 12 November 2026.
Make sure your bid arrives before midday, Friday 20 November 2026. Late bids are usually rejected.

Lots

Lot	Trade	Value
Lot 1 (Face-to-Face Interpretation) 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2029 What this lot covers To successfully deliver a high-quality face-to-face interpretation service as per the specified requirements.	Translation and interpreting	£2,300,000
Lot 2 (Telephone Interpretation) 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2029 What this lot covers To successfully deliver a high-quality telephone interpretation service as per the specified requirements.	Translation and interpreting	£2,300,000
Lot 3 (Video Interpretation) 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2029 What this lot covers To successfully deliver a high-quality video interpretation service as per the specified requirements	Translation and interpreting	£2,300,000
Lot 4 (Written Translation) 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2029 What this lot covers To successfully deliver a high-quality written translation service as per the specified requirements.	Translation and interpreting	£2,300,000
Lot 5 (British Sign Language Interpretation) 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2029 What this lot covers To successfully deliver a high-quality British Sign Language Interpretation service as per the specified requirements.	Translation and interpreting	£2,300,000
Lot 6 (British Sign Language Recorded Translation) 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2029 What this lot covers To successfully deliver a high-quality British Sign Language (BSL) written/recorded translation service as per the specified requirements.	Translation and interpreting	£2,300,000

Timeline

21 October 2026Tender notice · UK4, notice 099618-2026

About the buyer

Bristol City CouncilLast 12 months

Procurements

509

Awards

355

All tenders and awards from Bristol City Council

From notice 099618-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 21 October 2026. We last checked for changes on 21 October 2026.