Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Government
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
UK
Contact person: Paul Brydon
E-mail: paul.brydon@gov.scot
NUTS: UKM
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.scotland.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Interpreting, Translation and Transcription
Reference number: SP-24-010
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79530000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Scottish Ministers are seeking to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription Services for Framework Public Bodies throughout the Scottish Public Sector. The Framework is a multi-lot/multi-supplier agreement and has 4 lots covering the provision of:
Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services
Lot 2 – Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services
Lot 3 – Translation and Transcription Services
Lot 4 – Sign Language Services – British and International
Under Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a comprehensive face to face interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies
Under Lot 2 – Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a telephone and video interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages. This will include a scheduled video interpreting service for Framework Public Body assignments booked in advance. This can be either via the Framework Public Body video portal or via the Contractor video portal.
Under Lot 3 - Translation and Transcription Services, the Contractor will provide a translation and transcription service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies. The Contractor will also be required to provide an English-to-English service. The service required includes a highly accurate translation and transcription of style documentation, tapes and other forms of electronic media.
Under Lot 4 - Sign Language Services – British and International, the Contractor is required to provide both a comprehensive face to face sign language interpreting service and a Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) sign language service to fulfil the current and evolving needs of the Framework Public Bodies.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
20 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Under Lot 1 - Face to Face Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a comprehensive face to face interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 60
Price
/ Weighting:
40
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
9 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The Framework will be in place for a 4 year period, after this the Framework may be subject to renewal.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Lot 2 – Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Under Lot 2 – Telephone and Video Conferencing Interpreting Services, the Contractor will provide a telephone and video interpreting service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages. This will include a scheduled video interpreting service for Framework Public Body assignments booked in advance. This can be either via the Framework Public Body video portal or via the Contractor video portal.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 60
Price
/ Weighting:
40
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
4 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The Framework will be in place for a 4 year period, after this the Framework may be subject to renewal.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Lot 3 – Translation and Transcription Services
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Under Lot 3 - Translation and Transcription Services, the Contractor will provide a translation and transcription service from English into a wide range of spoken languages and dialects and from those languages and dialects into English or other languages as requested by Framework Public Bodies. The Contractor will also be required to provide an English-to-English service. The service required includes a highly accurate translation and transcription of style documentation, tapes and other forms of electronic media.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 60
Price
/ Weighting:
40
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
3 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The Framework will be in place for a 4 year period, after this the Framework may be subject to renewal.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 4
II.2.1) Title
Lot 4 – Sign Language Services – British and International
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Under Lot 4 - Sign Language Services – British and International, the Contractor is required to provide both a comprehensive face to face sign language interpreting service and a Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) sign language service to fulfil the current and evolving needs of the Framework Public Bodies.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 60
Price
/ Weighting:
40
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
4 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The Framework will be in place for a 4 year period, after this the Framework may be subject to renewal.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
It is a requirement of this framework that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commence of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
- Professional Risk Indemnity: in the sum of not less than 1,000,000 GBP per incident.
- Employer's (Compulsory) Liability: in accordance with any legal obligation for the time being in force.
- Public Liability: in the sum of not less than 1,000,000 GBP per incident.
Bidders must provide a separate SPD response from entities upon whose capability/capacity they rely on in order to meet any selection criteria including economic and financial standing.
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 9
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-040476
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
11/09/2025
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 9 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
11/09/2025
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
within 4 years.
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
The estimated total value of 20,000,000 GBP advised at II.1.5 is a genuine estimate, which may be exceeded for the services within scope, up to a value of 30,000,000 GBP
In partnership with the Supplier Development Programme, we are providing additional support for bidders by delivering training to help you understand the process to bid for this opportunity. An Aligned Tender Training session will be delivered on Thursday 28 August 2025, 2:00-3:30pm, please follow the attached link to register for the training (https://www.sdpscotland.co.uk/events/scottish-government-translation-services-1935/)
The Framework Agreement will be available for use by the Scottish Ministers (including Agencies), Scottish Non-Departmental Public Bodies, offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices, cross-border public authorities within the meaning of section 88(5) of the Scotland Act 1998, The Office for the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, councils constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, bodies registered as social landlords under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, Scottish health boards or special health boards, Student Loans Company Limited, the Commissioner of Northern Lighthouse operating as the Northern Lighthouse Board, Scottish Futures Trust, Equality and Human Rights Commission, Business Stream Ltd, the Business Gateway National Unit at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, further or higher education institutions being fundable bodies within the meaning of section 6 of the further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005, any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament, any association of or formed by one or more of the foregoing, bodies financed wholly or mainly by one or more of the foregoing, bodies subject to management supervision by one or more of the foregoing and bodies more than half of the board of directors or members of which, or, in the case of a group of individuals, more than half of those individuals, being appointed by one or more of the foregoing. In addition to the contracting authorities listed, the framework agreement will be available to charities entered on the Scottish Charity Register and voluntary organisations entered on the Membership Database of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.
Information about agencies of the Scottish Ministers, Scottish Non-Departmental Public Bodies and offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices are listed at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/about/Bodies
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 29837. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2361 A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows: The Contractor will be required, where practical to consider relevant opportunities for community benefits:
- Opportunities for the involvement of SMEs and /or third sector organisations in delivery of this Framework;
- Provide assurance regarding Workforce matters - this may include schemes such as:
- Providing training opportunities and support to achieve qualifications;
- Supporting local communities e.g. sponsorship of local clubs etc;
- Using social enterprises to support delivery of services.
(SC Ref:806722)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
UK
Telephone: +44 1312252525
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
An economic operator that suffers or risks suffering loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or Court of Session.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
08/08/2025