Language Services

Language Services including translation, transcription, interpreting and a quality assurance service. Available to the whole of the public and third sector.

Description

Provides innovative language services designed to meet the public sector’s core needs. These services include:

  • translation
  • interpretation
  • fully scoped remote interpreting options (such as telephone and video interpreting)
  • Machine Translation (provides alternative ways of working that are efficient and effective)

We understand that the needs of central government and the wider public sector may be different. This new agreement now includes nationally and regionally focused lots to help with this.

Nationally focused lots will deliver services in scale and regionally focused lots are bespoke to geographical areas. This combined with social value options and a quality assurance lot, will help you to meet your current and future needs.

Benefits

  • social value makes sure you can enjoy the added value our suppliers can provide (such as: equality, diversity and fair working practices)
  • competitive market rates
  • CCS managed compliance checks to make sure suppliers follow the agreement’s terms and conditions
  • dedicated contract management
  • opportunity to achieve cost and time savings using technological solutions

Carbon Reduction

All suppliers for this agreement have committed to comply with the Procurement Policy Note 06/21: 'Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts' as required. If a supplier is required to publish a carbon reduction plan, you can find it on their individual supplier details page.

Products and suppliers

There are 14 suppliers on this agreement

Lot 1: National Managed Service
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded onto lot 1. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • Spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

7 suppliers

Lot 2: Translation, Transcription and Ancillary Services
Provides translation, transcription and ancillary services throughout the United Kingdom. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • translation: the conversion of written documents into another language as text
  • transcription: the conversion of audio recordings into alternative formats (such as print or video)
  • ancillary services: supporting services (such as editing and formatting)

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 3: Telephone and Spoken Video Interpreting
Provides telephone and spoken video interpreting services throughout the United Kingdom. This includes consecutive and simultaneous interpreting either by telephone or video conferencing technology. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • a scheduled telephone or video interpreting service (for customers who prefer to book an interpreter in advance)
  • on demand telephone interpreting (for non-English speakers who need to use an interpreter immediately over the telephone)
It may be possible to provide an on demand video interpreting service (this must be agreed between the supplier and buyer at call-off)

Expires:

3 suppliers

Lot 4a: Non Spoken Language Services - North East
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 4b: Non Spoken Language Services - North West
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 4c: Non Spoken Language Services - Yorkshire and Humberside
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 4d: Non Spoken Language Services - East Midlands
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 4e: Non Spoken Language Services - West Midlands
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 4f: Non Spoken Language Services - East of England
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 4g: Non Spoken Language Services - London
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 4h: Non Spoken Language Services - South East
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 4i: Non Spoken Language Services - South West
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 4j: Non Spoken Language Services - Wales
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 4k: Non Spoken Language Services - Scotland
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 4l: Non Spoken Language Services - Northern Ireland
Provides unspoken language services for deaf, deaf-blind and others who need support to access English. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • face to face interpretation
  • video interpreting
  • translations and transcription services

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 5a: Regional Managed Service - North East
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

9 suppliers

Lot 5b: Regional Managed Service - North West
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

8 suppliers

Lot 5c: Regional Managed Service - Yorkshire and Humberside
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

8 suppliers

Lot 5d: Regional Managed Service - East Midlands
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

8 suppliers

Lot 5e: Regional Managed Service - West Midlands
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

8 suppliers

Lot 5f: Regional Managed Service - East of England
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

9 suppliers

Lot 5g: Regional Managed Service - London
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

9 suppliers

Lot 5h: Regional Managed Service - South East
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

9 suppliers

Lot 5i: Regional Managed Service - South West
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

8 suppliers

Lot 5j: Regional Managed Service - Wales
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

8 suppliers

Lot 5k: Regional Managed Service - Scotland
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

9 suppliers

Lot 5l: Regional Managed Service - Northern Ireland
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

8 suppliers

Lot 5m: Regional Managed Service - Overseas and UK
Provides a managed service throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, broken down by region. You can buy one, some or all services from a supplier awarded to the specific region. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • spoken and unspoken translation, transcription and ancillary services
  • spoken telephone and spoken and unspoken video interpreting
  • spoken and unspoken face to face interpreting

Expires:

5 suppliers

Lot 6: Quality Assurance Services
Provides quality assurance checks on services provided by suppliers who are awarded a contract through this agreement and any interpreters/ translators used to carry out those services. Common services provided under this lot include:
  • checking that the supplier meets the needs set out in the booking
  • end user surveys
This lot also provides assessments of the following services:
  • recorded face to face booking (audio or video)
  • a live booking in person (spoken and unspoken)
  • telephone interpretations
  • video interpretations (spoken and unspoken)
  • spoken and unspoken language interpreter through video role play
  • translated documents
  • transcriptions

Expires:

1 suppliers

How to buy

You can buy from this agreement either through direct award or further competition. There is no minimum spend requirement.

Direct award

This is suitable if there is only one supplier that meets your needs, or you can clearly see which supplier is the most beneficial to you.

To place a direct award you will need to:

  1. develop a clear specification of your needs
  2. use the Specification (found in the document section) to show that the mandatory requirements fulfil your needs, and to determine which supplier is the most advantageous 
  3. award the call-off contract by sending a completed and signed framework schedule 6 to the successful supplier (this can be done electronically)
  4. notify CCS of your award by emailing us (include in your email: contract name, contract length, contract total value and winning supplier name)

Direct awards will be priced based on maximum agreement rates. You should consider whether you can get better value for money through further competition before awarding a direct award. If you choose this option you cannot use any supplementary terms and conditions.

Further competition

Invite suppliers from a specific lot to compete for your business to get the best value. For example, you can specify service levels, the security clearance needed or minimum qualifications unique to your organisation. 

You are free to amend the call off agreement to reflect these.

To run a further competition you will need to:

  1. develop your specification and identify the suppliers who can meet your needs 
  2. use Framework schedule 6 to refine your contract deliverables (what you need).
  3. develop your further competition award criteria 
  4. invite all identified suppliers to submit a tender in writing – this could be by email or through your preferred e-Sourcing tool (contact details for each supplier representative can be found in the products and supplier section. 
  5. set a time limit for the submission of tenders, (take into account the time needed to create and submit tenders and the complexity of your needs)
  6. keep each tender confidential until the time limit set out for the return of tenders has expired
  7. apply your published award criteria to each submitted tender 
  8. award your call-off contract by sending a completed and signed Framework schedule 6 to the successful supplier (this can be done electronically)
  9. provide unsuccessful suppliers with written feedback on why their tenders were unsuccessful
  10. notify CCS of your award by emailing us (include in your email: contract name, contract length, contract total value and winning supplier name)
  11. publish your contract on contracts finder for transparency purposes

Call off agreement

Whatever option you choose, your call off agreement will set out the legal relationship between you and your chosen supplier. It is based on a standard set of terms and conditions which you can find in Framework Schedule 6. There are 2 parts to complete:

  • part 1 (the order form)
  • part 2 (the terms and conditions or ‘Core Terms’)

You can run and manage further competitions using our CCS eSourcing portal. To use this tool for the first time you will need to register an eSourcing account. 

Read full customer guidance on how to use the eSourcing portal.

If you need more information or would like to speak to a member of our team, send us an email.

Documents