The Equality Act 2010, and NHS Act 2006, require NHS and wider public sector organisations to have provisions in place for interpretation and translation services to ensure that patients and citizens receive the right care, with informed consent, leading to better health outcomes.
Our Interpretation and Translation Services Framework Agreement provides in-person, digital and AI enabled solutions to ensure that people with specific language and communication requirements receive the same quality of healthcare and services as everyone else.
Translators on our framework agreement possess subject-matter expertise that aligns with the content they are translating, which includes specialised knowledge in areas such as healthcare, legal, and public sector services. Their familiarity with sector-specific terminology, regulatory requirements, and cultural nuances ensures that translations are not only linguistically accurate, but also contextually appropriate – supporting clear communication, safeguarding patient and citizen safety, and maintaining legal integrity.
Framework Agreement Information
It covers all your language service needs. The order form is flexible enough to be amended to reflect local demand, fill rates, qualification or experience levels and travel cost considerations. Additional services such as transcription, website localisation and accessibility, foreign language appointment reminders, plus many more are available via the framework agreement.
What dates is the framework agreement active?
06 November 2025 – 05 November 2027
(with the option to extend until 05 November 2029)
Who can take advantage of the framework agreement?
NHS and wider public sector organisations
How was the framework agreement procured?
Further competition and direct award
Via this framework agreement, you can run a further competition, or choose to direct award to a supplier in compliance with Regulation 33 of the Public Contracts Regulations.
How we can support?
We offer different levels of support, including SME advice and robust templates for you to easily run your own process, or additional support to design and run a further competition on your behalf.
How can I access the framework agreement?
Access framework agreement documentation via our Customer Framework Agreement Portal (CFAP)
The framework agreement has been structured in the following lots:
What are the benefits of using this framework agreement?
LATEST TECHNOLOGY
The latest technology enabled products and services including mobile apps, tablets, and video conferencing equipment.
ONE STOP SHOP
One stop shop for organisations that want one supplier to provide services for all language service requirements.
BESPOKE REQUIREMENTS
Ability to include bespoke requirements (fill rates, travel costs, qualifications, experience etc.) at a local level.
MACHINE TRANSLATION
Covers machine translation (including post editing) and ‘translation memory’ to help reduce translation costs.
LATEST TECHNOLOGY
The latest technology enabled products and services including mobile apps, tablets, and video conferencing equipment.
CHOICE OF SUPPLIERS
A range of suppliers to suit all requirements: from regional SME specialists, to national providers.
What our customers say...
“The overall experience in terms of support from NHS SBS has been excellent at pre-market engagement. Your assistance with setting up meetings, supplier presentations, engagement with suppliers, stakeholders and general effort has been invaluable to us at the Peninsula Purchasing & Supply Alliance (PPSA) with limited capacity to manage this. We have yet to tender, obviously, but have appreciated the support to date and look forward to working with you as we progress this forward.”
Shaun Kerslake
Category Manager
Peninsula Purchasing & Supply Alliance | Hosted by: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Supplier Details
Find out what the press had to say
Healthcare Management Magazine
Language translation solution contract launched for public services
Healthcare Business
NHS SBS launches translation and interpretation framework
Strategic Procurement Support
If this framework agreement doesn’t cover the goods or services you require, or a framework agreement isn’t the optimal route to market for your needs, we can provide tailored strategic procurement support. Find out more here.
