Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board
Civic Centre, St Peter’s Square
Wolverhampton
WV1 1SH
Contact
Kimberley Walker
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG39 - Wolverhampton
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.blackcountry.icb.nhs.uk/
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
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://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Interpretation and Translation Services (BC)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79540000 - Interpretation services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
***THIS NOTICE IS FOR A MARKET ENGAGEMENT EVENT ONLY***
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands CSU on behalf of NHS Black Country ICB (BC) (referred to as the Commissioner), intend to conduct a Competitive Flexible Process under The Procurement Act 2023 to seek a suitably experienced and qualified supplier to provide Interpretation and Translation Services. The procurement route will be finalised following the market engagement. Suppliers are invited to attend a virtual market engagement event where the Commissioner will discuss their requirements and seek feedback from the market.
The aim of the service is to provide an integrated language and communication service for patients accessing primary care services commissioned by NHS Black Country ICB.
Further details can be found in II.2.4.1.
The virtual market engagement event will be held on 16th September 2025 at 13:00 to 14:30, via MS Teams, with a 30-minute 1:1 session being offered on 17th September 2025 between 09:00 and 17:00 and 22nd September 2025 between 09:00 and 17:00. Attendance to the market engagement event on 16th September 2025 is mandatory should you require a follow up 30-minute 1:1 session to ensure fairness across all suppliers.
You are invited to complete a questionnaire and confirm your attendance to the market engagement event, and confirm if you would like a follow up 30-minute 1:1 session, by accessing Atamis (Health Family) (https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome), search for project “C380665 – Interpretation and Translation Service (BC) – Market Engagement" and complete the online questionnaire by 17:00 12th September 2025.
You will be able to locate and access the MS Teams invitation within the documents area, along with further information regarding the service.
An invitation will be issued for the allocated 30-minute time slot. Sessions will be scheduled on a first come first served basis.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,120,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79530000 - Translation services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG3 - West Midlands
Main site or place of performance
Black Country
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
***THIS NOTICE IS FOR A MARKET ENGAGEMENT EVENT ONLY***
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands CSU on behalf of NHS Black Country ICB (BC) (referred to as the Commissioner), intend to conduct a Competitive Flexible Process under The Procurement Act 2023 to seek a suitably experienced and qualified supplier to provide Interpretation and Translation Services. The procurement route will be finalised following the market engagement. Suppliers are invited to attend a virtual market engagement event where the Commissioner will discuss their requirements and seek feedback from the market.
The procurement is intended to be published as a Lotted procurement, as per the below Lots:
1) British Sign Language (BSL)
2) Written and Spoken, including digital solutions
3) Neurodiverse and Learning Disabilities Advocacy
The aims of the service is to provide an integrated language and communication service for patients accessing primary care services commissioned by NHS Black Country ICB.
The service aims are to:
• Deliver a place-based language and communication system that actively promotes collaborative working to improve English language proficiency and puts the outcomes of our population at the heart
• Meet existing demand for primary care interpreting services and manage future growth in demand of interpreting services
• Utilise a range of language and communication modes capitalising on the latest technological and digital developments.
• Enable primary care staff to have access to timely, high quality, language and communication services for patients accessing primary care services.
• Improve levels of patient confidence and activation to overcome language and communication barriers.
• Provision of signposting to establish referrals into local English language (ESOL) providers or equivalent across the ICB footprint. Work in partnership with stakeholders to improve access to opportunities to improve independence, confidence and patient activation.
• Be proactive in identifying unwanted variation in access to language and communication services across the ICB footprint.
The purpose and outcome of this market engagement is to:
• Develop the Commissioners requirements and approach to the procurement;
• Identify suitably experienced and qualified suppliers that may be able to provide an Interpretation and Translation service in all four places within the Black Country ICS; and
• Engage with interested parties to explore the current capacity and capability of the market to meet the requirements.
The virtual market engagement event will be held on 16th September 2025 at 13:00 to 14:30, via MS Teams, with a 30-minute 1:1 session being offered on 17th September 2025 between 09:00 and 17:00 and 22nd September 2025 between 09:00 and 17:00. Attendance to the market engagement event on 16th September 2025 is mandatory should you require a follow up 30-minute 1:1 session to ensure fairness across all suppliers.
You are invited to complete a questionnaire and confirm your attendance to the market engagement event, and confirm if you would like a follow up 30-minute 1:1 session, by accessing Atamis (Health Family) (https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome), search for project “C380665 – Interpretation and Translation Service (BC) – Market Engagement" and complete the online questionnaire by 17:00 12th September 2025.
You will be able to locate and access the MS Teams invitation within the documents area, along with further information regarding the service.
An invitation will be issued for the allocated 30-minute time slot. Sessions will be scheduled on a first come first served basis.
two.2.14) Additional information
You are invited to complete a questionnaire and confirm your attendance to the market engagement event, and confirm if you would like a follow up 30-minute 1:1 session, by accessing Atamis (Health Family) (https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome), search for project “C380665 – Interpretation and Translation Service (BC) – Market Engagement" and complete the online questionnaire by 17:00 12th September 2025.
This is a Procurement Act 2023 Notice. Any award of contract for this requirement is subject to the Procurement Act 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 do not apply. In addition, neither the placement of this notice nor any subsequent notice shall bind the Commissioner to the award of any contract.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
3 November 2025
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
You are invited to complete a questionnaire and confirm your attendance to the market engagement event, and confirm if you would like a follow up 30-minute 1:1 session, by accessing Atamis (Health Family) (https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome), search for project “C380665 – Interpretation and Translation Service (BC) – Market Engagement" and complete the online questionnaire by 17:00 12th September 2025.