Official UK procurement notice
NEPO528 Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System for the Provision of British Sign Language Interpreters
Authority: The Association of North East Councils Limited (Local council)
What is being bought4 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe NEPO528 - British Sign Language DPS commenced on 24 May 2021 for a term of 60 months and was due to expire on 24 May 2026.
The original Contract Notice for this DPS was published on 5 March 2021: 2021/S 000-004508.
The purpose of this notice is to extend the period of validity of the DPS for a period of 27 months from 24 May 2026 to 31 August 2028.
The value of the DPS remains unchanged and NEPO do not anticipate that the extension of the validity of the DPS requires variation to the published value.
NEPO528 - British Sign Language has been established as a 'Dynamic Purchasing System' under a flexible approached based on the concept of Regulation 34 via Schedule 3, under the principles set out in Regulation 74-77 ('The Light Touch Regime').
The opportunity can be accessed via the Open eTendering system. Suppliers wishing to be considered for this Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System must register their expression of interest and submit a tender through the Open eTendering System.
Suppliers wishing to access the DPS must first register on the e-Tendering system using the following link www.open-uk.org ↗
For guidance on how to create an account or submit your response through Open, please visit www.open-hub.org/training ↗ to access the available Training Guides.
If you need technical assistance from the Open Support team, this can be requested via [email protected]. PLEASE NOTE: Open is accessible 24/7 however, technical support is available Monday to Thursday 08:30 - 17:00 and Friday 08:30 - 16:30.
NEPO does not give any guarantee and/or warrant the actual value of orders (if any) which will be placed with the successful suppliers by any Contracting Authority using the Dynamic Purchasing System pursuant to this process and accepts no liability thereof.
CPV: Interpretation services · Provision of services to the community
How this dynamic market works
From the published notice- Type
- Dynamic market
Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure
4 lots · no lot values published · win at most 4 of themLot #1Face to Face and Video LinkRenewal
This Lot incorporates all elements of Lot 2 - Face to Face and Lot 3 - Video Link. Providers must be able to supply against all requirements to be considered:
- British Sign Language (face to face and video link)
- Speech to Text Operator
- Lip speaking (face to face and video link)
Services may be required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and Providers must ensure that they can comply with this requirement.
Lot #2Face to FaceRenewal
An Interpreter is physically present in order to allow parties to communicate via the following methods:
- British Sign Language
- Speech to Text Operator
- Lip speaking
Services may be required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and Providers must ensure that they can comply with this requirement.
Lot #3Video LinkRenewal
An Interpreter is present via video link to allow parties to communicate via the following methods:
- British Sign Language
- Lip speaking
Services may be required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and Providers must ensure that they can comply with this requirement.
Lot #4Specialist ServicesRenewal
An Interpreter is present to allow parties to communicate via the following methods:
- Deafblind Communication
- International Sign Language
- Deaf Relay Interpreting
Services may be required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and Providers must ensure that they can comply with this requirement.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- “NEPO528 Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System for the Provision of British…” is a dynamic market: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How The Association of North East Councils Limited buys Provision of services to the community (CPV 7520), and who usually turns up
The Association of North East Councils Limited’s own published record, next to the published market for the same work. This notice is a framework or DPS, so only frameworks and DPS are compared. Whole-market view: Provision of services to the community (CPV 7520) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered outside the delivery region.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 118 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
The buyer’s share is a minimum: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Missing bid counts may hide more single-bid awards. This share is a minimum.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid16%
2–343%
4–619%
7+22%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
On a framework or DPS, prices are agreed when work is called off.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Not comparable on a framework or DPS. The notice sets up a supplier panel and a ceiling value; what the work actually costs is agreed later, on each call-off or mini-competition, and those publish as contract notices of their own. The award-vs-estimate record of this market therefore sits on the call-offs; this page shows it on the contracts, not on the panel that frames them.
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1Face to Face and Video LinkCPV 75200000Estimate not published
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid13%
2–332%
4–623%
7+31%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
PSS (UK)Large | £32m8 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 3 live · £4.3m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=3 |
| £3.1m6 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 1 live · £3.1m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £497k7 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 3 live · £168k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
HM TreasuryLarge | £15k1 awards in 36m · last 8 months ago | None on file | no comparable pairs |
| £1.1m3 awards in 36m · last 18 months ago | None on file | at estimate n=1 |
Lot #2Face to FaceCPV 75200000Estimate not published
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid14%
2–336%
4–620%
7+30%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £33m25 awards in 36m · last this month | 11 live · £44m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 5% below n=4 | |
PSS (UK)Large | £32m8 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 3 live · £4.3m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=3 |
| £161m8 awards in 36m · last 4 months ago | 1 live · £105k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=3 | |
| £431k9 awards in 36m · last 7 months ago | 1 live · £215k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=1 | |
| £1.1m3 awards in 36m · last 18 months ago | None on file | at estimate n=1 |
Lot #3Video LinkCPV 75200000Estimate not published
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid14%
2–333%
4–623%
7+30%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
PSS (UK)Large | £32m8 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 3 live · £4.3m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=3 |
| £497k7 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 3 live · £168k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £431k9 awards in 36m · last 7 months ago | 1 live · £215k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=1 | |
| £1.1m3 awards in 36m · last 18 months ago | None on file | at estimate n=1 | |
| £844k2 awards in 36m · last 19 months ago | None on file | 8% below n=5 |
Lot #4Specialist ServicesCPV 75200000Estimate not published
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid14%
2–335%
4–621%
7+31%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
No comparable awards for this lot yet.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
PSS (UK)Large | £32m8 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 3 live · £4.3m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=3 |
| £497k7 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 3 live · £168k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
| £431k9 awards in 36m · last 7 months ago | 1 live · £215k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=1 | |
| £1.1m3 awards in 36m · last 18 months ago | None on file | at estimate n=1 | |
| £844k2 awards in 36m · last 19 months ago | None on file | 8% below n=5 |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Restricted procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Open admission
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Dynamic market
- Who may use this agreement
- Any qualifying supplier may apply while the market is open
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 17 Mar 2026, 16:19 GMT
- Last source update
- 17 Mar 2026, 16:19 GMT
- Authority reference
NEPO528- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-024252- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-066caeFind a Tender
How to participate & submission route
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Admission period ends
- 31 Aug 2028
- Clarification deadline
- —
- Submission channel
- {"written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
- document
Timeline
17 Mar 2026 → 31 Aug 2028 · 2 dates- Notice published219 days ago17 Mar 2026, 16:19 GMT
- Today22 Oct 2026
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown31 Aug 2028
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- NEPOReview body
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria