The Translation and Interpretation (T&I) Service provides translation from a range of foreign languages to non English-speaking service users both on a face-to-face and remote basis — e.g., as written translation or via telephone or video conferencing. The service also provides sign-language interpretation to the deaf community and includes a wide range of European and global languages provided by local native speakers and sign-language specialists.

The provision of the T&I service is flexible and confidential; it is available in meeting settings, at court hearings or on other bespoke occasions as required by service users.

The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham conducted a Mini Competition called off from a Crown Commercial Service Language Services framework which provides access to a wide range of translation and interpretation services in more than 250 languages and dialects divided into 2 lots.

The Authority invited submissions from pre-qualified economic operators in Lot 1 (Managed Service provision) of which there were 6. Economic operators were asked to price the following services in a variety of delivery options:

1. Spoken (telephone, face-to-face and video translation);

2. Written Translation;

3. Non-Spoken (including British Sign Language); and

4. Managed Language Service Provision.

A total of 4 tenders were submitted at the end of an 18-day bid period. All Tenderers were given detailed feedback following the evaluation stage and moderation of the results. The Authority observed a voluntary 10-day standstill period following which the award was confirmed on 31.3.2017.