Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
The Scottish Parliament, Procurement Services
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Contact
Euan Muirhead
Telephone
+44 1313486620
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10284
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other type
Legislative Body
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Devolved Parliament
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Sign Language and Associated Services
Reference number
NIC-SER-456
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79540000 - Interpretation services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Contractor will provide Sign Language Interpretation services and other associated services. The main requirement is for interpreting for English to/from British Sign Language. The Contractor must provide simultaneous BSL interpreting for parliamentary business as requested. This will be filmed live, broadcast on the BSL Channel on SPTV, and archived. It will also be posted on the Parliament’s social media accounts and may be used by other broadcasters either live or later.
The Contractor will also provide other sign languages or supporting services as required. Additional sign languages and communication support services which will be in scope of the Contract, include, but are not limited to:
- Tactile BSL
- Electronic Notetakers
- Speech-to-text reporters
- Lip speakers
- Signalong (Sign-a-long)
- Sign Supported English
- International sign languages such as American Sign Language.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £100,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
The Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Contractor will provide Sign Language Interpretation and associated services.
The objective of this Contract is to enable people living in Scotland who are hard of hearing, D/deaf or Deafblind, or who have other communication support needs, to engage with the Scottish Parliament and participate meaningfully in parliamentary business, public engagement activities and events.
The Contractor will work cooperatively with the SPCB to find a solution to all SPCB sign language requirements. As a minimum, the Contractor will provide the following Services:
- BSL interpreting of First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) which are broadcast live and shown to visitors within the Chamber gallery and Main Hall; BSL interpreting of other Parliamentary business, which may also be filmed or broadcast either live or later.
- Interpreting for Scottish Parliament events, including ceremonial events such as the opening of Parliament or engagement events such as the Festival of Politics. Some of these events will also be filmed, broadcast and archived.
- Interpreting and/or other communication support services for witnesses giving evidence to committees
- Interpreting and/or other communication support services for participants in engagement activities including workshops, focus groups, educational sessions, tours, and meetings
- Interpreting and/or other communication support services for visitors to the Scottish Parliament accessing parliamentary services and facilities.
Most requirements are expected to be for interpreting for English to/from British Sign Language. The Contractor must also provide other sign languages or supporting services as required. Additional sign languages and communication support services which will be in scope of the Contract, include, but are not limited to:
- Tactile BSL
- Electronic Notetakers
- Speech-to-text reporters
- Lip speakers
- Signalong (Sign-a-long)
- Sign Supported English
- International sign languages such as American Sign Language. It is understood this may require the Contractor to work with Sub-Contractors or freelancers who don’t usually work in Scotland on occasion; all such requirements will be discussed with the Contractor as required.
Parliamentary business and major events will normally be filmed and broadcast live on SPTV. Footage is subsequently made available through the Video Archive on SPTV and posted on the Parliament’s YouTube channel. Some requirements may also be broadcast by external broadcasters. Filmed parliamentary business and events that include BSL interpreting will also be posted on the Parliament’s BSL Facebook Group and shared through other social media channels. Requirements for live interpreting of parliamentary business which is broadcast will always be in BSL and are expected to be the main requirement of the Contract. The Contractor must be able to provide this Service to a high standard.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 50
Cost criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 50
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2021/S 000-009067
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
NIC-SER-456
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
22 July 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 3
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 3
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Deaf Action
Deaf Action, 49-51 Albany Street
EDINBURGH
EH1 3QY
Telephone
+44 7717792371
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKM - Scotland
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £100,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Please note that there are minimum requirements concerning Cyber Security for this contract to which a pass/fail marking will attach. Bidders will be required to complete an online Supplier Assurance Questionnaire using the Cyber Security Procurement Support Tool (CSPST). A link to CSPST can be found here: https://cyberassessment.gov.scot.
The questionnaire will be aligned to a Cyber Risk Profile that has been established for the contract, based on the SPCB’s assessment of cyber risk.
Further details can be found in the Tender Invitation Letter. A contract condition for this procurement requires the bidder to comply with minimum security requirements.
(SC Ref:662554)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court House
Sheriff Court House, 27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Country
United Kingdom