Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
City of Glasgow College
190 Cathedral Street
Glasgow
G4 0RF
Contact
Christopher Lawal
christopher.lawal@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 1413755316
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM82 - Glasgow City
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00453
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Framework for the Provision of Sign Language Interpreters
Reference number
CS/CoGC/25/12
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79540000 - Interpretation services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
City of Glasgow College is currently looking to implement a framework agreement for qualified Sign Language Interpreters to support and facilitate communication between individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or have a hearing loss, and hearing individuals. This will be achieved through the in-person presence of a qualified linguist, ensuring clear, effective, and accessible communication for all parties.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £480,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM82 - Glasgow City
Main site or place of performance
City of Glasgow College
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
City of Glasgow College is currently looking to implement a framework agreement for qualified Sign Language Interpreters to support and facilitate communication between individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or have a hearing loss, and hearing individuals.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Linguist Vetting and Selection / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Linguist Competency and Quality / Weighting: 20
Quality criterion - Name: Administration and Management / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Monitoring and Reviewing Performance / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Fair Work Practices / Weighting: 3
Quality criterion - Name: Business Continuity Planning / Weighting: 3
Quality criterion - Name: Equality, Diversity & Inclusion / Weighting: 2
Quality criterion - Name: Global Climate & Ecological Emergency / Weighting: 2
Price - Weighting: 40
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
24
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
2 x 12 months
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues
Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue
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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
Bidders must be able to demonstrate that they are suitably qualified and authorised to provide Sign Language Interpreting services within the UK. All interpreters delivering services under this contract must act in accordance with the Code of Conduct relevant to the Services they are undertaking. This includes (but is not limited to):
- National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD) (see their website for more information)
- Sign Language Interpreters Registered with RBSLI (Register of British Sign Language Interpreters)
Interpreters must hold current, valid registration and adhere to the professional codes of conduct of their registering body. The College reserves the right to request evidence of qualifications and professional registration for all interpreters assigned under this contract.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
Please refer to Part 4 B Economic and Financial Standing of the SPD
The College will use the following ratios to evaluate a bidder's financial status.
Bidders must confirm within their response to the relevant question within the 'Qualification envelope' that as a minimum, 2 out of the 3 ratios can be met and what the value of each ratio is.
The 3 ratios to be evaluated are:
Profitability - this is taken as profit after tax but before dividends and minority interests. If a company makes a profit then it is a pass for this ratio;
Liquidity - this is calculated as current assets less stock and work in progress, divided by current liabilities. If the answer is greater than or equal to 'one' then it is a pass for this ratio;
Gearing - this is calculated as the total external secured borrowing (short term and long term) divided by shareholder funds expressed as a percentage. If the answer is less than or equal to 100% it is considered a pass for this ratio.
Where 2 out of the 3 ratios cannot be met, the College may take the undernoted into consideration when assessing financial viability and the risk to the College, providing that the Bidder can supply evidence to substantiate any of the mitigating criteria.
This list is not exhaustive and other criteria may be considered where proposed by a bidder as mitigating factors:
Would the bidder have passed the checks if prior year accounts had been used?
Were any of the poor appraisal outcomes 'marginal'?
Does the bidder operate in a market which, traditionally, requires lower liquidity or higher debt finance?
Does the bidder have sufficient reserves to sustain losses for a number of years?
Does the bidder have a healthy cash-flow?
Is the bidder profitable enough to finance the interest on its debt?
Is most of the bidder's debt owed to group companies?
Is the bidder's debt due to be repaid over a number of years, and affordable?
Have the bidder's results been adversely affected by ‘one off costs’ and / or ‘one off accounting treatments’?
Do the bidder's auditors (where applicable) consider it to be a ‘going concern’?
Will the bidder provide a Parent Company Guarantee?
Is the bidder the single supplier/source of the Goods/Works/Services in the marketplace?
The College will obtain an Equifax Report or similar financial verification systems to validate the information provided.
Bidders must confirm they can provide the following supporting evidence prior to award:
Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability = 5m GBP
Public Liability Insurance = 10m GBP
Professional Liability Insurance = 2m GBP
Professional Risk Indemnity: 5M GBP
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
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: 2023/S 000-004555
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
11 June 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
11 June 2025
Local time
12:00pm
Place
Glasgow
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: This contract will be reviewed six months prior to the contract ending.
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
In an open tendering procedure prior to any award being made the successful bidder must provide the undernoted certificates, declarations and/or completed questionnaires to evidence their compliance with the relevant questions within the Qualification Questionnaire.
All certificates, declarations and questionnaires can be found within the Attachment area of PCS-T.
Appendix A – Form of Tender;
Appendix B – Freedom of Information;
Appendix C – SUSTAIN Supply Chain Code of Conduct;
Appendix E – PECOS Supplier Adoption Form;
Appendix G - GDPR Assurance Assessment (Processor)
Appendix N – Declaration of Conflict of Interest;
Appendix O – Declaration of Non-Involvement of Human Trafficking;
Appendix P – Declaration of Non-Involvement of Serious Organised Crime;
Appendix Q – Prompt Payment Certificate;
In the case of an open tender this information will not be required to be uploaded and submitted with the bid, but will instead be requested by the College following the conclusion of the evaluation of the Qualification, Technical and Commercial Questionnaires and prior to the award of the tender.
Failure to provide this information or in the event that the information provided does not support or evidence the statements made within the Qualification Questionnaire, will invalidate any bid. In this scenario the College will seek to obtain the relevant information and evidence from the second highest scoring bidder and so on, and upon verification will award the contract to this bidder instead.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is project_29155
For more information see:
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 29155. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
City of Glasgow College is fully committed to incorporating Community Benefits through this procurement. Considerations to be given to how the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Glasgow could be improved both during the process and on an on-going basis.
To this end, the Successful Bidder is encouraged to implement a range of initiatives to achieve the relevant improvements to include, but not limited to:
Local employment, training and apprenticeships
Bidders will make proposals around these as part of their tender submission and once agreed by City of Glasgow College, will become a contractual obligation for the Successful Bidder.
(SC Ref:753828)
(SC Ref:797620)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Glasgow Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Court
1 Carlton Place
Glasgow
G5 9DA
Country
United Kingdom