Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Westmorland and Furness Council
South Lakeland House, Lowther Street
Kendal
LA9 4DQ
Contact
Ms Lisa Measures
lisa.measures@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1228226456
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKD - North West (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/
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
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Language and Interpretation and Translation Service
Reference number
DN756497
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Westmorland and Furness Council (hereafter referred to as the Council) is committed to ensuring members of the public can access its services.
The Council requires a Language Interpretation and Translation Service to be made available for all Council officers in their support of individuals whose language of choice is not English.
This service specification is a key schedule of the contract between Provider and Council, setting out the key responsibilities and expectations of the Provider in delivering a Language Interpretation and Translation Service (the Service) on the Council’s behalf.
Statutory Duty
As part of its public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010, the Council must remove or minimise disadvantages faced by people due to their protected characteristics. Thus, in order to support non-English-speaking customers, the Council has a duty to make interpretation and translation services available to them.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD - North West (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Westmorland and Furness Council (hereafter referred to as the Council) is committed to The Council requires a Language Interpretation and Translation Service to be made available for all Council officers in their support of individuals whose language of choice is not English.
This service specification is a key schedule of the contract between Provider and Council, setting out the key responsibilities and expectations of the Provider in delivering a Language Interpretation and Translation Service (the Service) on the Council’s behalf.
As part of its public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010, the Council must remove or minimise disadvantages faced by people due to their protected characteristics. Thus, in order to support non-English-speaking customers, the Council has a duty to make interpretation and translation services available to them.
The Service supports individuals who require a language interpreter or translator to communicate with Council officers and partner agencies.The Service supports the Council meet its public sector equality duty by removing or minimising disadvantages faced by people whose language of choice is not English.
Service Objectives
Objective 1 - Provide timely support to Service Users. An interpreter or translator, as appropriate, is assigned by the Provider to support a Service User within an acceptable timeframe of receiving an Order from a Council officer; and the Provider works in collaboration with the requesting Council officer to minimise the delay in fulfilling the assignment.
Objective 2 - Support effective communication with the Service User. The Service User believes they managed to get their needs and views across to, or understand what is expected of them by, the Council or partner agencies, with the support of the assigned interpreter and/or translator.
Objective 3 - Provide cost-effective support to Service Users. The Provider minimises the cost of providing the Service by offering telephone and video conferencing options to Council officers and Service Users and, where face-to-face interpretation is necessary, minimising the travel required.
Objective 4 – Provide added value by recruiting local freelancers. Demographic data shows Westmorland and Furness to be predominantly White British, and recruitment of local interpreters has proven challenging. In recent years, the region is becoming more diverse as refugees and asylum seekers have been supported by the Council through a resettlement scheme. The Council wishes to work with the Provider to actively promote the recruitment of translators and interpreters from these local communities.
Objective 5 - Meet contract management and financial reporting requirements. The Provider demonstrates transparency, accuracy and timeliness in sharing Service performance inform
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
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
The contract will run for the initial term of 24months with 12+12 possible extension
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 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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
24 January 2025
Local time
10:00am
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
24 January 2025
Local time
11:00am
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Her Majesty's Court Service
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom