NICS Written Translation and Transcription Services Irish Language

A contract notice was published, however unable within this contract award notice. The contract notice details are as follows:

Publication reference: 2021/S 000-001880

Publication date: 29 January 2021

The estimated framework value is a broad estimate only and includes additional quantum for unforeseen demand and to future proof for additional potential users. The estimate is not deemed to be a condition of contract nor a guarantee of minimum demand or uptake. No compensation will be payable to a contractor should the actual demand be less than that stated.

All bodies listed in Annex A of the specification document may avail of the Framework Agreement for their requirements. There is no guarantee or commitment as to the usage, volume, or value of services required under this Framework Agreement or indeed that any subsequent call offs will be made by the agencies under Annex A. NI Public Bodies are not obliged to use the framework. The successful Contractor's performance on this Framework will be managed as per the specification and regularly monitored (see Procurement Guidance Note 01/12 - Contract Management - Procedures and Principles). Contractors not delivering on contract requirements is a serious matter. It means the public purse is not getting what it is paying for. If a contractor fails to reach satisfactory levels of contract performance they will be given a specified time to improve. If, after the specified time, they still fail to reach satisfactory levels of contract performance, the matter will be escalated to senior management in CPD for further action. If this occurs and their performance still does not improve to satisfactory levels within the specified period, it may be regarded as an act of grave professional misconduct and they may be issued with a Notice of Unsatisfactory Performance and this Contract may be terminated. A central register of such Notices for supplies and services contracts will be maintained and published on the CPD website. Any contractor in receipt of a Notice of Unsatisfactory Performance will be required to declare this in future tender submissions for a period of three years from the date of issue of the Notice. It may also result in the contractor being excluded from all procurement competitions being undertaken by Centres of Procurement Expertise on behalf of bodies covered by the Northern Ireland Procurement Policy.

Procedure for review - review body:

The UK does not have any special review body with responsibility for appeal/mediation procedures in public procurement

competitions. Instead; any challenges are dealt with by the High Court, Commercial Division, to which proceedings may be issued regarding alleged breaches of the PCR 2015As amended