Collaborate Framework for the Provision of Interpreting and Translation Services - update on Lot 1

A contract notice was published, however unable to link it within this award notice.

The contract notice details are as follows:

Publication reference: 2021/S 000-019099

Publication date:6 August 2021

Corrigendum notice:

Publication reference: 2021/S 000-028247

Publication date: 11 November 2021

Contract award notice - Lots 2 to 4 only

Publication date: 4 February 2022

The estimated framework value of £10,000,000 was 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 bids were received for Lot 5.1 Braille, Lot 5.2 Audio, Lot 5.3 Large Print, Lot 5.4 Easy Read, Lot 5.5 DAISY.

This notice relates to the separate contract award notice for Lot 1 Face to Face and Video Interpretation Services as it was awarded at a later date.

All bodies listed in Annex B of the specification document may avail of the Framework Agreement for their requirements. There is no guarantee or commitments to the usage, volume, or value of services required under the Framework Agreement or indeed that any subsequent call offs will be made by the agencies under Annex B. NI Public Bodies are not obliged to use the framework.

The Framework Agreement is being let by Construction and Procurement Delivery (CPD) on behalf of Department for. Communities (DfC) and wider Northern Ireland Public sector. A list of potential organisations is included within Annex B of the tender documents.

The successful contractor's performance on the contract will be regularly monitored in line with PGN 01/12. 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 Certificate of Unsatisfactory Performance and the contract may be terminated. The issue of a Certificate of Unsatisfactory Performance will 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 for a period of twelve months from the date of issue of the certificate.