Translation and Interpretation Services for NHS England South East (Wessex)

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice with regards to Translation and Interpretation Services in Dorset, Hampshire, Farnham and the Isle of Wight.

NHS England South East (the Commissioner) is wishing to hold a provider engagement event to determine the level of interest in the provision of Translation and Interpretation Services in these areas. Publication or response to this notice does not commit NHS England or respondents to award any contracts or to any future procurement.

The current route to market is through a mini competition / "call-off" process against the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework RM1092 Language Services - Lot 1 'Managed Services', although this has not yet be finalised.

NHS England South East is seeking to commission Translation and Interpretation Services and would like to invite suitably qualified providers to attend a Market Awareness Event/Workshop which will be an opportunity for Providers to gain an understanding of the Commissioner's intentions for the service and how the procurement process will operate, as well as an opportunity to provide feedback on the challenges of the service/geography. The aim of the event is to provide Translation and Interpretation Providers with information that they may find helpful should they wish to submit a bid for the upcoming opportunity as well as the Commissioner gaining information from Providers on the service.

The contract duration is likely to be for 2 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years, with a commencement date of 1st April 2020.

The aim is to appoint a single Provider to deliver a fully managed translation and interpretation service for Medical (GP), Dental, Optometry and Pharmacy services, across the whole geography.

There are two events scheduled:

Further details including venue details will be provided to those who express interest.

Providers wishing to attend the Event should register interest by emailing scwcsu.procurement@nhs.net by 12pm 19th July 2019 with the following details;

Please include 'T&I Wessex MEE' as a reference in the subject of the email.

Additional information: This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit NHS England or respondents to any award of contracts or to any future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. NHS England will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise.

The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).

The tendering process will be conducted in accordance with the requirements and flexibilities provided by Articles 74 to 76 of the Directive, and Regulations 74 to 76 of the Regulations. The Authority will run a transparent tender process, treating all Bidders equally. For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority will not be bound by the Regulations or the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union or any other regulations or legislation except for the specific parts or circumstances that apply to the procurement of these Services.

Neither the inclusion of a Bidder selection stage, nor the use of any language or terms found in the Directive or Regulations, nor the description of the procedure voluntarily adopted by the Authority ("Open", "Restricted", "Competitive Procedure with Negotiation", "Competitive Dialogue" or any other description), nor any other indication, shall be taken to mean that the Authority intends to hold itself bound by the Directive or Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of the Directive / Schedule 3 of the Regulations.

The Contracting Authority intends to voluntarily observe the award decision notices provisions and 10 day standstill period described in Regulation 86 of the Regulations. Unsuccessful Bidders will receive scores and reasons for the decision, including the characteristics and relative advantages of the winning bid and the reasons why the Bidder/application was unsuccessful. Deadline for lodging of appeals should be in accordance with Regulation 87 and Regulation 91 of the Regulations.