Contracts for Language Services

Tender description

Provision of language services across the justice system. The anticipated quantity or scope is an estimate of the potential value of the contracts and in no way indicates an intention of the Authority to guarantee any level of expenditure. The minimum and maximum estimated values are based on 2 scenarios: the minimum estimated value is based on the lowest anticipated uptake of the services over a 4 year term and the maximum estimated value is based on all anticipated bodies receiving services under the contracts over the maximum 7 year term. The anticipated term of the contracts will be 4 years with options to extend for two further periods of up to 1 year each and a further exceptional extension option for up to 1 further year which can be exercised irrespective of whether the other extension options have been exercised. Services are being procured in four Lots. The required services are face to face, telephone & video interpreting services for spoken languages (Lot 1), translation & transcription services (Lot 2), non-spoken language services (Lot 3) and quality assurance of language services (Lot 4). The services are required across the justice sector, including for all courts and tribunals in England and Wales and some tribunals in Scotland, as well as for other justice sector bodies. The services are to be available to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), executive agencies and its arms length bodies, other public sector bodies and non-public sector bodies who provide services to the justice sector. The bodies within the scope of this notice are: - the MoJ - all executive agencies of the MoJ, whether or not in existence at the date of this notice, including but not limited to the National Offender Management Service, Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, the Legal Aid Agency, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and the Office of the Public Guardian - all non-departmental public bodies of the MoJ, whether or not in existence at the date of this notice, including but not limited to the Youth Justice Board, the Parole Board, the Judicial Appointments Commission, the Sentencing Council and Independent Monitoring Boards - all Police and Crime Commissioners and their forces - all law enforcement agencies and forces - other public sector bodies as set out in the attachment - non-public bodies operating in the justice sector One supplier will be appointed for each Lot and will be awarded a contract which will be entered into with the Secretary of State for Justice. The contracts will provide for the Secretary of State for Justice to act as commissioner of services for the bodies listed above. Bidders may express an interest in all or some Lots. However, to ensure robustness of the quality assurance role for Lot 4, the successful supplier for Lot 4 cannot be the successful supplier for any of the other Lots. The procurement documents will set out the lot award rule that will be applied to give effect to this.