Published date: 23 June 2023
Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.
Contract summary
Industry
Miscellaneous services - 98300000
Location of contract
United Kingdom
Value of contract
£200,000
Procurement reference
KENT001-DN676100-71481268
Published date
23 June 2023
Closing date
24 July 2023
Closing time
12pm
Contract start date
1 October 2023
Contract end date
16 June 2027
Contract type
Service contract
Procedure type
Open procedure
Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.
Contract is suitable for SMEs?
Yes
Contract is suitable for VCSEs?
Yes
Description
Background
Kent County Council (the Council) is the largest county council in England covering an area of 3,500 square kilometres. It has an annual expenditure of over 900 million pounds on goods and services and a population of 1.3m. The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils, and 289 parish/town councils.
The Opportunity
The Council has set up a Framework for Interpreting and Communication Services for People who are d/Deaf and Deafblind to allow the Council to buy communication services from a list of approved providers who meet a certain set of minimum standards. Use of the Framework commenced on 17/06/2023 and continue for a period of four years.
Approved providers will then be able to bid to deliver Communication Services on an on-demand basis. The services which will be commissioned under the Framework will fall into one of the following disciplines. Applicants may apply to join the Framework within one of more of these disciplines (please download the Invitation to Tender for a list of the sub-lotting structure):
Lot 1 Face-to-face Interpreting Services (Verbal)
Lot 2 Face-to-face Interpreting Services (Non-Verbal)
Lot 3 Transcription
Lot 4 Lip Speakers
Lot 5 Speech to Text Reporters
Lot 6 Deaf Relay
Lot 7 Translation
Lot 8 Video Interpreting Services
Lot 9 Other Sign Language Interpreting from an International Range of Languages
Lot 10 Trainee Interpreters
Lot 11 Out of Hours Agency
Expression of Interest and Tender Process
Expressions of Interest will only be accepted via the Kent Business Portal. Note: If you have not registered on the portal before, in order to successfully submit your interest you will first need to register for an account. After registration is complete and you have received your login details, you should return to the advert for the opportunity and express your interest. Once you have expressed an interest, you will be emailed the link to access the Invitation to Tender.
Tenders must be received by 12 noon on the 24th July 2023.
The anticipated tendering schedule is as follows:
Invitation to Tender opens 23/06/2023
Last date for clarification questions 14/07/2023
Invitation to tender closes 24/07/2023
Evaluation 25/07/2023 25/08/2023
Award notification 26/08/2023
Contract commencement date 01/10/2023
Questions and Communication
Please direct all questions and communications through the Kent Business Portal via the Discussion facility.
Tendering Schedule
Following the commencement of the Framework in June 2023, the Framework will be opened for applications from new entrants four times a year for the duration of the Framework.
About the buyer
Contact name
Katherine Clark
Address
County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
England
communitywellbeing@kent.gov.uk
Website
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Closing: 24 July 2023, 12pm
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