SC220248: Interpreting and Communication Services for People who are d/Deaf and Deafblind

<p><strong>Background </strong></p>
<p>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 £900m 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.</p>
<p><strong>The Opportunity</strong></p>
<p>The Council is setting 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 will commence on 17/06/2023 and continue for a period of four years.</p>
<p>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):</p>
<p>Lot 1 – Face-to-face Interpreting Services (Verbal)</p>
<p>Lot 2 – Face-to-face Interpreting Services (Non-Verbal)</p>
<p>Lot 3 – Transcription</p>
<p>Lot 4 – Lip Speakers</p>
<p>Lot 5 – Speech to Text Reporters</p>
<p>Lot 6 – Deaf Relay</p>
<p>Lot 7 – Translation</p>
<p>Lot 8 – Video Interpreting Services</p>
<p>Lot 9 – Other Sign Language Interpreting from an International Range of Languages</p>
<p>Lot 10 – Trainee Interpreters</p>
<p>Lot 11 – Out of Hours Agency</p>
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<p><strong>Expression of Interest and Tender Process </strong></p>
<p>Expressions of Interest will only be accepted via the Kent Business Portal. In order to submit your interest in this opportunity, please select the 'Login and Express an Interest' button located at the bottom of this page. 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.</p>
<p>Tenders must be received by <span style="text-decoration: underline">12 noon on the 8^th December 2022.</span></p>
<p>The anticipated tendering schedule is as follows:</p>
<p>Invitation to Tender opens – 08/11/2022</p>
<p>Last date for clarification questions – 30/11/2022</p>
<p>Invitation to tender closes – 08/12/2022</p>
<p>Evaluation – week commencing 12/12/2022</p>
<p>Award notification – 28/03/2023</p>
<p>Framework commencement date – 17/06/2023</p>
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<p><strong>Questions and Communication </strong></p>
<p>Please direct all questions and communications through the Kent Business Portal via the Discussion facility.</p>
<p><strong>Tendering Schedule</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>