Purpose

This report sets out the proposed procurement strategy approach
and award of contract for the commissioning of Language
Services. 
 
The existing Language Service contract includes the provision of
face to face (verbal and non-verbal) interpreting, telephone
interpreting, and a translation and transcription service.
Departments across the Council also use a range of different
providers on an ad hoc basis for document translation, BSL
interpreting and other interventions. The Council has a
responsibility to ensure all its services are accessible and the
language service contract is used for this
purpose. 
 
The current contract with Language Line Solutions is due to
expire on 31 March 2024. Further research and service development
with key partners to agree a new service specification will be
undertaken over the next 18 months. To allow time for this to be
completed, and to undertake a procurement process for the provision
of a new service to be in place, officers are proposing to directly
award a contract to the incumbent provider through the ESPO
Language Services Framework Agreement, from 01 April 2024 to 31
March 2026.
 
This award of contract will ensure an ongoing fixed tariff for
translation services for the next two years for Council departments
accessing translation services to support residents to have
equality of access to Council services.
 
This combined procurement strategy and award report is being
presented to the Director of Health and Wellbeing for approval in
line with Contract Standing Orders.

Content

That the Director of Health and Wellbeing to whom this report is
submitted agrees:
 
1.   
the procurement strategy, for a contract term of 12 months plus one
extension option of an additional 12 months, at the sole discretion
of the Council, for an estimated aggregate value (including the
extension) of £400,000.
2.   
the award of the contract to Language Line Solutions for a period
of 12 months plus one extension option of an additional 12 months,
at the sole discretion of the Council, for the estimated sum of
£200,000 per annum (£400,000 in aggregate including the
contract extension).