Translation Services (24-25487/1 and 24-25287/2)

Reference: 24-25487

Date response sent: 21/02/2024

Details of enquiry

Initial Enquiry:

1. Do you have an active language service (Interpreting) contract?
2. Are services accessed via a framework or independent of a framework? If a framework, what framework(s) is it?
3. When does the existing contract(s) expire?
4. Who are you current suppliers by service type i.e. BSL, telephone, spoken, video?
5. Do you procure spoken and non-spoken (BSL) interpreting together?
6. Do you consider non-spoken interpreting a specialist service?
   1. If yes and you do not procure this service separately. Why do you not procure this service separately?
7. Are you aware of The House of Lords inquiry into Interpreting and Translation Services? If so, will this impact how you procure language services?
8. What is your organisations language services procurement policy. i.e. do you undertake pre-market engagement, do you run a competitive tender process or direct award?
9. Are language services on the procurement plan in 2025, if so, can you please give an indicative timeline?
10. Who is the senior responsible person for Language Services in your organisation?
11. Can you please provide historical use for each service for 2024. Please highlight if you are referring to number of assignments or hour/minutes this response.

a. On-site spoken –

b. Onsite non-spoken –

c. telephone interpreting

d. Video spoken

e. Video non-spoken

Further Questions Raised based on receipt of response to above questions.

1. Is the contracted supplier (you name DA Languages) meeting its contractual requirements in relation to providing the Trust for management information in line with the LPP ?

If yes why is the Trust not able to provide this information when it is a contractual requirement?

2. How much did the Trust spend on Language Services in 2024
3. The response suggests the Trust intends to direct award the contract once the current contract expires. Under the current financial pressures facing the Trust, why has the Trust decided no to undertake a competitive tender exercise?
4. As a DPS does not legally allow for a direct award, how will the Trust be direct awarding the contract?
5. Can the Trust please provide its procurement policy, specifically in relation to direct awarding contract versus a competitive competition and any spend thresholds.

Response sent

Initial Response 

1. Do you have an active language service (Interpreting) contract?

Yes

2. Are services accessed via a framework or independent of a framework? If a framework, what framework(s) is it?

NHS LPP

3. When does the existing contract(s) expire?

14/12/25

4. Who are you current suppliers by service type i.e. BSL, telephone, spoken, video?

We have one supplier who provides all translation/interpreting services: DA Languages

5. Do you procure spoken and non-spoken (BSL) interpreting together?

No

6. Do you consider non-spoken interpreting a specialist service?

No

If yes and you do not procure this service separately. Why do you not procure this service separately?

The Trust does not hold this data. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). FOIA enables access to recorded information held by the Trust at the time the request is submitted. It does not require an authority to answer questions nor provide opinions where this would involve the creation of new information, and this question can only be answered by creating new information.

7. Are you aware of The House of Lords inquiry into Interpreting and Translation Services? If so, will this impact how you procure language services?

The Trust does not hold this data.  The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). FOIA enables access to recorded information held by the Trust at the time the request is submitted. It does not require an authority to answer questions nor provide opinions where this would involve the creation of new information, and this question can only be answered by creating new information.

8. What is your organisations language services procurement policy. i.e do you undertake pre-market engagement, do you run a competitive tender process or direct award?

Direct Award

9. Are language services on the procurement plan in 2025, if so, can you please give an indicative timeline?

The Trust does not hold any information on future IT Strategies or future IT delivery models. Please note that we are currently working towards a merger with another organisation to strengthen us for the future. This is further explained on our website: Our future options – Tavistock and Portman

10. Who is the senior responsible person for Language Services in your organisation?

The Procurement Manager

11. Can you please provide historical use for each service for 2024. Please highlight if you are referring to number of assignments or hour/minutes this response.

We regret to advise that we cannot answer this question as we do not hold this data in a way that it can be extracted. The Trust has a single accounting code for any type of translation or interpreting requirement, and we do not hold centralised records of requirements against booked placements. Furthermore, invoices received do not reflect the type of interpreting/translation medium nor the language. We can however confirm the range of services used from your given list below

a. On-site spoken –Yes

b. Onsite non-spoken –No

c. telephone interpreting – Yes

d. Video spoken – yes

e. Video non-spoken – No

Further Questions Raised based on receipt of response to above questions.

1. Is the contracted supplier (you name DA Languages) meeting its contractual requirements in relation to providing the Trust for management information in line with the LPP ?

We can neither confirm nor deny whether the named supplier is meeting its obligations, as the Trust has not requested nor holds any management information from the supplier. The service is transactional subject to supply and demand and we can confirm that it has not been the subject of any complaints.

If yes why is the Trust not able to provide this information when it is a contractual requirement?

See our response above.

2. How much did the Trust spend on Language Services in 2024

Due to the way in which we hold our data, we can only provide a cost of total invoices paid in calendar year 2024, which amounts to £138k

3. The response suggests the Trust intends to direct award the contract once the current contract expires. Under the current financial pressures facing the Trust, why has the Trust decided no to undertake a competitive tender exercise?

The Trust does not hold any information on future contract strategies or future delivery models as we are currently working towards a merger with another organisation to strengthen us for the future. This is further explained on our website: Our future options – Tavistock and Portman. In the meantime the Trust would not be looking to enter into new long term contracts.

Also, and as previously advised, please note that The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). FOIA enables access to recorded information held by the Trust at the time the request is submitted. It does not require an authority to answer questions nor provide opinions where this would involve the creation of new information, and this question can only be answered by creating new information.

4. As a DPS does not legally allow for a direct award, how will the Trust be direct awarding the contract?

The Trust does not hold this information.  The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). FOIA enables access to recorded information held by the Trust at the time the request is submitted. It does not require an authority to answer questions nor provide opinions where this would involve the creation of new information, and this question can only be answered by creating new information.

5. Can the Trust please provide its procurement policy, specifically in relation to direct awarding contract versus a competitive competition and any spend thresholds.

The Trust’s Procurement Policy is currently under consideration for review and subsequent publication on our website.