North Tyneside Council and NEPO (North East Procurement Organisation) are working to achieve the equality aims of the 2010 Equality Act and the Public Service Equality Duty:

— Eliminate unlawful discrimination, victimisation and harassment.

— Advance equality of opportunity.

— Foster good relations.

Demographic information the Authority holds about the population within the region demonstrates the need for some residents to have access to services, with support from translation and interpreting providers.

North Tyneside Council, on behalf of NEPO is seeking to procure high quality translation and interpreting services to support those residents who need them.

This Service will provide an Interpreter for Service Users who need one to communicate with the Contracting Authority staff members, as determined by the Contracting Authority.

This 24 /7 Service will provide:

— Telephone Foreign Language interpreters.

— Web-based interpreters.

The successful Provider will be able to supply the following professionals:

— Foreign language telephone Interpreters.

— Web-based Interpreters.

This service will provide an interpreter for those people who need one to communicate with Contracting Authority staff members, as determined by the Contracting Authority.

This 24 /7 service will provide:

— Face to Face Foreign Language interpreters.

— Web-based interpreters.

The successful provider will be able to supply the following professionals:

— Foreign language face to face interpreters.

— Web-based interpreters.

Transport costs must not exceed agreed miles from destination and will be capped at a rate of 50p per mile unless previously agreed by all parties. Transport costs and agreed miles to be discussed during implementation stage.

The following things are important in a BSL Service:

— Access to British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreters 24/7

Interpreting services may be provided in a range of ways including:

— Face-to-face;

— Web based via a webcam or;

— Video Conferencing over the internet.

The Service will at all times employ, for the purposes of this Contract, only such persons that are careful, skilled and experienced in the duties required of them, and will ensure that every person is properly and sufficiently trained and instructed.

The successful Provider will be able to supply the following professionals:

— Registered Sign Language Interpreters.

— Interpreter for Deafblind People.

— Lipspeaker.

— Registered Notetaker.

— Registered Sign Language Translator.

— Registered Speech to Text Reporter.

Translation refers to the conversion of written documents into another language as text. In this context it includes transcription i.e. the conversion of written documents into alternative formats such as Braille, Large Print, Audio, Video or pictorial English and normal print.

It includes the written translation and transcription of documentation, audio, tapes and other forms of electronic media. Ancillary Services such as Voiceovers, on what?, EasyRead and Large Print are also within the scope of this Lot.

This Service will provide support to the Authority and Service Users documents translated from English into foreign language / Braille or from a foreign language and Braille into English, to ensure Service Users fully involved in Services being provided to them by the Contracting Authority or partners.

There should also be the option to have a certified translation, for specific purposes e.g. legal proceedings, education requirements etc.