CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Availability and Adequacy of Foreign Language Interpretation Services for Forced Migrants in Wales

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

Welsh Government wishes to commission a review of foreign language interpretation services provided to Forced Migrants living in Wales. The review will assess the availability and adequacy of foreign language interpretation services provided to Forced Migrants living in Wales, contribute to understanding how well the foreign language interpretation services support Forced Migrants living in Wales, and make viable recommendations for how these services can be improved. Specifically the review will:

1. Provide a detailed overview of current foreign language interpretation services provided to Forced Migrants living in Wales;

2. Determine how well the foreign language interpretation services provided to Forced Migrants living in Wales offer adequate and timely support; to include an assessment of:

- What works well in the provision of foreign language interpretation to Forced Migrants living in Wales, and what gaps exist in this provision (to include mapping the availability of current foreign language interpretation services on offer to Legal Migrants in Wales);

- What challenges/barriers and/or facilitators exist in the provision of foreign language interpretation to Forced Migrants living in Wales (to include the specific challenges that public bodies need to take account of when planning and procuring foreign language interpretation services);

- How well foreign language interpretation provided to Forced Migrants living in Wales is offering adequate and timely support to those subject to varying immigration statuses, and those facing particular vulnerabilities, such as migrants that are children, LGBTQ+ and/or disabled;

- Whether the types of foreign language interpretation services provided to Forced Migrants in Wales are adequate in terms of their quality and appropriateness;

- Whether the supply of foreign language interpreters is sufficient in Wales, especially for languages in high demand;

- The role of Welsh Government, Local Authorities and public service partners in providing a strategic and co-ordinating lead to ensure sufficient, quality foreign language interpretation services are available to Forced Migrants living in Wales.

3. Propose viable, evidence informed actions/recommendations for future policy development which could improve the foreign language interpretation services provided to Forced Migrants living in Wales and address the gaps identified in this review

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=117016.

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.

Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

3. Requirement

Sound subject knowledge will be required to address the aims/objectives outlined in this specification. It is expected that the successful contractor will possess demonstrable expertise in foreign language interpretation and factors affecting the provision of these services to Forced Migrants living in Wales.

It will also be necessary for the successful contractor to possess the skills required to conduct interviews to collect the necessary information, and analyse, synthesise and report on a range of findings. Demonstrable policy expertise and knowledge is expected so that the successful contractor is able to provide coherent and practical policy recommendations as part of their final report. Given the wide range of knowledge and skills required bids involving a sub-contracting or consortium approach will be considered.

The methodology will be agreed in detail during the inception stage of the project based on outline proposals submitted by the successful bidder. There will also be opportunities for the Client to review the methodology through ongoing contract monitoring meetings.

The following paragraphs provide an indication of the methodological approach anticipated for this work but contractors are advised to provide their own proposals in their tender.

It is expected that the majority of this review will consist of interviews with stakeholders to gain a wide range of viewpoints. Groups of interest would include:

- key partners and organisations representing Forced Migrants, including Welsh Refugee Coalition and Wales Strategic Migration Partnership;

- Forced Migrants with experience of requiring foreign language interpretation services, including those subject to varying immigration statuses, and those facing particular vulnerabilities, such as migrants that are children, LGBTQ+ and/or disabled;

- organisations providing foreign language interpretation services to Forced Migrants.

An appropriate sample would need to be collected ensuring there is balance and representation across the whole of Wales. Bidders are expected to justify the methods and modes of data collection (e.g. face to face; telephone or online data collection methods) they recommend in their proposal, as well as their sampling and recruitment strategies. This will form part of the evaluation criteria.

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

MIW_001

4.3

Time Limits

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

(WA Ref:117016)

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice