Provision of Student Support Services - Irish Sign Language Services

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

Buyer Title CPV / category Estimated value Per-year Procedure type Lots Location Contract length Submission deadline Go-live / start | :------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------- | :-------------- | :--------- | :--------------- | :--- | :------------------------------------- | :-------------- | :------------------ | :-------------- | Trinity College Dublin Provision of Student Support Services - Irish Sign Language Services 79560000-0 €200,000 Not stated Open Procedure 1 Dublin, Ireland 4 years 2026-08-21 13:00 Not stated Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin

2. Scope of Work

This tender seeks a single-party framework agreement for the provision of Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation services to Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin (UCD). The estimated value for the initial term is €200,000. The framework agreement has a maximum potential duration of four years. Services are primarily required for students with moderate to profound deafness during the academic year (September to May), including exam periods. Limited assistance may be required during summer months for Master's and PhD students.

The core service involves providing timely, reliable, high-quality, and effective ISL interpretation. This includes:

• On-site Interpretation: Interpreters will travel to TCD and UCD premises to meet with students. This requires a management system for receiving, allocating, logging, recording, timing, and invoicing requests. Interpreters must arrange assignments directly with students.
• Live and Recorded Interpretation: Services may be required for live lectures, classes, or recorded materials. For recorded interpretations, the successful provider will liaise with students on providing original materials and returning the recorded interpretation. Flexibility in file sharing is necessary.
• Service Confirmation: Upon receiving an on-site request, the provider must issue an electronic confirmation to the Contracting Authority, including a booking reference number, date/time, assigned interpreter's name, and estimated arrival time.
• Attendance Recording: Following an assignment, interpreters must obtain a signed attendance record from the student. A copy of this record must be submitted to the Contracting Authority.
• Timeliness: Time is critical. 100% of phone calls requesting service must be answered by a live operator within one minute. Sufficient interpreters and staff must be maintained for reliable service delivery.
• Delay Notification: Immediate notification to the Contracting Authority is required if a significant delay to a scheduled assignment is anticipated.
• Quality Assurance: Interpretation must be accurate and delivered by interpreters with a neat appearance. Poor quality services may result in non-reimbursement. Ongoing performance review mechanisms for interpreters are mandatory.
• Account Management: A nominated account manager and deputy, contactable 24/7, are required to coordinate services. They will oversee satisfactory execution of all services.
• Complaints Procedure: A rigorous complaints procedure must be implemented to record, acknowledge, escalate, and resolve poor performance issues within the shortest practicable timeframe.
• Reporting: Regular management reports (monthly or as agreed) detailing services provided, assignment dates, nature, interpreter names, scheduled/actual times, duration, and student feedback are required. Invoices must be submitted monthly in arrears, itemising each assignment with booking reference, interpreter, nature, duration, rate, and cost.
• Garda Vetting: All staff accessing Contracting Authority premises must be fully Garda vetted. Evidence of vetting is required prior to service commencement.

3. Background & buyer context

Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin (UCD) are Ireland's leading universities. TCD is the highest-ranked university, with 18,000 students. UCD is Ireland's largest university, with over 33,000 students across its Dublin campus and overseas facilities, and 3,700 personnel. This joint tender is initiated by UCD's Access and Lifelong Learning department and TCD's Disability Service, including the associated Marino Institute of Education. The initiative aligns with a commitment to creating inclusive and equitable learning experiences for all students. The procurement aims to establish a framework agreement to efficiently procure ISL services, leveraging efficiencies and cost savings over a four-year period.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum average annual turnover of €50,000.
• Insurance:
• Employers Liability: €13,000,000
• Public Liability: €6,500,000
• Certifications:
• Interpreters must hold recognised professional accreditation and/or a Diploma in ISL from the Centre for Deaf Studies, TCD/Bristol University, or an equivalent accrediting organisation.
• Interpreters must adhere to the code of ethics from the Irish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (IASLI) or the Irish Association of Translators and Interpreters (ITIA).
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award will be based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), determined by a price-quality mix. The specific weighting and scoring methodology are detailed in Section 6 of the tender documents. Tenderers must meet all mandatory selection criteria and achieve required minimum scores (where applicable) to be considered for the award.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their responses electronically via the eTenders portal. The submission must include:

• Method Statement / Response Document: Details to be specified in the tender documents.
• CVs: For named roles, page limits to be specified.
• Pricing Schedule: In the format and using the template provided. This includes hourly rates for ISL interpretation services.
• Case Studies: Number and value range to be specified.
• Declarations:
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD)
• Bona Fides declarations
• Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number (or equivalent for non-Irish registered companies)
• Conflict of Interest declaration
• Mandatory Site Visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission Portal: eTenders. Specific formatting rules will be detailed in the tender documents.

7. Key dates & process

Note: The projected timeline indicates Call for Competition in July 2026, Receipt of Tender Submissions in August 2026, and Contract Award in September 2026. The provided deadline of 21 August 2026 aligns with this projected timeline.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: The framework agreement has a maximum potential duration of four (4) years.
• Extension Structure: Not explicitly stated, but the four-year duration implies potential for renewal or a fixed term.
• Payment Terms: Invoices are submitted monthly in arrears.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: 100% of phone calls answered by a live operator within one minute. Timeliness of service is critical. Quality of interpretation must be high.
• Liquidated Damages/Penalties: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination Clauses: The framework agreement may be terminated according to its terms and conditions. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to operate outside the framework if greater value for money is identified.
• IP Ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting Rules: Consortia and sub-contracting are permitted. Changes to consortia/sub-contractors after submission must be notified and may lead to disqualification.
• Parent Company Guarantee/Bond: Not specified for this tender.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Single-Party Framework: While a framework approach is intended to leverage efficiencies over four years, it is a single-party framework. This means only one provider will be appointed to the framework.
• No Guarantee of Utilisation: The Contracting Authority is not obligated to use the framework agreement. They reserve the right to procure services outside the framework if it offers better value for money.
• Tight Timeline for Award: The projected timeline shows tender submission and evaluation occurring within August 2026, with an award in September 2026. This is a compressed schedule for a four-year framework.
• Specific Interpreter Qualifications: The requirement for ISL Diploma from TCD/Bristol or equivalent, and adherence to IASLI/ITIA codes of ethics, narrows the pool of qualified interpreters and, by extension, potential providers.
• Garda Vetting Requirement: This is a mandatory pre-condition for service delivery, requiring robust internal processes for the successful provider.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a single-party framework agreement for specialist ISL services. A small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) could credibly bid if it possesses:

• A core team of qualified ISL interpreters holding the specified accreditations and adhering to professional codes of ethics.
• Established systems for managing interpreter scheduling, quality assurance, invoicing, and client liaison.
• The capacity to meet the insurance requirements (€13m Employers Liability, €6.5m Public Liability).
• A demonstrated ability to manage client relationships and complaints effectively.
• The financial standing to meet the minimum annual turnover of €50,000.

Consortia and sub-contracting are permitted, allowing SMEs to partner with other organisations to meet requirements they cannot fulfil alone. Bid preparation effort is likely moderate, focusing on demonstrating interpreter qualifications, service management processes, and meeting financial/insurance thresholds. The "Pwin" signal is moderate; while it's a single-party framework, the specialist nature of the service means established providers with strong track records in ISL provision are likely to be competitive.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT Filename: Invitation to Tender TCD-26-C2489 Irish Sign Language Services.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in provided text.
• Contact Email / Clarification Portal: Not specified in provided text.
• Most Important Attachments:
• Scope of Service Irish Sign Language Services – TCD-26-C2489
• Appendix 2 – Contracting Authority's Privacy Notice
• Framework Terms and Conditions (referenced, but not provided in extract)