It has started! Albanian translators & interpreters, get ready!

CALL FOR TENDERS: INTERPRETATION-RELATED SERVICES IN ALBANIA

1. The Council of Europe is organising a Call for Tenders with a view to awarding a contract for interpretation-related services in Albania.

The object of the contract concerns the provision of interpretation between Albanian and another language (i.e. bilingual meetings only), equipment (e.g. booths) and support logistical services (e.g. processing of claims) for meetings in Albania as well as for study visits outside Albania and outside Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg, France and its office in Paris, France.

The contract currently represents about 295 days until 28 February 2012; it may evolve in line with the Organisation’s needs.

2. The Council of Europe is an international organisation with 47 member states, enjoying privileges and immunities under a General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities. Any dispute between the Council of Europe Secretariat and the contractor concerning the interpretation or execution of the contract in respect of which the parties cannot arrive at a friendly settlement will, in accordance with Article 21 of the above-mentioned General Agreement, be submitted to arbitration under the conditions laid down in the Secretary General's Rule No. 481 of 27 February 1976, as approved by the Committee of Ministers.

3. All bidders are required to meet the following technical specifications:

· Type of interpretation : simultaneous and consecutive interpretation.

· Languages: Bilingual meetings with Albanian and one of the official languages of the Council of Europe (English or French).

· Composition of teams: The minimum number of interpreters, in case of simultaneous interpretation, shall be two and, in case of consecutive interpretation, shall be one. In the case of scientific or technical meetings or meetings presenting particular difficulties, such as systematic interpretation of documents read out, a large team of three interpreters shall be engaged for simultaneous interpretation, and a large team of two interpreters shall be engaged for consecutive interpretation.

· Definition of the working day: Each working day shall comprise a maximum of two sessions, each session lasting three hours to three and a half hours.

· Professional residence: For the purpose of this contract, interpreters may not have more than one professional place of residence simultaneously. The professional place of residence shall be declared to the Council of Europe not later than the first contract entered into; any change shall be notified in writing to the Council of Europe thirty days in advance and may apply only to continuous periods of six months or more. In the case of interpreters who are AIIC members, the AIIC yearbook shall be binding.

· Size of booths: The supplier must abide by the requirements set out in ISO 2603 for fixed booths and ISO 4043 for mobile booths.

· List of interpreters: A list of qualified interpreters – with their qualifications, training and professional experience - must be submitted for vetting by the Interpretation Department.

4. Selection Criteria

Bidders will are assessed, according to the following weighing factors, on:

· Their ability to meet the above-mentioned technical specifications (50%);

· The rate of remuneration per day per interpreter, the rate of remuneration per half-day per interpreter, the level of financial compensation to be paid in case of overtime per interpreter, the amount of per diem requested in case of travel within Albania and the rates for rent of equipment for simultaneous interpretation per day (30%);

· Their ability to provide interpretation-related services for meetings in different locations throughout Albania as well as study visits in different countries throughout Europe (10%); and

· Their understanding and respect for professional standards (10%).

5. Exclusion Criteria

Bidders will be excluded from the consultation process if they:

· Are subject to bankruptcy, liquidation, legal termination, arrangement with creditors or any other similar procedure;
· Have been finally convicted (with no possibility of appeal) of an offence concerning their professional conduct;
· Have been found guilty of grave professional misconduct;
· Have failed to fulfil their obligations relating to the payment of taxes or social security contributions;
· Do not have sufficient company capital to cover the scope of the tasks envisaged;
· Do not have an annual turnover equivalent to three times the annual value of the market to be awarded.

6. Submission of bids

Bids must submitted, by no later than 7 February 2010, in a sealed envelope with the mention:

« A n’ouvrir que par la Commission des Marchés »
Framework contract for interpretation-related services - Albania

and should be enclosed within another one addressed to:

CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE
2010A01
à l’attention de la Commission des Marchés
BP7
F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex

They may also be sent by e-mail to the address of the Tenders Board: cdm@coe.int.

The decision of the Council of Europe, and its Tenders Board, to accept or reject a bid is not subject to appeal.

The contract will be awarded in February 2010 based on a recommendation by the Council of Europe's Tenders Board, and the planned starting date for the execution of the contract is 1 March 2010.