Procurement procedure for interpreter service for persons with disabilities completed – changes to the interpreters are possible
Kela put out a tender for the supply of interpreter services for persons with disabilities in parts of Finland. A total of 151 service providers were selected. Customers need not take any action due to possible changes regarding service providers and interpreters.
Kela has made procurement decisions for the supply of interpreter services for persons with disabilities in Uusimaa and in the Western and Central procurement areas. In the Northern procurement area, a procurement decision was made only for interpreter service for persons with speech impairment. The procurement decisions concern the provision of services in 2023–2024.
A total of 151 service providers were selected for the procurement areas in the procurement procedure. The providers have 645 interpreters. The final figures may still change. Information on the service providers has been published on kela.fi (in Finnish).
– On the basis of the offers, not sufficient resources were procured for the service in Swedish for certain areas and products. We will monitor whether the resources in Swedish are sufficient and, if needed, take action to procure additional resources. We procured sufficient resources for the other services, says Mikko Toivanen, Head of the Centre of Expertise.
A total of 172 offers were made from a total of 73 companies offering interpreter services. In the tender process, it was possible to make offers for interpreters on the basis of a recruitment plan.
Customers need not take any action due to possible changes regarding inter-preters
Customers do not have to do anything even if some of the service providers and interpreters change. The Centre for Interpreting Services for the Disabled will contact the customer if an interpreter on the customer’s interpreter list will no longer be available from 1 January 2023 or if it would be a good idea to add new interpreters to the list. The interpreter lists of some customers will remain unchanged.
The procurement procedure did not include any change to the interpreter service for persons with disabilities or to the provision of interpreter service. The interpreter list and remote interpreting will remain part of the service also in the future.
Customers can also check their own interpreter lists and suggest new interpreters to the list. The Centre for Interpreting Services for the Disabled provides advice and guidance on all as-pects of the service.
Kela has sent a letter to all customers receiving interpreter service with information to the effect that customers need not take any action due to possible changes regarding service providers and interpreters.