Analysis of public procurement of translation services from the point of view of issues and solutions in the actual procurement practice in Montenegro

Abstract

A number of issues faced by contracting authorities in the procedure of public procurement of services for translation of the acquis result from the lack of an overall coordination system for the translation project. One of the key elements for a well-balanced and efficient system is to properly plan the needs for translation services. Translation is an extraordinary skill. The skill to communicate reflections, feelings, facts from one language to another. If the job has been well done by a translator, the reader of the translation (prospective tenderer) must have the impression that the text of the documentation was originally written or spoken in his own language. As far as translation of tender documentation is concerned, the tenderer/reader of the translation should not have any doubts about the meaning of the message he receives. Moreover: it is not enough only to understand the message. Any message conveyed using unusual expressions, unnatural sentences, even if understood, is annoying and irritating to the prospective tenderer, who, due to this, may even be repelled by the tender documentation itself. In a good translation, in other words, the intervention of the translator should not be noticeable, and this actually constitutes the translator’s skill. Therefore, clearly defined conditions, criteria, deadlines, clear description of the job to be performed etc. are an important segment in defining the quality-based selection of the translator.

The purpose of this paper is to address the most important aspects in the public procurement procedure the contracting authorities and tenderers are dealing with, in terms of the procedural aspects of procurement, which should result in a referential framework for requirements concerning the quality and supervision of the quality of translation services.