Multilingual on-site and off-site document translation and language interpreting plays an important role in international transactions. In attempt to create an effective, multilateral framework of rights and obligations with respect to laws, regulations, procedures and practices regarding government procurement, as part of its Uruguay Round of talks, the World Trade Organization created an Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). According to the agreement:
All technical specifications shall be laid out in detail, including:
- Characteristics of the products and services being procured, such as performance, safety and dimensions, symbols, terminology, packaging, marking and labeling or process and methods for the production process.
- All documentation regarding the proposal and tender of a procurement must contain all the information necessary to permit the party to submit responsive tenders, including information required to be published in the notice of intent.
In order to satisfy the informational components of the Agreement, all companies and entities should obtain a foreign language translation of the required documents. Depending on the countries involved, publishing requirements will vary and a foreign language translation will help comply with rules and regulations. More so, all technical specifications should be translated into the language of the country in which the procurement is taking place.