Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
servicios (no) contratados en firme
English translation:
services (not) contracted on a firm basis
Added to glossary by
Charles Davis
Jan 20, 2019 10:12
5 yrs ago
10 viewers *
Spanish term
United Kingdom
Hablante nativa de inglés: ES>EN
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English
Servicios (no) contratados en firme
Spanish to English
Law/Patents
Law: Contract(s)
I am translating a contract. The two parties are in the gas/mining sector. I am unsure of how to translate the terms "servicios contratados en firme" and "servicios no contratados en firme".
ABC informó a XYZ el ejercicio de su derecho de contratar los Servicios en firme bajo modalidad de pago PQR. A esta fecha la Cantidad Contractual del Cliente bajo el Acuerdo asciende a la cantidad de [x], de los cuales [Y] corresponden a Servicios en firme y [Z] corresponden a Servicios no contratados en firme.
One company is offering the other the chance to change some of the servicios no contratados en firme to servicios contratados en firme, but I am still not sure what this means, or how to say it in English.
ABC informó a XYZ el ejercicio de su derecho de contratar los Servicios en firme bajo modalidad de pago PQR. A esta fecha la Cantidad Contractual del Cliente bajo el Acuerdo asciende a la cantidad de [x], de los cuales [Y] corresponden a Servicios en firme y [Z] corresponden a Servicios no contratados en firme.
One company is offering the other the chance to change some of the servicios no contratados en firme to servicios contratados en firme, but I am still not sure what this means, or how to say it in English.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | services (not) contracted on a firm basis |
Charles Davis
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| 5 -2 | Non-contracted Firm Services [Uninterruptible Services]. |
Maximo Wilhelm Muñoz
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Change log
Jan 25, 2019 09:40: Charles Davis Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+3
59 mins
Selected
services (not) contracted on a firm basis
The crux of this, I believe, is that in this context (gas transport), "en firme" refers to the services. "Contratado/no contratado en firme" doesn't refer to the contract itself being firm or non-firm (provisional: not definitively in force); it refers to whether the services contracted are firm (non-interruptible) or non-firm (interruptible).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firm_service
In other words, this company has a contract for services, and these services include a portion contracted on a firm basis and another portion contracted on a non-firm basis. The change you've referred to is to change the contractual terms of the latter to the former: to change the portion of the services contracted on a non-firm basis to firm services.
Here's an example (from Colombia) of "contratar en firme" clearly (in my opinon) meaning contracting to supply firm services:
"Oferta Total en firme a un año -- 292 GBTUD
El campo Ballena no cuenta con disponibilidad de gas para contratar en firme a un año."
http://www.bmcbec.com.co/media/1559/informe-oferta-ptdvf-cid...
I think "on a firm basis" would probably be the best way of expressing it, and it's used in this sector.
"Non-Obligated Deliveries - Any quantity of gas which a customer is not committed to deliver to and be received by Union Gas on a firm basis."
https://www.uniongas.com/storage-and-transportation/resource...
"At this level, MISO will have to rely relatively heavily on imports that are not contracted on a firm basis."
http://greatnortherntransmissionline.com/assets/documents/Ce...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firm_service
In other words, this company has a contract for services, and these services include a portion contracted on a firm basis and another portion contracted on a non-firm basis. The change you've referred to is to change the contractual terms of the latter to the former: to change the portion of the services contracted on a non-firm basis to firm services.
Here's an example (from Colombia) of "contratar en firme" clearly (in my opinon) meaning contracting to supply firm services:
"Oferta Total en firme a un año -- 292 GBTUD
El campo Ballena no cuenta con disponibilidad de gas para contratar en firme a un año."
http://www.bmcbec.com.co/media/1559/informe-oferta-ptdvf-cid...
I think "on a firm basis" would probably be the best way of expressing it, and it's used in this sector.
"Non-Obligated Deliveries - Any quantity of gas which a customer is not committed to deliver to and be received by Union Gas on a firm basis."
https://www.uniongas.com/storage-and-transportation/resource...
"At this level, MISO will have to rely relatively heavily on imports that are not contracted on a firm basis."
http://greatnortherntransmissionline.com/assets/documents/Ce...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Sergio Kot
4 mins
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Thanks, Sergio :-)
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| agree |
neilmac
29 mins
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Cheers, Neil ;-)
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| agree |
philgoddard
4 hrs
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Thanks, Phil :-)
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| disagree |
Maximo Wilhelm Muñoz
: Review my answer under yours Charles. Best, Maximo. :)
5 hrs
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I still think I'm right about this. I'll explain why I think you can't be right below.
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| agree |
Robert Carter
21 hrs
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Thanks very much, Robert
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
-2
6 hrs
Maximo Wilhelm Muñoz
Guatemala
Guatemala
Native in Spanish
&
English
Specializes in field
Guatemala
International Support Services
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Latin American) 
, English (Variant: British)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Non-contracted Firm Services [Uninterruptible Services].
Translation in the Legal and Oil&Gas Industries specialized terminologies...
---
ES: ABC informó a XYZ el ejercicio de su derecho de contratar los Servicios en firme bajo modalidad de pago PQR. A esta fecha la Cantidad Contractual del Cliente bajo el Acuerdo asciende a la cantidad de [x], de los cuales [Y] corresponden a Servicios en firme y [Z] corresponden a Servicios no contratados en firme.
EN: ABC reported to XYZ the exercise of its rights to hire the Firm Services [Uninterruptible Services] under payment modality PQR [sic]. To this date the Contractual Amount of the Client under Agreement reaches the amount of [x], of which [Y] correspond to Firm Services [Uninterruptible Services] and [Z] correspond to non-contracted Firm Services [Uninterruptible Services].
---
Nota: PQR [sic, ya que no sé a qué modalidad se refieren estas siglas].
---
Espero sea de tu ayuda G. Gray...
De manera muy atenta,
Maximo.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 horas (2019-01-20 16:31:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
...
Firm services, also called uninterruptible services, are services, such as electricity and natural gas supplies, that are intended to be available at all times during a period covered by an agreement. Also, the service is not subject to a prior claim from another customer and receives the same priority as any other firm service. Conditional firm service is similar to firm service in that it is reserved and has priority over interruptible service. However, it can have restrictions, such as times when it would be curtailed before firm service but after interruptible service. The cost per unit with this service is called a firm rate or uninterruptible rate. The opposite of firm service is non-firm service, also called interruptible service or as-available service. The cost per unit for this service is called a non-firm rate or interruptible rate. The interruptible load is the portion of a utility's load that comes from customers with interruptible service.
Firm service cannot be interrupted during adverse conditions, such as periods of high demand. However, firm service may also refer to service that is covered by a long-term contract, such as a year or more. There are extreme cases when firm services may be interrupted, such as emergencies and when system reliability is threatened. Services to homes and small businesses are usually firm. Some businesses that cannot afford interruptions also have firm service. Businesses that can afford to have services interrupted or that can significantly reduce their consumption when notified by the provider can get better rates by having non-firm service. Customers that have non-firm service may have a low level or baseline firm service that is guaranteed so that they do not have to shut down completely. Firm and non-firm service is also available for companies that rent or lease pipeline or electrical transmission capacity.
Firm service for natural gas pipelines and electrical transmission lines often include two charges. The first is a reservation charge related to how much capacity the customer reserves. This charge is paid regardless of how much capacity is actually used. The second charge is based on how much capacity is used. Interruptible rates are volumetric, being based only on the volume of gas or electricity delivered.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 horas (2019-01-20 16:52:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
(Charles Davis): Again, here there is the explanation link...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firm_service
---
ES: ABC informó a XYZ el ejercicio de su derecho de contratar los Servicios en firme bajo modalidad de pago PQR. A esta fecha la Cantidad Contractual del Cliente bajo el Acuerdo asciende a la cantidad de [x], de los cuales [Y] corresponden a Servicios en firme y [Z] corresponden a Servicios no contratados en firme.
EN: ABC reported to XYZ the exercise of its rights to hire the Firm Services [Uninterruptible Services] under payment modality PQR [sic]. To this date the Contractual Amount of the Client under Agreement reaches the amount of [x], of which [Y] correspond to Firm Services [Uninterruptible Services] and [Z] correspond to non-contracted Firm Services [Uninterruptible Services].
---
Nota: PQR [sic, ya que no sé a qué modalidad se refieren estas siglas].
---
Espero sea de tu ayuda G. Gray...
De manera muy atenta,
Maximo.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 horas (2019-01-20 16:31:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
...
Firm services, also called uninterruptible services, are services, such as electricity and natural gas supplies, that are intended to be available at all times during a period covered by an agreement. Also, the service is not subject to a prior claim from another customer and receives the same priority as any other firm service. Conditional firm service is similar to firm service in that it is reserved and has priority over interruptible service. However, it can have restrictions, such as times when it would be curtailed before firm service but after interruptible service. The cost per unit with this service is called a firm rate or uninterruptible rate. The opposite of firm service is non-firm service, also called interruptible service or as-available service. The cost per unit for this service is called a non-firm rate or interruptible rate. The interruptible load is the portion of a utility's load that comes from customers with interruptible service.
Firm service cannot be interrupted during adverse conditions, such as periods of high demand. However, firm service may also refer to service that is covered by a long-term contract, such as a year or more. There are extreme cases when firm services may be interrupted, such as emergencies and when system reliability is threatened. Services to homes and small businesses are usually firm. Some businesses that cannot afford interruptions also have firm service. Businesses that can afford to have services interrupted or that can significantly reduce their consumption when notified by the provider can get better rates by having non-firm service. Customers that have non-firm service may have a low level or baseline firm service that is guaranteed so that they do not have to shut down completely. Firm and non-firm service is also available for companies that rent or lease pipeline or electrical transmission capacity.
Firm service for natural gas pipelines and electrical transmission lines often include two charges. The first is a reservation charge related to how much capacity the customer reserves. This charge is paid regardless of how much capacity is actually used. The second charge is based on how much capacity is used. Interruptible rates are volumetric, being based only on the volume of gas or electricity delivered.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 horas (2019-01-20 16:52:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
(Charles Davis): Again, here there is the explanation link...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firm_service
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Charles Davis
: It can't meant "servicios en firme no contratados"; "firme" expresses an obligation, which is meaningless if it's not contracted. This must refer to whether the services contracted are "en firme" or not. // No, that can't be right; it doesn't make sense.
10 mins
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¿? I have already shared the explanation link Charles Davis… Either "servicios contratados en firme" or "servicios en firme no contratados" should had been expressed as: "contratados servicios en firme" or "no contratados servicios en firme". Best, Maximo
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| disagree |
philgoddard
: Charles is right.
53 mins
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Up to you Phil, ha ha ... I have already expressed the reasons, and the most relevant is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firm_service ... If you are going to disagree, at least express a professional reason.
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| disagree |
Robert Carter
: Yes, Charles explanation is clear. Conversely, you haven't explained why you think it should be "non-contracted" rather than "non-firm".
15 hrs
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Ja ja ja
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Discussion