Facility Rental

1.	Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

2.	Definition of the requirement

The Statistics Canada policy on the Review and Testing of Questionnaires requires that all new questionnaires and revisions to existing questionnaires undergo testing before implementation. The testing conducted by the Questionnaire Design Resource Centre (QDRC) is in accordance with meeting the requirements of this policy. This work is not considered to be public opinion research (POR).

The QDRC has an on-going requirement to conduct questionnaire testing projects by interviewing test participants and/or conducting focus group discussions with potential survey respondents. The QDRC conducts one-on-one, in-depth cognitive interviews and/or focus group discussions to test questionnaires with potential survey respondents. For example, using a draft questionnaire, we ask test participants for their feedback and discuss other relevant issues in relation to Statistics Canada surveys. During questionnaire testing, we solicit feedback from participants and discuss their understanding of the instructions, question wording and response categories, as well as the level of respondent burden experienced.

This contract is required as part of the on-going work conducted by the QDRC. In order to meet with test participants, the QDRC requires rental of a focus group facility in Ottawa, with the ability to provide the requirements as outlined below. 

On an as-and-when required basis via approved Task Authorizations (TAs) the Contractor is required to provide:
•	A facility room with the capacity for 15 people, with a one way mirror, and observation area for 10 observers
•	Facility rental (e.g., full day 8am-5pm or full day + evening (8am-9pm)
•	A DVD audio and video recording of the sessions
•	A hostess or host that can communicate with participants in both official languages (English and French). The hostess or host will be required to: 
•	greet observers and participants
•	communicate any schedule changes to the QDRC during testing, while at the facility
•	verify participants’ first names as outlined in the schedule, previously provided to the facility by Statistics Canada, by e-mail
•	ensure the participants sign in upon their arrival
•	check identification of participants upon arrival

3.	Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:
•	Availability of a facility room with the capacity for 15 people, with a one way mirror, and observation area for 10 observers
•	Availability of two types of facility rentals (full day (8am-5pm) or full day + evening (8am-9pm))
•	Ability to provide a DVD audio and video recording of the sessions that include the following parameters:
•	When a participant is speaking, their face must be visible on the DVD
•	DVD audio recording must be clearly audible so that comments from participants can be heard during playback
•	Providing a hostess or host that can communicate with participants in both official languages (English and French). 

4.	Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

This requirement is subject to the following Trade Agreements:

•	Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
•	North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
•	World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP)

5.	Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

Opinion Search is the only supplier in Ottawa that can meet all of the following facility rental requirements: 
•	Availability of a facility room with the capacity for 15 people, with a one way mirror, and observation area for 10 observers
•	Availability of two types of facility rentals (full day (8am-5pm) or full day + evening (8am-9pm))
•	Ability to provide a DVD audio and video recording of the sessions that include the following parameters:
•	When a participant is speaking, their face must be visible on the DVD
•	DVD audio recording must be clearly audible so that comments from participants can be heard during playback
•	Providing a hostess or host that can communicate with participants in both official languages (English and French). 

6.	Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection:

subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work".

7.	Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the section of the trade agreement specified:
•	Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - Article 506.12(b) 

•	NAFTA (and subsequently CCFTA and CPFTA) - Article 1016.2.(b)  

•	WTO-AGP - Article XV 1.(b) 

8.	Ownership of Intellectual Property

Ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the Contractor.

9.	Period of the proposed contract or delivery date 

The initial contract period is January 22, 2014 (estimated) to March 31, 2014, plus four (4) additional one-year option periods.

10.	Cost estimate of the proposed contract

The estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is $325,000 (GST/HST extra).

Initial contract period:		$25,000
Option Period 1:			$75,000
Option Period 2:			$75,000
Option Period 3:			$75,000
Option Period 4:			$75,000
Total				$325,000
Applicable Taxes			$42,250
Total Estimated Cost		$367,250

11.	Name and Address of the pre-identified supplier

Opinion Search
1800-160 Elgin Street
Ottawa, ON
K2P 2P7

12.	Suppliers’ right to submit a statement of capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

13.	Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is January 21, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

14.	Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Nausheena Wright
Coordinator
Corporate Support Services Division
150 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway
Main Building, Room 1405 I
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6
Telephone: 613-951-2749
Fax: 613-951-2073
E-mail: nausheena.wright@statcan.gc.ca