NPP Unified Communication System (UCS) Support Services

Summary Notice and Notice of Intended Procurement
This Summary Notice and Notice of Intended Procurement is issued by Ontario Pension Board (“OPB”) for procurements covered by the Canadian Free Trade Agreement and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement to provide summary information in relation to specific procurement, as detailed below.

A. SUMMARY NOTICE
1. Subject Matter of Procurement
Unified Communication System (UCS) Support Services
OPB seeks an experienced service provider who has demonstrated knowledge and expertise to carry out day to day operations and support services for a suite of Avaya Aura solutions meeting the service level requirements set out by OPB. As part of support services, the service provider is required to manage all maintenance and support services including hardware repairs and replacements.
During the term of the agreement, the service provider will migrate the current on premise Avaya data centre to a service provider hosted data centre and provide colocation services.

2. How to Obtain Relevant Documents
OPB anticipates posting the RFP on electronic Canadian public tendering systems (MERX and/or Biddingo) on February 27, 2024. Interested suppliers are encouraged to monitor Canadian public electronic tendering systems for the formal posting of the RFP and are asked not to contact OPB for posting information.

3. Submission Deadline
The submission deadline for this solicitation will be March 28, 2024 at 3:00:00 local time (Eastern Time). 
B. NOTICE OF INTENDED PROCUREMENT
1. Procuring Entity’s Name and Address
Ontario Pension Board
200 King Street West, Suite 2200
Toronto, Ontario M5H 3X6

2. Contact Information
RFP Contact:    Michelle Zhu, Director, Procurement
Email:              michelle.zhu@opb.ca

3. How to Obtain Relevant Documents
OPB anticipates posting the RFP on electronic Canadian public tendering systems (MERX and Biddingo) on February 27, 2024. Interested suppliers are encouraged to monitor Canadian public electronic tendering systems for the formal posting of the RFP and are asked not to contact OPB for posting information.

4. Description of Procurement
Unified Communication System (UCS) Support Services
OPB seeks an experienced service provider who has demonstrated knowledge and expertise to carry out day to day operations and support services for a suite of Avaya Aura solutions meeting the service level requirements set out by OPB. As part of support services, the service provider is required to manage all maintenance and support services including hardware repairs and replacements.
During the term of the agreement, the service provider will migrate the current on premise Avaya data centre to a service provider hosted data centre and provide colocation services.
OPB’s Avaya solutions are hosted on premise at OPB’s downtown Toronto office. OPB currently has 555 station licences and 128 contact centre licences in use. During the term the number of licences will change based on actual usage.  

5. Time-Frame for Delivery, Duration of Contract and Extension Options
It is anticipated that the resulting contract will be awarded by May 2024 and will be for a term of three years with an option for OPB to extend for one (1) period of up to two (2) years.

6. Language of Submissions
Unless otherwise indicated, all submissions shall be in English only.

7. Submission Deadline Date and Time
The submission deadline for this solicitation will be March 28, 2024 at 3:00:00 local time (Eastern Time). 

8. Location of Submission
Submission for this solicitation must be submitted at one (1) of the online tendering platforms set out above (i.e., Biddingo or Merx) on or before the Submission Deadline. The proponent is advised to allow for sufficient time in the preparation and submission of its proposal to ensure its proposal is submitted well before the Submission Deadline. Proposals cannot be submitted after the Submission Deadline.

9. Date of Pre-Bid Inspection or Pre-Bid Meeting
Not Applicable

10. Details of Pre-Bid Inspection or Pre-Bid Meeting
Not Applicable

11. CFTA/CETA
Unless otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable exceptions and exclusions, this solicitation is covered by Chapter 5 of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, and, where the contract value meets or exceeds applicable contract value thresholds, by the Chapter 19 of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Refer to following mandatory requirements:

• The proponent must be an Avaya Diamond Authorized Partner;
• The proponent must be an Avaya Authorized Reseller;
• The proponent must have experience in Avaya Aura Contact Centre, Workforce Optimization, and  Avaya Aura Communication Manager Stack;
• The proponent confirms that OPB data will reside in Canada and only be accessed from within Canada; and
• The proponent is from a jurisdiction that has trade obligations with Ontario and/or Canada.

The RFP process is a non-binding RFP which includes a consecutive negotiation process. The service provider may be requested to provide other related services to meet OPB needs during the term.
 

Bidding and Documents are available on http://www.merx.com. Fees may apply; See https://www.merx.com/public/pricing for more information.