Request for Proposals for Internet Voting Solution for Nova Scotia Members of the Canadian Armed Forces

This Request for Proposals (the'RFP') is an invitation by Elections Nova Scotia ('ENS') to qualified firms to submit proposals to provide an Internet Voting Solution for Nova Scotia members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) during the next 41st Provincial General Election (PGE), including all the related software services, IT infrastructure and hosting services, and support and full management services of the solution. This RFP is being conducted pursuant to the Nova Scotia Sustainable Procurement Policy and Procurement Manual. Elections Nova Scotia (ENS) is an independent, non-partisan agency that is responsible for the administration of the Elections Act. Its mandate is to conduct provincial general elections and by-elections; ensure compliance with the provincial electoral law including the political financing regime; establish and maintain election-related information including the Nova Scotia Register of Electors; seek advice and conduct studies related to electoral processes; and conduct electoral education processes. Nova Scotia does not have a fixed election date, hence Elections Nova Scotia must always be prepared to conduct a provincial general election or by-election, whenever they are called. To this end, the Chief Electoral Officer sets an election readiness date when ENS must ready all operations and systems as if an election will be called on that date. The ability to offer internet voting to members of the CAF will be one of those operations that ENS strive to be ready to deliver by the next election readiness date of September 1, 2021 for the 41st Provincial General Election (PGE). Through this RFP, ENS is seeking the services of qualified firms to provide a hosted solution for an internet registration system and internet voting system for military electors as further described in the RFP Particulars in Appendix D and · is an internet elector registration system and internet voting system solutions with little or no new development that can meet the objectives described in the Functional and Non-Functional Requirements described in Appendix F, and · is cloud based with data and system hosted on servers located in Canada. For clarity, 'Cloud based' refers to a solution hosted on and managed from the proponent’s servers and infrastructure, or suitable third party, with information accessible to the ENS. It is the intent of ENS to enter into an Agreement with a vendor who can demonstrate experience and expertise in delivering, implementing, managing and supporting similar internet voting solutions for governmental entities. The proponent should be able to demonstrate its commitment to deliver the solution in time for the 41st PGE whenever it is called in the Province, given the challenge of no fixed date for a general election in Nova Scotia. It is desirable for ENS to contract with a single Proponent who can provide the required skills and expertise to work with ENS during the entire project so that the deliverables of an ‘election-ready’ ENS Internet Voting Solution and its deployment during the election event comply with all objectives described in the scope of work and Appendix D and Appendix F. As part of the Sustainable Procurement Policy, ENS is committed to purchasing goods, services, and construction in a manner that is cost effective, and better for environment, and our communities. ENS seeks to work with suppliers who have the knowledge and capacity to apply the principles of sustainability to their own operations. Closing date and time: June 15th, 2021 at 2:00 pm Atlantic Time

Cost of acquiring documents: Not applicable

Terms of payment for acquiring documents: Not applicable

Tender notices on CanadaBuys published for Nova Scotia Public Sector Entities may not reflect amendments. For tender documents and up-to-date addenda, refer to the Nova Scotia Procurement Portal: https://procurement-portal.novascotia.ca/tenders/DOC657318180

For additional detail on contract duration, refer to the tender documents.

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