ACAN - Technical Support for TIM and Integrated TIM-Energy 2020 models - ACAN

ACAN - Technical Support for TIM and Integrated TIM-Energy 2020 models


Amendment to ACAN

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

Delete:

    Experience 5 years experience in the past 10 years in software development for econometric model simulation systems and in writing software interface linking an econometric model simulation system to an technology-based behavioral energy supply and demand simulation system and in the application of Input/Output matrix techniques in economic modeling, energy models and immigrations flows; 5 years experience in the past 10 years in write and compiling equations for econometric model simulation system ; conducting at least 3 projects similar in size, scope and complexity; 

    Knowledge and understanding of i) national and provincial econometric model simulation systems, ii) technology-based behavioral energy supply and demand simulation system, and iii)the equation structure of The Informetrica Model ; and the following software: MOSAIC, SIMSYS, VISUAL BASIC, FORTRAN, APL, PASCAL, BASIC on IBM, UNIVAC, BURROUGHS Mainframes, APPLE and IBM/PC, and VAX/VMS systems 

Insert:

•    Experience: 5 years experience in the past 10 years in software development for econometric model simulation systems and in writing software interface linking an econometric model simulation system to an technology-based behavioral energy supply and demand simulation system and in the application of Input/Output matrix techniques in economic modeling, energy models and immigrations flows; 5 years experience in the past 10 years in write and compiling equations for econometric model simulation system ; conducting at least 3 number of projects similar in size, scope and complexity); 

•    Knowledge and understanding of: i) national and provincial econometric model simulation systems, ii) technology-based behavioral energy supply and demand simulation system, iii)the equation structure of The Informetrica Model ; vi) economic theory and the application of econometric techniques to the development of structural equations for forecasting purposes; and v) the following software: MOSAIC, SIMSYS, VISUAL BASIC, FORTRAN, STATA, SPSD/M or recognized econometric statistical package; 

•    Academic qualifications: must possess an undergraduate degree from a recognized university in the field of Economics and preferably hold a M.A or PhD in Economics;


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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 Department of the Environment has a requirement for ongoing technical support for the Informetrica TIM model. The work will involve the following: 
Technical maintenance of the Informetrica TIM Model and solution module to E3MC, and model development and integration. The Contractor will provide technical support required for a baseline TIM forecast for use in E3MC (integrated TIM-ENERGY2020 model); Canada’s Emissions Trends 2013; and TIM development

The contract will be arranged as a Task Authorization contract, and the work under this contract will proceed through task authorizations which define each specific task. While the deliverables will be explicitly reflected in the Task Authorizations, they will generally consist of:
•    Transferring to Environment Canada updated Mosaic command files (MCC).
•    Transferring to Environment Canada updated Mosaic data files (MOS).
•    Transferring to Environment Canada updated and/or changed Simsys override files (OVR).
•    Transferring to Environment Canada compiled data for the underlying TIM databases.

•    Report on options and alternatives for TIM Modernization.
The following general tasks will be undertaken on an ongoing basis as part of this contract:

•    Task 1: General Forecast and Simulation Support – Under this task, the consultant will provide support under a task authorization contract to Environment Canada staff in the development of TIM and integrated model simulations, databases and forecasts. Examples of the types of deliverables to be included in specific Task Authorizations include (but are not limited to):
o    Debug TIM and E3MC simulations
o    Edit and review Mosaic command files (MCC)
o    Update Mosaic data files (MOS)
o    Update and/or change Simsys override files (OVR)
o    Compile data for the underlying TIM databases
o    General support for TIM use and redevelopment

•    Task 2: TIM Development – Under this task, the consultant will provide support to Environment Canada staff on activities related to enhancements and continued development of TIM. Some example activities to be included in specific Task Authorizations include (but are not limited to):
o    Provide methodology (potentially files) that updates the 1997 constant dollar and prices into a more recent year (e.g., 2002, 2007, or 2010).
o    Identify and decompose potential inconsistencies with the internal interactions of TIM, and where possible provide both short-term and long-term solutions.

•    Task 3: Enhancement and Continued TIM Development – Under this task, the consultant will provide support to Environment Canada staff on activities related to enhancements and continued development of TIM. Some example activities to be included in specific Task Authorizations include (but are not limited to):
o    Re-designing TIM model structure to align with Statistics Canada's new System of National Accounts
o    Re-designing TIM model databases to align with Statistics Canada's new System of National Accounts
o    Explore and implement Re-designed TIM model to be bottom-up (provinces adding to Canada total)
o    Re-estimating all equations to facilitate i) new structure aligned to 
SNA; and ii) new bottom-up structure.

•    Task 4: Options and Alternatives for TIM Modernizing – Under this task, the consultant will undertake a review of the existing TIM modeling suite and the integrated solution model to E3MC and provide a report outlining options and alternatives for “modernizing” TIM. This report will provide input to a broader strategy for the redesign and modernization of TIM.

3.    Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)
Detail the criteria against which the statement of capabilities submitted by potential suppliers will be assessed. This will allow the contracting officer to have an adequate basis for evaluating a potential supplier's statement of capabilities. The pre-identified supplier must be evaluated on the same basis.
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:

    Experience 5 years experience in the past 10 years in software development for econometric model simulation systems and in writing software interface linking an econometric model simulation system to an technology-based behavioral energy supply and demand simulation system and in the application of Input/Output matrix techniques in economic modeling, energy models and immigrations flows; 5 years experience in the past 10 years in write and compiling equations for econometric model simulation system ; conducting at least 3 projects similar in size, scope and complexity; 

    Knowledge and understanding of i) national and provincial econometric model simulation systems, ii) technology-based behavioral energy supply and demand simulation system, and iii)the equation structure of The Informetrica Model ; and the following software: MOSAIC, SIMSYS, VISUAL BASIC, FORTRAN, APL, PASCAL, BASIC on IBM, UNIVAC, BURROUGHS Mainframes, APPLE and IBM/PC, and VAX/VMS systems 

4.    Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement
This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement(s) (insert the applicable trade agreement(s)):
o    Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) 
o    World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) 
o    North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 

5.    Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
There are no alternative suppliers that have both the required expertise and knowledge to support both the TIM modeling suite and to Environment Canada's integrated E3MC model (i.e., the solution model that links the TIM macroeconomic model to the energy model that comprise Environment Canada's E3MC model). PolicyModels Corp, and more specifically Charles Saunders, is the only person that is capable of providing technology support to the TIM model in its integrated environment. While working at Informetrica Limited, Mr. Saunders was the primarily responsible for designing and developing the interaction methodology between TIM and ENERGY 2020, and coded the TIM Modgen (Simsys language) for the integration functions that used data transferred from ENERGY 2020. Design features include: energy-dynamic input-output model, energy investment, emission permit system, and government energy tax, transfers and subsidies. All aspects of TIM development were either overseen or directly coded by Mr. Saunders, including: personal consumption expenditure, business and government investment, employment, imports and exports, provincial output, input-output model (real and prices), and international prices. Mr. Saunders also held a key role in the development of many TIM forecasts for both general Informetrica clients and client-specific forecasts and scenarios.
Given Mr. Saunders’ experience and knowledge he is the only supplier that is uniquely positioned to provide assistance to Environment Canada to support the use of TIM and linkages between TIM and ENERGY 2020. As such, engaging the services of Mr. Saunders is the most cost-effective course of action. 

Implementing this proposal will ensure continued use of Environment Canada's E3MC model in support of key initiatives (e.g., Canada's Emissions Trends Report and impact analysis of key policy and regulatory initiatives).
•    The E3MC model is designed to run only with a macroeconomic forecast generated by TIM.
•    The E3MC interface model (i.e., the model that allows the ENERGY 2020 model to exchange files with the macroeconomic model) is designed to work only with TIM.
•    The E3MC model, when assessing policy impacts, can only generate a new equilibrium solution by iterating with TIM.
The services of this supplier will ensure that Environment Canada has access to technical expertise as it implements modifications to the TIM modeling suite in response to the evolving policy and regulatory agenda. Through the “upon request” support that will be made available to Environment Canada staff, will assist in the enhancements being made to TIM and integrated model simulations, databases and forecasts. The enhancements are designed to ensure the continued operation of the existing integrated modeling system (E3MC). The contract will also assist Environment Canada staff as it explore options and alternatives aimed at re-designing TIM and its associated models, so that Environment Canada has the capacity to continue to use the integrated E3MC model for the foreseeable future.
Not having access to a TIM generated macroeconomic forecast nor the TIM model would mean that Environment Canada could not support the regulatory agenda ,thereby delaying action on the environment as full economic analysis is a requirement of policy approval.

6.    Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)
The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work".

7.    Ownership of Intellectual Property
Ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the Contractor. 
The Contractor will grant to Canada a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, world-wide, fully-paid and royalty-free license to exercise all Intellectual Property Rights in the Foreground Information that vest in the Contractor, for any public purpose except Commercial Exploitation in Competition with the Contractor.

8.    Period of the proposed contract or delivery date
The proposed contract is for a period of contract award to March 31, 2014, with two options to extend the contract period for a one year period.

9.    Cost estimate of the proposed contract
The estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is $225,000.00 (GST/HST extra).

10.    Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
POLICYMODELS CORP.
680 Eagleson Road
PO Box 45001,
Kanata South PO
Kanata, ON
K2M 2Y1

11.    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.

12.    Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities
The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is June 6, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. EST.

13.    Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities
Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:
David Anderson
Contracting Officer
NCR Materiel Management and Contracting 
Corporate Services Branch 
Environment Canada
351 St. Joseph Blvd, Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3 
Tel: 819.994.3876
Fax: 819.953.8235
E-Mail: david.anderson@ec.gc.ca