INFORMATION PRODUCTS (SUBSCRIPTIONS

INFORMATION PRODUCTS (SUBSCRIPTIONS

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Attachment: None
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements:
Request for Information regarding
New Method of Supply for Subscriptions to electronic and/or
Print information Products (commercially available)
For
Public Works And government Services Canada

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. 1 Background of this Request for Information (RFI)    2
A. 2 Purpose of this Request for Information    3
A. 3 Nature of Request for Information    3
A. 4 Nature and Format of Responses Requested    3
A. 5 Response Costs    3
A. 6 Treatment of Responses    3
A. 7 Contents of this RFI    4
A. 8 Format of Responses    4
A. 9 Enquiries    4
A. 10 Submission of Responses    4



Annex A:     REQUEST FOR STANDING OFFER (RFSO) FOR INFORMATION
PRODUCTS
Anned B:    STANDING OFFER TERMS AND CONDITIONS



Request for Information regarding
New Method of Supply for Subscriptions to electronic and/or
Print information Products (commercially available)
For
Public Works And government Services Canada
Background of this Request for Information (RFI)

    Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) intends to
establish Standing Offers for the delivery of Information
Products, as required by Canada, in support of its various
programs, initiatives, operations and projects. PWGSC intends to
issue an initial Request for Standing Offer for Information
Products.

    "Information Products" are defined as:

Books such as textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopaedia, etc. and
their electronic equivalents
Periodicals such as academic journals, magazines, etc. and their
electronic equivalents
Law Reviews and their electronic equivalents
Newspapers and their electronic equivalents
Maps and cartographic information
Databases such as Bibliographic metadata, Statistical Databases,
Business Information Databases etc.
    The objectives of the Standing Offer are to:
Simplify and streamline the procurement process
Increase the level of participation by vendors of all sizes
including, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Increase transparency, openness, and fairness in the procurement
process by soliciting requirements and making all information,
including pricing, publicly available.

    The Standing Offer will consist of a single phased approach.
Suppliers who accept the terms and conditions of the RFSO will
be awarded a Standing Offer.

    In order to qualify, suppliers must:
respond to RFSO, accept PWGSC's standard terms and conditions
and satisfy certification requirements;
provide product listings in the format required by PWGSC, which
include ceiling prices and ISSN.



Additional information:
Suppliers are permitted to include their commercial use terms
applicable to the products offered. Any conflicts with terms
and conditions deemed mandatory by PWGSC will be removed and the
remaining acceptable terms will be addressed by priority of
documents.
The RFSO process will be open to participation of suppliers of
all sizes.

Purpose of this Request for Information
    The purpose of this RFI is to allow stakeholders and potential
suppliers an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed new
method of supply for information products. Interested parties
are also encouraged to provide information they feel PWGSC
should be aware of when developing the new method of supply for
information products.

Nature of Request for Information
This is not a bid solicitation. This RFI will not result in the
award of any contract. As a result, potential suppliers of any
goods or services described in this RFI should not reserve stock
or facilities, nor allocate resources, as a result of any
information contained in this RFI. Nor will this RFI result in
the creation of any source list. Therefore, whether or not any
potential supplier responds to this RFI will not preclude that
supplier from participating in any future procurement. Also, the
procurement of any of the goods and services described in this
RFI will not necessarily follow this RFI. This RFI is simply
intended to solicit feedback from industry with respect to the
matters described in this RFI.
Nature and Format of Responses Requested
Respondents are requested to provide their comments, concerns
and, where applicable, alternative recommendations regarding how
the requirements or objectives described in this RFI could be
satisfied. Respondents are also invited to provide comments
regarding the content, format and/or organization of any draft
documents included in this RFI. Respondents should explain any
assumptions they make in their responses.
Response Costs
Canada will not reimburse any respondent for expenses incurred
in responding to this RFI.
Treatment of Responses
Use of Responses: Responses will not be formally evaluated.
However, the responses received may be used by Canada to develop
or modify procurement strategies or any draft documents
contained in this RFI. Canada will review all responses received
by the RFI closing date. Canada may, in its discretion, review
responses received after the RFI closing date.
Review Team: A review team composed of representatives of PWGSC
will review the responses. Canada reserves the right to hire any
independent consultant, or use any Government resources that it
considers necessary to review any response. Not all members of
the review team will necessarily review all responses.
Confidentiality: Respondents should mark any portions of their
response that they consider proprietary or confidential. Canada
will handle the responses in accordance with the Access to
Information Act.
Follow-up Activity: Canada may, at its discretion, meet with
respondents who indicate in their responses that they wish to
participate in a follow-up meeting. Such follow-up activity, if
conducted, may include, but is not limited to, individual
meetings and/or conferences. Canada may, in its discretion,
contact any respondents to follow up with additional questions
or for clarification of any aspect of a response.
Contents of this RFI
This RFI contains a draft request for standing offer (RFSO).
This document remains a work in progress and respondents should
not assume that new clauses or requirements will not be added to
any RFSO that is ultimately published by Canada. Nor should
respondents assume that none of the clauses or requirements will
be deleted or revised. Comments regarding any aspect of the
draft document are welcome.
Format of Responses
Cover Page: If the response includes multiple volumes,
respondents are requested to indicate on the front cover page of
each volume the title of the response, the solicitation number,
the volume number and the full legal name of the respondent.
Title Page: The first page of each volume of the response, after
the cover page, should be the title page, which should contain:
the title of the respondent's response and the volume number;
the name and address of the respondent;
the name, address and telephone number of the respondent's
contact;
the date; and
the RFI number.
Numbering System: Respondents are requested to prepare their
response using a numbering system corresponding to the one in
this RFI. All references to descriptive material, technical
manuals and brochures included as part of the response should be
referenced accordingly.
Number of Copies: Respondents are requested to submit one
softcopy, in PDF format, of their response
Enquiries
Because this is not a bid solicitation, Canada will not
necessarily respond to enquiries in writing or by circulating
answers to all potential suppliers. However, respondents with
questions regarding this RFI may direct their enquiries to:
Contracting Authority:    Beth Weinberger
E-mail Address:    Beth.Weinberger@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca
Telephone:    (819) 956-7325
Facsimile:    (819) 956-8799
- Interested Suppliers can email the contact above and request a
copy of the Crowns' standard terms and conditions for
consideration.
Submission of Responses
Time and Place for Submission of Responses: Respondents should
send responses electronically via e-mail to the Contracting
Authority's address identified herein by the date specified on
the front page of the RFI.
Responsibility for Timely Delivery: Each respondent is solely
responsible for ensuring its response is delivered on time to
the correct location.
Identification of Response: Each respondent should ensure that
its name and return address, the solicitation number and the
closing date appear legibly on the outside of the response.
Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any
procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.


Weinberger, Beth
11 Laurier St. / 11 rue Laurier
6B3, Place du Portage
Phase III
Gatineau
Québec
K1A 0S5