Parks Canada’s Mascot, Parka - Design and Graphic Planning

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the competitive requirements of the government’s contracting policy have been met. Following notification to suppliers not successful in demonstrating that their statement of capabilities meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contract may then be awarded using the Treasury Boards electronic bidding authorities.   However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full tendering process.



1.	Requirement Definition

The objective of this contract is to acquire the services of qualified and specialized experts in character development, strategic planning, partnering and design. 

Parka as a Parks Canada character has great potential as an outreach vehicle for attracting young children and their families to Parks Canada sites. The development of this strategy will potentially increase Parka’s profile with the target audience. The next phase of development will consolidate gains made to date and should set Parka well on her way to multi-platform exposure across Canada and beyond. 

2.	Description of the work:

•	Strategic Planning 
o	Consultation with Parks Canada staff and external contacts for the planning and implementation of Parka as a multi-platform property targeting young children and their families
o	Liaison between Parks Canada and potential partners and collaborators such as OWLKids, CBC and others in children’s media for increased outreach for the Parka project
o	Deliverables: Attendance at meetings; consultations via email and/or telephone; written summary of recommendations and results on an as-needed basis.

•	Development of Club Parka
o	Concept development of Club Parka as an outreach vehicle and menu of on-site activities
o	Deliverables:
	Written report describing all recommended elements of Club Parka (including sample scripts of interpreter-visitor interaction) 
	Content and draft design of a minimum of six (6) Club Parka age-appropriate activities developed with input from the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (OISE/University of Toronto) for approval by Parks Canada; production of activities to be used in Club Parka Lodge activity centres, on the website, for use externally (for example, in Chirp/Pomme d’api magazines), and to be individualized by Parks Canada sites for site-specific programming.
	Multi-media Parka products such as an animated video (song/dance)
	Design of Club Parka Lodge to be erected at key sites within the Parks Canada system (including drawings, design specs, recommended materials) 

•	Creative Direction 
o	On-going advice on and management of external designers and other service suppliers related to the production of Parka project components (TBA – for example, website downloads, games, puzzles, books, puppets, stage show musical) 



	Minimum Qualifications and Experience 


•	More than ten years experience providing strategic planning, research and evaluation, and conceptual framework in the field of mascot character development.
•	Must demonstrate ability to plan and lead the creative direction and production of a mascot character across multiple media channels (print, animation, TV, online).
•	Must demonstrate ability to facilitate mascot training to ensure consistent and accurate portrayal of the mascot at various events and in various media.
•	Specialization in producing mascot products geared to the needs of child audiences.
•	Must have in-depth, current knowledge of the Parks Canada Agency, including its mandate, strategic directions and the current mascot program challenges and opportunities.
•	Must be capable of facilitating discussion sessions between Parks Canada Agency employees and potential partners.
•	Must demonstrate specialization in communications and interpretive planning, including experience writing television scripts.
•	Must be able to demonstrate accolades and/or awards from independent third parties for mascot work done.
•	Must have more than five years experience preparing marketing, branding, and outreach plans that include merchandise development.



3.	Intellectual Property

It is understood and agreed that the Crown will retain ownership of the Intellectual Property generated by this contract as per Treasury Board Guidelines, Policies, and Directives under the Crown invoked exception 6.5 " IP to be retained by the Crown where the Foreground consists of material subject to copyright, with the exception of computer software and all documentation pertaining to that software”.  

The full policy is available on the Treasury Board Web Site at the following address:  http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=13697§ion=text#cha6


4.	Contract Period  

From Contract Award  to March 31, 2015.

5.	Estimated Value
 
The estimated value of this work is $30,000.00 per year. (tax excluded). 


6.	Exemption to the Government Contract Regulations

Part 1, Section 6(d) of the Government Contract Regulations is being invoked in this procurement as only one known person or firm is capable of performing the contract. 

7.	Name and Address of Proposed Contractor 
Nostbakken and Nostbakken Inc
252 Daly Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1N 6G5

8.	  Closing Date and time for Submissions:

		Submissions must be received on or by July 9th , 2013 @ 2pm (NDT)

9.	   Submission of Statement of Capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the Contracting Officer 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. Statement of capabilities received after the mentioned delay will not be considered.

The Agency File Number, the Contracting officer’s name and the closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the envelope or, in the case of a facsimile transmission, on the covering page.

Responses received on or before the closing date will be considered solely for the purpose of deciding whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. Information provided will be used by the Crown for technical evaluation purposes only and will not be construed as a proposal. Your written response must provide sufficient evidence that clearly demonstrates that your service is capable of fulfilling this requirement. 

Suppliers that have submitted a response will be notified in writing of Department’s decision whether to continue with the aforementioned procurement or to complete the requirement.


10.	Responsible Contracting Officer

Colleen Sheehan
Contracts, Procurement & Materiel Management Advisor 
Finance and Contracting Operations, Chief Financial Officer Directorate 
Parks Canada Agency 
John Cabot Building 
P.O Box 1268 
St. John's, NL A1C 5M9
Telephone  709-772-6129
Facsimile 709-772-3651
Email: colleen.sheehan@pc.gc.ca