Provide scientific and technical expertise, including the transfer of computer code to develop a Canadian Arctic regional pattern of assimilation SAM2 system. (Mercator Assimilation System).

Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

Provide scientific and technical expertise, including the transfer of computer code to develop a Canadian Arctic regional pattern of assimilation SAM2 system. (Mercator Assimilation System).

Solicitation # K8C20-13-0030

Definition of Advance Contract Award Notice
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, during the fifteen calendar day posting period, a statement of capabilities that meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, the competitive requirements of the governments 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. If other potential suppliers submit statements of capabilities during the fifteen calendar day posting period, and meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, the department or agency must proceed to a full tendering process on either the government’s electronic tendering service or through traditional means, in order to award the contract.  If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities meeting the requirements set out in the ACAN, a contract will be awarded to the pre-selected supplier.

Scope:
A pressing need for the development of a regional operational configuration.
Maritime traffic in the Arctic is expected to increase as the ice cover continues to decline. To provide marine weather services to meet the needs of mariners through these northern regions , the International Maritime Organization has established five new weather areas covering the Arctic Ocean and adjacent waters of the North. In December 2007, Canada accepted the request of the International Maritime Organization to take responsibility for two areas ( as shown in the figure below , weather XVII and XVIII ) , which are composed mainly of the Canadian Arctic Waters ( including the Northwest passage in Canada) and part of international waters in the High Arctic and waters north of Alaska and along parts of the west coast of Greenland.

Although the initiative profits from the expertise and existing scientific and technical infrastructure of weather and environmental services , additional efforts are needed to support this goal. These efforts include the design, development and implementation of the prototype of a new system of atmosphere -ocean-ice forecasting.

As part of this important arctic project, EC has an urgent need to have a Canadian Arctic regional configuration of oceanographic data assimilation system SAM2 . This configuration will allow Canada to optimize scientific developments to a significant increase in the spatial resolution of the assimilation system. This increase in resolution is crucial for adequate representation of the Canadian archipelago. This new regional configuration will be the development platform of the future assimilation ocean-ice system to be used operationally by the MSC.

The purpose of this ACAN: 
Is to signal the government's intention to award a contract to provide scientific and technical expertise, include the transfer of computer code to develop a Canadian Arctic regional configuration of assimilation system SAM2 to Mercator Ocean Forecasters.

Justification for the Pre-Selected Supplier:
Mercator Ocean Forecasters is the only supplier that can provide the services that meets the minimum essential requirements.

Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s):
The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under Part 1 subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work".

Ownership of Intellectual Property:
Ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will remain with Canada.

Proposed Contract Period:
The contract will be from award date to Marc 31st, 2014.

Estimated Cost:
Estimated value of the contract is 85000$.

Name and Address of Proposed Contractor:
Mercator Ocean Forecasters 
8-10 rue Hermès
Parc Technologique du Canal
31520 Ramonville St-Agne, France

Closing Date for a Submission of a Statement of Capabilities:
January 10, 2014 at 2:00pm EDT

Inquiries and statements of capabilities can be directed to:
Moufid Samri
Environement Canada
Finance Branch
2121, route Transcanadienne
Dorval, Quebec H9P 1J3

Emaill : AcquisitionsQUE@ec.gc.ca