Cellulosic Nanomaterials - The Canadian situation

REQUIREMENT

By means of this RFP, NRCan is seeking proposals from bidders to identify the current R&D infrastructure and the relevant CNM stakeholders in Canada and abroad and identify the necessary steps that the Canada can take to ensure that the cellulosic nanomaterials business becomes an integral component of Canada’s bio-economy. This will require bringing together the interests of;

1)	Canadian CNM producers and the forest industry at large, 
2)	Provinces where cellulosic nanomaterials can play an important economic role and 
3)	Canadian research base, both universities and research institutes.

CONDITIONS OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

There shall be no direct payment by NRCan for costs incurred for the presentation and submission of proposals in response to this RFP. 

ESTIMATED CONTRACT PERIOD

The estimated contract period is from contract award date to March 31, 2015.

SOLICITATION/BID CLOSING DATE AND SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

The deadline for submissions of bids in response to this RFP is September 5, 2014 @ 14:00 (E.D.S.T.). 	

Proposals must be directed to:

Bid Receiving Unit - Mailroom
Natural Resources Canada
Loading Dock				
588 Booth Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0Y7
ATTENTION: Lucie Lepage
RFP: NRCan-5000014895

NRCan will not assume responsibility for proposals directed to any other location.   Proposals not received in the Bid Receiving Unit by the closing time, will be return to the Bidder unopened.				

ENQUIRIES

All enquiries concerning this RFP must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Authority as early as possible within the bidding period. Enquiries must be received no less than five (5) calendar days  prior to the bid closing date to allow sufficient time to provide a response. Enquiries received after that time may not be able to be answered prior to the bid closing date.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

M1  The bidder MUST provide a summary describing in details current and previous experience in working with the cellulosic nanomaterial community.
	 
The summary MUST describe the provision experience in working with the cellulosic nanomaterial community for a government agency, department or industry organization. In the summary, bidders must provide the following information:
	
1.	the name of the client organization;
2.	a brief description of the scope of services provided;
3.	the dates and duration of the project;
4.	the dollar value of the project (to the Offeror);
5.	The role that the Bidder played for the cellulosic nanomaterial community.

NRCan reserves the right to contact the named client project authorities to verify the accuracy and veracity of each of the Bidders cited Project Summaries.

M2  The Bidder MUST have 10 years minimum experience in chemical research on advanced materials, such as cellulosic 	nanomaterials and be a holder of a PhD in chemistry and/or chemical engineering.

M3  The Bidders MUST provide a detailed curriculum vitae (CV) which includes the following information:
	 
1. a detailed description of the proposed resource’s work experience (indicated in years/months) in the provision of cellulosic nanomaterial research to a government agency, department or industry organization; 

2. educational and professional designation attainments, and all other academic credentials;

3. the number of months of previous work experience during the past six (6) years in the provision of cellulosic nanomaterial work at the international level to government departments, agencies or industry organizations; and

4. the proposed resource’s English and French language capabilities (reading, written and oral).

RIGHTS OF NRCAN

NRCan reserves the right to:

- Seek clarification or obtain verification of statements made in a proposal;
- Reject any or all proposals received in response to this RFP;	
- Enter into negotiations with one or more Bidders on any or all aspects of its proposal;
- Accept any proposal in whole or in part without prior negotiation;
- Cancel and/or re-issue this RFP at any time;
- Verify any or all information provided by the Bidder with respect to this RFP including references;
- Retain all proposals submitted in response to this RFP;
- Declare a proposal non-compliant if NRCan determines during the evaluation phase, that the Bidder does not have the legal status, facilities and technical, financial and managerial capabilities to fulfill the requirements stated herein;
- Discontinue the evaluation of any proposals which are determined, at any stage of the evaluation process, to be non-compliant.