Convention on Nuclear Safety – Country Group Rapporteur for Seventh Review Meeting

1.0 Introduction

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), on behalf of Canada, is the lead Agency responsible to coordinate all activities, including the preparation of a National Report and participation at the triennial Review Meeting to prepare for the 7^th Review Meeting, to be held in March 2017, Canada nominated Mr. John Froats to act as an Officer of the Review Meeting General Committee and Chair of one of the Country Groups. The role of the General Committee is to assist the President in the general conduct of the business of the Review Meeting. The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the CNSC’s intention to award a contract for these services to:

John P.S. Froats

38 Castle Harbour Drive

Port Perry, Ontario, Canada

L9L 1P6

Before awarding a contract, however, the CNSC would like to provide other suppliers with the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of satisfying the requirements set out in this ACAN, by submitting a statement of capabilities within the posting period for this ACAN, which is 15 calendar days.

If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during the posting period that meets the requirements set out in this ACAN, the CNSC will proceed to a full tendering process via the Government Electronic Tendering Service or by inviting bids directly from suppliers.

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 above-noted supplier.

2.0 Background

The CNSC, on behalf of Canada, is the lead federal agency responsible to coordinate all activities related to the CNS. These activities include the preparation of National Reports and participation at the triennial Review Meetings. The CNS Contracting Parties committed to nominate a cadre of qualified individuals (officers) to assist in the organization and conduct of the Review Meetings. These individuals must have in-depth knowledge of internationally endorsed safety standards, regulatory practices, and nuclear safety issues and must have been accredited to a previous Review Meeting. The appointment period for each officer is three years from the date of appointment.

The 7^th Review Meeting will be held in March 2017. At the 7^th Organizational Meeting held in Vienna on October 15, 2015, Canada successfully nominated Mr. John Froats to act as an Officer of the 7^th Review Meeting in the role Country Group Rapporteur.

Of special note for the 7^th Review Meeting, Canada also successfully nominated the CNSC’s Executive Vice-President, Mr. Ramzi Jammal, as President of the Review Meeting.

3.0 Objectives

To fulfill Canada’s commitment to provide a qualified, senior technical expert as an Officer to the 7th Review Meeting of the CNS in the capacity of Country Group Rapporteur to assist in the development, preparation and conduct of the meeting.

4.0 Scope of Work

The Rapporteur will work with the three other Country Group officers to coordinate, facilitate, and report on the peer review activities in their Country Group. Canada’s nominee for Country Group Rapporteur was assigned to Country Group # 2, which consists of 11 Contracting Parties (France, Sweden, Slovakia, Armenia, Slovenia, EURATOM, Kuwait, Montenegro, Portugal, Tunisia, and Bahrain). The peer review activities will begin after the Contracting Parties submit their national CNS reports and conclude when the Rapporteur reports the review findings to the plenary in the second week of the 7th Review Meeting. CG Rapporteurs also may be asked to provide support to the rest of the officers for the remainder of the Review Meeting and during any follow-up.

Additional tasks assigned to Canada’s nominee to the post of CG Rapporteur may also include direct support to the President of the 7th Review Meeting and the Canadian Delegation.

5.0 Tasks to be Performed

Detailed qualifications and responsibilities for the Country Group Rapporteur are set out in IAEA INCFCIR 571 (Rev. 7) Guidelines regarding the Review Process under the Convention on Nuclear Safety. They are repeated in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 below.

6.0 General Qualifications Suggested by CNS Guidance

The Country Group Rapporteur should possess the following qualifications:

• Strong English-language skills

• Availability for the duration of the Review Meeting

• No vested interest, either personal or national, in countries represented in the Country Group

• Knowledge of internationally endorsed safety standards, regulatory practice, and nuclear safety issues (in order to be able to recognize important parts of the discussion)

• Ability to summarize, in writing, quickly and succinctly

• Tact and diplomacy

• Ability and willingness to work extended hours during the Review Meeting

7.0 Responsibilities

The Country Group Rapporteur is expected to:

• Be familiar with the National Reports to be presented in the Country Group and the Coordinator’s analysis;

• Generally note the discussion of each of these National Reports in the Country Group sessions;

• Highlight topics and issues that are agreed by the Country Group to be Good Practices;

• Highlight topics and issues that are agreed by the Country Group to be areas where follow-up at a subsequent Review Meeting would be desirable;

• Prepare, before the Review Meeting, a draft Country Review Report for each National Report of the Country Group members;

• Finalize the Country Review Reports after discussions in the Country Group;

• Produce and present to plenary a report that summarizes, on the basis of the Country Review Reports, in consultation with the Country Group Chair, the discussions that took place in the Country Group during the Review Meeting and their conclusions; and

• Produce the above reports in accordance with the format, timing, and other details as directed by the President and/or the General Committee.

8.0 Outline of Major Activities

Phase I – Pre-Review Meeting (RM) Activities (Aug 15, 2016 to Feb 7, 2017)

Start-up Meeting

Date: To be determined

Location: Teleconference from the CNSC Head Office, Ottawa

Purpose: To discuss and clarify the proposed project approach, work plan and schedule to ensure achievement of the contract objectives.

Initial Peer Review Activities

Date: Aug 15, 2016 to Feb 7, 2017

Purpose: Review national reports for Country Group 2; review questions posed to contracting parties in Country Group 2, and begin drafting Country Review Reports for Country Group 2

Meeting of 7th RM Officers

Date: February 8-9, 2017

Location: IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria

Purpose: To help prepare for 7th RM (including detailed agenda and plans for the RM, discussion of Coordinators’ Reports, preparation of draft Country Review Reports, preparation of presentation template for Contracting Party presentations, other items, as required)

Phase II – RM Activities (March 1 – April 7, 2017)

Meeting of 7th RM Officers

Date: March 26, 2017

Location: IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria

Purpose: Final preparations and briefing prior to the 7th RM

7th Review Meeting of the CNS

Date: March 27 – April 7, 2017

Location: IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria

Purpose: Complete the peer review, and documentation thereof, of national reports; assist in other CNS business in plenaries of all Contracting Parties

Phase III – Post Review Meeting Closure Activities (April 8 – June 30, 2017)

Post RM Closure Activities

Date: April 8 – June 30, 2017

Purpose: Complete any follow-up requested by the 7^th RM President and/or the Canadian Delegation

9.0 Deliverables

9.1 Report on February 2017 Meeting of 7th RM Officers (see 4.3 Phase I)

Due Date: February 28, 2017

Purpose: Provide detailed information regarding the February 8-9, 2017 Meeting of the 7th RM Officers and any relevant information to assist the Canadian Delegation in preparing for the 7^th Review Meeting.

Format: Written report

Copies: By email to the CNSC Project Manager.

9.2 Reports during the 7th RM (see 4.3 Phase II)

Due Date: Following the daily activities of the 7th Review Meeting

Purpose: Provide the latest information regarding instructions for officers, as well as any other developments, to assist the Canadian Delegation during the 7^th Review Meeting

Format: Verbal briefing to Canadian Delegation in-situ, typically, at the end of each day.

9.3 Final Report (see 4.3 Phase III)

Due Date: May 31, 2017

Purpose: Provide summary of activities carried out under the contract, copies of documentation produced for the purposes of the peer review for the 7th RM, and a summary of lessons learned from the meeting to include recommendations for any changes to the preparation to the 8th Review Meeting.

Format: Written report. Any electronic files that cannot be read or require major formatting changes when opened are not acceptable and may be returned to the contractor for correction. The CNSC reserves the right, at its own discretion, to have the final report printed under CNSC cover, and to distribute it publicly. Translation, CNSC report covers and the publication will be provided by the CNSC as required.

Copies: By email to the CNSC Project Manager.

The estimated value of the contract is $50,000. Applicable Taxes are extra.

10.0 Minimum Mandatory Requirements

Interested suppliers must demonstrate that they meet the following requirements:

• A minimum of 30 years experience with the production of nuclear energy demonstrating expertise in reactor design, start-up and operation activities linked to the production of nuclear energy based on CANDU reactor technology and comprehensive understanding of Canada’s nuclear safety regulatory oversight framework.
• Comprehensive experience with the production of nuclear energy in Canada demonstrating expertise in activities linked to nuclear safety and security operations of the CANDU reactor as senior operations manager to one of Ontario’s nuclear power plants including responsibility for overseeing engineering and modifications.
• A minimum of four years experience with research and development activities of the CANDU Owner’s Group as a senior executive or as President and Chief Executive Officer
• Prior accreditation by Canada to an Extraordinary or Review Meeting of the CNS

11.0 Justification for the Pre-Selected Supplier

The Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) imposes unique requirements on Canada and the CNSC in particular. The provision of uniquely qualified, senior nuclear industry professionals facilitates Canada’s efficient and effective preparation for, and participation at, the CNS Review Meetings. Furthermore, Canada has played a significant role in the global nuclear safety regime by providing uniquely qualified individuals to act as officers of the CNS Review Meetings.

Mr. Froats has extensive experience as an officer of CNS Review Meetings, having contributed to both the Canadian efforts and the global nuclear safety regime.

• Country Group Rapporteur at the 4^th and 5^th Review Meetings and 2^nd Extraordinary Meeting in August 2012 (post-Fukushima)
• Country Group Chairman at the 6^th Review Meeting

As an experienced Country Group Rapporteur in the past, Mr. Froats also provided training to incoming Country Group Rapporteurs at the Officers’ Turnover Meeting” that preceded the 6^thReview Meeting.

At the Organizational Meeting for the 7^th Review Meeting on October 15, 2015, Canada nominated Mr. Froats to be a Country Group Rapporteur for the 7^th Review Meeting.

There is no other Canadian (other than members of CNSC staff) that has experience as a Country Group officer at a recent CNS review meeting.

12.0 Intellectual Property

Canada intends to retain ownership of any foreground intellectual property arising out of the proposed contract on the basis that the main purpose of the contract is to generate knowledge and information for public dissemination.

13.0 Statement of Capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to meet the specified requirements may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the Contracting Authority 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.

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is March 23, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

14.0 Contact Information

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Dan Simard, Senior Contracting Officer
280 Slater Street

P.O. Box 1046, Station B

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada K1P 5S9
Telephone: (613) 996-6784
Facsimile: (613) 995-5086
E-mail: dan.simard@canada.ca

15.0 Policy Information

Government Contracts Regulations (GCRs) - Section 6. d) “Notwithstanding section 5, a contracting authority may enter into a contract without soliciting bids where:

(d) Only one person is capable of performing the contract.