Tobacco Stamping Program RFI

The Canada Revenue Agency currently has in place a Program for the design, production and distribution of tobacco stamps that incorporate overt and covert security features. The tobacco stamps are applied by tobacco manufacturers and importers on duty-paid tobacco products that are to be distributed in Canada. Distribution of the tobacco stamp is international. The program was awarded though a Request for Proposal (RFP) to a single Contractor for a period set to expire on March 31, 2018. The stamp is an integral component of the Tobacco Stamping Program supporting the administration and enforcement of the Excise Act, 2001.

For additional information on the current tobacco stamp program please refer to:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/em/edn32/edn32-e.html

The purpose of this RFI is to:

• Gather information on industry best practices relating to security features, stamp design, stamp feeder systems and secure transportation.
• Solicit feedback on the effectiveness of the current tobacco stamp program.
• Solicit feedback on vendor qualifications.

Disclaimer

Responding to this Request for Information (RFI) is not a prerequisite to receiving or being eligible to bid on any Request for Proposal (RFP). Any RFP will be advertised on the Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS) commonly referred to as Buy and Sell (https://buyandsell.gc.ca/).

This RFI is not to be construed as a solicitation for tenders or proposals. No contract or other form of commitment will be entered into based on responses to this RFI. This RFI is not considered as authorization by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to undertake any work that would result in costs to CRA.

Nothing in this RFI shall be construed as a commitment from CRA to issue an RFP for this program. CRA may use non-proprietary information provided in its review and/or in the preparation of any formal RFP. All responses will be held by CRA on a confidential basis (subject to applicable federal legislation) and remain the property of CRA once they have been received. CRA may reproduce or photocopy or transcribe the response and any non-proprietary supporting documentation for the purpose of its review and/or inclusion in any resulting RFP document. Contractors responding to this RFI may be invited to a meeting to further clarify their responses to questions provided herein.

CRA shall not be bound by anything stated herein. CRA reserves the right to change, at any time, any or all parts of the requirements, as it deems necessary. CRA also reserves the right to revise its procurement approach, as it considers appropriate, either based upon information submitted in response to this RFI or for any other reason it deems appropriate.

Responses to this RFI will not be used to pre-qualify or otherwise restrict participation in any future procurement process (e.g. an RFP). Responses will not be formally evaluated.
CRA will not reimburse any expenditure incurred in preparing responses and participating in the presentation sessions related to this RFI.

RESPONSES

The vendor must provide a contact name, email address and telephone number when submitting their response.
Respondents are requested to submit responses by email to Tara Sprigings-Ramsey at tara.sprigings-ramsey@cra-arc.gc.ca by April 19, 2016, 2 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

While electronic submissions are preferred, respondents may also submit a hard copy of their response to the following address.

Canada Revenue Agency

Bid Receiving Unit

Ottawa Technology Centre

Receiving Dock

875 Heron Road, Room D-95

Ottawa, ON K1A 1A2

Telephone No: (613) 941-1618

The Bid Receiving Unit of CRA is open Monday to Friday inclusive, between the hours of 0730 and 1530, excluding those days that the federal government observes as a holiday.

ENQUIRIES

All enquiries regarding this RFI must be submitted via email to tara.sprigings-ramsey@cra-arc.gc.ca.