Air Quality Health Index

HEALTH CANADA ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE

TITLE: Air Quality Health Index

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 1000181944

1. The Purpose and Explanation of an ACAN

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows Health Canada contracting authorities to post a notice on the Government Electronic Tendering System (GETS), for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that a good, service or construction contract will be awarded 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 contracting authority may then proceed with the award. 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.

2. Rights of Suppliers

Suppliers who believe that they are fully qualified and available to provide the services or goods described in this ACAN may submit a Statement of Capabilities clearly demonstrating how they meet the advertised requirement. This Statement of Capabilities must be provided via e-mail only to the contact person identified in Section 12 of the Notice on or before the closing date and time of the Notice. If there is a reasonable level of evidence regarding capability, the requirements will be opened to electronic or traditional bidding processes.

3. Proposed Contractor

Pelmorex Media Inc./ The Weather Network-Météomédia

2655 Bristol Circle

Oakville, ON L6H 7W1

4. Definition of Requirements or Expected Results

Health Canada has a requirement for an innovative and low cost media partnership to increase awareness and promote the Air Quality Health Index developed by Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The health messages associated with the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) need to be delivered when Canadians are looking for daily weather forecasts. Requirements include producing and delivering on various and prominent media platforms of local current AQHI readings, AQHI short term forecast, and health messages to at-risk population and general population. Initiatives must be based on existing broad networks with the influence and reach to provide extensive bilingual and national coverage and provide exceptional added value to extend and leverage the initial investment.

5. Minimum Requirements

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a Statement of Capabilities that any initiative they propose would:

• reach Canadians through prominent media platforms such as television, web, wireless, desktop and social networks - related to weather forecast
• deliver nation-wide and local weather forecast, and in both official languages
• be supported by national advertising and public relations activities at no additional cost to Health Canada

The supplier must:

• Collaborate with Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada to deliver AQHI local readings and forecast, health and weather-related content and information to consumers 24 hours a day, 365 days of a year across various media platforms (television, web, wireless, desktop, etc).
• Provide Canadians with information to plan their daily outside activities.
• Generate a sustainable campaign over a multiple-year of collaboration.

6. Reason for Non-competitive Award

Section 6 of the Government Contracts Regulations contains four exceptions that permit the contracting authority to set aside the requirement to solicit bids. For the proposed procurement, the following exception applies:

(d) Only One Person or Firm is capable of performing the contract.

This exception is being invoked because Health Canada believes that Pelmorex/The Weather Network-Météomédia is the only organization that can offer the unique service of promoting the Air Quality Health Index to general population and to at-risk population with health and environment messaging in appropriate formats on various types of media platforms available and accessible to Canadians. Additionally, The Weather Network will use its own resources (in an amount equal to or greater than Health Canada’s development budget) to promote, educate and draw attention to the Index. The messages will influence and leverage the widest possible exposure for the messaging in all corners of the country, in both official languages.

7. Applicable Trade Agreements and Justification for Limited Tendering or the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business

This contract is for the provision of a health service and a data distribution service, and therefore is not subject to either the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-GPA). It is, however, subject to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT). This requirement is subject to limited tendering procedures in accordance with:

• AIT, Article 506.12 (b).

which allows for contracts to be directed to a particular firm when the products or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists.

8. Ownership of Intellectual Property

Copyright for this project shall vest with the Crown as permitted by the Treasury Board Policy on Title to Intellectual Property Arising Under Crown Procurement Contracts, when the intent of the deliverable is to generate knowledge and information for public dissemination.

9. Period of the Proposed Contract

The contract period shall be from date of contract award until March 31, 2018 with the option to extend by two additional years until March 31, 2020.

10. Estimated Value of the Proposed Contract

The total estimated value of the proposed contract is a maximum of $600,000 inclusive of all option periods, and all applicable taxes.

11. Closing Date and Time

The closing date and time for accepting Statements of Capabilities is the 7^th of June 2016, 2 p.m. EDT.

12. Contact Person

All inquiries with regard to this Notice must be addressed by e-mail to:

Name: Robert Merrick

E-Mail: Robert.Merrick@hc-sc.gc.ca