Expert advice and information related to Canada’s high education sector Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI)

INDUSTRY CANADA

IC 600098

ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE (ACAN)

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) 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 government's 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 Board's 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.

Contracting Officer Name:

Caroline Dupuis

Telephone Number: 343-291-2952

E-mail: caroline.dupuis@canada.ca

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE:

Expert advice and information related to Canada’s high education sector Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI)

REQUIREMENTS/RESULTS:

The Department of Innovation Science and Economic Development has a requirement to obtain immediate expert advice and information related to the current situation of Canada’s high education sector digital research infrastructure (DRI), defined as the elements required by researchers to perform data-intensive and computationally-intensive research and data management. DRI encompasses high performance computing systems, data storage systems, data management and analysis, software and middle wear, all linked together by advanced networks and by the experts that conduct and support this work.

The work will involve the following: expert advice, information gathering and analysis including panels, roundtables, surveys or stakeholder/academia consultations, international scans and qualitative research in relation to:

• A vision for Canada as a globally competitive player and collaborator in the field of DRI
• The full spectrum of DRI user needs across all academic disciplines in Canada
• Options for effective governance of the Canadian DRI ecosystem.

In particular, the contractor, the Canadian University Council of Chief Information Officers (CUCCIO), as the contracting agent for the Leadership Council for Digital Infrastructure (LCDI), would organize and facilitate a minimum of six in-person meetings or teleconference / video conference meetings of the LCDI and one national DRI summit. They would comment on and/or contribute to government position papers and would additionally author position papers providing analysis and conveying LCDI perspectives on at least two but possibly more of the following elements of the DRI ecosystem: networking, high performance computing, storage, research data management, advanced software. They would also assist the government of Canada in seeking the views of relevant DRI stakeholders including researchers and would serve as a point of contact for the ecosystem as a whole.

All tasks and deliverables must be completed and delivered by December 1^st, 2017.

Minimum Essential Requirements

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:

• Vast knowledge* and expertise of the current DRI ecosystem in Canada and DRI-related issues, especially in the context of Canadian post-secondary institutions;

• Vast knowledge* of current Canadian programs, policies and funding mechanisms related to DRI, and how they are developed;

• Extensive** experience in outreach activities on public policy issues such as panels or roundtables with key stakeholders in the DRI ecosystem, including postsecondary institutions, researchers, service providers, and funders;

• Strong credibility and existing relationships with the post-secondary research community, as well as senior administration at post-secondary institutions;

• Extensive** experience in developing policy papers pertaining to DRI and post-secondary subject matter;

• Extensive** experience in working with the federal government;

• Extensive** experience in overseeing strategic policy development and communication processes;

• Ability to engage with multiple stakeholders from diverse fields such as academia, public administration and industry and to plan and facilitate successful meetings; and

• Ability to provide services in both official languages.

* Vast knowledge is defined as thorough understanding of a topic, including the perspectives of different stakeholders and associated political, economic social and technical considerations. This understanding would normally be obtained through substantial research, stakeholder outreach and first-hand experience.

**Extensive experience is defined as a minimum of 4 years of experience of which one is within the last year.

IDENTIFICATION OF CONTRACTOR

Name of Contractor: Canadian University Council of Chief Information Officers

Address: 132 Main Street

City: Fredericton

Province: New-Brunswick

Postal Code: E3A 1C7

REASON FOR AWARDING CONTRACT TO THIS CONTRACTOR

The chosen organization is currently engaged in work related to the DRI ecosystem which will ensure access to immediate and recent expertise in order to complete the work within the required timeframe. Also, the organization has demonstrated its ability to mobilize key DRI stakeholders and has shown concluding results in channeling various input towards providing expert advice on public policies. Based on this unique combination of experience, knowledge and expertise, the Leadership Council for Digital Infrastructure (LCDI), via the Canadian University Council of Chief Information Officers, is the only supplier capable of performing the work.

CONTRACT PERIOD/ESTIMATED COST

The period of the contract will be from date of contract award to December 1^st, 2017.

The value of the contract is estimated to be up to $450,000 (applicable taxes extra).

OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:

The Contractor will own the Foreground arising from the performance of the Work under the Contract. However, any material provided to Industry Canada such as, but not limited to, a report may be publicly accessible at no cost.

APPLICABLE TRADE AGREEMENTS AND APPLICABLE LIMITED TENDERING REASONS:

The following Trade Agreements area applicable to this requirement:

• the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT);
• the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
• the World Trade Organization – Agreement onGovernment Procurement (WTO-AGP)
• Canada-Chilie Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)
• Canada-Columbia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)
• Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA)
• Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement

Section 6(d) of the Government Contracts Regulations is being invoked in this procurement as only one person or firm is believed capable of performing the contract.

CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR WRITTEN SUPPLIER RESPONSES CHALLENGING THIS REQUIREMENT IS 2:00 P.M, EASTERN TIME, M/D/2003.

You are hereby notified that the government intends to solicit a bid and negotiate with the firm identified above.

If you wish to submit a written response showing that you are capable of meeting this requirement, it must be done not later than the closing date and time. As it is intended to proceed in a timely manner, responses received after the closing date will not be considered. The Crown reserves the right not to open this procurement to competition.

Responses received on or before the closing date will be considered solely for the purpose of deciding whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. Information provided will be used by the Crown for technical evaluation purposes only and is not to be construed as a competitive solicitation. Your written response must provide sufficient evidence (e.g. specifications, technical data, drawings, or any other proof) that clearly demonstrates that your product or service is capable of fulfilling this requirement.

Suppliers that have submitted a response will be notified in writing of Industry Canada's decision to continue with the non-competitive procurement or to compete the requirement.

Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting officer identified above. The Industry file number, the contracting officer's name and the closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile transmission, on the covering page.