Upper Air Observations in Maniwaki, Quebec

1. ACAN for Upper Air Observations in Maniwaki, Quebec

2. Advance Contract Award Notice:

 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 supplier. 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 officer will proceed to a full tendering process.

1. Requirement Overview

   Environment and Climate Change Canada requires a Contractor to provide Upper Air Observations for the Meteorological Services of Canada (MSC). The observations are to be taken by releasing helium-filled balloons with recording/transmitting instruments attached, two times per day, 365 days per year. The launch site, which must be provided by the Contractor, is to be situated within 20 kilometres of the junction of highways 105 and 107 in the town of Maniwaki, Quebec.

The purpose of this ACAN is to signal the Government of Canada’s (GC) intent to award a contract to Aerological Zulu. Before awarding a contract, the GC 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 during the 15-calendar-day posting period.

If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during the 15-calendar-day posting period that meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, the government will proceed to a full tendering process on either the government’s electronic tendering service or through traditional means in order to award the contract.

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 pre-selected supplier.

1. Definition of Requirement

In summary the Work includes the following:

1. 1. The Contractor must observe, record, encode and transmit aerological observations, at the times specified, as required to comply with the instructions contained in the “MANUAL OF UPPER AIR OBSERVATIONS” (MANUPP) (Attachment 1). This includes filling the balloons, inspecting and preparing the instruments, releasing the balloon, and monitoring the instrument performance.

   2. The Contractor must provide and maintain the site in accordance with the following

      1. The Contractor must provide the site and buildings required to carry out this contract. The site and buildings must be located within 20 km of downtown Maniwaki, Quebec.

      2. The Contractor must provide a clean (free of visible debris or residue), heated, secure facility with electricity and communication services (telephone and Internet) near (150 m (500 ft.) maximum) the garage where the balloons will be inflated. The facility shall be used to store the electronic and communications equipment required for the upper air soundings. The minimum dimensions required for the building are 3 m x 3.7 m (10 ft. x 12 ft.) to accommodate the equipment and tasks that will be used to perform the work. The facility must have a 120-VAC electrical current with two 15-amp circuit breakers, available for MSC use only.

      3. The Contractor must provide a building (e.g. garage, warehouse, shed) on the same site for the storage of the helium carts and the inflation of the balloons. The garage does not have to be heated. The minimum dimensions required for the garage are 4.8 m (16 ft.) wide by 6 m (20 ft.) deep and 3.6 m (12 ft.) high. The garage door must have a minimum opening of 3 m (10 ft.) wide by 3 m (10 ft.) high to accommodate an inflated weather balloon. A concrete bed that is the same level as the garage floor is required in front of the garage door for receiving cart deliveries. The garage floor must be made of concrete and able to support up to eight carts weighing 1.5 tons each.

      4. The land around the garage and facility must be flat and the area must be at least 60 m x 60 m (200 ft. x 200 ft.). The MSC will install a treated-wood platform on the land, measuring 1.2 m x 2.4 m (4 ft. x 8 ft.) and 1.2 m (4 ft.) high, where meteorological instruments and two antennas will be installed.

      5. Five cables will be routed in the ground between the platform and the facility provided by the Contractor. One of the cables will be the source of electrical power for the meteorological instruments, one will receive the meteorological instrument data signal and three will be for the antennas. The cables must be buried in the ground from the platform to the facility where the interior electronic equipment will be installed. The depth at which the cables will be buried will depend on the surrounding activities, such as heavy vehicle movement.

1. 1. 1. Clearing of the land and the surrounding area requires a flat area with limited elevation free of any nearby obstacles covering a 360-degree circle around the balloon launch site. The site must be free enough of obstacles, such as trees, high-voltage power lines, etc. to ensure the safe release of the sounding balloon and adequate reception of its radio signal, even if the probe is near the horizon. Using the horizon as a reference, the clearing of all obstructions shall be:

• 05-degree angle for the first 300 m (1,000 ft.)

• 15-degree angle from 300 m to 600 m (1,000 to 2,000 ft.

1. 1. 1. The Contractor must maintain the meteorological compound by ensuring the grass is regularly cut, watered, and generally maintained and by ensuring all sidewalks and walkways to and from the compound are kept clean of snow and ice during the winter. All doorways immediately around the balloon inflation and aerological Operations building must be kept clear of snow. All equipment required to maintain the compound and walkways is the sole responsibility of the Contractor

1. 1. 1. The Contractor is responsible for the cleanliness of the work area as well as the housekeeping maintenance. If the Contractor does not ensure regular maintenance, it will be charged the fees incurred by MSC-Quebec as a result of its negligence

   2. Personnel

      The Contractor must provide and supervise a minimum of 3 individuals (resources) including a station manager, capable of being trained as Upper Air Observers. All resources must

• have a driver’s licence,

• a minimum of secondary school graduation or equivalent and

• practical knowledge of personal computers and the Windows operating system.

Before undertaking the Work, all resources must be

• certified by MSC for Upper Air Observations

• have Workplace Hazardous MateriaIs Information System (WHMIS) and Transportation of Dangerous Goods certifications.

The Contractor must ensure that all staff comply with the MSC-defined rules of conduct.

1. Criteria for Assessment of the Statement of Capabilities

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

following requirements:

1. 1. Access to a site which meets the requirements identified in Section 2.2. The statement must describe the site and building(s) and their readiness to support the requirements. The statement should indicate whether the site is owned by the interested supplier or available to the interested supplier through a rental/lease arrangement.

The interested supplier should demonstrate that the facility is or will be ready to support the requirement no later than September 28, 2018.

1. 1. Access to resources that meet the requirements identified in Section 2.3.

1. 1. The corporate and resource experience to undertake the responsibilities identified in Section 2. The interested supplier must have experience administering similar contracts (aerology, meterology or aviation).The interested supplier must provide details of the experience of both the firm and the proposed resources that demonstrate the ability to undertake the work successfully.

1.  Applicability of the Trade Agreement(s)

The requirement is not subject to the provisions of the World Trade Organization Agreement on

Government Procurement (WTO-AGP). The requirement is exempt from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Excluded Coverage, Annex 1001.1.b-2 Services, Section B, R102 Weather Reporting/Observation services).

The Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) applies to this procurement.

1.  Name and Location of the Proposed Contractor:

Aerologie Zulu,

10 Makwa Mikan

CP 2 Succur Bureau Chef

Mainwaki PQ J9E 3B3

The selected supplier currently operates a site that meets the requirements and has resources that have the required certifications. Maniwaki is a remote area of Western Quebec, located at 46°22′30″N 75°58′0″WCoordinates: 46°22′30″N 75°58′0″W, approximately 2 hours North of Ottawa and 4 hours North-west of Montreal.

1. Period of the Contract

The proposed contract is for an initial period of two years, beginning November 1, 2018, with three one-year optional periods.

1. Cost Estimate of the Proposed Contract

The estimated value of the contract (including related travel costs) is $450,000.00 excluding applicable taxes.

1. Supplier’s Right to Submit a 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 contact person 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 

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 ECCC’s decision to continue with the non-competitive procurement or to compete for the requirement.

The Crown retains the right to negotiation with suppliers on any procurement

Documents may be submitted in either official language.

1. Closing date for a Submission of a Statement of Capabilities

The closing date for a submission of a Statement of Capabilities is September 17, 2018, at 3 p.m. Atlantic Daylight Savings Time (ADT).

1. Inquiries and Statements of Capabilities

Enquiries related to this ACAN and submission of the Statement of Capabilities may be made to

Name: Barry McKenna

 Title: Procurement and Contracting Advisor

Environment and Climate Change Canada

 Address: 200 Sacre-Coeur Blvd., Gatineau QC

 E-Mail:   barryjoseph.mckenna@canada.ca

 Tel: 819-938-9425