Social Media Analytics Tool and Services

Notice of Proposed Procurement (NPP)

Social Media Analytics Tool and Services

The information contained in this notice is a brief description of the requirement and is for information purposes only. Bidders must refer to the complete Request for Proposal (RFP) document for a full description of the requirement and the full bid instructions.

1. Elections Canada File No: ECGZ-RFP-17-0692
2. Applicability of Trade Agreements: Yes
3. Tendering Procedure: Open Competitive (Buy & Sell.gc.ca)
4. Tendering Procedure: Attachment: Yes (Buy & Sell.gc.ca)
5. Competitive Procurement Strategy: Highest Combined Rating Technical & Merit
6. Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No

Background

The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (“CEOC”), an agent of Parliament, exercises general direction and supervision over the conduct of elections and referendums at the federal level. The CEOC heads the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer which is commonly known as Elections Canada.

Requirement

The prevalence of social media use among Canadians and the degree to which it permeates their lives makes social media listening and open source research a crucial element for real-time situational awareness of the electoral environment and identification of possible issues that can affect the electoral process. Social media and other open source information have become important sources that support EC in administering elections in accordance with the CEA while respecting the broadest principles of electoral integrity and democracy.

In order for EC to maintain awareness of the electoral environment and achieve its mandate, EC is seeking to procure a social media and open source data listening and analytics tool. It is also seeking to obtain the services of a Social Media Analyst and a Social Media Trainer that will enable EC to develop and implement its social media listening, analysis and reporting strategy as well as information-sharing among staff, teams and external stakeholders, as appropriate. Basically, the social media listening and analytics tool will let EC:

1. listen in real-time to the electoral environment on social media and other open sources using specific handles, accounts, hashtags and keywords to maintain situational awareness; as well as and detect, assess and track trends and geo-located potential electoral anomalies or incidents as they unfold;
2. gather, synthesize and extract all necessary social media information relating to EC’s programs, including their metadata in order to report to senior management in a structured and timely manner. Doing so will help establish EC’s situational awareness, better inform operational and strategic decisions, and better prepare and respond to possible incidents affecting elections; it will also provide EC with the ability to draw inferences on the data that the tool provides;
3. analyze and filter social media and open source information based on key messages or issues, events, individuals or organizations, or locations;
4. monitor EMB accounts during Electoral Periods to understand electoral integrity risks and issues experienced by EMBs so as to determine what kind of integrity risks and challenges EC could encounter during an Electoral Event; and learn best practices and methods other EMBs use to prevent, detect, manage and respond to the public or electoral issues;
5. identify in real-time key influencers surrounding issues and prioritize inbound messages;
6. participate in the improvement of digital communication strategies with better feedback on EC’s communication tools;
7. evaluate and measure the performance of EC’s social media accounts and posts using indicators and metrics such as reach, engagement, audience, detailed follower information, as well as traffic directed to EC and related websites.

Period of the Contract

The Contract period is from the Effective Date of the Contract until XX, 2019 (one year period).

The bidder grants to Elections Canada the irrevocable option to extend the period of the Contract by three (3) additional period(s) of one (1) year each under the same terms and conditions.

International Trade Agreements

This procurement process is subject to the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement, and the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)].

Submission of Offers

It is requested that offers be addressed to the attention of the Contracting Authority and delivered to the Proposal Receiving Unit. Offers must be delivered to the following address, sealed, on or before the bid closing date indicated on the front page of the RFP at 2:00 p.m. (Gatineau, Quebec time).

Mailing Address:

Elections Canada

30 Victoria Street -1st Floor (Business Centre)

Gatineau, QC

K1A 0M6

Attn: Galina Zhukov, Senior Advisor, Procurement and Contracting Services

Elections Canada File No: ECGZ-RFP-17-0692

For sending packages by courier or for dropping off, please note that the Business Centre hours are Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Gatineau, Quebec time).

Bids sent via electronic mail or facsimile will not be accepted.

All enquiries and other communication with Elections Canada officials are to be directed ONLY to the Contracting Authority. The Contracting Authority will be the bidder’s primary contact. All requests for information must be directed to this contact. Bidders who contact anyone other than the Contracting Authority may be disqualified. All enquiries must be submitted in writing to Proposition-Proposal@elections.ca no later than the deadline indicated in the RFP. Enquiries received after that time may not be answered.

Interested parties wishing to obtain the solicitation documents for this RFP must do so through https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tenders. The documents downloaded through this site take precedence over any copies that may also be made available.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.

Elections Canada retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Further information about Elections Canada may be obtained at www.elections.ca.

Debriefings

Once the successful bidder has been announced, bidders may request a debriefing on the results of the RFP process. Bidders should make the request to the Contracting Authority as per the terms of the RFP. The debriefing may be in writing, by telephone or in person.