External Contracting for Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF)

Advances Contract Award Notice

Employment and Skills Development Canada (ESDC) requires consulting and costing expertise in the field of capital construction and accessible design to undertake the evaluation of project proposals submitted under the Mid-size component of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) and an assessment of a select group of accessibility items traditionally funded under the EAF small projects component to create a flexible and scalable model that would assign flat rates for those items.

The purpose of the ACAN is to signal the Government of Canada’s intent to award a contract to:

f-BLOK Architecture

217-1460 Chevrier BLVD

Winnipeg, MB R3T 1Y6

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 the ACAN by submitting a statement of capabilities during the twenty (20) calendar days posting period.

If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during the twenty (20) calendar days posting period that meet the requirements set out in the CAN, the GC will proceed to a full-tendering process on 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 preselected supplier.

Background

ESDC is responsible for administering the EAF program, a $22.7M per year federal grants and contributions program that focuses on accessibility of the built environment for persons with disabilities in Canadian communities and workplaces. The EAF supports community-based projects that aim to improve accessibility and safety for persons with disabilities by removing barriers in Canadian communities and workplaces through construction, renovation and retrofit projects. Since the program’s inception in 2007, the EAF has funded over 4,000 projects across Canada.

Since 2007, the program has launched periodic call for proposals (CFP) for the following three funding streams:

• The small projects component provides grant funding, up to $100,000.00 per project, to support small-scale construction, renovation or retrofit projects that increase accessibility in communities or workplaces. Examples of types of projects are: installing screen reader devices and hearing induction loop systems, building accessible pathways and ramps, creating a controlled multisensory environment (Snoezelen room), and constructing a universally designed office.
• The mid-sized projects component provides contributions of up to $3 million to support larger retrofit, renovation or construction projects of facilities or venues that house or will house programs and services geared towards addressing the social and/or labour market integration needs of people with disabilities in a holistic manner. Eligible projects may include the creation or expansion of existing centres or hubs, which offer centralized programming and services for persons with disabilities in their communities.

• The youth innovation component empowers youth to identify accessibility barriers within their communities and work with local organizations to develop solutions to increase accessibility and safety in community spaces and workplaces. Funding of up to $10,000.00 is available to support capital costs of eligible projects, which may include initiatives like installing automatic door openers, constructing raised garden beds in a community garden, or acquiring specialized wheelchairs to access sandy beaches.

Requirement Definition

An external contractor with expertise in construction and accessible design is needed for the external evaluation of mid-size accessibility project proposals as well as continued work developing flat rate costing for frequently requested project activities. This expertise is needed to ensure good value for money for the Government of Canada, as well as efficient and effective project design for persons with disabilities.

The Contractor will be required to:

• Conduct information gathering and analysis to conduct evaluations and develop recommendations
  • The contractor will review project information from EAF and provide recommendations and evaluations.
  • The external evaluator will provide ESDC with their evaluations using the assessment tool provided by ESDC, where necessary.
  • The external contractor will develop proposed strategies/methodologies for flat rate costing of commonly funded project activities, such as but not limited to, elevators, lifts, accessible playgrounds, multisensory rooms, accessible paths and parking etc.
    • Identify and develop controls for variables that can affect costs across Canada.
  • Ensure specifications and components conform to the National Building Code and Canadian Standard Association’s “Accessible Design for the Built Environment” (B651-12 (R2018) and/ or other appropriate building codes and/or accessibility legislation and standards in effect in the jurisdictions were projects activities would be undertaken.
  • The contractor will be required to assess feasibility, cost accuracy, evaluate proposed timelines, as well as to identify areas of projects that may require adjustments or improvements.
  • The contractor must have the capacity to assess and review projects in both official languages.
  • Attend, in person or via teleconference, meetings with ESDC as necessary.
• Develop tools
  • Develop tools to determine flat rate costing for commonly funded project activities.
  • Deliver tools that are both user friendly and accurate.
  • Provide user manuals for all tools developed.
  • Provide updates to tools, as required.
  • Ensure specifications and components conform to the most recent National Building Codes and Canadian Standard Association’s “Accessible Design for the Built Environment” (B651-12 (R2018) and/ or other appropriate building codes and/or accessibility legislation and standards in effect in the jurisdictions were projects activities would be undertaken.

Justification for the Pre-Selected Supplier

ESDC has determined that f-BLOK is the only known supplier that is capable of successfully performing the work. This is supported by a previous open RFI process for the same services in August 2018 where there were no other bidders. As well, f-BLOK was contracted under a previous ACAN for the development of Phase 1 of flat rate costing.

Applicability of the trade agreement (s) to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement:

Canadian Free Trade Agreement

Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement

Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement

Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement

Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement

Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement

World Trade Organization – Government Procurement Agreement

Canada-United-States-Mexico Agreement

Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons:

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the:

• Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) – Article 514, section 1 (b) (ii)
• World Trade Organization – Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) – Article XV, section 1 (b)
• Canada-United-States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) – Article 13.9, section 2 (b)
• Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – Article 19.2, section 1 (b) (ii)

Set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business

This procurement is not subject to any set-asides for Aboriginal Suppliers.

Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement (s)

This procurement is not subject to a Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement.

Contract Period

Phase 2 of flat rate costing (tentatively October 2020 - January 2021): may focus on exterior accessibility projects such as paths, playgrounds and parking, as well as elevators and lifts.

Phase 3 of flat rate costing (tentatively February 2021 - May 2021): may focus on technology and sensory items for which flat rate costing is scalable such as hearing loops, visual fire alarms, adapted workstations, standardized multi-sensory rooms and screen-readers.

Evaluation of approximately 25 Mid-size project proposals (tentatively January 2022). The exact number of proposals is to be determined.

As well as maintenance of current flat rate models over the next two years to ensure costing is up to date and reflects current costing.

Estimated Contract Value

The estimated total value of the Contract is $176,000.00, applicable taxes extra.

Intellectual Property

ESDC will own the Intellectual Property.

Submission of 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 Contracting Authority 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.

Minimum Essential Requirements

The bidder must demonstrate that they have the experienced and qualified resources to undertake the specified work including the following:

1. The bidder must demonstrate, using concrete examples, their working knowledge of local material and labour costing related to construction including practical working knowledge of the National Building Code, and regional building codes.
2. The bidder must demonstrate their expertise in accessible products and solutions, including Inclusive Design.
3. The bidder must be a member, in good standing, and remain in good standing for the duration of the contract, of the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.
4. The bidder must be Gold Seal Certified (Estimating), by the Canadian Construction Association.
5. The bidder must demonstrate a minimum of 5 years of experience in the field of construction cost consulting and project feasibility field within the last 10 years.
6. The bidder must demonstrate, using concrete examples, that it has knowledge and experience with the application of the Canadian Standard Association’s “Accessible Design for the Built Environment” B651-12 (R2018).
7. The bidder must be able to assess the projects which may be presented in either Official language.

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities are:

Monday, September 21, 2020, at 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed via email to:

Camille Wanjohi

NC-SOLICITATIONS-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca