Benthic Invertebrate and sediments analysis RFSO

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT:

DFO is seeking a lab to to obtain accurate and precise taxonomic identification of marine benthic invertebrates from a variety of sample types. Identification to the lowest taxonomic level (ideally species) is required to obtain information on species abundance and community composition. Work may include developing a specimen reference collection. The contract also may include analysis of species biomass and/or of sediment associated with sites where benthic invertebrates were collected. These services are required on request only, as and when needed.

One (1) Standing Offer will be issued for this requirement.

DURATION OF CONTRACT

Standing Offer Period will be from date of issuance until March 31, 2023 with one (1) three (3) year optional period that may be exercised by DFO.

ENQUIRIES – BID SOLICITATION

All enquiries must be submitted in writing to the Standing Offer Authority no later than seven (7) calendar days before the Request for Standing Offers (RFSO) closing date. Enquiries received after that time may not be answered.

Offerors should reference as accurately as possible the numbered item of the RFSO to which the enquiry relates. Care should be taken by Offerors to explain each question in sufficient detail in order to enable Canada to provide an accurate answer. Technical enquiries that are of a proprietary nature must be clearly marked "proprietary" at each relevant item. Items identified as "proprietary" will be treated as such except where Canada determines that the enquiry is not of a proprietary nature. Canada may edit the question(s) or may request that Offerors do so, so that the proprietary nature of the question(s) is eliminated, and the enquiry can be answered to all Offerors. Enquiries not submitted in a form that can be distributed to all Offerors may not be answered by Canada.

PROCESS AND SELECTION METHODOLOGY

Basis of Selection

Basis of Selection – Highest Combined Rating of Technical Merit [70%] and Price [30%]

1. To be declared responsive, a bid must:
   1. comply with all the requirements of the bid solicitation; and
   2. meet all mandatory criteria; and
   3. obtain the required minimum of 91 points overall for the technical evaluation criteria which are subject to point rating and obtain the minimum number of points for specific criteria listed.

      The rating is performed on a scale of 140 points.

2. Bids not meeting (a) or (b) or (c) will be declared non-responsive.
3. The selection will be based on the highest responsive combined rating of technical merit and price. The ratio will be 70% for the technical merit and 30% for the price.
4. To establish the technical merit score, the overall technical score for each responsive bid will be determined as follows: total number of points obtained / maximum number of points available multiplied by the ratio of 70%.
5. To establish the pricing score, each responsive bid will be prorated against the lowest evaluated price and the ratio of 30%.
6. For each responsive bid, the technical merit score and the pricing score will be added to determine its combined rating.
7. Neither the responsive bid obtaining the highest technical score nor the one with the lowest evaluated price will necessarily be accepted. The responsive bid with the highest combined rating of technical merit and price will be recommended for award of a contract.

SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

There is no security requirement associated with this bid solicitation.