ACAN – Survey the Current Level of Knowledge of the Role of Beneficial Insects in Managing Crop Pests in Alberta.

ACAN – Survey the Current Level of Knowledge of the Role of Beneficial Insects in Managing Crop Pests in Alberta.

This Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada intends to award a service contract to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a Statement of Capabilities. If no supplier submits, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in this ACAN, the Contracting Officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

REQUIREMENTS:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will be contracting services from Stratus Ag Research to conduct a survey of the current level of knowledge of the role of beneficial insects in managing crop pests in Alberta. There is a lot of variation in the use of beneficial insects as part of an overall pest management strategy for Alberta field crops, driven partly by lack of knowledge of the helpful role of these insects. AAFC would like to conduct this survey to establish baseline levels of knowledge of particular beneficial insects, as well as particular pests, as well as beneficial-pest dyads to see if farmers know that there are some pests in their operations that have specific beneficial insect predators.

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:

• have a representative sample of contacts for farmers in Alberta who are available to participate in this survey
• have the ability to create a survey to collect information from farmers about their current level of knowledge of the role of beneficial insects in managing crop pests.
• have the ability to provide the research team with cleaned farmer level data on their farm characteristics as well as their knowledge of beneficial insects for use in further scientific analysis.

CONTRACT PERIOD:

From date of Contract Award to March 31, 2022

ESTIMATED VALUE:$46,305.00 (taxes included)

PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER :

Stratus Ag Research

47 Brindle Path

Pushlinch, Ontario

N0B 2J0

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION:

AAFC requires an agricultural survey firm that has access to contact information and a database of farmers in specific crop sectors (wheat, barley and canola) for a representative sample within Alberta. Stratus Ag Research is the only agriculture survey firm who is able to provide farmer contact information and create a representative sample of Alberta field crop farmers for this project. In the process of creating this contract, other firms were canvassed for their interest in this project, however none of them were able to provide the research team with farmer contact information.

ACAN NOTICE:

You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the Contracting Authority.

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, 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 Authority will proceed to a full tendering process.

STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES CLOSING DATE AND TIME:

The closing date and time for acceptance of Statement of Capabilities is September 8, 2021, at 2:00 pm CST.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services described herein, may submit a statement of capabilities by Email 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.

The Solicitation Number, Name of Contracting Authority and closing date of the ACAN must appear within your Statement of Capabilities.

CONTRACTING AUTHORITY:

Colby Collinge

Manager, Western Service Centre

300 – 2010 12^th Avenue

Regina, Sask. S4P 0M3

Colby.collinge@agr.gc.ca