Streaming Services and Technical Support for the Athena Broadcast System

REQUIREMENT

Statistics Canada is seeking the services of a contractor to provide subject matter expertise in the development of video and audio channeling of Floor, French, and English channels that includes video and audio signals from interpreters, gestural interpretation, and a mix of add ins such as presentations photos, video, and lower thirds. The distribution of these unified and mixed signals will be accomplished through contractor’s distribution system in real time as defined under the Annex A: Statement of Work.

The objective of this project is to:

• evaluate the Athena Broadcast System (ABS) and its components for use on the contractor’s network.

• Install and maintain a NUC or similar component to remotely access all ABS components.

• Recommend any required updates to StatCan equipment and work with the StatCan technicians to certify the system for operational use on the contractor’s network.

Language

Statistics Canada provides procurement services to the public in their official languages.

CONDITIONS OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

There shall be no direct payment by Statistics Canada for costs incurred for the presentation and submission of proposals in response to this RFP.

ESTIMATED CONTRACT PERIOD

The initial contract would be for one (1) year from contract award to March 31, 2023 with three (3) additional one (1) year option periods.

OPTION TO EXTEND CONTRACT

The Contractor grants to Canada the irrevocable option to extend the term of the Contract by up to three (3) additional one (1) year periods under the same conditions. The Contractor agrees that, during the extended period of the Contract, it will be paid in accordance with the applicable provisions as set out in the Basis of Payment.

Canada may exercise this option at any time by sending a written notice to the Contractor at any time before the expiry date of the Contract. The option may only be exercised by the Contracting Authority, and will be evidenced for administrative purposes only, through a contract amendment.

SOLICITATION/BID CLOSING DATE AND SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Bids must only be submitted electronically to the following email address:

MACS BIDS

statcan.macs-bids-smc-soumissions.statcan@canada.ca

The deadline for submissions of bids in response to this RFP is February 15, 2022 @ 2:00pm EST. As per Treasury Board Contracting Policy the onus is on the Bidder to ensure bids reach the proposed destination before the bid closing date and time.

StatCan will not assume responsibility for proposals directed to any other location. Proposals not received in the Bid Receiving Unit by the closing time, will be returned to the Bidder unopened.

ENQUIRIES

All enquiries must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Authority no later than five (5) calendar days before the bid closing date. Enquiries received after that time may not be answered.

Bidders should reference as accurately as possible the numbered item of the bid solicitation to which the enquiry relates. Care should be taken by Bidders 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 the Bidder do so, so that the proprietary nature of the question(s) is eliminated and the enquiry can be answered to all Bidders. Enquiries not submitted in a form that can be distributed to all Bidders may not be answered by Canada.

SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

There is no security requirement applicable to this Contract.

Debriefings

Bidders may request a debriefing on the results of the bid solicitation process. Bidders should make the request to the Contracting Authority within 15 working days from receipt of the results of the bid solicitation process. The debriefing may be in writing, by telephone or in person.