Services with the Organic Federation of Canada to co-ordinate the Organic Agriculture Standards Interpretation Committee

The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the government's intention to award a contract for these services to the Organic Federation of Canada (OFC), 12-4475, Grand Blvd., Montreal, Quebec H4B 2X7.

Minimum Essential Requirements:

• The service provider must represent the entire value-chain, (including input suppliers, producers, processors, food service industries, retailers, traders and associations) and all provinces and territories of the organic industry in Canada.

• The service provider must provide for a transparent and democratic process for electing members of the expert advisory committee.

• The service provider must provide for a transparent and democratic process for consulting and communicating the final responses.

• The service provider must have the expertise and resources to develop proposed answers to question coming from organic stakeholders in both official languages.

Elected committee members must:

• Have been on the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) Committee on Organic Agriculture; or
• Have experience in the standard development process or standards drafting as well as technical expertise in at least one aspect of organic production such as crop production; livestock production; processing (food manufacturing); or
• Have significant (at least 4 years) experience in the interpretation, implementation and/or compliance verification of the Canadian Organic Agriculture Standards such as crop producers; livestock producers; processors (food manufacturers); importers, distributors and retailers; Certification Bodies; CB Verification Officers (VO).