PRINTING SERVICES

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
Tendering Procedures: The bidder must supply Canadian goods
and/or services
Attachment: None
Competitive Procurement Strategy: Best Overall  Proposal
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
REQUEST FOR SUPPLY ARRANGEMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL PRINTING

1.  NATURE OF REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

This is a Request for Information (RFI) and not a bid
solicitation.  No Contract or Supply Arrangement will be issued
as a result of this RFI; however, this RFI includes a Request
for Industry Comments at Addendum A and the draft Request For
Supply Arrangement (RFSA)* at Addendum B.  The written comments
received by Canada will not be specifically shared or referred
to in the final solicitation document and any comments provided
as a result of this RFI should not contain any restrictions of
use.  All written comments and questions received by Canada will
not be specifically shared or referred to in any resulting RFSA.
 Canada acknowledges that any information collected will be
utilized by Canada in an anonymous fashion.

2.  PURPOSE OF THIS RFI

This RFI is issued for the purpose of:

Alerting industry to a future procurement action for the supply
of Commercial printing, reprographics/duplicating and related
services for orders originating from federal government
departments and agencies within the National Capital Region
(NCR);
Obtaining feedback from industry concerning the requirement and
the planned procurement process;
Obtaining feedback from industry concerning environmental
considerations; and
Providing an opportunity for suppliers interested in obtaining
or upgrading their security level for the requirement.

3.  BACKGROUND

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) currently
has in place Supply Arrangement EN578-070405 that provides the
framework to permit expeditious processing of individual bid
solicitations from designated users in the National Capital
Region for the provision of Commercial printing,
reprographics/duplicating and related services.  These
solicitations result in legally binding contracts for the
printing and related services described in those bid
solicitations.

4.  REQUIREMENTS

A Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA) for the supply of
Commercial printing, reprographics/duplicating and related
services for use by various federal government departments and
agencies within the National Capital Region (NCR), on an as and
when requested basis.  Federal government departments and
agencies will be strongly encouraged to utilize these
instruments.  PWGSC may restrict the use of alternatives to
these supply arrangements in the future.
The Supply Arrangements will cover the following products:

Category 1 - Loose sheet products
Category 2 - Bound publications 
Category 3 - Specialty single sheet products
Category 4 - Other types of related printed products, binding
and reproduction of CDRoms (of publications being printed)
Category 5 - Group C ONLY - Personalization of certificates and
similar printed products
Category 6 - Reproduction of publications and other print matter
on electronic media from supplied master or hard copy documents

Supply Arrangements issued will be divided into three (3)
streams:

Group A:	Low Quantity: 

Group of supply arrangement holders to produce printing
requirements with quantities as follows:  
Category 1 - Loose sheet products as described in the Annex A
Statement of Work:  Quantities up to 60,000 individual sheets.
Category 2 - Bound publications as described in the Annex A
Statement of Work:  Quantities up to 20,000 individual bound
books.
Category 3 - Specialty single sheet products as described in the
Annex A Statement of Work:  Quantities up to 20,000 individual
pieces.
Category 4 - Other types of related printed products as
described in the Annex A Statement of Work: Quantities greater
than 500 pieces and  up to 5,000 individual pieces.
Category 6 - Reproduction of publications and other print matter
on electronic media from supplied master or hard copy documents
as described in the Annex A Statement of Work:  Quantities
greater than 500 pieces and up to 5,000 individual pieces.

Group B: 	High Quantity: 

Group of supply arrangement holders to produce printing
requirements with quantities as follows:
Category 1 - Loose sheet products as described in the Annex A
Statement of Work: Quantities greater than 60,000 individual
sheets.
Category 2 - Bound publications as described in the Annex A
Statement of Work: Quantities greater than 20,000 individual
bound books.
Category 3 - Specialty single sheet products as described in the
Annex A Statement of Work: Quantities greater than 20,000
individual pieces. 
Category 4 - Other types of related printed products as
described in the Annex A Statement of Work:Quantities greater
than 5,000 individual pieces.. 
Category 6 - Reproduction of publications and other print matter
on electronic media from supplied master or hard copy documents
as described in the Annex A Statement of Work:Quantities greater
than 5,000 individual pieces.

Group C: 	Reprographics/Duplicating: The maximum flat sheet size
for any product produced as 		a Group C requirement is 13" x
19".  
Group of supply arrangement holders to produce
reprographics/duplicating requirements with quantities as
follows:  
Category 1 - Loose sheet products as described in the Annex A
Statement of Work:  Quantities up to 10,000 individual sheets.
Category 2 - Bound publications as described in the Annex A
Statement of Work: Quantities up to 1,000 individual bound books.
Category 3 - Specialty single sheet products as described in the
Annex A Statement of Work: Quantities up to 2,500 individual
pieces.
Category 4 - Other types of related printed products as
described in the Annex A Statement of Work: Quantities up to 500
individual pieces.
Category 5 - Personalization of certificates and similar printed
products Quantities up to 10,000 individual pieces.  
Category 6 - Reproduction of publications and other print matter
on electronic media from supplied master or hard copy documents
as described in the Annex A Statement of Work: Quantities up to
500 individual pieces.

5.  NATURE AND FORMAT OF RESPONSES REQUESTED

Responses from potential suppliers to the information requested
in this RFI will assist PWGSC in formulating a procurement
strategy that meets PWGSC's business and operational
requirements. Respondents are requested to review Addendum B,
and to submit written responses to the information requested in
Addendum A. Respondents should explain any assumptions they make
in their responses.

In addition to providing responses to the information requested
in Addendum B, respondents may submit comments, concerns,
suggestions and, where applicable, alternative recommendations
regarding how the requirements or objectives described in this
RFI could be satisfied or improved upon. Respondents may also
submit comments regarding the content, format and/or
organization of Addendum A. 

Respondents should not assume that new clauses or requirements
will not be added to any bid solicitation that is ultimately
published by Canada. Nor should respondents assume that none of
the clauses or requirements will be deleted or revised.

6. TREATMENT OF RESPONSES

(a) Use of Responses: Responses will not be formally evaluated. 
However, the responses received may be used by Canada to develop
or modify procurement strategies or any draft documents
contained in this RFI.  Canada will review all responses
received by the RFI closing date. Canada may, in its discretion,
review responses received after the RFI closing date.

(b) Review Team: A review team composed of representatives from
PWGSC will review the responses. Canada reserves the right to
hire any independent consultant, or use any Government resources
that it considers necessary to review any response.  Not all
members of the review team will necessarily review all responses.

(c) Confidentiality: Respondents should mark any portions of
their response that they consider proprietary or confidential. 
Canada will handle the responses in accordance with the Access
to Information Act.

(d) Follow-up Activity: Canada may, in its discretion, contact 
any respondents to follow up with additional questions or for
clarification of any aspect of a response. 

7.  ENQUIRIES AND SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES

This is not a bid solicitation.  Accordingly,  Canada will not
respond to enquiries in writing or by circulating answers to all
potential suppliers.  Canada will not reimburse any respondent
for expenses incurred in responding to this RFI.  Potential
suppliers are not required to submit information under this RFI
to qualify for any future bid solicitations for this
requirement.  Documents may be submitted in either official
language of Canada.

All enquiries and written responses to this RFI should be
submitted to:

Rebecca Salter
PWGSC, Services and Specialized Acquisitions Management Sector
(SSAMS)
Communication Procurement Directorate
12-360 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario    KIA OS5

Telephone:	613-990-3140				Facsimile:	613-993-2581
E-mail:		rebecca.salter@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca
Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any
procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.