Communication Strategies

Trade Agreement: LCSA/AIT
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited to bid
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
ACNielsen Company of Canada
160 McNabb Street
Markham Ontario
Canada
L3R4B8
Nature of Requirements: 

Communication Strategies

H4047-163371/A
Advanced Contract Award Notice 

Health Canada - Food Label Collection, Digital Imaging, Coding, Recording of Data for Assessment of  Food Industry in comparison of  Neilsen’s Market Sales Data in relation to Sodium Reduction  Program.

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that PWGSC intends to award a contract for goods and services to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interst in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabiulities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier. 

Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s) 

The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work” and 1016.2 (d) Propietary Information.
AIT -
12. Where only one supplier is able to meet the requirements of a procurement, an entity may use procurement procedures that are different from those described in paragraphs 1 through 10 in the following circumstances: 
a.   to ensure compatibility with existing products, to recognize exclusive rights, such as exclusive licences, copyright and patent rights, or to maintain specialized products that must be maintained by the manufacturer or its representative;
b.  where there is an absence of competition for technical reasons and the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no alternative or substitute exists; (CAP code 71)


The period of contract is proposed for 10 months

 The closing date for and time for accepting statement of capabilities is January 4, 2017 @ 2 p.m Ottawa time 

December 13, 2016
 
PART 1 - GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 Security Requirements

This Advanced Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is not-classified in accordance with the Security Requirements Check List.  Attention is therefore directed to the provisions entitled "Security and Protection of Work" in the General Conditions forming part of this invitation to tender.

For additional information on security requirements, Bidders should refer to the Industrial Security Program (ISP) of Public Works and Government Services Canada (http://ssi-iss.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/index-eng.html) website.

1.2 Statement of Work 

Health Canada requires food label information for between 10,000 and 12,500 specific Canadian food product items and related sales data to support a full assessment of industry’s progress in reducing sodium levels in approximately 94 food categories. In Canada, Nielsen has unique retail sales and volume data that will provide Health Canada with the insights on trends in food availability and purchase and consumer food choice decisions. 

Objectives of the Requirement

Fulfillment of this requirement will provide data which will enable Health Canada to monitor sodium levels and other components such as trans-fat of processed foods available in the Canadian market and assess the effectiveness of voluntary approaches used to decrease those components from the Canadian food supply.  

2. REQUIREMENTS

2.1. Tasks 
Health Canada requires label information, including nutritional data, from food products sold on the Canadian market combined, as needed, in reference with the Nielsen volume sales data for each collected foodproduct. The information is required for Health Canada no later than August 11, 2017. 

a. Review all items in an initial sampling list provided by Health Canada leveraging their proprietary store level information. 
b. Identify items which are no longer being sold in Canada and identify the replacement items.
c. Provide the department with a listing of all “new” items launched on the Canadian market by category, according to the initial sampling list.
d. Include the tonnage sale for each new itemsince January 2016 and provide the date the item was launched in the market.
e. Identify stores across Canada where the specific products from Health Canada’s list have recently been sold.
f. Create regional lists for purchasing products and initiate collecting products no later than 2 weeks from receipt of the revised list provided by Health Canada. 
g. Purchase products. 
h. Photograph all sides of each package with labelling information ensuring product information is captured and legible in allimages. 
i. Code the information from the food product labels. 
j. Ensure each field from the food label found in Appendix is filled in if corresponding information is found on the food label. 
k. Ensure priority data entry and delivery should it be necessary.
l. Ensure each image file name is properly linked to the corresponding data entry.
m. Ensure there are quality control procedures in place to ensure accuracy of photography and data coding.
n. Ensure the quality and accuracy of the data entry of food label information.
o. Store or maintain the food products in a manner to avoid spoilage prior to photography and data entry.
p. Once all data is entered, photographs taken and both are verified for quality and accuracy and corrections made as necessary, donate all shelf stable/non-perishable purchased items for the project to local Food Banks.


3.  Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s)
"This procurement is not subject to the following Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s)

4. This is not a Set-aside under the Federal Government Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB)

5.  Trade Agreements

"The requirement is not subject to the provisions of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and is subject to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)."

6.  Canadian Content Certification

SACC Manual clause A3050T  Canadian Content Definition,

Canadian service: A service provided by an individual based in Canada is considered a Canadian service. Where a requirement consists of only one service, which is being provided by more than one individual, the service will be considered Canadian if a minimum of 80 percent of the total bid price for the service is provided by individuals based in Canada.

7.  Enquiries 

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

Enquiries should reference as accurately as possible the numbered item of the ACAN to which the enquiry relates. Care should be taken 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) so that the proprietary nature ofthe question(s) is eliminated.

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: 
Marie Lavitt
Supply Manager, Acquisitions Branch
Public Services and Procurement Canada (Public Works and Government Services Canada)
Communication Procurement Directorate 360 rue Albert Street, Constitution Square, 12th Floor Ottawa, Ont, K1A0S5
marie.lavitt@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca / Tel:  613-990-6842










Delivery Date: 06/01/2017

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 officer identified above.

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.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a statement of capabilities in writing 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 PWGSC file number, the contracting officer's name and the closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile transmission, on the covering page.

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.