Strategic Communication Services RFI

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
Tendering Procedures: 
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 
Strategic Communication Services

EN578-160082/A
Andruchow(CX Div.), Cassandra
Telephone No. - (613) 993-7846 
Fax No. - (613) 991-5870


REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR
THE REQUEST FOR SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT (RFSA) FOR
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION SERVICES
FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

Responses must be submitted by 2:00pm Eastern Daylight Savings
Time on July 14, 2015

INTRODUCTION

This procurement is being conducted under the Smart Procurement
approach and seeks to engage
industry early in the process to better understand both needs
and available solutions prior to the
finalization of requirements. This RFI is to initiate engagement
with industry and seek interest from potential suppliers in
participating in an information session. The content of this RFI
is intended to provide industry with initial context and details
pertaining to PWGSC's next procurement vehicle for the provision
of Strategic Communications Services. PWGSC intends to engage
with industry at large and potential users of the solution
separately.

The purpose of the Information Session is to present Industry
representatives with information about the proposed procurement
approach for Strategic Communication Services, an overview of
the current requirements, and its future objectives for the
consultative engagement process. The Information Session is
intended to be an open forum allowing PWGSC to communicate, with
interested suppliers, its requirements at a high level, and for
Industry to ask questions and seek information in order to gain
a sound understanding of the proposed procurement approach. 

Suppliers interested in participating in the information session
are asked to provide the names, e-mail addresses and phone
numbers of all proposed attendees with their RFI submission. It
is anticipated that a working group meeting will be held in
Ottawa, Ontario in July 2015.  

Suppliers are advised that the principles of the Procurement
Strategy for Communications Services apply to this procurement
process.

1. NATURE OF REQUEST FOR INDUSTRY COMMENTS
This is not a bid solicitation. This RFI will not result in the
award of any contract, therefore, potential suppliers of any
goods or services described in the attached project outline
should not earmark stock or facilities, nor allocate resources,
as a result of any information contained in this RFI. Nor will
this RFI result in the creation of any source list, therefore,
whether or not any potential supplier responds to this RFI will
not preclude that supplier from participating in any future
procurement. Also, the procurement of any of the goods and
services described in this RFI will not necessarily follow this
RFI. This RFI is simply intended to solicit feedback from
industry with respect to the matters described in this RFI.



2. NATURE AND FORMAT OF RESPONSES REQUESTED

Respondents are requested to provide their comments, concerns
and, where applicable, recommendations on how the requirements
or objectives described in the project outline could be
satisfied. Respondents should explain any assumptions they make
in their responses.

3. RESPONSE COSTS

Canada will not reimburse any respondent for expenses incurred
in responding to this RFI.

4. TREATMENT OF RESPONSES:
i.	Use of Responses:  Responses will not be formally evaluated.
However, the responses received may be used by Canada to 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.

ii.	Review Team:  A review team composed of representatives from
PWGSC will review the responses on behalf of Canada. Canada
reserves the right to hire any independent consultant, or use
any Government resources, which it deems necessary to review any
response. Not all members of the review team will necessarily
review all responses.

iii.	Confidentiality:  Respondents should mark any portions of
their response that they consider proprietary or confidential.
Canada will treat those portions of the responses as
confidential to the extent permitted by the Access to
Information Act.

iv.	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.

5. CONTENT OF THIS RFI

This RFI contains specific questions directed to potential
suppliers and a draft version of the Request for Supply
Arrangements (RFSA) for industry comments. This document remains
a work in progress and 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. Comments regarding any aspect of the
proposed procurement are welcome.

5.1 Significant changes from the previous Strategic
Communications Services RFSA are:

1) The addition of the option to purchase turnkey communications
products through the RFSA as specified in the Annex A Statement
of Work;
2) The supplier selection process for Request for Proposals
(RFPs) under the RFSA; and
3) The identified user, as specified in 1.2 Summary in the RFSA,
will be responsible for the bid solicitation process and the
award of contracts. 

6. ENQUIRIES

Because this is not a bid solicitation, Canada will not
necessarily respond to enquiries in writing or by circulating
answers to all potential suppliers. However, respondents with
questions regarding this RFI may direct their enquiries to:

Cassandra Andruchow at (613) 993-7846 or by email at:
cassandra.andruchow@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

7. SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES

i.	Time and Place for Submission of Responses:  Suppliers
interested in providing a response should deliver it directly to
the Contracting Authority by the time and date indicated on page
1 of this solicitation document. The preferred method of
response is by e-mail at: 
cassandra.andruchow@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

ii.	Responsibility for Timely Delivery: Timely delivery and
correct direction of responses is the sole responsibility of the
respondent. PWGSC will not assume or have transferred to it
those responsibilities.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the
Contracting Officer named above.

8. SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:

1.	Is the Statement of Work clear? Is it missing information?
Could anything be added?
2.	In your opinion, are the Evaluation Criteria sufficiently
clear? Are there any requirements and/or items that are unclear
or that would unduly limit a qualified vendor's ability to
submit a response?
3. 	In your opinion, should the Evaluation Criteria and Basis of
Payment to be used in RFPs under the Supply Arrangement be
firmly or optionally prescribed for clients, if at all? If so,
what evaluation criteria should be included?
4.	Are there major risks of which the Procurement Project team
should be aware?
5.	Is the approach for the selection of suppliers under the
Supply Arrangements appropriate?  If not, why not? Do you favour
a solicitation approach that invites all qualified suppliers to
bid on each requirement under the resulting Supply Arrangements?
6.	Are there any requirements and/or items that would unduly
limit a qualified vendor's ability to submit a response?

9. QUESTIONS RELATING TO GREEN PROCUREMENT:

Suppliers are requested to provide comments on the following:

1.	Can surplus assets be used for any portion of the work? Is it
feasible to require in the RFSA that Suppliers provide a listing
of environmental attributes offered within their goods/services
proposed, which will form part of any resulting Supply
Arrangement?
2.	When will carbon assessments for Strategic Communications
companies be feasible?
3.	Which renewable fuels / energy sources for use in travel are
currently being employed?
4.	What is the feasibility of imposing the environmental
criteria outlined in the RFSA on subcontractors?


10: REQUEST FOR SUPPLY ARRANGEMENTS:

Please see the attached RFSA documents. 

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.