POR - Qualitative

Trade Agreement: Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
Tendering Procedures: The bidder must supply Canadian goods and/or services
Competitive Procurement Strategy: Best Overall  Proposal
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 

POR - Qualitative

35035-182346/A
Amaral, Paola
Telephone No. - (613) 998-8588


NATURE OF REQUIREMENT 

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf of the Privy Council Office (PCO), has a requirement to conduct an on-going qualitative public opinion research data collection to ensure up-to-date and accurate representations of Canadian opinion on various issues, notably as they relate to Government of Canada priorities.


PERIOD OF THE CONTRACT

The period of the contract will be for one (1) year with the possibility of two (2) additional one (1) year option periods. 


SOURCING

The requirement is subject to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).

The requirement is limited to Canadian services.

The Federal Contractors Program (FCP) for employment equity applies to this procurement; refer to Part 5 - Certifications and Additional Information, Part 6 - Resulting Contract Clauses and the annex titled Federal Contractors Program for Employment Equity - Certification.

This bid solicitation allows bidders to use the epost Connect service provided by Canada Post Corporation to transmit their bid electronically.  Bidders must refer to Part 2 entitled Bidder Instructions, and Part 3 entitled Bid Preparation Instructions, of the bid solicitation, for further information.

The Phased Bid Compliance Process (PBCP) applies to this requirement.


EVALUATION CRITERIA 

MANDATORY EVALUATION CRITERIA


M.1 CLIENT LIAISON

The Bidder must identify one (1) individual who they propose to act as a client liaison in English and one (1) individual to act as a client liaison in French. The Bidder must submit the language profile for each proposed individual. The individual identified for each language can be the same person. The Client Liaison does not need to be a senior researcher, but must have knowledge of POR. 


M.2  SENIOR RESEARCHER

The Bidder must identify a minimum of one (1) senior researcher who they propose to design research, conduct fieldwork, analyze results, and write reports in English and a minimum of one (1) senior researcher who they propose to design research, conduct fieldwork, analyze results, and write reports in French. This individual identified for each language can be the same person. A Curriculum Vitae (CV) for each person identified must be submitted. The CV’s will be evaluated in the rated requirements under R.3


M.3  SAMPLE PROJECTS - SENIOR RESEARCHER

To demonstrate each of the proposed Senior Researcher’s experience, the Bidder must submit two (2) qualitative POR projects for each official language for which the researcher is submitted. The same project can be submitted for both the English and the French project samples if the same proposed Senior Researcher conducted the fieldwork in both official languages. 

Each project sample submitted must meet the following criteria:

a) The senior researcher must have conducted at least two (2) group sessions (each group session involving 3 or more participants) in the language for which they are proposed;
b) The fieldwork projects must have been completed in the last three (3) years preceding the bid closing date.
c) At least one of the projects must be national* in scope

*National is defined as a project where focus groups were conducted in at least three (3) regions of Canada. The regions are: 

- British Columbia; 
- Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba); 
- Ontario; 
- Quebec;
- Atlantic (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador); and
- The Territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut).

Note: Samples submitted will be evaluated in the Point Rated Technical Evaluation R4 - Senior Researcher - Sample Projects. Please use the sample project format in R.4 to submit samples.


M.4   RECRUITMENT METHOD AND SAMPLE SOURCE
 
The recruitment method and sample source stated in the proposal under R.2 Methodology, Section II: Recruitment Procedures must adhere to the Standards for the Conduct of Government of Canada Public Opinion Research - Qualitative Research, subsection 3.2.4, paragraph 2) and paragraph 4), unless the bidder can also provide an argument which demonstrates benefits to the research by modifying or replacing them.


M.5  FINANCIAL PROPOSAL / BASIS OF PAYMENT 

The Bidder must provide a firm all-inclusive ceiling price, for the initial contract period and each of the option periods in accordance with Annex "B2" - Pricing - Qualitative Research. 


POINT RATED EVALUATION CRITERIA


R.1:  UNDERSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT:

The proposal should include a narrative summary which reflects the understanding of the Statement of Work. Simply repeating the Statement of Work, in whole or in part, does not indicate an understanding of the project’s aims and objectives or the ability to carry it out.


R.2: METHODOLOGY:

The proposal should include a complete description of the methodology and research procedures, including recruitment procedures and sample sources. The proposal should also include a proposed approach that involves strategic choices in relation to the population that can be effectively covered, the type of techniques that are practical given the geographic location, the ease/difficulty of conducting research, and the suitability of the given techniques for the target population. Proposals should include a rationale for these choices as part of the proposal, as well as address the rationale for the approach and a description of potential challenges/problems that could arise and how each will be addressed. 

Section I: Methodology and Research Procedures 

The degree to which the proposal describes a suitable methodology, including a proposed approach that involves strategic choices in relation to the population that can be effectively covered, the type of techniques that are practical given the geographic location, the ease/difficulty of conducting research, and the suitability of the given techniques for the target population.

Section II: Recruitment Procedures

The degree to which the proposal describes a suitable recruitment method(s) and sample source(s), and any techniques used to segment participants into specific demographic or attitudinal categories.

Section III: Data Collection Capability and Quality Control

The degree to which the proposal describes a suitable data collection capability and suitable quality control mechanisms that will be in place to ensure the reliability and validity of the results.

Section IV: Addressing Issues and Challenges

The degree to which the proposal describes a suitable rationale for the approach and a suitable description of potential challenges/problems that could arise and how each will be addressed.


R.3:  QUALIFICATIONS - SENIOR RESEARCHER:

The CV of each senior researcher proposed in M.2 will be evaluated as follows: 

a) Academic qualifications / training / certifications / publications / awards and memberships relevant to design, conduct and reporting of public opinion research. 

*Relevant = specialization/major in disciplines such as: social sciences, economics, and statistics.

a) Work experience - for each Senior Researcher proposed, the proposal should state the total number of months and years (e.g. 6 years and 4 months) of relevant experience for each Senior Researcher.

If more than one (1) senior researcher is included, the points will be averaged across all of them. However, the proposed resources that do not meet the minimum points will not be named in the contract.


R.4: SAMPLE PROJECTS - SENIOR RESEARCHER:

The projects submitted under Mandatory requirement M.3, will be evaluated under this point rated evaluation. 

Bidders are requested to use the following PROJECT SAMPLE FORMAT for each project submitted:

PROJECT SAMPLE FORMAT 

SECTION I: BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Project Title:
Client Name:
Fieldwork start and end dates (month/year):
Focus group locations:
Number of focus groups:

Attestation: The proposal should include a brief attestation of performance signed by the client for each project submitted. The attestations should clearly reference the specific project and state that the work was conducted to the satisfaction of the client. A client attestation template is included as Appendix "G". 

SECTION II: PROJECT BACKGROUND

Describe your client's subject matter of the project. Include a description of the product/service/social issue and the target audience(s).

SECTION III: METHODOLOGY

Provide a summary of the methodology and describe how it responded to your client's objectives. 

Project experience will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

a) The target audience of the project was the Canadian adult general public or sub-groups of the Canadian adult population. 

b)  The subject matter of the projects should be related to quality of service, communication, advertising, Web sites or policy and programs. 

c) The senior researcher’s relevant expertise in the 1) design and 2) analysis or reporting for the component of the study, is demonstrated through their role and contribution to the successful outcome of the two (2) sample projects submitted under Mandatory requirement M.3. 

If more than one (1) senior researcher is included, the points will be averaged across all of them to form a final score. However, the proposed resources that do not meet the minimum points will not be named in the contract.


R.5: QUALITY ASSURANCE

Proposals should include an adequate quality assurance process to prevent errors and flaws in the deliverables, such as, but not limited to: the roles and responsibilities of the proposed personnel, any specific proofreading services, identifying items at risk and how the risks will be mitigated (i.e. language quality, accuracy of analysis of participant feedback, translation, adherence to timelines, etc.)


BASIS OF SELECTION

Highest Combined Rating of Technical Merit and Price

1. To be declared responsive, a bid must: 

a) comply with all the requirements of the bid solicitation; and 
b) meet all mandatory criteria; and 
c) obtain the required minimum points specified for each criterion for the technical evaluation, and 
d) obtain the required minimum of 810 points overall for the technical evaluation criteria which are subject to point rating. The rating is performed on a scale of 1350 points. 

Bids not meeting (a) or (b) or (c) and (d) will be declared non-responsive. 

2. The selection will be based on the highest responsive combined rating of technical merit and price. The ratio will be 60% for the technical merit and 40% for the price. 

3. To establish the technical merit score, the overall technical score for each responsive bid will be determined as follows: total number of points obtained / maximum number of points available multiplied by the ratio of 60%.
 
4. To establish the pricing score, each responsive bid will be prorated against the lowest evaluated price and the ratio of 40%. 

5. For each responsive bid, the technical merit score and the pricing score will be added to determine its combined rating. 

6. Neither the responsive bid obtaining the highest technical score nor the one with the lowest evaluated price will necessarily be accepted. The responsive bid with the highest combined rating of technical merit and price will be recommended for award of a contract.


All inquiries regarding aspects of this request for proposal should be e-mailed to: 
Paola.Amaral@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca


All solicitation documents must be obtained through http://buyandsell.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.