POR - STANDARDS - RFI

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH STANDARDS 
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

EP363-202290/A
Amaral, Paola
Telephone No. - (613) 998-8588


PURPOSE 

THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK FROM INDUSTRY AND FROM DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS ON THE DRAFT UPDATED STANDARDS FOR THE CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH - TELEPHONE SURVEYS AND ONLINE SURVEYS.

Pursuant to the Directive on the Management of Communications, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) coordinates public opinion research (POR) in the Government of Canada (GC) and is responsible for developing and updating GC standards for POR conducted by federal departments and agencies.

To support federal departments and agencies in improving the quality of public opinion research they conduct, the Public Opinion Research Directorate (PORD) of Public Services and Procurement Canada first established the Standards for the Conduct of Government of Canada Public Opinion Research for telephone and online surveys in 2009. These standards were developed in response to the Auditor General’s November 2005 report on The Quality and Reporting of Surveys, and based on extensive input from experts, departments and agencies, and the research industry. The current standards are posted on PSPC’s website. 

The research industry and its techniques have evolved considerably in recent years. To ensure that the standards reflect these changes and others, and continue to support survey quality, PORD launched a review process in 2017 and has undertaken the following activities:

- Preliminary consultations in 2017 with departments and agencies and with industry (via buyandsell.gc.ca);
- Targeted consultations with internal experts (e.g., Access to Information and Privacy, Statistics Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, PSPC Accessibility Office);
- A literature review outlining contextual changes and implications for Government of Canada public opinion research;
- An Advisory panel of experts providing advice and recommendations on key changes to the standards.

These review activities have led to content changes for many aspects of the standards, for example pertaining to data collection via mobile devices; multi-mode surveys; the statistical treatment of probability samples versus non-probability sample; privacy and data security; survey accessibility; and ways for respondents to verify the legitimacy of a survey as a GC research initiative. 

Of particular note, PSPC’s goal is to ensure that the goods and services the GC buys are inclusive by design and accessible by default. Considering accessibility in public procurements is now an obligation in the Treasury Board Contracting Policy and, accessibility criteria must be included in the requirements for goods and services, where appropriate. For this reason, PORD has included statements related to survey accessibility in the attached draft standards for telephone surveys and online surveys, and would like to hear from research firms whether they would be well-positioned to comply. Further, in cases where research firms are already complying with, or working towards complying with specific accessibility standards (whether Canadian or international), PORD would like to know the names of those standards. Please refer to Annex "C" - Accessibility Compliance. 

This RFI is not a bid solicitation, however the finalized standards will be incorporated in the GC’s future POR Standing Offers, and will become a contractual requirement for research conducted on behalf of the GC. In this context, we are inviting research suppliers to review the following attached draft standards documents:

Annex "A":  Telephone survey standards 
Annex "B":  Online survey standards 
Annex "C": Accessibility Compliance

Interested suppliers, industry associations, and disability organizations are encouraged to provide comments and a rationale for any suggested modifications, deletions or additions that they include in their response to this RFI.

Once finalized, the updated standards will be posted on PSPC’s website, approximately in late spring 2020.


TREATMENT OF RESPONSES

a) Use of Responses: Responses received may be used by Canada to modify the draft standards. Canada will review all responses that are received by the RFI closing date, and may at its discretion review responses received after the RFI closing date.
 
b) Review Team: A review team composed of representatives of Canada will review the responses. Canada reserves the right to engage any independent, 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 and the Privacy Act.

d) Follow-up Activity: Canada reserves the right to accept or reject any or all suggestions received. Canada may, at its discretion, contact any respondent to follow up with additional questions or for clarification of any aspect of a response.


ENQUIRIES

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


CONTRACTING AUTHORITY

Paola Amaral
Email:   paola.amaral@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca
Telephone:  613-998-8588
Mobile:  343-550-7181
Mail:     12 - 360 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0S5

Interested parties must submit their comments in writing to the Contracting Authority specified herein, before the above-mentioned RFI closing date. Canada will review all responses that are received by the RFI closing date, and may at its discretion review responses received after the RFI closing date.

Written responses can be submitted by email or other delivery method to the attention of Paola Amaral.

Responses may be submitted in either official language of Canada.


REFERENCES

Treasury Board’s Directive on the Management of Communications
Contracting Policy
Annual reports on Public Opinion Research
Security Requirements for Contracting with the Government of Canada
Standard on Web Accessibility
Standards for the Conduct of Government of Canada Public Opinion Research - Qualitative Research
Standards for the Conduct of Government of Canada Public Opinion Research - Telephone Surveys
Standards for the Conduct of Government of Canada Public Opinion Research - Online Surveys


Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

Responses may be submitted in either official language of Canada.


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.