Transcription of Live Events

Trade Agreement: Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited to bid
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Government Objectives Representing Best Interests/Value to Govt
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
Media Q Inc.
802-165 Sparks Street
Ottawa Ontario
Canada
K1P5B9
Nature of Requirements: 

1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) 

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities 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.

PWGSC file number:  EN578-210547
Contracting officer:  Cyrielle Djona
Telephone number:  873-355-9418

2. Definition of the requirement 

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has a requirement to establish a standing offer with a firm for Transcription of Live Event Services. The work will involve the following: 

a) Transcription of Live Events within the Parliamentary Precinct

On an "as and when requested basis", provide verbatim transcripts and direct feeds of live news events, scrums and conferences taking place within the Parliamentary Precinct.

b) Transcription of Live Events within North America and Internationally

On an "as and when requested basis", provide verbatim transcripts and direct feeds of live news events, scrums and conferences taking place within North America and Internationally.

c) Transcription of Live Teleconferences, Webcasts, Webinars and virtual Committees 

On an “as and when requested” basis, provide verbatim transcripts of live events and scrums (not court or legal proceedings) for events only taking place virtually.

3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:

a) Bilingual capabilities

The Offeror must provide high quality transcripts in English and in French.  

b) Access to high quality feeds

The Offeror must be able to obtain high quality feeds of live events from all locations within the Parliamentary Precinct. For the purposes of this requirement the Parliamentary Precinct is defined as encompassing the following locations:

• National Press Theatre (150 Wellington)
• West Block hallways (microphones)
• Other West Block news conference rooms (including but not limited to rooms 135-B, 025-B and 225)
 
The Offeror must also have the ability to provide transcripts of scrums that may occur away from fixed microphones.

The Offeror must be able to obtain high quality feeds of live events within North America and Internationally.

c) Experience

The Offeror must demonstrate that they have at least one (1) year experience, within the last three (3) years, in providing transcripts and from one or more of the following:

i. News scrums following question period, caucus or cabinet;
ii. House and senate committee meetings; or
iii. Federal, Provincial or Municipal Government conferences, scrums, or meetings.

The Offeror must demonstrate that they have at least one (1) year experience providing transcription of live events within North America and Internationally.

4. Applicability of the trade agreement to the procurement 

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement: 
o Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier 

Media Q Inc. is the only known supplier that has a network in place to provide the following services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year:

a. Live feeds and verbatim transcripts of events including speeches, scrums and press conferences taking place within the Parliamentary Precinct, at and away from fixed microphones; and

b. Live feeds and verbatim transcripts of live events and scrums within North America and Internationally.

6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work". 

7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons 

The following exclusions and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the:

a) Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) - Article 513 (b) (iii);
b) World Trade Organization - Government Procurement Agreement (WTO-GPA) - Annex 5 - Services; and
c) Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) - Annex 19-5 - Services.

8. Period of the proposed Standing Offer

The proposed standing offer is for a period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 with the option to extend for three additional one-year periods.

9. Estimated Value

The estimated value of call-ups under the standing offer is $900,000.00 (including HST) per year.

10. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier 

Media Q Inc.
165 Sparks St
Ottawa, ON K1P 5B9
 
11. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities 

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide services described in the ACAN 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.

12. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities 

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is October 20, 2020 at 2:00 pm EDT.

13. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: 

Cyrielle Djona
Senior Supply Officer
360 Albert St., Ottawa
Telephone: 873-355-9418
E-mail: cyrielle.djona-guiadem@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca 

Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

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.