Equis Online Subscription

Trade Agreement: NAFTA / CFTA / FTAs with Peru / Colombia / Panama / Korea
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: 
EarthSoft, Inc.
9455 Pensacola Blvd., Suite B
Pensacola Florida
United States
32524
Nature of Requirements: 

Environmental Data Management System
A7126-184734
Peter Lessard
Telephone: 613-850-7602
Email: peter.lessard@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

REQUIREMENT:

The Faro and Giant Mine Remediation Projects of the Northern Contaminated Sites Branch of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) have a requirement to move from a third party hosted, stand-alone database to a cloud-based software solution as specified under the “Background” below. The purpose of the Advance Contract Award Notice is to signal the government’s intention to award a contract for this cloud-based software solution to Earthsoft Inc., the software developer of EQuIS. Before awarding a contract, however, the government would like to provide other suppliers with the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of satisfying the requirements set out in this Notice, by submitting a statement of capabilities during the 15 calendar day posting period.

If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during the 15 calendar day posting period that meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, the government will proceed to a full tendering process on either the government's electronic tendering service or through traditional means, in order to award the contract.

If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities meeting the requirements set out in the ACAN, a contract will be awarded to the pre-selected supplier.
BACKGROUND:
CIRNAC is seeking to procure a cloud based software solution to provide an environmental data management system to manage the extensive environmental database associated with the management and remediation of its two largest  northern abandoned mines, the Faro Mine (located in Yukon) and Giant Mine (located in the Northwest Territories). Public Works and Government Services Canada, on behalf of its Client, CIRNAC, intends to enter into a sole source contract with Earthsoft Inc. of Pensacola, Florida, USA, the owner of EQuIS, the software chosen to provide the following:
Initial Requirement:
1. 1 Year annual subscription to access the cloud-based EQuIS software: environmental data management solution for CIRNAC.
2. Customization and configuration of the software. 
3. Migration and integration of existing data.
4. In class training for CIRNAC staff.
5. Documentation of workflows, procedures and routines to support the functions of the data solution.


JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PRE-SELECTED SUPPLIER 

The reasons for single tendering are described in Annex A.

Section 6 of the Government Contract Regulations is being invoked in this procurement as only one person or firm is capable of performing the contract.

CFTA, Article 513, paragraph 1.(b) and 1.(c) are applicable on the basis of limited tendering due to compatibility with existing products, to recognize exclusive rights, such as exclusive licenses, copyright and patent rights, or to maintain specialized products that must be maintained by the manufacturer or its representative, and when 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.

Articles 1016.2(b) and 1016.2(d) of NAFTA are applicable on the basis of limited tendering due to reasons where, for works of art, or for reasons connected with the protection of patents, copyrights or other exclusive rights, or proprietary information or where there is an absence of competition for technical reasons, the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists, for additional deliveries by the original supplier that are intended either as replacement parts or continuing services for existing supplies, services or installations, or as the extension of existing supplies, services or installations, where a change of supplier would compel the entity to procure equipment or services not meeting requirements of inter changeability with already existing equipment or services, including software to the extent that the initial procurement of the software was covered by this Chapter.

PERIOD OF CONTRACT
The proposed contract is for the purchase of an annual subscription of the EQuIS Online- a cloud-based data management system, installation, data conversion and customization to begin at the date of contract award, and annual support and maintenance to continue for a 1-year period with 6 - 1 year options.










ANNEX A
The reasons for the sole source procurement of the cloud based environmental data management system are listed below. CIRNAC requires the solution to be compliant with the following functionalities:
MINIMUM ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Ability to efficiently monitor project environmental data in real time through automated processes to detect exceedances or trends. 
2. Ability to handle different type of environmental data, including: water quality, water quantity (flow and levels), air quality, meteorology, geotechnical, and ancillary data and information.
3. Ability to transfer existing data holdings (historical archive) into the new schema without data loss or degradation.
4. Ability of data providers and commercial laboratories to upload data autonomously and/or automatically through software or telemetry tools, without assistance or the requirement for security clearance, while still meeting all Information Technology and Physical Security requirements.  
5. A common data sharing format, considered industry standard, to ensure consistent and accurate data transmission from data providers.
6. Expandable and flexible data schema to allow for new/novel data collections to be housed within the database.
7. Ability to track workflows, including: automatically verifying and validating data uploads for format and completeness, and, provision of notifications to data providers and administrators of new data and/or parameter exceedances.
8. Provision of access to project data and analysis tools to multiple stakeholders within and outside of government through web-based data portals.
9. Ability to design custom reports and queries.
10. Automated database reporting routines and procedures through system generated emails or RSS feeds/push notifications to facilitate open and transparent data sharing with internal to government partners and external regulators, stakeholders, and, the public.
11. Provision of a secure and extendable, cloud-based storage solution capable of handling large volumes of project data and information.
12. Logical and intuitive interface, processes and tools that facilitate ease of use by staff.
13. Extensive support system and help desk function to respond to queries/issues and unscheduled downtime as soon as possible.
14. Disaster recovery and routine data back-up support.


CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR WRITTEN SUPPLIER RESPONSES CHALLENGING THIS REQUIREMENT IS 14:00 p.m. EST, March 16, 2020.
You are hereby notified that the Government intends to solicit a bid and negotiate with one firm only as identified above.
If you wish to submit a written response showing that you are capable of meeting this requirement, it must be done not later than the specified closing date and time. The file number, 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. As it is intended to proceed in a timely manner, responses received after the closing date will not be considered.
Responses received on or before the closing date will be considered solely for the purpose of deciding whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. Information provided will be used by the Crown for technical evaluation purposes only and is not to be construed as a competitive solicitation. Your written response must provide sufficient evidence (e.g. specifications, technical data, drawings, or any other proof) that clearly demonstrates that your product or service is capable of fulfilling this requirement.
Suppliers that have submitted a response will be notified in writing of PWGSC's decision to continue with the non-competitive procurement or compete the requirement.

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.