Holographic Augmented Reality Visualization Support Services - Giant Mine, NT

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited to bid
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: Yes
Vendor Name and Address: 
BGC ENGINEERING INC.
Suite 500 - 980 Howe Street
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
V6Z0C8
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. 

2. DEFINITION OF THE REQUIREMENT 

2.1. Background

The Northern Contaminated Sites Branch (NCSB) within Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) is responsible for a portfolio of abandoned mine sites in the North, which require remediation and closure to mitigate the effects of contamination on environmental and human health and safety. Within the Northwest Territories (NWT), one of NCSB's Major Projects is the Giant Mine Remediation Project (GMRP). A former underground gold mine, Giant Mine, covers 949 hectares within the city limits of the City of Yellowknife, NWT. 

3D holographic augmented reality visualizations of the Giant Mine site have been coded using a proprietary platform, allowing users to view these visualizations projected onto an augmented reality headset. This allows participants to explore the site remotely, and visualize how the site will look post-closure.

2.2 Requirement

CIRNAC has a requirement for up to one (1) Standing Offer for services to enhance existing 3D holographic augmented reality visualizations of the Giant Mine site projected onto an augmented reality headset; (Microsoft Hololens, or equivalent) on an "if and when requested" basis.

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: 

M1: COMPANY EXPERIENCE
 
M1.1 - Must provide professional services in engineering and applied earth sciences, with experience in mine operation and closure, including:
a. Groundwater
b. Surface water
c. Geotechnical
d. Civil
e. Open pit and underground mines
f. 3D photogrammetry and LiDAR data collection

M1.2 - Must have experience in delivering virtual/augmented reality projects of underground and open pit mines

M.1.3 - Must have expertise in geomatics and software development management, including:
a. Surpac
b. PolyWorks
c. GlobalMapper
d. ArcGIS
e. CloudCompare
f. Jira
g. C#
h. 3D real-time rendering
i. 3D computer physics and simulation
j. Unity
k. Mobile app development
l. High performance computer networking
m. Deep learning and computer vision
n. Structure light and time of flight sensors
o. Photogrammetry

M1.4 - Must be registered engineering firm in the province of Northwest Territories.

M1.5 - Must possess ownership/license to use software platform compatible with models created and source codes used to date (Ada Platform, or equivalent), and augmented reality headsets (Microsoft HoloLens, or equivalent)

M1.6 - Must be familiar with the Giant Mine site, including an understanding of the historical operations, key site features, the Closure and Reclamation Plan, and the site’s spatial relationship with the City of Yellowknife 

Must have knowledge of the environmental and closure aspects of the Giant Mine Remediation Project, including an understanding of the historical operations, key site features, the Closure and Reclamation Plan, and the site’s spatial relationship with the City of Yellowknife.

M2: PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT

M2.1 - Bidder must have proposed resource with:
[1] valid certification as professional engineer in good standing licensed to practice in the province of Northwest Territories
OR
[2] Minimum M.Sc. post graduate degree in environmental science, engineering, or related physical science from a recognized post-secondary institution

M2.2 - Experience: must have minimum fifteen (15) years professional work experience in environmental closure and closure aspects of mining, of which minimum five (5) years must have been in role of Principal Consultant, or equivalent

M3: SENIOR CONSULTANT

M3.1 Bidder must have proposed resource with:
[1] Valid certification as professional engineer in good standing licensed to practice in the province of Northwest Territories
OR
[2] Valid certification as professional geologist in good standing licensed to practice in the province of Northwest Territories
OR
[3] Minimum B.Sc. in environmental science, engineering, or related physical science from a recognized post-secondary institution

M3.2 - Experience: must have minimum ten (10) years professional experience in environmental and closure aspects of mining with experience in minimum one (1) of the following: ground water, surface water, geotechnical, civil, mine closure, mine operation, 3D photogrammetry and LiDAR data collection

M4: JUNIOR CONSULTANT

M4.1 - Bidder must have proposed resource with:
[1] degree in science, or related field, from a recognized post-secondary institution
OR
[2] technician/technologist diploma in environmental science, engineering, drafting, or related physical science from a recognized post-secondary institution

M4.2 - Experience: must have minimum two (2) years professional experience in environmental and closure aspects of mining with experience in minimum one (1) of the following: ground water, surface water, geotechnical, civil, mine closure, mine operation, 3D photogrammetry and LiDAR data collection

M5: SENIOR PROGRAMMER

M5.1 - Experience: must have minimum ten (10) years’ professional work experience in software development with experience in C#

M5.2 - Professional work experience in minimum of one (1) of the following: 3D real-time rendering, 3D computer physics and simulation, Ada platform development, mobile application development, high performance computer networking, deep learning and computer vision, structured light and time of flight sensors, photogrammetry

M6: JUNIOR PROGRAMMER

M6.1 - Experience: must have minimum two (2) years’ professional work experience in software development with experience in C#

M6.2 - Professional work experience in minimum of one (1) of the following: 3D real-time rendering, 3D computer physics and simulation, Ada platform development, mobile application development, high performance computer networking, deep learning and computer vision, structured light and time of flight sensors, photogrammetry

M7: SENIOR TECHNICIAN

M7.1 - Education: must have diploma in environmental science, engineering, drafting, or related physical science from a recognized post-secondary institution

M7.2 - Experience: must have minimum eight (8) years professional work experience in environmental and closure aspects of mining

M8: TECHNICIAN

M8.1 - Education: must have diploma in environmental science, engineering, drafting, or related physical science from a recognized post-secondary institution

M8.2 - Experience: must have minimum two (2) years professional work experience in environmental and closure aspects of mining

4. APPLICABILITY OF THE TRADE AGREEMENT(S) TO THE PROCUREMENT 

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement(s):
- Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
- Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

5. COMPREHENSIVE LAND CLAIMS AGREEMENT(S) 

This procurement is subject to the Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Agreement.

6. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER 

Holographic visualizations of the Giant Mine site were created under a previous subcontract and utilizes proprietary code and proprietary software platform. Immersive scenes and tabletop models have been developed using BGC Engineering Inc’s Ada Platform. The Ada Platform combines terrain and survey data, engineering designs, and real-time computer graphics to visualize applied earth science data in 3D and creates holographic models that can be projected on the Microsoft Hololens.

Work under this proposed Standing Offer is a continuation of what has been completed by BGC Engineering Inc and includes developing additional views within existing holographic models, modifying and refining existing holographic models and views, as well as participating in community and industry engagement activities to demonstrate these visualizations to stakeholders and answer related questions.

BGC Engineering Inc is the only known supplier to have the required knowledge and experience with augmented and virtual reality in open pit mining, underground mining, mine closure, mine remediation, and familiarity with the Giant Mine site to perform the work.

7. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS REGULATIONS EXCEPTION(S) 

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

8. EXCLUSIONS AND/OR LIMITED TENDERING REASONS 

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the 

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) - Article 513: 2iii. due to an absence of competition for technical reasons

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) - Article 19.12: 1biii. due to an absence of competition for technical reasons

9. PERIOD OF THE PROPOSED STANDING OFFER

The proposed Standing Offer is for a period of three (3) years from award date with one (1) - one (1) year option period.

10. COST ESTIMATE OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT 

The estimated value of the Standing Offer, including option, is $404,250.00 (including applicable taxes).

11. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PRE-IDENTIFIED SUPPLIER 

BGC ENGINEERING INC.  
Suite 500 - 980 Howe Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 0C8

12. SUPPLIERS' RIGHT TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES 

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction 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.

13. CLOSING DATE FOR A SUBMISSION OF A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES 

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is November 5, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. MST. 

14. INQUIRIES AND SUBMISSION OF STATEMENTS OF CAPABILITIES 

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: 

Dallas Scott
A/Procurement Specialist
Environmental Services Acquisitions Team
Public Services and Procurement Canada, Government of Canada

Canada Place, Suite 1000
9700 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4C3

Telephone: 780-224-7200
Facsimile: 780-497-3510
E-mail: dallas.scott@pwgsc-tpsgc.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.