FITNESS EQUIPMENT

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: 
Attachment: None
Competitive Procurement Strategy: Lowest/Lower Bid
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 
RFI - FITNESS EQUIPMENT

W010X-14A002/A
MacNeil, Blaine A.
Telephone No. - (902) 496-5180 
Fax No. - (902) 496-5016

Introduction

This Request for Information (RFI) is not a bidding opportunity
but an avenue to allow industry to provide information for
potential upcoming requirements.  In this case, industry
feedback is sought from suppliers on their ability to satisfy
potential Navy fitness equipment requirements, before the
issuance of a formal solicitation document.

This RFI is issued by Public Works and Government Services
Canada (PWGSC) on behalf of the Department of National Defence
(DND) to gather information to assist in defining a technical
specification and developing a procurement strategy for fitness
equipment for of Canadian Forces Bases (CFB) including Halifax
and Esquimalt and Her Majesty's Canadian Ships on both coasts. 
The intended meaning of the terms "Supplier", "Contractor",
"Industry" and "Industrial Partner" are interchangeable for the
purposes of this RFI.

Suppliers are encouraged to provide ideas and suggestions on how
the eventual solicitation (pricing, evaluation components, work
scope … etc.) might be structured.  While this is not a bid
document, it is an opportunity to help shape the resulting
requirements by allowing supplier input and advice to PWGSC and
DND (ie:  the Crown).  No contract (or contractual instrument)
will be awarded as a result of this RFI.  This RFI, shall not
constitute an authorization by the Crown to undertake any work
that would result in any obligation or costs to the Crown.

Participation in this RFI is not a pre-qualification for
procurement, nor a perquisite to participation in any subsequent
solicitations from PWGSC.

Intent

The feedback from vendors resulting from this RFI will assist
the Crown in its understanding of the fitness equipment
industry.  

The RFI may assist the Crown to:

-	become a more "informed buyer" with an enhanced understanding
of industry offerings to meet DND's requirements;
-	assess potential alternative solutions that would meet DND's
requirements.
-	determine  the future methodology for procurement of fitness
equipment  on behalf of DND;
-	define or alter the procurement strategy, requirements
definition, and other aspects of the requirements;



Request for Information

As expressed previously, this RFI is entirely optional and is
not a pre-qualification for procurement, nor a prerequisite for
participation in any future solicitations from PWGSC.

If suppliers would like to provide feedback based on the
information expressed in this RFI, the following points are
provided as a guideline. Your response is not limited to these
points.

Background

CFB Halifax houses three (3) fitness facilities and is the home
port for over sixteen (16) ships of the Royal Canadian Navy. 
The vast majority of the cardio equipment is at the end of its'
useful life and maintenance costs due to continual breakdowns
are becoming prohibitive to the continued operation of this
equipment.  DND is requesting information regarding fitness
equipment that will be utilized by the Canadian Armed Forces
Personnel as a minimum, at CFB Halifax as well as the Ships of
the Royal Canadian Navy and potentially the west coast navy as
well.  This RFI presents a number of questions regarding
industry products and capacity in order to help DND in the
establishment of specifications for products that will best meet
our needs.  The resultant specifications will ensure DND gets
the product that has the best life expectancy with minimal down
time and minimal maintenance required.  It is requested that
suppliers answer questions or provide other information in order
to assist the Crown in formulating the specifications that would
best suit DND's unique fitness requirements.  Please answer the
questions as clearly as possible and provide substantiation as
to why the responses you are providing suit the requirements of
the Royal Canadian Navy.  Credible studies or proven scientific
theories are requested to support your recommendations. 

Operational Environment and Usage

Fitness Facilities

Facility Name	# of Treadmills 	# of Ellipticals
-	Stadacona	-	12	-	6
-	Dockyard	-	12	-	7
-	Shearwater	-	10	-	12
-	Three (3) facilities are located at CFB Halifax
-	Operate up to fourteen (14) hours per day, seven (7) days per
week
-	Used for general fitness requirements of military and civilian
staff as well as daily firefighter training which consists of a
one hundred twenty (120) to three hundred (300) lb firefighter
wearing breathing apparatus and full bunker gear weighing an
additional seventy (70) lbs running on a treadmill for thirty
(30) minutes
-	All facilities see heavy usage when open




HMC Ships 

Ship Class	Quantity	# of Crew	Treadmills on Board	Ellipticals on
Board
Iroquois	2	280	3	3
Halifax	7	225	2	2
Protecteur	1	365	5	6
Kingston	6	31	0	1

-	Treadmills and ellipticals have an average usage of thirty
(30) minutes per sailor per day, with almost continuous usage
while at sea
-	Temperature range of 0-30 degrees Celsius
-	Humidity level of up to 100%
-	Equipment is used is various sea states with pitch and roll
fore and aft as well as port and starboard occurring
simultaneously.  Please refer to attached "Mechanical Stresses
in Maritime Transport" and C-28-007-000/MA-002 "HALIFAX Class
Design Disclosure Document: Volume 1 Structures" Table 3.5.1 for
a description of these forces.
-	Used for general fitness requirements of military personnel as
well as daily firefighter training which consists of a one
hundred twenty (120) to three hundred (300) lb firefighter
wearing breathing apparatus and full bunker gear weighing an
additional seventy (70) lbs running on a treadmill for thirty
(30) minutes, in various sea states.  

A:  Treadmill Questions 

1. What would you consider to be a suitable motor for treadmills
being placed on RCN Ships? Explain the relationship between
Horse Power (HP) and the performance of a treadmill.  Identify
any advantages/benefits that the motor you recommend might have
over others. What contributes to motor performance?

2. Explain running surfaces, i.e. the optimum size, material
composition and the characteristics that make it durable and
why. 

3. Explain deck cushioning function, design and how this relates
to durability. 

4. Roller size/ type: what effect does roller size have on the
performance of a treadmill? Does roller size effect treadmill
efficiency and why? What effect if any does roller size have on
maintenance requirements and overall machine durability?

5. Explain how user weight capacity is determined for your
treadmill?  What effect does weight capacity have on units being
placed on Ships given the increased forces due to sea movement
are between 1.40-1.93 times normal depending on sea state?   
Please see the attached "Mechanical Stresses in Maritime
Transport".  Given the stresses placed upon an object in a
marine environment, how does that affect the weight capacity?

6. What is the significance of max speed on a treadmill? Does
this have any affect on requirements on board a ship where the
temperatures can vary from very hot with high humidity to below
zero and if so please discuss. Given that the equipment will be
used in various sea states and the references in number 5 above,
does that affect the answer and if so please provide details?

7. In additional to general military and civilian fitness
requirements, the treadmills will be utilized for a number of
trade specific fitness tests; fire fighter applicants, ship
boarding parties, an annual Forced March Program in Holland,
fire fighter challenges and a number of high level sporting
events.  In view of these requirements our treadmills must have
significant incline and negative incline in order to meet our
needs. Please explain the significance of these features and
recommend generic specification terminology to meet these
requirements.

8.  Treadmills will be required to operate for long periods of
time. How long can/should your treadmill operate on a daily,
weekly basis without affecting the integrity of the treadmill's
design.  Generically, how should DND define this requirement to
ensure treadmills requested are designed to operate efficiently
in our operational environment?  Example (if used 8 hours a day/
7 days a week at 6mph by a 170lbs person). 

9. One of the key requirements of the treadmills required by DND
will be low or minimal frequency of maintenance.  Explain the
wear cycle of a treadmill, which parts wear first? Generically,
how should DND define the requirement for minimal maintenance?
How does industry handle maintenance?  Is there a minimum or
recommended maintenance schedule?


B: Elliptical Questions 


1.  Describe capabilities an elliptical should have in order to
obtain maximum training capabilities for the RCN keeping in the
ship board environment that they will be used in. i.e variable
temperature, humidity and sea state.  Some machines will be used
very extensively while at sea and will be exposed to various
pressures and stresses depending on the sea state. What
specifications should we be looking for in an elliptical suited
for these conditions?

2. What forms of resistance are utilized on an elliptical
exercise machine and why? What would be considered an
appropriate range of resistance and why based on DND's unique
requirements?  Does this vary for ship/shore use?? 

3. The ellipticals will be used by service members training for
ship boarding parties, fire fighter challenges and a number of
high level sporting events.  We will require the elliptical to
have a function that elevates the angle at which individuals
train at. Please explain the function and significance of an
adjustable incline or elevation on an elliptical exercise
machine? What generic specifications we should be looking for on
an elliptical that has this function? 

4. Explain the function and also the significance of adjustable
stride length as it relates to an elliptical fitness machine and
explain stride length adjustment that would be suitable for
maximum training capabilities.

5. Explain how user weight capacity is determined for an
elliptical?  Given that on board ships, the additional load that
the equipment would be subjected to is 1.40 - 1.93 times the
impact loads that the machine would normally see if used
ashore.- how should user weight capacity be defined by DND and
does this make a difference?  Please see the attached
"Mechanical Stresses in Maritime Transport".  Given the stresses
placed upon an object in a marine environment, how does that
affect the weight capacity?

6. Explain how DND can determine if the elliptical is designed
such that it conforms to proper biomechanical function (conforms
to proper body movement  so as to not cause injury to users).

7. Given the extra stresses on the RCN Ships and the various
possible temperature changes experienced we are looking for very
robust elliptical for our Ships. Please identify the
specifications DND should be looking for in an elliptical in
order to meet these demands?

8. One of the key requirements of the ellipticals will be to
have a low or minimal frequency of required maintenance. 
Explain the wear cycle of an elliptical, which parts wear first?
What specifications would best satisfy this requirement for
minimal maintenance? How does industry handle maintenance?  Is
there a minimum or recommended maintenance schedule?

9. Given that some ellipticals will be placed on RCN Ships where
space is minimal, explain the differences between rear and side
mounting machines as it applies to function and equipment
footprint? What specifications should DND be looking for in a
robust elliptical that takes up minimal space but also meets the
required function?


C:  General Questions

1. Explain the difference between light commercial, commercial
and heavy commercial grade design and use. Please provide
examples. What other terms are used? How is this measured? How
would this best be defined in a competitive environment?

2. It is noted that fitness equipment has different regulatory
approvals. For example, EN957/ASTM, ETL, UL/CSA and CE.  Could
you please explain the significance of these approvals and their
importance as it applies to treadmills and ellipticals for use
by the RCN both on board ships and at land based fitness
facilities?

3. What is the difference between LED and LCD displays? Which
one will have the best life expectancy and require less
maintenance? Why?

4.  Who determines what the equipment warranty encompasses and
under what condition(s) would the warranty become voided?  How
does the manufacturers warranty compare to that which might be
offered by a dealer? 

5.  It is understood that regardless of the brand of equipment
purchased they will require maintenance at some time in their
lifecycle. In regards to the warranty what would you recommend
to be a suitable warranty for this equipment when utilized in a
marine environment with exposure to variable
temperature/humidity, extraneous forces caused by sea roll and
very heavy usage?  What difference (if any) should there be
between warranty on-board ships and at land based fitness
facilities? 

6.  Due to lengthy deployments of HMC Ships away from CFB
Halifax, in order to maintain the integrity of the warranty,
can/should a non-factory-certified person replace failed
components in this equipment?  From where would these parts be
obtained?  Would it be advisable for the Ship to stock some of
the most commonly failed components? How does this compare to
land based fitness facilities?

7. Does your firm have or train technicians? How is this
accommodated within your offered warranty? Is this a dealer or
manufacturer offered service? If so is there a difference?

8. What are the "industry standards"? 

9. How can the Crown request accurate data from the industry
that may not be in technical literature?

PWGSC reserves the right to pose questions to the vendors
providing submissions.

No payment will be made for costs incurred in the preparation
and submission of a response to this RFI.
   
Websites

http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/ - Information on RCN Ships

http://www.containerhandbuch.de/chb_e/stra/stra_02_03_03.html -
Information on mechanical stresses in maritime transport




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.