Top Secret cabinet

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: 

Letter of Interest (LOI) for Top Secret cabinet requirements

PART 1 - INTRODUCTION

1. Purpose and Nature of the Letter of Interest (LOI)
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is looking for interested suppliers with extensive experience regarding the potential establishment of a Standing Offer (SO) or a Supply Arrangement (SA) to source the manufacturing and acquisition of Top Secret rated cabinets. 

A Letter of Interest (LOI) is used when detailed information and feedback are required from suppliers. Such requests might outline a potential requirement and request suppliers to describe their ability to satisfy the requirement and to provide ideas and suggestions on how the eventual solicitation might be structured. Responses are used to assist the client department and PSPC in finalizing their plans for the requirement and in developing achievable objectives and deliverables. LOIs would normally be posted on GETS in order to obtain replies from a wide audience. If a source list is to be used, the LOI  may be sent only to those on the list. LOIs must clearly indicate that they are not solicitations and that there are no commitments with respect to future purchases or contracts.

LOIs identify the client department's potential requirement and its business objectives.

The main objectives of an  LOI are to:
A)Allow suppliers time to:
i. assess and comment on the adequacy and clarity of the requirements as currently expressed;
ii.offer suggestions regarding potential alternative solutions that would meet requirements, such as solution with a lower environmental impact;
iii.comment on the procurement strategy, preliminary basis of payment elements, and timelines for the project, and
iv.comment on the draft solicitation when included with the LOI.

B. provide information to assist the client department to:
i. determine whether to proceed with requirements/strategy as planned, and if so, further developing internal planning, approval and solicitation documents that may potentially lead to a solicitation;
ii. refine the procurement strategy, project structure, cost estimate, timelines, requirements definition, and other aspects of the requirement;
iii. become a more "informed buyer" with an enhanced understanding of industry goods and service offerings in the areas of interest; and
iv. assess potential alternative solution concepts that would meet its requirement, such as environmentally preferable solutions.

This LOI is neither a call for tender nor a Request for Proposal (RFP). No agreement or contract will be entered into based on this LOI. The issuance of this LOI is not to be considered in any way a commitment by the Government of Canada, nor as authority to potential respondents to undertake any work that could be charged to Canada. This LOI is not to be considered as a commitment to issue a subsequent solicitation or award contract(s) for the work described herein.

Although the information collected may be provided as commercial-in-confidence (and, if identified as such, will be treated accordingly by Canada), Canada may use the information to assist in drafting performance specifications (which are subject to change) and for budgetary purposes.

Respondents are encouraged to identify, in the information they share with Canada, any information that they feel is proprietary, third party or personal information. Please note that Canada may be obligated by law (e.g. in response to a request under the Access of Information and Privacy Act) to disclose proprietary or commercially-sensitive information concerning a respondent (for more information: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/a-1/).

Participation in this LOI is encouraged, but is not mandatory. There will be no short-listing of potential suppliers for the purposes of undertaking any future work as a result of this LOI. Similarly, participation in this LOI is not a condition or prerequisite for the participation in any potential subsequent solicitation.

Respondents will not be reimbursed for any cost incurred by participating in this LOI. The LOI closing date published herein is not the deadline for comments or input. Comments and input will be accepted any time up to the time when/if a resulting solicitation is published.

2. Background
PSPC is in the process of examining the possibility of developing a procurement tool, be it Standing Offers or Supply Arrangements, for the manufacturing and acquisition of cabinets, built to RCMP specifications, to safeguard Top Secret information.  

PSPC is inviting those in the industry who have the necessary experience and who are interested in working with the RCMP to manufacture these cabinets. Please feel free to submit your opinions, concerns and/or suggestions about how such procurement tools would benefit client departments, and any problems that these tools may present. 

Suppliers are also invited to present any additional items of interest which may not have been covered in the list of presented questions. 

 
PART 2 - SUPPLIER INSTRUCTIONS

1. Responses are to be submitted to the PWGSC Bid Receiving Unit
Responses are requested to be submitted to Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) Bid Receiving Unit by the date, time and place indicated at page 1.

Given that many people are currently working from home and in an effort to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) within communities, suppliers are highly encouraged to transmit their replies electronically using the e-post Connect service.

For those choosing to submit using e-post Connect, send a request to the Bid Receiving Unit in the National Capital Region (NCR) at the following email address is:
tpsgc.dgareceptiondessoumissions-abbidreceiving.pwgsc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

Note: Responses will not be accepted if emailed directly to this email address. This email address is to be used to open an epost Connect conversation or to send responses through an epost Connect message if the supplier is using its own licensing agreement for epost Connect.

Any response submitted will become the sole property of Canada and will not be returned to the supplier. The response will be used to assist Canada in further analyzing the presented requirement and, as such, may be used in the development of a future solicitation process.

2. Response requested by:
2:00 PM on 2020-12-11

3. Inquiries
Please address all inquiries about this LOI to the Contracting Authority:

Benoit Guertin 
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) - Acquisitions Branch
Industrial Products and Vehicles Procurement Directorate - "HN" Division
L’Esplanade Laurier (LEL), 140 O’Connor Street, East Tower, Ottawa ON
Telephone: (613) 296-3182 
E-mail address: benoit.guertin@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca 

PART 3 - Requirements
Any vendor who is interested in setting up an appointment to view the redacted classified specifications of the cabinets will need to submit a response to the LOI demonstrating how the following experiences are met: 

Manufacturing Experience: (* Extensive is defined as at least 10 years of experience)
a. Extensive* experience in fabrication and manufacturing of sheet metal and steel plate construction security cabinets, enclosures, safes, vaults or products of similar scope and complexity. 
b. Extensive* experience in installing and maintaining grade 1 mechanical and electromechanical combination locks.
c. Extensive* experience fabricating and/or installation of anti-drill (hardened) material.
d. Extensive* experience fabricating and/or installation of slides and interlocking drawer mechanism. 

Furthermore, in order to view the redacted specifications, Vendors must possess a reliability security clearance, issued under by the Contract Security Program (https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/esc-src/formulaires-forms/esosp-psos-eng.html). 

For vendors that have the necessary manufacturing experience but do not have the security clearance, PSPC will sponsor vendors who have demonstrated they meet the experiences listed above. 

Please note, in order to read the complete specifications package, vendors must have a Secret security clearance. 

Delivery Date: 22/10/2020

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.