Office Furniture National Strategy

Trade Agreement: WTO-AGP/NAFTA/AIT/Canada-Peru
FTA/Canada-Colombia FTA
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Attachment: None
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 
Draft National Procurement Strategy for Office furniture


REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

1.0  OBJECTIVES OF THIS RFI
PWGSC is requesting your feedback on the draft National
Procurement Strategy for Office Furniture.  Your insight will
help form the Government of Canada's approach to the procurement
of office furniture and facilitate the development of a final
National Procurement Strategy that better responds to the needs
of government departments, agencies and crown corporations
(government departments), existing and potential suppliers and
all Canadians.

2.0  BACKGROUND
Based on a preliminary review of office furniture procurement by
government departments, Public Works Government Services Canada
(PWGSC) is pleased to release the draft National Procurement
Strategy for Office Furniture based on the opportunities
identified by key stakeholder groups during the initial review
and consultation stage.

The objective of this draft National Procurement Strategy is to
provide a uniform and consistent national approach that when
implemented, will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of
the procurement process for government departments, suppliers
and Canadians.

Government departments and suppliers are encouraged to review
the details and provide comments.  All comments will be taken
into consideration when finalizing the National Procurement
Strategy for Office Furniture.  The Government of Canada values
your feedback and appreciates your interest and participation in
the National Procurement Strategy for Office Furniture.

3.0  NATURE OF REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
This RFI is an industry consultation document intended to
solicit feedback from industry with respect to the matters
described in this RFI. This is not a bid solicitation.

This RFI will not result in the award of any contract,
therefore, potential suppliers of any goods or services
described in this RFI should not earmark stock or facilities,
nor allocate resources, as a result of any information contained
in this RFI. This RFI will not result in the creation of any
source lists. Every supplier has the option to respond to this
RFI, and their decision will not preclude that supplier from
participating in any future procurement. Also, the procurement
of any of the goods and services described in this RFI will not
necessarily follow this RFI.  This RFI is not considered as an
authorization by PWGSC for suppliers to undertake any work that
would result in costs to the Government of Canada. 



4.0  NATURE AND FORMAT OF RESPONSES REQUESTED
Respondents are requested to provide their responses to the
Industry questionnaire, raise any concerns and, where
applicable, make recommendations on how the requirements or
objectives described in draft National Procurement Strategy for
Office Furniture could be achieved. Respondents should explain
any assumptions they make in their responses.

5.0  RESPONSE COSTS
The Government of Canada will not reimburse any respondent for
expenses incurred in responding to this RFI.

6.0  TREATMENT OF RESPONSES

Use of Responses:  Responses will not be formally evaluated.
However, the responses received may be used by the Government of
Canada to modify procurement strategies or any draft documents
related to this RFI. The Government of Canada will review all
responses received by the RFI closing date. The Government of
Canada may, at its discretion, review responses received after
the RFI closing date.
	
Review Team:  A review team composed of representatives from
various Sectors within the Department of Public Works and
Government Services  will review the responses. The Government
of Canada reserves the right to hire any independent consultant,
or use any Government resources, which it deems necessary to
review any response. Not all members of the review team will
necessarily review all responses.
	
Confidentiality:  Respondents should mark any portions of their
response that they consider proprietary or confidential. The
Government of Canada will treat those portions of the responses
as confidential to the extent permitted by the Access to
Information Act.
	
Follow-up Activity:  The Government of Canada may, in its
discretion, contact any respondents to follow up with additional
questions or for clarification of any aspect of a response.
	
7.0  OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
Responses to this RFI may be in either of the official languages
of Canada, French or English.

8.0  CONTENT OF THIS RFI
This RFI contains the draft National Procurement Strategy for
Office Furniture along with a series of related questions. The
Strategy remains a work in progress and respondents should not
assume that recommendations will be / not be added to any bid
solicitations that are ultimately published by the Government of
Canada. Respondents should not assume that any of the clauses or
requirements will be deleted or revised. 

Comments regarding any aspect of the draft procurement strategy
and it's approaches are welcome.

9.0  INQUIRIES
Since this is not a bid solicitation, the Government of Canada
will not necessarily respond to inquiries in writing or by
circulating answers to all potential suppliers. However,
respondents with questions regarding this RFI may direct their
inquiries as stated below.

10.0 SUPPLIER FEEDBACK  AND SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES
The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises (OSME) and the
Furniture Division, both of Public Works and Government Services
Canada (PWGSC), will be facilitating the input received from
suppliers on this strategy.  

The primary method of response is through an online questionnare
which can be found at the following links:

Englishhttp://tpsgc-pwgsc1.sondages-surveys.ca/surveys/osmepd/off
ice-furniture-suppliers/langeng/

French
http://tpsgc-pwgsc1.sondages-surveys.ca/surveys/osmepd/office-fur
niture-suppliers/langfra/

If the links do not work please try copying and pasting the url
into the navifgation bar of your internet browser.

If problems persist, the secondary method of response is via the
furniture email address found below:

	RCNAmeublement.NCRFurniture@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca



Timely delivery and correct direction of responses is the sole
responsibility of the respondent. PWGSC will not assume or have
transferred to it those responsibilities. 			





Delivery Date: 18/04/2012

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.