Upscheek Tashee Trail Construction - RFI

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: Yes
Nature of Requirements: 

Upscheek Tashee Trail Construction

5P437-190013/A
Arthur (PWY), Carolyn
Telephone No. - (604) 364-2752 (    )
Fax No. - (604) 775-6633 (    )

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

*****Amendment 001: Revision to LOCAL FIRST NATIONS CONTACT INFORMATION*****

FILE NO: 5P437-190013/A

TITLE:  
 
UPSCHEEK TASHEE - TRAIL, ROAD AND BRIDGE WORK
MULTI-USE PATHWAY CONSTRUCTION IN PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK RESERVE (PRNPR)
 

BACKGROUND OF THE RFI


Parks Canada maintains and restores ecological integrity in National Parks, and provides Canadians with opportunities to discover and enjoy them. Parks Canada protects and presents these treasures because they tell stories of who we are, including the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.

A new multi-use pathway, located in the traditional territories of the Tla-o-qui-aht and Yuuthlu-ilth-ath /Ucluelet First Nation, is being constructed. It will extend approximately 25 km from the southern to the northern boundary of the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The pathway will provide Canadians with opportunities to explore the vast sandy beaches, coastal rainforest, and special areas of natural and cultural significance in the region. 

Initial work on the multi-use pathway in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve began in February 2017 and included two main steps: environmental protection and site preparation. More specifically, this phase included extensive environmental, archaeological and engineering studies, the preparation of a Detailed Impact Analysis (otherwise known as an environmental assessment), trail design and planning, and clearing the trail alignment of trees and shrubs.

The next phase of the work will begin in the Spring of 2019. Following Parks Canada's established processes and rigorous standards for ecological protection, work will include completion of clearing trees and shrubs, trail bed preparation, installation of drainage culverts, and fabrication of bridges.

Strict development limits are in place to ensure the protection of ecological integrity in Canada’s national parks. Parks Canada has a rigorous development review and environmental assessment process that ensures all new infrastructure projects comply with these limits and that the parks ecological integrity is maintained. Additionally, any development in national parks is managed through consultation with Indigenous Peoples, information sharing with stakeholders and Canadians, and planning that is informed by science.

The Government is committed to investing in federal infrastructure assets, including national parks and historic sites, for the benefit of all Canadians. These investments bring Canadians together to celebrate our rich natural and cultural heritage. The new pathway is a long-time request from local communities, and will provide opportunities for Canadians to explore and enjoy the natural wonders of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve whether they are walking or cycling.

WORK DESCRIPTION

The multi-use pathway construction work will include clearing of trees and shrubs in the unclear areas of the trail and trail bed preparation for asphalt surfacing.  This will include the installation of drainage culverts, and the construction of three bridges.  Specifically, work under the construction contract will include:
- Fabrication of bridges; abutments, railings, structural steel, piles, and footings for bridges and elevated trail. 

- Delivery to site of all required components and materials for the bridges and boardwalks and their erection and installation. 

- Graveled trail construction including retaining walls, hand rails, and existing culvert extensions and new culvert installations. 

- Roadworks along Highway 4 including widening at the Esowista Curve and widening for and installation of concrete barriers where the trail is immediately adjacent to the highway. 

- Mill and overlay 68 metres of Highway 4 at the north Park boundary. 

- Control of invasive plant species. 

- Filling of four existing abandoned wells/cisterns 

The labour, equipment and services required for this contract includes, but is not limited to, the summary provided below.

Summary of Skills/Equipment Needs by Category

Labour
- Occasional use of traffic control (flagging) personnel
- Supervisors and foremen
- Office personnel for book keeping, time keeping, general correspondence, tracking quantities and costs, and record keeping
- Loggers/fallers for falling trees, clearing bush and undergrowth, and cutting up blow down trees
- Carpenter / labour to install metal railing on Jersey barriers 
- Personnel with first aid certifications and experience
- Equipment fueling and maintenance
- Labour for placing geotextiles and gravels
- Cranes, operators, steel erectors, carpenters, and labour for one bridge installation and for elevated trail sections
- Excavation equipment of various sizes and operators
- Certified Arborist for localized root cutting

Equipment & Services
- Local housing and services for personnel not hired locally
- Equipment and labour to construct earth filled retaining walls and concrete block retaining walls
- An area for a lay down yard, temporary offices, and equipment storage
- Excavation equipment of various sizes and operators
- Pile driving equipment, operators, and swampers for steel pipe piles

CONTEMPLATED PROCUREMENT STRATEGY

As part of the Government of Canadas goal of modernizing procurement practices, PSPC is considering initiatives including that of indigenous procurement and developing initiatives to increase the diversity of bidders on government contracts, including that of Indigenous Peoples. PSPC invites input from the Indigenous and non-Indigenous business communities.  This feedback may also allow for consideration of potential socio-economic benefits, such as skills and economic development within the area.

This requirement will not be set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business.  The contemplated procurement strategy is a competitive Request for Proposal that is open to any Indigenous and Non-Indigenous firms as well as Joint Ventures.

The evaluation strategy will include either mandatory or point-rated criterion focused toward an Indigenous Benefits Plan (IBP) related to the Tla-o-qui-aht and Yuuthlu-ilth-ath /Ucluelet First Nations.  Conversely, the evaluation strategy may include a combination of both types of criterion.

ESTIMATED VALUE OF PROJECT:  $20 - $23 Million

PURPOSE OF THIS RFI

The purpose of this RFI is to:

- Gather information and interest in this planned project
- Provide awareness of this planned project to the local Indigenous business community and industry 
- Initiate an industry and Indigenous community consultative process
- Determine Indigenous Business capacity and industrial capacity of local communities including, the Tla-o-qui-aht and Yuuthlu-ilth-ath /Ucluelet First Nation. 

LOCAL FIRST NATIONS CONTACT INFORMATION

Saya Masso 
Natural Resources Manager 
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation 
Tel: 250-725-3350 
Cell:  250-726-6401 
Email: lands@tla-o-qui-aht.org
Website: http://www.tla-o-qui-aht.org

and

Suzanne Williams
Interim Director of Operations 
Yuulu?il?ath? Government / Ucluelet First Nation
P. 250-726-7342 ext 206  F. 250-726-7552 
E. suzanne.williams@ufn.ca  
Website  www.ufn.ca 


INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONS

For the purpose of this project, Canada is interested in determining the current and future capacity for the provision of construction material, equipment, labour and skills within the traditional territories of the Tla-o-qui-aht and Yuuthlu-ilth-ath /Ucluelet First Nations.

Please consider the following questions in your response to this RFI.

1) Do you own or operate a company or Joint Venture?  If so, please provide a list of the Skills and equipment you offer.  Please include a detailed summary including a brief history of work and/or projects completed within the last 10 years (if any).

2) For prime contractors considering this opportunity, how could you work with sub-contractors, labour,  training (e.g. apprenticeships), material, and equipment available from the Tla-o-qui-aht and Yuuthlu-ilth-ath /Ucluelet First Nations?  How would your company organize and manage this?

3) For both community members and industry, what incentive strategies have you encountered in previous contracts to encourage First Nations engagement resulting in skills development, industrial capacity and economic benefit to local First Nations?

4) Could you recommend approaches for incorporating indigenous procurement measures?  In developing criteria related to an Indigenous Benefits Plan (IBP), what types of benefits would be most meaningful to local First Nations (e.g.: One or more of the following: Subcontracting, Labour, Training, equitability, etc.)

5) Do you anticipate the inclusion of the requirement for an Indigenous Benefits Plan (IBP) will have an impact on your participation in this procurement?

6) One of the indigenous procurement measures implemented for this procurement may be to ensure that a minimum percentage of subcontracting consist of diverse suppliers, which in this case would be focused toward Tla-o-qui-aht and Yuuthlu-ilth-ath /Ucluelet First Nations. What percentage of subcontracting with diverse suppliers might be achievable?  For example, one approach could be to include a rated criterion in the RFP to award 5-15% of the total technical score on the basis of subcontracting to diverse suppliers. A diverse supplier is currently defined as a business owned or led by Canadians from underrepresented groups, such, Indigenous Peoples.

7) PSPC is considering various models to confirm that a supplier meets the definition of a diverse supplier.  One option is that suppliers self-certify with an attestation, which would be verified by PSPC through audits throughout the life of the contract.  Should PSPC use attestation (self-certification) followed by audits, or certification by established certification organizations to qualify diverse suppliers? What other methods would you propose we use to verify diverse suppliers? A second option is to make use of third party organizations which verify that suppliers meet the diverse supplier definition and provide a certification for a fee such as:

https://www.buysocialcanada.com/suppliers
Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council
WBE Canada, Certified Women Business Enterprises
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
Inclusive Workplace Supply Council of Canada

8) Certification bodies typically charge a fee to certify a business as a diverse supplier. Are you willing to pay an extra fee to be certified? Would this type of fee create an impact on your organization?


Please identify any other issues, concerns, or recommendations not addressed above.


IMPORTANT NOTE TO RESPONDENTS

Respondents may submit their responses to the PSPC Contracting Authority, identified below, preferably via email.

Carolyn Arthur
Supply Specialist, Real Property Contracting
Public Services and Procurement Canada
219 -  800 Burrard Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 0B9
E-mail address: Carolyn.Arthur@pwgsc.gc.ca
Telephone: 604-364-2752
Facsimile:  604-775-6633

A point of contact for the Respondent should be included in the package.

This RFI is neither a call for tender nor a Request for Proposal (RFP). No agreement or contract will be entered into based on this RFI. The issuance of this RFI 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 RFI is not to be considered as a commitment to issue a subsequent solicitation or award contract(s) for the work described herein.

This RFI is not intended to constitute, or be interpreted as, a call for tenders, a call for proposals, or as a pre-qualification process. Submission of a response to this RFI or participation in a meeting is not intended to, nor does it, create any contractual or other legally binding obligation or duty, including any obligation or duty to accept or reject information, to enter into negotiations or decline to enter into or continue negotiations, or to award or decline to award a contract. Participation in this RFI and the submission of a response to this RFI is not a pre-condition to participation in a subsequent commercial process, if any.

Respondents are requested to provide their comments, concerns, and, where applicable, alternative recommendations regarding how the requirements or objectives described in this RFI could be satisfied. Respondents should explain any assumptions they make in their responses.

There is no formal structure or format that a response to this RFI should meet. The respondent should feel free to submit whatever information it feels would make a useful and relevant contribution to PSPC and Parks Canada analysis of this project and the development of solicitation documents to procure a solution to fulfill its requirements.

Canada may, in its sole discretion, contact any respondents to follow up with additional questions or for clarification of any aspect of a response.

This RFI will not result in the creation of any source list. Therefore, whether or not any potential supplier responds to this RFI will not preclude that supplier from participating in any future procurement.

All responses will be treated as confidential, subject to the provisions of the Access to Information Act (R.S. 1985, c. A-1) and the Privacy Act (R.S., 1985, c. P-21).

PSPC will in no way make any direct attribution of any information obtained from respondents that has been identified by respondents as confidential or proprietary within their responses.

Responses will not be formally evaluated. However, PSPC and Parks Canada will review all responses received by the RFI closing date. PSPC and Parks Canada may, at their discretion, review responses received after the RFI closing date.

A review team composed of representatives of PSPC and Parks Canada will review the responses received. PSPC and Parks Canada reserves the right to hire any independent consultant or use any resources that it considers necessary to review any response, in part or in its entirety. Not all members of the review team will necessarily review all responses.

In addition to any other expressed or implied rights, PSPC reserves the right to:
.1  Cancel this RFI process at any time;
.2  Cancel this RFI process at any time and issue a new RFI for the same or similar information;
.3  Make amendments to the timing and/or structure of this RFI process, including the closing date of the RFI, at its exclusive discretion;
.4  Request additional supporting information or clarification from any or all respondents, and/or provide to respondents additional clarification and information pertinent to this RFI;
.5  Contact any customer or reference provided within a respondents submission; and
.6  Not consider any response, in its entirety, containing information which PSPC in its opinion, believes to contain misrepresentations or any other inaccurate, suspicious or misleading information.

Questions regarding this RFI must be submitted electronically and to the contracting representative named above. Questions must be received no later than 15 January, 2019 in order to allow sufficient time to provide a response. Enquiries received after that time may result in an answer NOT being provided.

Feedback and responses related to this RFI are requested no later than 21 January, 2019 in order to allow for its review.  Feedback and responses received after this date may not be considered.

Changes to the RFI may occur and will be advertised on the Government Electronic Tendering System (buyandsell.gc.ca). PSPC may provide written answers to questions received on or before the RFI closing date by means of RFI addenda and or Questions and Answers Posted on Buyandsell.gc.ca. Canada asks Respondents to visit Buyandsell.gc.ca regularly to check for changes, if any.



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.