RFI -Alaska Highway 2020-21

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: 

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Alaska Highway Program of Work 2020/2021 - Indigenous Benefits Plans


BACKGROUND 

Infrastructure Assets Management, Public Services and Procurement Canada (IAM), is the national office with the purpose of coordinating and delivering the strategy, stewardship and/or divestiture of a portfolio of engineering assets under PSPC - IAM ownership, situated across the country.

The mandate of IAM is to develop long-term management strategies for its assets, informed by various asset studies. Asset studies, inspections and engineering reports are analyzed and used by IAM to formulate strategic options for the long-term management and/or divestiture.

A portion of the Alaska Highway is an asset within the IAM portfolio.

The Alaska Highway stretches 2,450 Kilometres through northern BC, the Yukon and the State of Alaska. Eighty percent (1,960 Km) of the Alaska Highway is in Canada. Mile "Zero" (or "Kilometer Zero") starts in Dawson Creek, BC, and terminates in Delta Junction, Alaska. The responsibility for the 835 Km section from Km 133, north of Fort St. John, BC, to Km 968 at the BC/Yukon border, rests with PSPC - IAM.

DESCRIPTION OF POTENTIAL PROGRAM OF WORK 

There are three (3) categories of spending on the PSPC - IAM portion of the Alaska Highway that may be addressed in the potential program of work.  Annual spending for 20/21 is expected to be between $25M and $35M.  Some of this work requires specialized equipment and expertise.  

1. Capital Spending

Project identification and priorities are based on annual inspection reports, engineering assessments, and safety monitoring.  The 2020/21 priorities for the capital program of work include slope and roadbed stabilization work, bridge repairs, and culvert rehabilitation and replacement.

2. Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP)

Federal contaminated sites are located on land owned or leased by the federal government, or on land where the federal government has accepted responsibility for the contamination.  Contamination is most often a result of past activities with environmental consequences that were not well understood at the time.

As part of the remediation work being done under FCSAP on the Alaska Highway, PSPC - IAM is considering up to two sites in 2020/21 which may be suitable for Indigenous Benefits Plans.  This remediation may include:  excavation, transport to an offsite disposal facility, and/or operation of an onsite bioremediation facility.

3. Old Alignment Program of Work

This program aims to remove abandoned structures and roadbeds and deactivate in such a way to reduce risks and hazards. PSPC - IAM is proposing two larger remediation contracts for 2020/21, both north of Fort Nelson (culvert removal, road bed deactivation and bio-engineering techniques), with the possibility of additional work south of Fort Nelson subject to funding availability.

CONTEMPLATED PROCUREMENT STRATEGY

The Government of Canada is committed to reconciliation and meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples. In 2019/20, as part of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation with First Nations, modernizing procurement practices and increasing bidder diversity that includes Indigenous Peoples, PSPC - IAM included requirements for Indigenous Benefits Plans in some of its contracts, six of which were associated with its operation of the Highway. 

In 2020/21, PSPC - IAM is considering continuing these initiatives. PSPC - IAM invites feedback from the Indigenous and non-Indigenous business communities on the effectiveness of its activities in 2019/2020 including, but not limited to procurement strategies, engagement activities industry with local indigenous companies. This feedback may also allow for consideration of potential benefits, such as skills training, direct employment and economic development within the area.

The procurement strategies are not yet finalized. The contemplated procurement strategies could be publicly tendered competitive Request for Proposals or Invitations to Tender that are open to any Indigenous and Non-Indigenous firms as well as Joint Ventures.

A portion of evaluation strategies in these potential procurements will include either mandatory or point-rated criterion focused toward an Indigenous Benefits Plan (IBP) related to the eight First Nations communities in proximity to the Alaska Highway. Conversely, the evaluation strategy may include a combination of both types of criterion.

PURPOSE OF THIS RFI

The purpose of this RFI is to:

*Gather information on the effectiveness of the Indigenous Benefits Plans implemented in 2019/20 from the perspective of both indigenous and non-indigenous business perspectives
*Provide awareness of the planned projects in 2020/21 to the local Indigenous business community and industry 
*Continue an industry and community engagement process    
*Gather information and understanding of Indigenous Business and industrial capacity of local First Nations

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.

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 Local First Nations.

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

1) For prime contractors who bid or considered bidding on these opportunities were the indigenous benefits plans as structured in the 2019/20 projects a consideration for your company in bidding or not bidding on the associated projects?  If so, could you explain why?

2) For prime contractors who bid or considered bidding on these opportunities, are there considerations you would like to share on the structure of the Indigenous Benefits Plans used in 2019/20 and the impact on your bids?

3) For both indigenous community members and industry one of the indigenous procurement measures implemented for the procurement in 2019/20 was to ensure that a minimum percentage of subcontracting consist of diverse suppliers, which in this case would be focused toward local First Nations. Was the percentage of subcontracting with diverse suppliers of 5 to 15% difficult to achieve?  

A diverse supplier is currently defined as a business owned or led by Canadians from underrepresented groups, such, Indigenous Peoples.

4) For prime contractors who bid or considered bidding on these opportunities do you anticipate the inclusion of the requirement for an Indigenous Benefits Plan (IBP) will have a future impact on your participation in procurement for Highway projects?  If positive or negative, could you explain why?

5) For both indigenous community members and industry, are there any incentive strategies you think would be more effective in encouraging First Nations engagement resulting in more skills development, industrial capacity and economic benefit to local First Nations?

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

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

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).


Feedback and responses related to this RFI are requested no later than 16 March 2020 in order to allow for its review.
 

Respondents may submit their responses to:

Delia Martin
Supply Specialist, Real Property Contracting
Public Services and Procurement Canada
219 - 800 Burrard Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 0B9
E-mail address: delia.martin@pwgsc.gc.ca 
Telephone: 778-707-2139
Facsimile:  604-775-9381

COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT SESSION

In order to facilitate this information-gathering exercise, a Community and Industry Engagement event is scheduled.  This event will provide contractors and the local First Nations the opportunity to provide feedback and input directly to PSPC - IAM.

Date:           Wednesday, February 26, 2020 
Time:           2:00 pm to 4:00 pm MST
Location:      4804 51st Ave West, Fort Nelson, BC

Respondents can participate in person or via teleconference. Interested suppliers should register a maximum of two representatives by notifying the PSPC contact person identified above (Delia Martin) no later than 4:00 pm PDT February 25, 2020. Further details will be provided to respondents.  

Attendees are responsible for their own transportation, accommodation, meals and parking. PSPC - IAM will not reimburse any attendee for expenses incurred in attending, participating and/or responding to any part of these industry engagement activities.
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.