Maintenance Dredging - North Traverse, Cap-Santé Traverse, Bécancour & St-Pierre Lake (2019-2025)

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Competitive Procurement Strategy: 
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 




PRELIMINARY PROJECT NOTICE

MAINTENANCE DREDGING OF THE NORTH TRAVERSE, CAP-SANTÉ TRAVERSE, BÉCANCOUR & SAINT-PIERRE LAKE
Long-Term Contract (2019-2025)


PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE
To inform the dredging industry of the procurement strategy developed by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) (previously Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC)) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) for maintenance dredging work in the St. Lawrence Seaway of which the Orleans Island North Traverse (Quebec).


BACKGROUND
The St. Lawrence Seaway is Canada’s main marine transportation route. The dredged portion of the North Traverse is a 30-km long, 300-m wide section of the St. Lawrence Seaway between St-Jean, Île d’Orléans and Cap Gribane, upstream of l’Île-aux-Coudres. The North Traverse has a volume of sediment of approximately
50,000 cubic metres per year to dredge mainly made of gross sand.

This  segment  of  the  river  experiences  the  most  severe  weather  conditions  between  Montreal  and Île-aux-Coudres. Frequent wind storms generate tall waves. Currents produced by tidal action and the meeting of fresh and salt waters are strong and unpredictable. Tidal action also results in daily water level variations of over 6 metres. Occasional dense fog that limits visibility is another element that must be considered.

From a navigational standpoint, this area is also distinctive in that some 5,000 ship transits are recorded every year in this portion of the river en route to Canadian and U.S. ports, including 150,000-tonne tankers that supply a refinery on Quebec’s South Shore every week. The  North Traverse’s heavy vessel traffic, narrowness, currents, unique navigation conditions and sediment distribution require the use of specialized dredging equipment, specifically a trailing suction hopper dredge fitted with a opening bottom or a hinged deck opening hull (hereafter called trailing suction hopper dredge).


PROCUREMENT STRATEGY
In Autumn 2016, PSPC (PWGSC) plans to launch a competitive bidding process for a seven-year contract to begin with the 2019 dredging season. It is planned to have a seven-year contract period in order to give to contractor wishing to build or modify a vessel an interesting amortization period.This contract will include the dredging of the North Traverse, Becancour, Saint-Pierre Lake (every 2 years)  and Cap-Sante Traverse which add up to a volume of sediment of approximately 85,500 cubic metres per year to dredge. Bidders will have approximately three (3) months to prepare and submit their bids.


SPECIFIC CONDITIONS FOR THE FLOATING PLANT CLAUSE
The Floating Plant Clause (FPC), adopted by the Cabinet in 1930, requires the Government of Canada to issue dredging contracts to contractors that use Canadian-manufactured equipment, or foreign-manufactured equipment on condition that, in the latter case, it has undergone significant modifications in Canada in order for it to be deemed predominantly Canadian.  For equipment of foreign origin,bidders must provide, at bid closing, a certificate of qualification issued by Industry Canada (IC), confirming that the proposed equipment complies with the requirements of the FPC. Issuance of the certificate of qualification is subject to certain conditions, one of which is that the equipment must have been domestically owned for at least one year at the time of applying for the certificate, and that the value of the improvements made to the equipment must be equivalent to or greater than its purchaseprice. The FPC also requires that dredging equipment be registered in Canada. 
 
For any dredging project including the North Traverse, the modified FPC will require that for the trailing suction hopper dredge, the requirements of the FPC must be complied with before the start of work. For other equipment, the FPC requires that the equipment comply with the requirements of the FPC at bid submission.

The FPC used in Invitation to Tender requesting maintenance dredging of the North Traverse (which requires the use of a trailing suction hopper dredge) is drafted as follows:

“Trailing suction hopper dredge
To be used in this dredging project, a trailing suction hopper dredge must be registered and manufactured in Canada.

However,a contractorwishing to use trailing suction hopper dredges of non-Canadian make or manufacture must obtain a certificate of qualification from Industry Canada before beginning the dredging work. A certificate of qualification will only be issued if the trailing suction hopper dredge has undergone modifications in Canada to improve it that are valued at more than its purchase price.
Applications for a certificate of qualification must be sent to: 
    Director, Defence and Marine
    Aerospace, Defence and Marine Branch
    INDUSTRY CANADA
    CD Howe Building, Room 733C
    235 Queen Street
    Ottawa, Ontario
    K1A 0H5

Applications for a certificate of qualification may be submitted by providing the information required in the form entitled “Certificate of Qualification of Floating Plant.”

The contractor  must provide a certified true copy of the certificate of qualification of the trailing suction hopper dredge to the PSPC (PWGSC) Departmental representative before the start of work.

Other floating plants
If other floating plants are used for this dredging project, they must be registered and manufactured in Canada.

However, a bidder  wishing to provide other floating plants that are not of Canadian make or manufacture must obtain a certificate of qualification from Industry Canada before submitting its bid . Applications for a certificate of qualification must be sent to the Director, Defence and Marine Branch, Industry Canada, at the address above. The Director, Defence and Marine Branch, Industry Canada, must receive the application a minimum of fourteen (14) days before the bid submission closing date.

The bidder must provide, with its bid, a certified true copy of the certificate of qualification issued by IndustryCanada.

Floating plants evaluated and approved by Industry Canada may be accepted for this dredging project.”
 



Estimated calendar
- Issue of the competitive bidding process  : autumn 2016;
- Bidding period: approximately 3 months;
- Evaluation of bids and awarding of contract: approximately 3 months; and
- Start of work: June 2019.


QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
Contractors with questions or comments regarding this preliminary project notice may send them by email to jean.rochette@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.

PSPC (PWGSC) will read all comments received but will not be bound by them. 


This notice is not a bid solicitation, and there are no commitments with respect to future purchases or contracts.




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.