Network Graph Visualization Software

Trade Agreement: NAFTA / CFTA / FTAs with Peru / Colombia / Panama / Korea
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited to bid
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
Cambridge Intelligence
6-8 Hills Road
United Kingdom
CB2 1JP
Nature of Requirements: 

Network Graph Visualization Software

1.    Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)
An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier. 

2.    Definition of the requirement
Public Works and Government Services Canada, on behalf of its client, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), proposes to negotiate the supply of a Software Key Lines.

NRC requires the acquisition of one Software for the Intelligenc3 & Analytics function.

The Software must be capable of network graph visualization and meets all the criteria below.

3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its product(s) meets the requirements of the requirement and that it includes the following components and/or specifications:

MANDATORY CRITERIA:

• The software must be deployable for on-line use, and the graph is accessible via modern browsers, e.g., Chrome, Firefox.

• The software must be designed for network graph visualization and can draw on different types of data, such as relational databases, graph databases, json, and so on.

• The software must be able to fold up and drill down on the same graph with the data loaded into the browser. Specifically, the software must allow the user to group/ungroup per hierarchical definition of node relations (taxonomy) without limitation on the depth of the hierarchy (e.g., groups of … groups of nodes); the user can also group/ungroup nodes per attributes of data entity (e.g., the nationality of authors in the database). This feature allows an entry point at any level and the user can then drill down from one data point to see details or fold up to gain a bird’s eye view.

• The software must be able to save the view state of the graph, including the selection of nodes and edges, and then be opened by another user to continue working on the graph from that state. For example, the user can share a hyper link with colleagues, and the tool will render that captured graph state.

• The software must be able to dynamically show the evolution of the graph over a timeline, with filtering conditions applied and retained. The graph must have zoom control with respect to the timeline. This allows the user to use a timestamp field to ‘play’ and show chronological changes of the graph throughout the dataset. The view period length is flexible, and can be easily/graphically adjusted (by mouse dragging) at any point of time, during the process of playing.

• Must have built-in layout algorithm, and the user can define custom layout algorithms. 


4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement
This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:
o Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) 
o North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)


5.   Government Contracts Regulations Exception
The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work".


6. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons
The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the (section of the trade agreement(s) specified):

- Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) - Article 513.
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Article 1016.2(b).

7. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
Cambridge Intelligence Ltd manufactures the Software, which combine all the unique and essential characteristics required by NRC. Consequently, in accordance with government contracting policy, it is proposed that a contract be awarded to Cambridge Intelligence Ltd, which is to our knowledge, the only firm capable of supplying the products.


8.    Ownership of Intellectual Property
Ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the Contractor.


9.    Period of the proposed contract or delivery date
The equipment must be delivered no later than ten (10) days following the contract award.


10.    Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
Cambridge Intelligence Ltd
115C Milton Rd
Cambridge, CB4 1XE
United Kingdom


11.    Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities
Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.


12.     Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities 
The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is March 19, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

13. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities
Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: 
    
Name: Alain Roy
Title:          Supply Specialist
Telephone:        (418) 906-8611
Facsimile:      (418) 648-2209
Email:     alain.roy.que@tpsgc.gc.ca




Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting officer identified above.

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority may then proceed with the award.  However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full tendering process.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this Notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

The PWGSC file number, the contracting officer's name and the closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile transmission, on the covering page.

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.