Information Technology Infrastructure in Support of Command and Control

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Competitive Procurement Strategy: Subsequent/Follow-on Contracts
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 

* The response closing date is amended to Thursday, March 28, 2024.

Information Technology Infrastructure in Support of Command and Control (ITI in Sp of C2) - Invitation to Qualify (ITQ)

W8474-18IT01/C

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), on behalf of The Department of National Defence (DND) / Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), is releasing this Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) to qualify Suppliers that have the ability to provide a secure, hyperscale Cloud capability as part of the Information Technology Infrastructure in Support of Command and Control (ITI in Sp of C2) Project to proceed to the subsequent phases of the procurement process.

Purpose: The release of the ITQ has as a goal the following objectives:
- To support the finalization of the Statement of Requirements (SOR), system specifications, and other relevant documentation for Cloud. 
- Advise potential suppliers of the security requirements of follow-on procurement phases and resulting contract;
- Provide other relevant information on the potential RFP;
- Provide the contractual clauses for subsequent Funded Engagement contract(s).

Requirement Description:

The Department of National Defence (DND)/Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has a requirement to implement a secure, integrated Secret-level Information Technology (IT) infrastructure that will converge and reduce the number of DND/CAF Secret networks, provide enhanced connectivity and information sharing capabilities within the DND/CAF and with our mission partners, and readily evolve to meet future challenges. This IT infrastructure will enable commanders across the CAF to exercise Command and Control (C2), including at deployed headquarters, using the latest available technologies to provide optimal support capabilities.

The DND/CAF will deliver this new capability through the Information Technology Infrastructure in Support of Command and Control (ITI in Sp of C2) Project, which will, among other things, strive to leverage industry capabilities and efficiencies to deliver services to the maximum extent possible.

Nature of this Invitation to Qualify (ITQ):
- This requirement is open to all suppliers who meet the ITQ requirements.
- Only Qualified Suppliers who also meet the security requirements, will be will be provided the opportunity to be awarded a Task Authorization based Funded Engagement contract and invited to bid on the final RFP.
- This ITQ process is not a solicitation of bids or tenders, however; one or multiple Funded Engagement Contracts may be awarded to Qualified Suppliers in the follow-on phase.

The period of the Task Authorization based Funded Engagement Contract(s) issued will be for 1 year from date of Contract Award with the irrevocable option to extend the term of the Contract by up to (4) additional one (1) year period(s) under the same conditions.

It is intended to provide each Qualified Supplier the opportunity to enter into one Funded Engagement contract as a result of this ITQ. 

This ITQ allows Respondents to use the Canada Post Corporation’s (CPC) Connect service provided by Canada Post Corporation to transmit their response electronically. Respondents must refer to Part 2 entitled Respondents Instructions, and Part 3 entitled Response Preparation Instructions, of the ITQ, for further information.

National Security Exception (NSE) Notice: NSE is being invoked for this procurement; the requirement is not subject to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) or any other International Trade Agreements.

Security Requirements: The ITQ does not have security requirements. However, the post-ITQ - Funded Engagement Contract, has security requirements; therefore, respondents wishing to be issued a post-ITQ Funded Engagement Contract must hold the appropriate Security Clearances at the Funded Engagement contract award. While the current security requirement is at the level of SECRET, Canada may choose to include an option for this requirement to TOP SECRET at the RFP stage, if deemed necessary.

Controlled Goods Program: As the resulting contract may require the production of or access to controlled goods, Respondents are advised that within Canada only persons who are registered, exempt or excluded under the Controlled Goods Program (CGP) are lawfully entitled to examine, possess or transfer controlled goods.

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): A Qualified Supplier must complete, Annex D - Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to receiving and participating in a Funded Engagement Contract.  The NDA is only mandatory for those participating in the Funded Engagement contract phase and required before they obtain confidential information. However, respondents to the Invitation to Qualify are encouraged to submit the NDA with their ITQ submission.

Fairness Monitor: To ensure the fairness, transparency and integrity of the procurement process, Canada has engaged the services of an independent third-party Fairness Monitor (FM). The FM will not be part of the evaluation team but will, among other things, be granted access to any Response submitted in response to this ITQ and any related correspondence received by Canada pursuant to this ITQ. The FM will observe the evaluation of the ITQ responses with respect to Canada’s adherence to the evaluation process described in this ITQ and will observe the response debriefings. The FM is under obligations pursuant to its contract with Canada to maintain the confidentiality of all information received as a result of its participation in this procurement process.

Phased Bid Compliance Process (PBCP): is applicable to this solicitation, however; Phase I: Financial Bid, is not applicable to this ITQ.

Debriefing: The Contracting Authority will notify unsuccessful Respondents after the ITQ Phase. 

Respondents may request a debriefing on the results of the ITQ process. Respondents should make the request to the Contracting Authority within 15 working days from receipt of the results of the ITQ process. The debriefing may be provided in writing, by telephone, teleconference or videoconference, as determined by Canada.

Enquiries: All enquiries must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Authority no later than ten (10) calendar days before the Invitation to Qualify closing date. Enquiries received after that time may not be answered. Respondents with questions regarding this Invitation to Qualify may direct their enquiries to:

Aaron Abela
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Place du Portage III, 8C2
11 Laurier, Gatineau, Canada K1A 0S5
Email: TPSGC.PADivisionQE-APQEDivision.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

The use of email to communicate is preferred

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.

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.