Request for Information - Motion Control System for Human
Centrifuge

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Attachment: None
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 




Request for Information  - Motion Control System for Human
Centrifuge 


1.0	Background  

1.1	The Human Centrifuge at the  Defence Research and
Development Canada (DRDC), 			Toronto Research Centre is used to
produce forces similar to those experienced in a steep 		turning
manoeuvre in military aircraft. It is used for training Royal
Canadian Air Force (RCAF) air 		crew in high gravitational (G)
force environments to recognize and prevent symptoms of
			G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) while flying. The
RCAF is considering options to 		maintain the capability at
DRDC, Toronto Research Centre for another 10 years. 

1.2	The centrifuge, built by EMRO Engineering, was installed in
1988. An upgrade was completed in 		1998 with an Environmental
Tectonics Corporation (ETC) operator control system. An			
independent, hardware-based Safety System was designed and
installed by ASECO in 2004 to 		complete a failsafe system.
Although the electro-mechanical hardware has many more years of
		serviceable life, the existing operator control system is
unserviceable and requires replacement.

2.0	Objective and Purpose of this Request for Information (RFI)

2.1 	The objective of this request for information is to:

	(a)	determine the extent of interest and existence of expertise
in industry to provide the 		services required to refit the
operator control system for the DRDC Human Centrifuge;

	(b)	allow respondents to assess and comment on the adequacy and
clarity of the 			requirements as currently expressed;

	(c)	allow respondents to propose alternate methods of
maintaining the Human Centrifuge 		capability; and

	(d)	provide industry with an opportunity to communicate
information about the factors that 		DRDC and the RCAF should
take into consideration when planning and developing the refit
plan.

2.2 	DRDC and the RCAF will use the input from industry to:

	(a)	help determine whether to proceed with the refit as
planned, and if so, develop the 		necessary approvals and
documents that may potentially lead to a solicitation;

	(b)	refine the requirements, cost estimate, and timelines;

	(c) 	become a more informed buyer; and
	(d)	potentially consider alternative delivery concepts that
meet the RCAF's requirements.

3.0	Nature of Request for Information

This is not a bid solicitation. This RFI will not result in the
award of any contract. As a result, potential suppliers of any
goods or services described in this RFI should not reserve stock
or facilities, nor allocate resources, because of any
information contained in this RFI. Nor will this RFI 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. Also, the
procurement of any of the goods and services described in this
RFI will not necessarily follow this RFI. This RFI is intended
to solicit feedback from industry with respect to the matters
described in this RFI.

4.0	Nature of Responses Requested

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 are also invited to provide comments
regarding the content, format and/or organization of any draft
documents included in this RFI. Respondents should explain any
assumptions they make in their responses. Clear and concise
documentation are required to demonstrate knowledge, experience
and capability.

5.0	Response Costs

Canada will not reimburse any respondent for expenses incurred
in responding to this RFI.

6.0	Treatment of Responses

6.1	Use of Responses: Responses will not be formally evaluated.
However, the responses received 		may be used by Canada to
develop or modify procurement strategies or any draft documents
		contained in this RFI. Canada will review all responses
received by the RFI closing date. Canada 		may, in its
discretion, review responses received after the RFI closing date.

6.2	Review Team: A review team composed of representatives of
the client (where applicable) and 		PWGSC will review the
responses. Canada reserves the right to hire any independent
consultant, 		or use any Government resources that it considers
necessary to review any response. Not all 		members of the
review team will necessarily review all responses.

6.3	Confidentiality: Respondents should mark any portions of
their response that they consider 		proprietary or confidential.
Canada will handle the responses in accordance with the Access
to 		Information Act.

6.4	Follow-up Activity: Canada, in its discretion, may contact
any respondents to follow up with 		additional questions or for
clarification of any aspect of a response.

7.0	Contents of this RFI

7.1	This RFI contains a draft Statement of Work (Annex A). This
document remains a work in 		progress and respondents should not
assume that new clauses or requirements will not be added 		to
any bid solicitation that is ultimately published by Canada. Nor
should respondents assume that 	none of the clauses or
requirements will be deleted or revised. Comments regarding any
aspect of 	the draft document are welcome.

7.2	This RFI contains draft Experience Criteria (Annex B).

7.3	This RFI also contains specific questions addressed to the
industry.


8.0	Questions to Industry

All responses are valued:

8.1	Adequacy and clarity of the requirements:  

	(a)	Provide comments on the adequacy of the Statement of Work
(Annex A) as currently 		expressed. What additional information
would be required to bid on this requirement?

	(b)	It is anticipated that a supplier would demonstrate a
profile of relevant experience. Are the 	Experience Criteria
(Annex B), as currently expressed clear and reasonable?

8.2	Industry Interest:  Provide general information on the
following:

	(a)	How would the respondent approach the work?

	(b)	What resources would the respondent need to acquire,
develop or redeploy to perform 		the work?

	(c)	Statements describing the potential capability and capacity
of your target
	resources, or full or partial resumes. 

	(d)	Reference sites and contacts for verification of stated
capability and experience. 
 
	(e)	Estimated rough order of magnitude costs including but not
limited to system 			development, installation, validation, and
operator training.

	(f)	Estimated rough order of magnitude of the time required to
complete the work.
	
	(g)	Identify potential issues, risks and concerns the
respondent would expect at the start and 		during the work and
outline their mitigation strategy (s) for addressing them.

	(h)	Express willingness, beyond a warranty period, to a longer
term relationship where 		maintenance and support would be
provided on an annual and or a time and materials 			arrangement.

8.3	 Method of Supply:  

Provide an indication if the respondent is listed, or plans to
be listed, on the following Supply
Arrangements and Standing Offers: the Solutions - Based
Informatics Professional Services (SBIPS)Supply Arrangement, the
Task-Based - Informatics Professional Services (TBIPS) Standing
Offer and Supply Arrangement, or the Technical, Engineering and
Maintenance Services Supply Arrangement (TEMS) Supply
Arrangement. 


9.0	Format of Responses 

9.1	Number of Copies: Canada requests that respondents submit
ONE (1) hard copy and
	ONE (1) soft copy.

9.2	Soft copy responses must be formatted in MS Office 2010
applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, 	etc.) compatible with
the MS Windows 7 personal computing environment.

9.3	Cover Page: If the response includes multiple volumes,
respondents are requested to indicate on 		the front cover page
of each volume the title of the response, the solicitation
number, the volume 		number and the full legal name of the
respondent.

9.4	Title Page: The first page of each volume of the response,
after the cover page, should be the title 	page, which should
contain:
	(a)	the title of the respondent's response and the volume
number; 
	(b)	the name and address of the respondent;
	(c)	the name, address and telephone number of the respondent's
contact; 
	(d)	the date; and
	(e)	the RFI number.


9.5	Numbering System: Respondents are requested to prepare their
response using a numbering 		system corresponding to the one in
this RFI. All references to descriptive material, technical
		manuals and brochures included as part of the response should
be referenced accordingly.

 
10.0	Enquiries

Because this is not a bid solicitation, Canada will not
necessarily respond to enquiries in writing or by circulating
answers to all potential suppliers. However, respondents with
questions regarding this RFI may direct their enquiries to:

Contracting Authority:	Kaye Callahan
E-mail address:		kaye.callahan@pwgsc-tpgsc.gc.ca
Telephone:		(905) 615-2071
Facsimile:		(905) 615-2060

11.0		Submission of Responses

11.1	Time and Place for Submission of Responses: Suppliers
interested in providing a response 		should  be submitted to the
Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC) Bid Receiving Unit
	by  the time and date indicated on page 1 of this document.

11.2	Responsibility for Timely Delivery: Each respondent is
solely responsible for ensuring its response 	is delivered on
time to the correct location.

11.3	Identification of Response: Each respondent should ensure
that its name and return address, the 		solicitation number and
the closing date appear legibly on the outside of the response.
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.