RFI - Strategy that Fosters a Culture of Sustainability

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: 

RFI - Occupant Engagement Strategy

EP959-193232/A
Large, Kathy
Telephone No. - (250) 216-4455

Email: kathy.large@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Strategy that Fosters a Culture of Sustainability in PSPC Owned Buildings.

BACKGROUND OF THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

The federal government has set ambitious carbon reduction goals and is expecting all departments to find ways of contributing to these goals. Buildings currently account for 40% of global energy use and 33% of global GHG emissions. Buildings also offer the greatest potential for emissions reductions, as energy consumption within existing stock can be reduced by 30 to 80% using proven and commercially-available technologies. However, the so-called performance gap of occupant engagement has shown that technology alone is not sufficient to meet sustainability goals for buildings. It is also important to engage building occupants so that they take on responsibility for meeting
critical sustainability goals.

PSPC’s mission is to deliver high-quality services and programs that meet the needs of their employees and other government departments and ensure sound stewardship on behalf of Canadians. One of our core values is to demonstrate leadership through responsible action, forward-looking perspective and commitment to continual improvement. This also applies to our commitment for taking significant action and leadership on sustainability.

We are looking to work with a public institution, such as a university, or private company to develop and test an effective engagement strategy for developing a culture of sustainability in PSPC owned office buildings. The purpose of this strategy is to develop and strengthen a sense of responsibility for sustainability among the occupants of PSPC buildings. The outcome of a successful strategy would result in meaningful improvements in energy and water use, recycling, composting, plastic use, and in the wellness and productivity of the building occupants. For each of these consumption objectives clear benchmarks will be required to be established to assess whether the strategy is able to produce quantifiable results. In addition, a methodology for measuring success that includes details on the frequency and types of measurements to be made, will be an essential part of the strategy.

The project will be national in scope and may involve buildings in any province or territory.

The supplier’s specialty should focus on urban sustainability with researchers capable of undertaking multi-year research.

The supplier must have a demonstrable track record of planning, carrying out and managing a research budget related to urban sustainability projects.

To assess the capacity of a supplier to conduct such research, the supplier should indicate who would lead the research as principle investigators, their research field(s) and accomplishments in their fields.

PURPOSE OF THIS RFI

Through this Request for Information (RFI) PSPC is seeking to assess the interest and capacity of universities or private companies to conduct multi-year research into occupant engagement leading to the development and testing of an effective engagement strategy for developing a culture of sustainability in PSPC owned office buildings.

INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONS

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

1) Does your organization have experience in researching, developing and implementing effective occupant engagement strategies for developing a culture of sustainability within buildings? Describe your experience.

2) Does your organization have the capacity to conduct multi-year research, encompassing multiple sites across Canada? Describe your structure that would support this type of work.

3) Has your organisation conducted research into building occupants’ behaviours and attitudes towards sustainability? Describe your experience.

4) Does your organisation have experience with assessing the role of technology in supporting a culture of sustainability in buildings? Describe your experience.

5) Does your organisation have experience with social media tools in the context of supporting a culture of sustainability in buildings? Describe your experience.

6) Does your organisation have experience working with building owners and managers and staff and their leadership working in buildings on initiatives to change behaviours regarding environmental sustainability and wellness? Describe your experience.

7) Does your organisation have access to grants or other types of funding that supports your work in sustainability occupant engagement strategies research?

8) Is your organisation partnered with (other) academic institutions that would play a role in a research project?

9) Do you have any other comments regarding the development of a Statement of Work, such as key elements that should be included to achieve the objectives of the Work?

10) Do you have any related comments?

NOTE TO RESPONDENTS:

Respondents may submit their responses to the PSPC Contracting Authority, identified below, preferably via email:

Kathy Large, Supply Specialist
Commercial Acquisitions, Pacific Region
Public Services and Procurement Canada

401-1230 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia

T: (250) 216-4455
kathy.large@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

IMPORTANT NOTE TO RESPONDENTS

This RFI is neither a call for tender nor a Request for Proposal (RFP). No agreement or contract will be entered into based on this RFI. The issuance of this RFI is not to be considered in any way a commitment by the Government of Canada, nor as authority to potential respondents to undertake any work that could be charged to Canada. This RFI is not to be considered as a commitment to issue a subsequent solicitation or award contract(s) for the work described herein.

This RFI is not intended to constitute, or be interpreted as, a call for tenders, a call for proposals, or as a pre-qualification process. Submission of a response to this RFI or participation in a meeting is not intended to, nor does it, create any contractual or other legally binding obligation or duty, including any obligation or duty to accept or reject information, to enter into negotiations or decline to enter into or continue negotiations, or to award or decline to award a contract. Participation in this RFI and the submission of a response to this RFI is not a pre-condition to participation in a subsequent commercial process, if any.

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.

There is no formal structure or format that a response to this RFI should meet. The respondent should feel free to submit whatever information it feels would make a useful and relevant contribution to PSPC analysis of this project and the development of solicitation documents to procure a solution to fulfill its requirements.

Canada may, in its sole discretion, contact any respondents to follow up with additional questions or for clarification of any aspect of a response.

This RFI will not 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.

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).

PSPC will in no way make any direct attribution of any information obtained from respondents that has been identified by respondents as confidential or proprietary within their responses.

Responses will not be formally evaluated. However, PSPC will review all responses received by the RFI closing date. PSPC may, at their discretion, review responses received after the RFI closing date.

A review team composed of representatives of PSPC will review the responses received. PSPC reserves the right to hire any independent consultant or use any resources that it considers necessary to review any response, in part or in its entirety. Not all members of the review team will necessarily review all responses.

In addition to any other expressed or implied rights, PSPC reserves the right to:

1) Cancel this RFI process at any time; 

2) Cancel this RFI process at any time and issue a new RFI for the same or similar information;

3) Make amendments to the timing and/or structure of this RFI process, including the closing date of the RFI, at its exclusive discretion;

4) Request additional supporting information or clarification from any or all respondents, and/or provide to respondents additional clarification and information pertinent to this RFI;

5) Contact any customer or reference provided within a respondents submission; and

6) Not consider any response, in its entirety, containing information which PSPC in its opinion, believes to contain misrepresentations or any other inaccurate, suspicious or misleading information.

Changes to the RFI may occur and will be advertised on the Government Electronic Tendering System (buyandsell.gc.ca). PSPC may provide written answers to questions received on or before the RFI closing date by means of RFI addenda and or Questions and Answers Posted on Buyandsell.gc.ca. Canada asks Respondents to visit Buyandsell.gc.ca regularly to check for changes, if any.


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.