RFI FOR HIGH LEVEL BUS. REQ. EX SUM

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: 
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched
initiatives to modernize food safety inspection that includes
the designing of a new and improved food inspection model and
building a secure electronic interface with industry and
international partners.

CFIA is looking to acquire a COTS, build solution or hosting
services, in whole or in part, for these initiatives.

PWGSC Info:
XL-39903-130024
Name: Russell McHugh
Telephone No: 819-956-1248
Fax No:	 819-953-3703

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued by Public Works and
Government Services Canada on behalf of the CFIA.

The RFI is intended only to solicit feedback from industry with
respect to the matters described in the RFI.

Background

The CFIA plays a key role in maintaining Canada's food safety
system. But the world in which the CFIA operates is changing and
the CFIA needs to change with it. Canada has one of the best
food inspection systems in the world. The intent of inspection
modernization is to build on this strong foundation, and to be
flexible and able to adapt to emerging global and scientific
trends.

The implementation of an Improved Food Inspection Model
supported by integrated IM/IT solutions will allow the Agency to
move away from an approach where an establishment may experience
a number of visits by several different CFIA inspectors to that
of a streamlined system where one inspector or a specialized
audit team would have the ability to provide inspections across
multiple food commodities. The improved model will balance
visual inspection while verification of industry compliance
through evaluation of records and control systems. 
As well, the CFIA's operating environment has become more
complex due to increasing export volumes, security needs and
documentation demands. As a result, the demand to automate and
offer services electronically is increasing domestically and
internationally.  Electronic service delivery of export
certificates is viewed as a natural progression from paper-based
systems by both Industry and International Trading Partners.
Both the Improved Food Inspection Model (IFIM) and Electronic
Service Delivery Platform (ESDP) are major components of the
broader CFIA initiative to improve and modernize food safety
inspection in Canada.  The objectives of both IFIM and ESDP are
to apply an enterprise-based approach to streamline internal
processes, improve internal Agency efficiencies and provide a
technology alternative to a paper-based system.
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.