RFI FOR SOFTWARE GREEN PROC. PLAN

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 REGARDING

THE GREEN PROCUREMENT PLAN FOR SOFTWARE

FOR

PUBLIC WORKS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES CANADA (PWGSC) -
SOFTWARE AND SHARED SYSTEMS PROCUREMENT DIRECTORATE (SSSPD) 


BACKGROUND

Canada is committed to greening its supply chain.  In April
2006, the Government of Canada issued the Policy on Green
Procurement directing federal departments and agencies to take
the necessary steps to incorporate environmental performance
considerations into their procurement decision-making processes.
The Policy applies to all phases in the management of goods and
services, from the planning and requirement definition phases
through acquisition, use, operation and maintenance, and
ultimately disposal or close-out activities.
 
Environmentally preferable goods and services are those that
have a lesser or reduced impact on the environment over the life
cycle of the good or service, when compared with competing goods
or services serving the same purpose. Environmental performance
considerations include, among other things: the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions and air contaminants; improved energy
and water efficiency; reduced waste and support reuse and
recycling; the use of renewable resources; reduced hazardous
waste; and reduced toxic and hazardous substances.

PWGSC wants to understand how the software industry has
progressed in greening its own supply chain, operations and the
goods and services it provides.  Upcoming procurement
solicitations may include evaluation criteria (either mandatory
and/or rated) or contractual requirements related to the
environment.  PWGSC is currently gathering information so that
it can consider appropriate environmental evaluation criteria
and/or contractual requirements for future software procurements.

Information regarding PWGSC's Green Procurement Plans and the
Green Scorecard for Software Licenses and related Maintenance
and Support Services can be found at the following link:
http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/ae-gp/pae-gpp-eng.html

OBJECTIVE

This Request for Information (RFI) includes questions related to
green procurement for software that will be used to assist in
determining how can the Government of Canada advances the
protection of the environment and supports sustainable
development by integrating environmental performance
considerations into the procurement decision-making process for
software.

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, as a result 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 simply
intended to solicit feedback from industry with respect to the
matters described in this RFI.

NATURE AND FORMAT 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.

RESPONSE COSTS

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