Demande de renseignement (DDR) - OFFRES À COMMANDES POUR LES
SERVICES DE FORMATION LINGUISTIQUE

Trade Agreement: NAFTA/AIT/Canada-Peru FTA/Canada-Colombia FTA
Tendering Procedures: 
Attachment: None
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: Yes
Nature of Requirements: 
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) REGARDING STANDING OFFERS FOR
LANGUAGE TRAINING SERVICES IN BOTH ENGLISH AND FRENCH


1.0 OBJECTIVES OF THIS RFI

PWGSC is requesting your feedback on the establishment of
Standing Offers for Language Training Services. The purpose of
this RFI is to provide the industry with an early opportunity to
assess and comment on the proposed requirements, criteria and
work allocation methodology for the SOs, while reducing
potential questions when the language training services RFSOs
are posted.


2.0 BACKGROUND

During summer 2012, Public Works and Government Services Canada
(PWGSC), supported by representatives of Policy, the Client
Engagement Sector and the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises
(OSME), will post the new draft national strategy it is
proposing for the procurement of language training services in
Canada's official languages. This strategy has also been
developed to provide a consistent and coherent national approach
to the procurement of language training services. 

The objective of this strategy is to offer the following:

Quality: 		Consistent quality assured in a unique training
program
Flexibility: 		Choice of supplier and satisfying individual needs
Ease of use: 	Easy to access and easy to use

In the meantime, in view of federal employees' continuous needs
for language training resulting from the discontinuation of any
direct delivery of language training services by the Canada
School of Public Service (the School) as of March31, 2012, PWGSC
will be initiating regional competitive processes for standing
offers (SOs) (spring 2013) and supply arrangements (SAs) (fall
2013) with language training service suppliers in keeping with
this national strategy. Through these SOs and SAs, full-time and
part-time language training will be provided for federal
employees (learners) across Canada.

In addition, although needs have been determined for Canada as a
whole, the National Capital Region (NCR) will be handled on a
priority basis, given the high volume of language training
services used and the urgency of implementing procurement
mechanisms to replace SOs that will expire in the near future.
The draft statements of work have therefore been prepared to
meet the needs of the NCR. However, they can be adapted to meet
the needs of the regions.

We thus invite suppliers based in any region of Canada to take
part in this RFI.

Although SOs and an SA will be issued under this strategy, this
RFI applies only to Language training services commonly used
under the Refest for Standing Offers (RFSOs).  A second RFI will
be issued in 2013 to solicit comments' Industry to meet
particular needs under the Request for Supply Arrangements
(RFSA).


3.0 NATURE OF REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

This RFI is an industry consultation document intended to
solicit feedback from industry with respect to the matters
described in this RFI. This is not a bid solicitation.

This RFI will not result in the award of any contract,
therefore, potential suppliers of any goods or services
described in this RFI should not earmark 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 not considered as an
authorization by Public Works and Government Services Canada
(PWGSC) to undertake any work that would result in costs to
PWGSC. 


4.0 NATURE AND FORMAT OF RESPONSES REQUESTED

Respondents are requested to provide their comments, raise any
concerns and, where applicable, make recommendations on how the
requirements or objectives described in this RFI could be
satisfied. Respondents should explain any assumptions they make
in their responses.


5.0 RESPONSE COSTS

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


6.0 TREATMENT OF RESPONSES

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

Review Team: A review team composed of representatives from
various Sectors within the Department of Public Works and
Government Services will review the responses. The Government of
Canada reserves the right to hire any independent consultant, or
use any Government resources, which it deems necessary to review
any response. Not all members of the review team will
necessarily review all responses.

Confidentiality: Respondents should mark any portions of their
response that they consider proprietary or confidential. The
Government of Canada will treat those portions of the responses
as confidential to the extent permitted by the Access to
Information Act.

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


7.0 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

Responses to this RFI may be in either of the official languages
of Canada, French or English.


8.0 CONTENT OF THIS RFI

This RFI contains a draft Scope of Work and certain clauses and
conditions of the draft RFSOs. These documents remain a work in
progress, and respondents should anticipate that clauses or
requirements may be added to or deleted from any RFSO that is
ultimately published by Canada. Comments regarding any aspect of
this RFI, including the draft Statements of Work and supplier
requirements, are welcome. This RFI also contains specific
questions addressed to the industry.


9.0 ENQUIRIES

Specific questions pertaining to Language Training acquisitions
or to this RFI should be directed to the Contracting Authority.

The Contracting Authority (or delegated representative)
responsible for the management of the RFI process is:

Christine Bélair
	A/Supply Team Leader
	Linguistic Services Division
STAMS 
PWGSC 
Government of Canada 
Place du Portage, PhaseIII, Floor11C1 
Station17
11Laurier Street
Gatineau QC  K1A0S5
E-mail: christine.belair@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

Any general question on doing business with PWGSC should be
directed to the Office of Small and Medium Entreprises. We
invite you to visit the website buyansell.gc.ca where you will
find information, tools and help completing the tasks related to
selling to the Government of Canada.


10.0 SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES

Time and Place for Submission of Responses: Suppliers interested
in providing a response should deliver it as indicated above by
the time and date indicated on page 1 of this solicitation
document.

Responsibility for Timely Delivery: Timely delivery and correct
direction of responses is the sole responsibility of the
respondent. PWGSC will not assume or have transferred to it
those responsibilities.             

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.