Snow Removal & Ice Control Services

The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) seeks a firm to provide snow removal and ice control services at the Observatory. The successful Bidder will provide all equipment, labor and ancillary supplies to maintain the observatory grounds free of snow accumulation and ice.

2.1 Standard Instructions, Clauses and Conditions

All instructions, clauses and conditions identified in the bid solicitation by number, date and title are set out in the Standard Acquisition Clauses and Conditions Manual (https://canadabuys.canada.ca/en/how-procurement-works/policies-and-guidelines/standard-acquisition-clauses-and-conditions-manual) issued by Public Works and Government Services Canada.

Although the CanadaBuys site describes the clauses and conditions as archived, the clauses and conditions are valid. The Government of Canada is in the process of updating all contract templates. Until the new process is in effect, NRC will be using the clauses and conditions labelled as archived. To access the various clauses and conditions, please follow the instructions below.

You are invited to submit one electronic Technical Bid and one electronic Financial Bid in two separate attachments to fulfil the following requirement forming part of this Request for Proposal. One attachment must be clearly marked ‘Technical Bid’ and the other attachment must be marked ‘Financial Bid’. All financial information must be fully contained in the Financial Bid, and only in the Financial Bid. Bidders who provide financial information in the technical bid will be disqualified. All Bids should include the front page of this RFP duly completed.

2010C (2022-12-01), General Conditions - Services (Medium Complexity) apply to and form part of the Contract.

Bidders who submit a bid agree to be bound by the instructions, clauses and conditions of the bid solicitation and accept the clauses and conditions of the resulting contract.

Bids submitted must be valid for not less than sixty (60) calendar days from the closing date of the RFP.

2.1.1 It is the Bidder's responsibility to

(a) return a signed copy of the bid solicitation, duly completed, IN THE FORMAT REQUESTED;

(b) direct its bid ONLY to the Bid Receiving address specified under 2.3 Submission of Bids;

(c) ensure that the Bidder's name, the bid solicitation reference number, and bid solicitation closing date and time are clearly visible;

(d) provide a comprehensive and sufficiently detailed bid, including all requested pricing details, that will permit a complete evaluation in accordance with the criteria set out in the bid solicitation.

Timely and correct transmission of bids to the specified bid email address is the sole responsibility of the Bidder. The National Research Council Canada (NRC) will not assume or have transferred to it those responsibilities. All risks and consequences of incorrect transmission of bids is the responsibility of the Bidder.

2.1.2 Bids may be accepted in whole or in part. The lowest or any bid will not necessarily be accepted. In the case of error in the extension of prices, the unit price will govern. NRC may enter into contract without negotiation.

2.1.3 While NRC may enter into contract without negotiation, Canada reserves the right to negotiate with bidders on any procurement.

2.1.4 Notwithstanding the bid validity period stipulated in this solicitation, Canada reserves the right to seek an extension from all responsive bidders, within a minimum of three (3) days prior to the end of such period. Bidders shall have the option to either accept or reject the extension.

2.1.5 If the extension referred to above is accepted, in writing, by all responsive bidders, Canada will continue with the evaluation of the bids and its approval processes.

2.1.6 If the extension referred to above is not accepted, in writing, by all responsive bidders, Canada will, at its sole discretion, either continue to evaluate the bids of those who have accepted the extension and seek the necessary approvals; or cancel the solicitation; or cancel and reissue the solicitation. 2.2 Mandatory Site Visit

It is mandatory that the Bidder or a representative of the Bidder visit the work site. Arrangements have been made for the site visit to be held at 717 White lake road, Kaleden, BC, V0H-1K0 on August 2, 2024 The site visit will begin 10:00am PST at the main entrance.

Bidders must communicate with the Contracting Authority no later than August 1, 2024 to confirm attendance and provide the name(s) of the person(s) who will attend. Bidders will be required to sign an attendance sheet. Bidders should confirm in their bid that they have attended the site visit. Bidders who do not attend the mandatory site visit or do not send a representative will not be given an alternative appointment and their bid will be declared non-responsive. Any clarifications or changes to the bid solicitation resulting from the site visit will be included as an amendment to the bid solicitation.

2.3 Submission of Bids

Bids must be submitted only electronically to the National Research Council Canada (NRC) Bid Receiving email address, no later than 14:00 EDT (NRC's Server Time), September 3, 2024, to the following NRC email address:

NRC.BidReceiving-ReceptiondesSoumissions.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

The NRC has restrictions on incoming e-mail messages. The maximum e-mail message size including all file attachments must not exceed 10MB. Zip files or links to bid documents will not be accepted. Incoming e-mail messages exceeding the maximum file size and/or containing zip file attachments will be blocked from entering the NRC e-mail system. A bid transmitted by e-mail that gets blocked by the NRC e-mail system will be considered not received.

Bids must not be sent directly to the Contracting Authority.

All submitted bids become the property of NRC.

Due to the nature of the bid solicitation, hard copy bids (paper or soft copies on media) and bids transmitted by facsimile to NRC will not be accepted.