NMSO - COMPUTERS

Trade Agreement: WTO-AGP/NAFTA/Canada-Peru FTA/Canada-Colombia FTA Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid Attachment: None Competitive Procurement Strategy: Best Overall Proposal Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Nature of Requirements: NMSO - COMPUTERS - SERVERS

This solicitation is being issued to satisfy the Government of Canada's requirement for the supply, delivery, configuration, installation, integration and implementation of Computer Systems, including System Upgrades, System Components, Other Related Items, warranty, maintenance, software support services and documentation, all of which is to be provided on an "as-and-when-requested" basis to locations throughout Canada, excluding any locations in areas subject to any of the Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements, when a Call-up is made in accordance with any resulting NMSOs. Any resulting standing offers may be used by any Government Department, Departmental Corporation or Agency, or other body of the Government of Canada (including all those described in the Financial Administration Act, as amended from time to time) or any other party for which the Department of Public Works and Government Services has been authorized to act from time to time under section 16 of the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act. This solicitation does not preclude Canada from using another method of supply for entities of the Government of Canada with the same or similar needs.

The requirement is subject to the provisions of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA), the Canada-Columbia Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement and the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).

The series of resulting NMSOs, as a whole, will have no expiry date (unless PWGSC determines, in its sole discretion, to set aside this procurement vehicle). As demand for new computer technologies develops, new Categories will be competed on the GETS, allowing new suppliers to qualify or existing suppliers to add Categories to their Standing Offer. Each individual Category will be valid for a period of two years, plus two optional one-year extension periods from the date it is originally awarded. Each time a Category is subsequently awarded after publishing a new competition on the GETS, this two-year period plus the two one-year extension periods will begin running again. As a result, different Categories may be subject to different end dates. At the time individual Categories are recompeted, or new Categories are added, suppliers who already hold NMSOs may be exempted from providing certain information that they have previously provided in order to obtain their existing NMSO (for example, if the experience requirements remain unchanged, existing Offerors may not be required to re-demonstrate that they have the necessary experience).

This RFSO includes the following Group and Categories of equipment:

Category 1.0S Rack-Optimized 2-Socket 1 U; Category 2.0S Rack-Optimized Socket 2-Socket 2U; Category 2.1S Rack-Optimized Enterprise 2-Socket 2U; Category 3.0S Rack-Optimized Pedestal-to-Rack Convertible Departmental 2-Socket 5U; Category 4.0S Rack-Mount Departmental 4-Socket 4U; Category 1.0B Blade Chassis / Enclosure; Category 2.0B 2-Socket Blade; Category 2.1B 2-Socket Blade Enterprise; Category 3.0B 4-Socket Blade; Category 3.1B 4-Socket Enterprise Blade;

All potential suppliers capable of meeting the requirements of this RFSO are invited to make offers. Suppliers are not required to be the Manufacturer of any Products to submit an offer, although the Manufacturer must certify non-manufacturer suppliers. The Annex entitled "Technical Specifications" describes the detailed technical specifications for all Categories.

All offers must consist of a technical offer and a financial offer. The detailed requirements for these offers are contained in Annexes entitled "Technical Offer" and "Financial Offer" and include mandatory requirements. Offerors are limited to a maximum of two (2) Systems per Category (the first System listed in the Category will be titled System A, the second System listed in the same Category will be titled System B); also, the same System will not be included in one Category more than once; furthermore, no more than two (2) Systems from any given Manufacturer will be included in one Category.

The basis of selection is described in detail in the Annex entitled "Basis of Selection" and consists of four phases: Confirmation of Compliance to Mandatory Requirements, Evaluation of Financial Offer, Benchmark Testing and Offeror Selection. Only offers that satisfy all the mandatory requirements and pass the financial evaluation will be considered.

For each Category, Canada anticipates qualifying up to eight (8) Systems that meet the requirements of this RFSO. If fewer Systems are qualified in a given Category than Canada considers advantageous, Canada reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to issue a further RFSO in order to identify additional offers eligible for standing offer issuance.

Offers will be evaluated on a "Category" basis. Therefore, if an Offeror wishes to submit an offer in only one specific Category, then it has the opportunity to do so. It is not mandatory to make an offer or be selected in all Categories to be issued a Standing Offer.

During the Standing Offer Period for a given Category, as technology evolves, Offerors will have the opportunity to propose substitute Products that offer equal or better value to Canada. Periodically, all Offerors will also have the opportunity to refresh their prices.

After any resulting Standing Offers have been issued, all Offerors will be notified in writing regarding the outcome of this solicitation.

SCHEDULE

Deadline for first set of questions, Q1 (by noon EST): October 4, 2012 Release of answers to Q1 (estimated): November 2, 2012 Deadline for second set of questions, Q2 (by noon EST): November 16, 2012 Release of answers to Q2 (estimated): November 30, 2012 RFSO closing date: December 7, 2012 Systems delivered for Benchmark testing: December 12-14, 2:00PM NMSO award (estimated): January, 2013 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.