NMSO - COMPUTERS

Trade Agreement: WTO-AGP/NAFTA/AIT/Canada FTAs with Peru/Colombia/Panama Tendering Procedures: Attachment: None Competitive Procurement Strategy: Best Overall Proposal Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Nature of Requirements: 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 solicitation includes an immediate requirement of Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) (defined as the "Client" or "Identified User") for Ruggedised Slate Tablet PCs to be delivered to various locations across Canada. The resulting Contract will also include options to purchase additional quantities at any time within 12 months of the Contract award date. This procurement is set aside under the federal government's Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business, as detailed in Annex 9.4 Requirements for the Set-aside Program for Aboriginal Business, of the Supply Manual. This procurement is set aside from the international trade agreements under the provision each has for set-asides for small and minority businesses. Further to Article 1802 of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT), AIT does not apply to this procurement. Offerors are not required to obtain security clearance in order to be issued a Standing Offer, because most Call-ups will be unclassified - see the article in the Resulting Contract Clauses entitled "Security Requirement". However, the Standing Offer Authority or Identified User making a Call-up may, in its discretion, substitute an alternative Security Requirement for individual requirements. In those cases, the Call-up will only be issued to an Offeror who, at the time of the Call-up, satisfies the Security Requirement specified by the Identified User. It is recommended that suppliers (and key individuals within suppliers) who do not currently hold a security clearance at the level of Secret consider upgrading their security clearance status, since procurements will not be delayed in order to provide time for suppliers to obtain required security clearances. 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). For the definition of some of the terms used in this Article, refer to Article 6.1, "Offer".

The RFSO includes the following Group and Categories of equipment, as described in Annex B: Systems Group (a) 8.0N Ruggedised Slate Tablet PC (b) Within the Group, this Category is then divided in 4 Sections: (i) Default System (ii) System Upgrade (iii) System Components (iv) Other Related Items

The initial purchase requirement for CFIA includes the equipment described in Annex B1.:

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.

For this 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. For each System proposed, all items listed in the Annex entitled "List of Products" (for the Category of System offered) must be offered in order for the offer to be considered for that Category.

Call-up Limitations for each Category and Section are defined in the Annex entitled "Call-up Limitations". Pre-determined discount percentages will apply to orders exceeding certain dollar values.

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. The basis of selection for the RFSO 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 recommended for issuance of a Standing Offer.

Only offers that satisfy all the mandatory requirements and pass the financial evaluation of the RFSO will be considered for the initial purchase requirement for the Client. The basis of selection for the initial purchase requirement for CFIA is described in detail in the Annex entitled "Basis of Selection". The offer with the lowest Best Final Offer Price (BFOP) will be recommended for award of a contract. After any resulting Standing Offers and the initial purchase Contract have been issued, all Offerors will be notified in writing regarding the outcome of this solicitation.

NEW RFSO SCHEDULE (a) Deadline for questions, Q1 (by noon EST): Wednesday July 10th 2013 (b) Release of answers (estimated): Wednesday July 24th 2013 (c) Deadline for questions, Q2 (by noon EST): Tuesday July 30th 2013 (d) Release of answers (estimated): Tuesday August 6th 2013 (e) RFSO closing date: Tuesday August 13th, 2013 2PM EST (e) RFSO closing date: Tuesday August 20th, 2013 2PM EST (f) Systems delivered for Benchmark testing: Thursday August 15th 2PM EST (f) Systems delivered for Benchmark testing: Thursday August 22nd 2PM EST (g) NMSO award (estimated): Friday August 30th 2013 (g) NMSO award (estimated): Friday September 6th 2013

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada. 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.