Quality Assurance Services

Trade Agreement: NONE Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid Competitive Procurement Strategy: Best Overall Proposal Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Nature of Requirements:

IMPORTANT: This tender is part of Public Works and Government Services Canada’s initiative to submit bid submission files electronically using epost Connect. Interested bidders should refer to Part 2 of the solicitation document entitled Instructions to bidders/offerors/suppliers, as the case may be, for instructions on how to participate and submit their files electronically for this tender.

1. TITLE: STUDY OF CANADA’S GRAIN QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM IN AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT

2. SECURITY: There are security requirements associated with this requirement.

2.1 Security Requirements

2.1.1 The following security requirements (SRCL and related clauses provided by the Contract Security Program) apply and form part of the Contract.

SECURITY REQUIREMENT FOR CANADIAN SUPPLIER: PWGSC FILE No EP635-200700

2.1.1.1 The Contractor/Offeror must, at all times during the performance of the Contract/Standing Offer, hold a valid Designated Organization Screening (DOS), issued by the Contract Security Program (CSP) of the Industrial Security Sector (ISS), Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC).

2.1.1.2 The Contractor/Offeror personnel requiring access to PROTECTED B information, assets or sensitive work site(s) must EACH hold a valid RELIABILITY STATUS, granted or approved by the CSP/ISS/PWGSC.

2.1.1.3 The Contractor/Offeror MUST NOT remove any PROTECTED B information or assets from the identified work site(s), and the Contractor/Offeror must ensure that its personnel are made aware of and comply with this restriction.

2.1.1.4 Subcontracts which contain security requirements are NOT to be awarded without the prior written permission of the CSP/ISS/PWGSC.

2.1.1.5 The Contractor/Offeror must comply with the provisions of the: a) Security Requirements Check List and security guide (if applicable), attached at Annex "C"; b) Industrial Security Manual (Latest Edition).

2.1.2 Contractor’s Sites or Premises Requiring Safeguarding Measures

2.1.2.1 Where safeguarding measures are required in the performance of the Work, the Contractor must diligently maintain up-to-date the information related to the Contractor’s and proposed individuals’ sites or premises for the following addresses:

Street Number / Street Name: Unit / Suite / Apartment Number: City, Province, Territory / State: Postal Code / Zip Code: Country:

2.1.3 The Company Security Officer must ensure through the Contract Security Program that the Contractor and individuals hold a valid security clearance at the required level.

3. REQUIREMENT

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is leading a review of the Canada Grain Act (CGA) and the operations of the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC). The purpose of the review is to identify potential enhancements to legislative and regulatory structures necessary to meet the current and future needs of Canada’s grain sector. The purpose of this study is to examine the quality assurance needs that international buyers consider when buying Canadian grain, and how Canada’s grain quality assurance system compares to that of other major grain exporting countries.

4. EVALUATION AND SELECTION

Mandatory and point rated technical evaluation criteria are included in Annex "E" of the solicitation.

Contractor selection will be based on the highest responsive combined rating of technical merit and price. The ratio will be 70% for the technical merit and 30% for the price.

5. OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Any intellectual property arising from the performance of the Work under the Contract will vest in Canada.

6. PERIOD OF CONTRACT

It is anticipated the contract will be effective from date of award to 2020-03-31.

Contracting Authority

Lorraine Jenkinson Procurement Specialist Procurement Branch, Western Region Public Services and Procurement Canada Canada Place, Suite 1000 9700 Jasper Avenue Edmonton AB, T5J 4C3

Telephone: 587-337-2458 Facsimile: 780-497-3510 Email: lorraine.jenkinson@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

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.