CNS COLLECTIVE 4

Trade Agreement: NONE Tendering Procedures: Attachment: None Competitive Procurement Strategy: Best Overall Proposal Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: Yes Nature of Requirements: NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT

Converged Network Services - Collective 4

EN869-111252/A

The CNS Collective 4 RFP is extended to 2:00 PM (EDT) on August 8, 2012.

On May 28, 2012, the Government of Canada announced on the Government Electronic Tendering Service that it had invoked the National Security Exception under the trade agreements in respect of procurements related to email, networks and data centres for Shared Services Canada. As a result, this requirement is subject to the National Security Exception and is, therefore, excluded from all of the obligations of the trade agreements. Background On 4 August 2011, Shared Services Canada (SSC) was created by Order in Council in order to adopt an enterprise-wide approach to email, network and data centre services for the Government of Canada. Part of the Information Technology Services Branch (ITSB) of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) was transferred from PWGSC to SSC effective on that date.

PWGSC put the Converged Network Services Supply Arrangements in place for use by ITSB to serve its clients. The transfer of ITSB to SSC means that these clients are now being served by SSC. PWGSC will continue to make this Supply Arrangement available for use by SSC on its own behalf and on behalf of its Clients.

The permanent Request for Supply Arrangements and the Supply Arrangements (SAs) with SA Holders are hereby amended as follows:

Under the Definitions, the reference to ITS (the Information Technology Services branch of PWGSC) is changed to a reference to SSC: "Client" or "Clients" means SSC.

All references to ITS Clients will now be read as a reference to SSC Clients.

All other references to ITS, a branch of PWGSC, will be read as a reference to Shared Services Canada, which is not a branch of PWGSC, but has the status of a "department", as that term is defined in the Financial Administration Act (Shared Services Canada is currently listed under Schedule I.1 of the Financial Administration Act). Existing Supply Arrangement holders may continue to participate in individual CNS Requests for Proposals on the same basis as they did before 4 August 2011. RFP Issued under CNS Supply Arrangements: This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the supply of as-and-when-requested Network Services for Shared Services Canada under the Converged Network Services (CNS) Supply Arrangement (SA) method of supply for the following Service Solutions:

a) Enterprise Network Services 2 (ENS2); b) Transport Network Services 1 (TNS1); and c) Transport Network Services 3 (TNS3).

The services will be required for a period of three (3) years with the irrevocable option granted to Canada to extend the term of the contract by up to three (3) additional periods of one (1) year each.

Applicable Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements: The following Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements apply to this procurement:

- Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Final Agreement - Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement - Inuvialuit Final Agreement - Kwanlin Dun First Nation Final Agreement - Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement - Nunavut Land Claims Agreement - James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement; - Sahtu Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement; - Ta'an Kwach'an Council Final Agreement - Tlicho Land Claims Agreement. Eligibility to Compete for Requirement: Only Suppliers who currently hold CNS Supply Arrangements under the EN994-025224 series of SAs to provide all the above-noted Service Solutions are eligible to compete for this requirement. Qualified Suppliers who have qualified for any of the above-noted Service Solutions on the basis of third parties' capabilities, or have qualified to deliver the requirements of the General Statement of Work on the basis of third parties' capabilities, must submit Proposals that include those third parties as subcontractors.

Please note that this RFP is not available on GETS/MERX, all solicitation documents will be distributed simultaneously to all qualified CNS SA Holder representatives.

Suppliers who are interested in becoming CNS SA Holders to enable them to compete for future CNS requirements are invited to contact the following CNS Supply Arrangement Authority for further information:

Public Works and Government Services Canada Acquisitions Branch Informatics and Telecommunications Systems Procurement Directorate Telecommunications Systems Division Phase III, 4C1, Place du Portage 11 Laurier Street Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0S5 Attention Supply Arrangement Authority: Jean-François Tardif Telephone: 819-956-8686 Facsimile: 819-953-3703 E-mail: jean-francois.tardif@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

Please note that the RFP, must be used in combination with the SAs that have been awarded to the CNS SA Holders.

This RFP is subject to a preference for Canadian Services.

This PWGSC office provides procurement services to the public in both official languages. 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.