Recruitment of participants for qualitative research

IMPORTANT INFORMATION A Request for Proposal (RFP) is being issued following solicitation number J024632 and J024632/A as these processes did not yield the desired results of obtaining two (2) suppliers for each of the five (5) Regions that require coverage by Statistics Canada for the recruitment of participants for qualitative research. One (1) successful bid was received for the Atlantic Region and one (1) for the Quebec Region as a result of above noted solicitations. An RFP has been issued to three (3) companies capable of covering services for the remaining three (3) Regions which are the National Capital Region (NCR), Ontario and the West and up to two (2) contracts will be awarded as a result. REQUIREMENT The Questionnaire Design Resource Centre (QDRC) of Statistics Canada requires the recruitment of participants for qualitative research to be conducted on their behalf across Canada.  The work will be carried out at the Contractor’s premises and delivered to Statistics Canada. This requirement has been broken down into three (3) Regions as defined below:

The National Capital Region (NCR) Ontario (except for the NCR) The Western Provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia)

Up to two (2) contracts will be awarded as a result of this Request for Proposals. The amount of work will be distributed between each resulting contracts as per Section E of 7.1.2.1 Task Authorization Process. LANGUAGE This Statistics Canada office provides procurement services to the public in their official languages. CONDITIONS OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) There shall be no direct payment by Statistics Canada for costs incurred for the presentation and submission of proposals in response to this RFP. ESTIMATED CONTRACT PERIOD The period for each resulting contract will be from contract award to March 31, 2021. OPTION TO EXTEND CONTRACT The Contractor grants to Canada the irrevocable option to extend the term of the Contract by up to two (2) additional two (2) year periods under the same conditions. The Contractor agrees that, during the extended period of the Contract, it will be paid in accordance with the applicable provisions as set out in the Basis of Payment. Canada may exercise this option at any time by sending a written notice to the Contractor at least two (2) calendar days before the expiry date of the Contract. The option may only be exercised by the Contracting Authority, and will be evidenced for administrative purposes only, through a contract amendment. TRADE AGREEMENTS 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-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), and the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). SOLICITATION/BID CLOSING DATE AND SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS Interested suppliers should express their interest in the procurement to the following; Name: Courtney Dauphinee Title: Coordinator E-Mail: statcan.macs-bids-smc-soumissions.statcan@canada.ca The deadline for submissions of bids in response to this RFP is March 6, 2020 @ 2:00pm EST. Any and all bids received after this date and time will be returned unopened to the Bidder. As per Treasury Board Contracting Policy the onus is on the Bidder to ensure that all solicitation documents reach the stipulated destination before the closing date and time of the RFP. Bids must be submitted only to Statistics Canada by the date, time and place indicated on page 1 of the bid solicitation Due to the nature of the bid solicitation, bids transmitted by facsimile or epost will not be accepted. StatCan will not assume responsibility for proposals directed to any other location. Proposals not received in the Bid Receiving Unit by the closing time, will be returned to the Bidder unopened. INQUIRIES Inquiries regarding this RFP requirement must be submitted to the Contracting Authority named above. Request for Proposal (RFP) documents will be e-mailed directly from the Contracting Authority to the vendors who are being invited to bid on this requirement. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS There are no security requirements associated with this requirement.