Maintenance and Operation of the Wemindji Airport

ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE (ACAN) T3033-220165 - Administration, Operation and Maintenance of the Wemindji Airport in the James Bay

1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

2. Definition of the requirement

Transport Canada has a requirement for the provision of the administration, maintenance and operation of the Wemindji Airport located in the James Bay Territory. The Wemindji Airport has a total surface area of 86 ha and includes the following facilities: • One 141 m2 air terminal built in 1987 and renovated in 2015 • One gravel runway, 3511 feet long by 100 feet wide • One 424 m2 service garage • Refueling facilities • Sand shed • Chartered flights • Regular commercial flights • Private flights • Medical evacuation flights (MEDEVAC)

The work includes but is not limited to: • The maintenance and operation of all of Transport Canada’s airport premises, namely: o The runway, taxi and apron; o The access roads and the parking area; o The buildings (air terminal building, maintenance garage, sand shed); o Heavy equipment vehicles, other tools and equipment; and, o The various mechanical (plumbing, ventilation, heating, etc.) and electrical systems.

• Ensure compliance with aviation regulations and all other applicable regulations on the airport site.

• Be responsible for the safety and security on the airport site.

• Work in collaboration with Transport Canada in the application of the Safety Management System (SMS).

• Work in collaboration with Transport Canada in order to achieve its goals (transportation system that is safe and secure, efficient and environmentally responsible).

3. Criteria for the assessment of the Statement of Capabilities Minimum essential requirements

All interested suppliers must demonstrate by means of a statement of capabilities that they meet the mandatory criteria below. If the bidder does not fully demonstrate its capabilities in its statement, the mandatory criteria will be deemed non-responsive and rejected outright.

Supplier Experience : o The bidder must have a minimum of 3 consecutive years (36 months) of experience within the last 15 years in the operation and maintenance of certified airports in Canada.

Knowledge and understanding of : o Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), Part III, Subpart 2 concerning airports; o Aerodromes - Standards and Recommended Practices (TP-312); o Safety Management System (SMS); o wildlife management; and, o the native environment and culture (Cree).

Credentials and/or certification: The Airport Manager must meet the following requirements: o Have at least two years of acceptable experience in an airport environment; o Hold a reliability status; o Hold a permit for a Restricted Radio Operator Certificate (with aeronautical qualifications) issued by Industry Canada; and, o Hold and maintain a driver’s license issued by the Province of Quebec, for the entire contract period: • Class 5, in the event that Airport Manager does not operate the mobile equipment mentioned above, which requires a Class 3. • Class 3, in the case where the Airport Manager operates mobile equipment mentioned above and which requires a Class 3.

Grounds maintenance, mobile equipment and preventive maintenance personnel must : o Hold a Reliability status; o Hold a Restricted Operator Certificate (Aeronautical Competency) issued by Industry Canada; and o Hold and maintain a valid Class 3 driver's license issued by the Province of Quebec for the duration of the contract.

4. Trade agreement

"This procurement is set aside from all the trade agreements under the provision each has that permits the procurement to be set aside for Aboriginal business."

5. Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s) This requirement is subject to the following Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements (CLCA): o James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) o The Northeastern Quebec Agreement Only statements of capabilities from Aboriginal suppliers who are part of the above-mentioned agreements will be considered. 6. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

According to the James Bay and Northern Quebec agreement, aboriginal organizations (reserved market) have priority in the awarding the contract.

The service is rendered to Aboriginal people, specifically to the Nation signatory of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

Airport Operations is a specific field of expertise, and the few companies that operate in that business could not compete in the context of a reserved market. The Cree Nation of Wemindji meets all the mandatory requirements, and has the required experience for the administration, operation and maintenance of the Wemindji airport, and is; therefore, the only organization that can carry out this project successfully.

For over twenty years, Transport Canada (TC) has proceeded and concluded agreements on the basis of an Advance Contract Award Notice, and no supplier has shown any interest in taking over the operation of any of the Cree airports under TC's responsibility.

7. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

The exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work".

8. Reason for limited tendering

Considering that Sections 28 and 29 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement apply to the procurement process for the Wemindji airport, the number of potential suppliers is limited. Historically, only the village band council has shown interest in operating the airport. Transport Canada must proceed with an Advance Contract Award Notice for the implementation of a service contract for airport operations and maintenance. The ACAN posting period allows potential suppliers to come forward and request a formal call for bids.

9. Intellectual Property

No intellectual property will arise from this contract.

10. Contact Period

The proposed contract covers 1 firm year and 3 optional periods of one year each.

11. Cost estimate of the proposed contract

The estimated value of the contract is $2,877,056.11 (including applicable taxes).

12. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Cree Nation of Wemindji 21 Hilltop, P.O. Box 60 Wemindji, Quebec Canada J0M 1L0

13. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in this ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

14. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is: August 16th, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. (ET)

15. Contact Person

Enquiries and statements of capabilities must be sent via email to: Name: Salma Ahmed-Osman Email: salma.ahmed-osman@tc.gc.ca

Please refer to the title and the file number in the description (T3033-220165 Operation and Maintenance of the Wemindji Airport) of all correspondence related to this requirement.