Meals Ready to Eat

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) Tendering Procedures: Attachment: None Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Vendor Name and Address: MEAL KIT SUPPLY CANADA INCORPORATED 162 Guelph Street Suite 233 Georgetown Ontario Canada L7G5X7 Nature of Requirements: W3935-13RH02/A

Meals Ready to Eat

1. ACAN Explanation

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority may then proceed with the award.

2. Definition of Requirement

To supply and deliver complete Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's) to the Department of National Defence, Regional Cadet Support Units (RCSU) across Canada (i.e. Pacific, Prairie, Atlantic, Central, Eastern and Northern Regions). Quantity is 22,916 cases of 12 meals ready to eat (274,992 individual meals). The Cadet MRE's specifications have been developed in correlation with US military specifications and DND's own specifications. In addition, compliance with US MIL-PRF-44073G, Performance Specification - Packaging of Food in Flexible Pouches must be adherred to as well as Canadian language and labelling requirements. In addition, the supplier must be able to warehouse and deliver MRE's according to each Regions requirements.

Delivery is required on or before March 28, 2013.

3. Criteria for Assessment of the Statement of Capabilities

3.1 Minimum Essential Requirements

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its product meets the following requirements:

Meals Ready to Eat Specifications: a) Must have a minimum shelf life of 3 Years at 26 degrees Celsius

Case Specifications: a) Each case contains 12 MRE Pouches. b) Each case will contain at least ten (10) different Entre/Side dish combinations (10 different menus). No Lunch or Supper Entre should be repeated in the case. Each case must have a fully CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) compliant and CFIA registered bilingual label. c) Ingredient and nutritional information must be provided in both French and English in each case. d) Each case must weighs between 21 to 25 pounds. e) Each case must include a military mail comment card in French and English with each item in the case enumerated and feedback questionnaire, pre-addressed to RCSU Central. f) All food items in the case must be produced within 3 months of the packing date. g) Quality Assurance (QA) inspection reports must be provided showing Quality Assurance at production for all food items as follows: i) For retort pouches: Production QA reporting on each batch of retort produced, including recorded measurement for adherence to specification MIL-PRF-44073G and comments from production line QA personal. This includes QA measurement during cooking, packaging, retorting and post-retort. ii) For Ration Bars: - Certificate of analysis from manufacturer showing acceptable results in testing including organoleptic, microbiology, and water activity. - Organoleptic includes Colour aroma flavour and appearance tests. - Microbiology includes APC, E.Coli, Coliforms, Salmonella, yeast, Mold and S.aureus tests h) All Retort entrees and side dish items must be produced in accordance with specification MIL-PRF-44073G Type 1 Single Serving Pouch.

Meal Bag Specifications: a) Each Meal Bag weight must be between 1 and 2 lbs. b) The Meal Bag must be transparent Polyethylene of minimum thickness of 0.01 inches. c) The Meal Bag must be labelled in French and English d) The Meal Bag must be open able by hand. e) The Meal Bag must be waterproof. f) The Meal Bag must not contain a flameless ration heater.

Meal Nutritional for Each Meal (averages across all menus): a) 1,400+ calories. b) % 33+ of the daily recommended Vitamin A, C, Calcium and Iron. c) 8+ grams of fibre. d) 30+ grams of protein. e) Less than 36% calories from fat

Detailed Pouch Contents: Each Meal Bag will be either Breakfast or Lunch/Supper and will contain: a) 227g Entre in Retort Packaging (DND has Options and Specifications for each which are not detailed in this ACAN but available upon request) b) Side dish in Retort Packaging c) 1 Desert d) 1 Spread e) 1 Shelf Stable Bread or Cracker f) 1 Cold Beverage Mix g) 1 Instant Hot Cocoa Beverage

h) 1 Shelf-stable Ration Bar (Lunch/Supper meal bags only) i) 1 Condiment pack in Cellophane Containing: i) 1 6 inch plastic spoon ii) 1 Instant Coffee iii) 1 Non Dairy Creamer iv) 1 Granulated Sugar Package v) 1 Salt package vi) 1 Pepper Package vii) 1 Moist Towlette viii) 1 Napkin

4. Applicability of Trade Agreements

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

The Cadet Program has an interim requirement to purchase Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) in support of the Cadet Program. The Cadet Program has had an ongoing and long-term requirement for MREs since 2005. Over the past seven (7) years, the Cadet Program has purchased MREs on the economy via a series of competitive procurements, of varying contract lengths. During these past seven (7) years, Meal Kit Supply Canada, the recommended supplier for this requirement , has been the only bidder. The current multi-year contract (W0113-11RH02/001/BOR) which expires on 31 March 2013 has been fully expended. A new multi-year contract is currently in the process within DND. As this is an interim requirement, and historically only Meal Kit Supply Canada has met the technical specifications and has secured and satisfied all import and distribution permits required by food authorities within the Government of Canada, it is proposed to recommend award to Meal Kit Supply Canada.

6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception

The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - "Only one person or firm is capable of performing the contract"; for patent or copyright requirements, or technical compatibility factors and technological expertise."

7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the section of the trade agreement(s) specified:

Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - Article 506.12 (b) "where there is an absence of competition for technical reasons and the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no alternative or substitute exists."

8. The Delivery Date

Delivery is required on or before March 28, 2013.

9. Name and Address of the Pre-Identified Supplier

Name: Meal Kit Supply Canada Incorporated. Address: 162 Guelph Street, Suite 233, Georgetown, Ontario, L7G 5X7

10. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods and services described in the 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.

11. The closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities:

The closing date and time for accepting statement of capabilities is 12 March 2013 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

12. Inquiries and submission of statement of capabilities

Inquiries and statement of capabilities are to be directed to: Louise Smith Supply Team Leader 33 City Centre Drive - Suite 480C, Mississauga, Ontario L5B2N5 Telephone: 905-615-2028 Facsimile: 905-615-2060 E-mail: louise.smith@pwgsc.gc.ca Delivery Date: 28/03/2013

You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting officer identified above.

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority may then proceed with the award. However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full tendering process.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, 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.

The PWGSC file number, the contracting officer's name and the closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile transmission, on the covering page.

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.