Request For Information NON-COMBATANT CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY

Trade Agreement: NONE Tendering Procedures: Suppliers on permanent list or able to meet qualification requirements Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Nature of Requirements: Request for Information for Non-Combatant Class Society (NCCS) Services for the Royal Canadian Navy

1. Introduction

1.1 The Department of National Defence (DND) has the requirement to establish and maintain standards that assure DND's non-combatant vessels (hereinafter referred to as vessels) are fit for purpose, safe to operate and compliant with standards to protect the environment. To establish and maintain the safety of the vessels, DND is seeking to engage the services of a Classification Society. The key deliverables of the contract will be:

a. Identification of appropriate standards applicable to DND's vessels, class those vessels and then provide support to DND to keep the vessels in class, or to class as appropriate; and

b. To provide subject matter expertise on standards applicable to the vessels in support of DND requirements.

1.2 This Request for Information (RFI) is an opportunity for Canada to determine supplier interest for this requirement and for suppliers to comment on the proposed requirement. Suppliers may be invited to a one-on-one session following their review of draft documentation related to the requirement; the one-on-ones will be held after RFI closing. The main objective is for Canada to seek industry input on the proposed technical, management and contracting approach to assist in:

a. Determining whether to proceed with the contract requirements and procurement strategy as planned;

b. Refining the procurement strategy, project structure, timelines, requirements definition and other aspects of the requirement;

c. Becoming a more informed buyer with an enhanced understanding of industry service offerings; and

d. Assessing potential alternative support solution concepts for NCCS that would meet its requirement. (e.g. continuous audit program)

2. Important Note to Interested Respondents

2.1 Respondents should note that this RFI is not a pre-selection process. There will be no short listing of firms for purposes of undertaking any future works, as a result of this RFI. Similarly, participation in this process is not a condition or prerequisite for participation in an eventual Request for Proposal (RFP). This RFI is neither a Call for Tenders, nor an RFP, and no agreement or contract will be entered into with any contractor, based on responses to this RFI. The issuance of this RFI is not to be considered in any way as a commitment by Canada, or as authority for the respondent to undertake any work which could be charged to Canada, nor is this RFI to be considered a commitment to issue eventual RFPs or award eventual contracts in relation to this project. Canada shall not be bound by anything stated in this RFI. Canada reserves the right to change all or any parts of this RFI as deemed necessary.

3. Confidentiality

3.1 Potential respondents are advised that any information submitted to Canada in response to this RFI may be used by Canada in the development of a subsequent competitive RFP. As such, respondents responding to this RFI should identify any submitted information that is to be considered as either company confidential or proprietary. This information will then be treated as Protected B.

3.2 No payment will be made for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of any information in response to the RFI. Costs associated with preparing and submitting information, as well as any costs incurred by the supplier associated with the evaluation of the information, is the sole responsibility of the supplier.

4. Background

4.1 DND vessels are exempt from the Canada Shipping Act (CSA 2001) however DND is mandated to self-regulate the safety of its vessels. To meet this mandate, Canada has developed a Naval Materiel Regulatory (NMR) framework based on the Allied Naval Engineering Publication 77 (Naval Ship Code) (ANEP 77(NSC)). The NSC was developed and is maintained by the International Naval Safety Association (INSA) and is the naval equivalent to Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requirements for commercial fleets. Naval Classification using the NSC goal based approach demonstrates due diligence and ensures that naval and DND personnel going to sea are afforded a similar level of safety as their commercial colleagues.

4.2 It is important to note that while there are similarities between the commercial and naval approaches, they cannot be the same, as warships operate differently from commercial ships. Two simple examples of this are that: DND vessels can be required to weather storms if their assigned mission dictates, while commercial ships will avoid storms in order to avoid possible damage or lost cargo; and some DND vessels are manned with large military crews, which enable navies to fight fires and damage to the ship in order to continue operations while commercial practices enable the safe abandonment of the ship in a fire or damage scenario.

4.3 Canada's fleets of ships currently deemed to be non-combatants by the Naval Materiel Regulatory Authority (NMRA) are described in Table 1 below.

Vessel Comments Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship - AOPS Currently under design and build at Irving Shipbuilding Inc. Joint Support Ship Currently under Design and Build in Vancouver Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. Kingston Class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels In-Service with DND (12 Vessels) Auxiliary Training Vessels -ORCA Class In-Service with DND (8 Vessels) Auxiliary Vessels - Tugs In-Service with DND (12 Vessels) Auxiliary Vessels - Tenders In-Service with DND (9-10 Vessels) Auxiliary Vessels - Barges In-Service with DND (24-29 Vessels) Future Non-Combatants TBD Table 1 - List of NCCS Vessels

4.4 Work will be categorized as follows

a. Services to support the NMRA. Activities may include but not be limited to the development and maintenance of a flag state requirements (standards plan) file for each vessel class, competency development, advice and research, and NMR framework support;

b. Services to Support the Directorate Maritime Engineering Programme Management - Minor War Vessels and Auxiliaries (DMEPM (MWVA)). Activities may include but not be limited to acceptance into naval class (advice, plan appraisal and vessel surveys), maintenance in-class (advice and vessel surveys), specialist support and advice; and

c. Work to support Major Capital Projects for future non-combatant fleets. Activities may include but not be limited to advice and classification services in the concept, design and build phases, plan appraisals and type approval services.

5. Participation Criteria

5.1 To participate in this RFI process, interested respondents must demonstrate that they meet the following requirements. The respondent must:

a. Be a current member of the INSA;

b. Be a Recognized Organization under Transport Canada's Delegated Statutory Inspection Program; and

c. Be from a NATO or allied country.

5.2 This requirement is subject to the Controlled Goods Program, and may be subject to the Defence Procurement Strategy requiring suppliers to make Industrial and Technological Benefits and Value Proposition commitments.

6. RFI Process

6.1 Respondents must submit the following information to assess that they meet the above criteria:

a. A certificate or letter from INSA demonstrating current member status; b. Certification or copy of the delegated statutory authority status with Transport Canada; and c. Proof of the respondent's parent organization's country of establishment.

6.2 The response must also identify/include

1. the title and number and closing date of the RFI; 2. the name, title, address and telephone number of the respondent; 3. the name, title and telephone number of the respondent's contact; and 4. the date of RFI information submission.

6.3 To be included in this opportunity, respondents must submit the information to the Contracting Authority at article 8 by the deadline indicated at article 7.

6.4 Thereafter, respondents meeting the criteria above may receive draft documentation related to this requirement and an invitation to an industry day where briefings and feedback sessions will be scheduled by the Contracting Authority.

6.5 It is anticipated that representatives from the Department of National Defence, Industry Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada will be available during the one-on-ones and at Industry day to answer questions and gather information. All other contact regarding this RFI, subsequent shared information and meetings must be directed through the Contracting Authority.

6.6 Respondents may receive communications from the Contracting Authority on an on-going basis up to and until a pre-qualification or solicitation process is issued, as applicable.

7. Deadline for Submission of Responses to the RFI

7.1 PWGSC invites interested parties to submit their responses to the Contracting Authority on or before 14:00 EDT 4 September 2015.

7.2 At Canada's sole discretion, responses received after the deadline may or may not be considered.

8. Submission of Responses to the RFI

8.1 Interested parties may submit their response by email to the Contracting Authority, Ms. Angela Cowie Angela.Cowie@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca or by mail at:

Public Works and Government Services Canada Marine Sector 11 Laurier Street Place du Portage, Phase III, 6C2-32 Gatineau, Québec K1A 0S5

8.2 Or by fax at

819-956-0897

9. Language

9.1 Communication may be in either official language of Canada, in English or French.

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.