Local Internet Access Service (LIAS) RFRE

This is a Request for Responses for Evaluation (RFRE) pertaining to the Local Internet Access Service requirement.

This RFRE is neither a request for proposal nor a solicitation of bids or tenders and is intended only to pre-qualify respondents.

The purpose of this RFRE is to initiate the process for the procurement of LIAS by inviting suppliers to submit responses to SSC for Canada's evaluation. Further, by responding to this RFRE, Respondents are indicating their intent to participate in the procurement process for the acquisition and support of LIAS.

As part of this RFRE, we have also included a Draft RFP for LIAS.

This RFRE is the first part of a multi-stage solicitation process. In this first stage, suppliers are requested to submit only certain information for evaluation, while in the next stage, only those suppliers who have successfully passed the initial evaluation (Successful Respondents) will be provided bid solicitation(s) detailing the full requirement for the purpose of bidding.

There is a security requirement associated with this requirement. For additional information, see Draft RFP, Part 6 - Security and Financial Requirements.

This procurement is subject to a National Security Exception and is, therefore, excluded from all of the obligations of the trade agreements.

Description

Shared Service Canada (SSC) has a requirement for Local Internet Access Service (LIAS) that will provide it along with other Government Departments (OGD)s, with the ability to access the Public Internet Services from many locations across Canada.

The LIAS will provide access to the Public Internet using commercially available Internet access technologies. One of the intended uses of LIAS is to deploy as a transport medium to connect Departmental Wide Area Networks over secure Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) from various locations across Canada, essentially where direct physical connections to departmental Intranets are not available, including remote business and home offices. The VPN Gear will be provided by SSC and is not in scope of this requirement.