DEMANDE DE RENSEIGNEMENTS CONCERNANT L’OFFRE, LE COÛT ET L’ENTREPOSAGE DES CIGARETTES CANADIENNES DE TABAC JAUNE DE VIRGINIE À TRÈS FAIBLE TENEUR EN NICOTINE

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY, COSTING, AND STORAGE OF CANADIAN VERY LOW NICOTINE CONTENT VIRGINIA FLUE-CURED CIGARETTES

Purpose and Nature of the Request of Information (RFI)
Health Canada is requesting industry feedback regarding the feasibility and costs associated with procuring a supply of very low nicotine cigarettes (VLNCs) that contain Virginia flue-cured tobacco.
The objectives of this RFI are:

To collect information on the potential availability of a supply of very low nicotine cigarettes (VLNCs) containing Virginia flue-cured tobacco of the type familiar to Canadian smokers. Very low nicotine is defined as ~0.4 mg nicotine/g tobacco or less. In addition to the VLNCs, a supply of control cigarettes containing the usual nicotine content (~15 mg nicotine/g tobacco) but otherwise identical in all respects is required.
To determine the cost to supply no fewer than 1,000,000 VLNCs that are similar in taste and design to cigarettes on the Canadian market. These cigarettes are to be packaged in generic packs of 20 cigarettes, printed with alphanumeric codes to be specified at a later date, and shrink-wrapped.
To determine the cost to supply no fewer than 1,000,000 normal nicotine content cigarettes with the same cigarette design and formulated to have a similar taste to the VLNCs described above. As above, these cigarettes are to be packaged in packs of 20 cigarettes, printed with alphanumeric codes to be specified at a later date, and shrink-wrapped.
To obtain information on the optimal storage conditions and predicted shelf-life of the cigarettes described above.

This RFI is neither a call for tender nor a Request for Proposal (RFP). No agreement or contract will be entered into based on this RFI. The issuance of this RFI is not to be considered in any way a commitment by the Government of Canada, nor as authority to potential respondents to undertake any work that could be charged to Canada. This RFI is not to be considered as a commitment to issue a subsequent solicitation or award contract(s) for the goods described herein. The procurement of any of the goods or services described in this RFI will not necessarily follow this RFI. This RFI is simply intended to solicit feedback from industry with respect to the matters described in this RFI.
Although the information collected may be provided as commercial-in-confidence (and, if identified as such, will be treated accordingly by Canada), Canada may use the information to assist in drafting performance specifications (which are subject to change) and for budgetary purposes.
Respondents are encouraged to identify, in the information they share with Canada, any information that they feel is proprietary, third party or personal information. Please note that Canada may be obligated by law (e.g. in response to a request under the Access of Information and Privacy Act) to disclose proprietary or commercially-sensitive information concerning a respondent (for more information: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/a-1/).
Respondents are asked to identify if their response, of any part of their response, is subject to the Controlled Goods Regulations.
Participation in this RFI is encouraged, but is not mandatory. There will be no short-listing of potential suppliers for the purposes of undertaking any future work as a result of this RFI. Similarly, participation in this RFI is not a condition or prerequisite for the participation in any potential subsequent solicitation.
Respondents will not be reimbursed for any cost incurred by participating in this RFI.
The RFI closing date published herein is not the deadline for comments or input. Comments and input will be accepted any time up to the time when/if a follow-on solicitation is published.
2.Background Information
Reducing the addictiveness of tobacco products has been considered for more than 20 years as an intervention that could reduce smoking initiation and increase smoking cessation, and the United States Food and Drug Administration recently announced plans to initiate a public dialogue on this topic[1].
VLNCs that contain Virginia flue-cured tobacco of the predominant type used in Canadian cigarettes are not currently available. Health Canada is exploring the feasibility of obtaining Canadian-style VLNCs and seeks clarification from the industry on the following:

Is it technologically feasible to blend and manufacture a supply of Canadian-style VLNCs in the quantities specified above?
What would the pre-tax estimated cost be for a lot of 1,000,000 VLNCs and 1,000,000 matched normal nicotine content cigarettes, packaged and ready for use, as described?
Would the costing differ for a one-time purchase versus incremental purchases of smaller lots?
What are the optimal storage conditions for finished cigarettes?
If stored under optimal conditions, what is the maximum predicted shelf-life before smokers would perceive a deterioration in quality?
If it is feasible to purchase the quantity of VLNCs and normal nicotine content cigarettes as described, what timeline would be reasonable to expect for their manufacture and packaging?

3.Enquiries
Because this is not a bid solicitation, Canada will not necessarily respond to enquiries in writing or by circulating answers to all potential suppliers. However, respondents with questions regarding this RFI may direct their enquiries to:
Name: Darlene Fisher
Title: Senior Procurement & Contracting Officer
Health Canada
Material and Assets Management Division
Address: 200 Eglantine Driveway, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9 Telephone: 613-941-2125
E-mail: D••••••••@••••••.ca
4.Submission of Responses
Interested Respondents may submit their responses to the HC Procurement Authority, identified above, preferably by e-mail. The RFI Reference Number and the title of the requirement should be in the subject line of your email. If the email including attachments is larger than 20mb, please submit your response in separate emails to not exceed Health Canada’s server limitation.
A point of contact for the Respondent should be included in the package.
Changes to this RFI may occur and will be advertised on the Government Electronic Tendering System. Health Canada asks Respondents to visit Buyandsell.gc.ca regularly to check for changes, if any.
Canada may, at its discretion, set up subsequent consultation mechanisms, including one-on-one meetings with each Respondent, and/or contact any respondent to follow up with additional questions, or for clarification of any aspect of a response.
5.Closing date for the RFI
Responses to this RFI are to be submitted to the HC Procurement Authority identified above, on or before April 30th, 2018.
[1] https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnounce…