Procurement Hub – Fredericton
301 Bishop Drive
Fredericton, NB E3C 2M6
28 May 2020
F5211-200127
ADVANCED CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE
TITLE: Description of marine traffic through land observations of watercraft and information gathering on the presence of belugas and other marine mammals in certain identified sectors of the St. Lawrence Estuary.
ACAN:
The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the government’s intention to award a contract for these services to the Marine Mammal Observation Network, 187 Bernier St, Rivière-du-Loup, QC, G5R 0P3.
Before awarding a contract, however, the government would like to provide other suppliers with the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of satisfying the requirements set out in this Notice, by submitting a statement of capabilities during the ACAN posting period.
If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during this ACAN posting period that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the government will proceed to a full tendering process on either GETS or through traditional means, in order to award the contract.
If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities meeting the requirements set out in the ACAN, a contract will be awarded to the pre-selected supplier.
INTRODUCTION:
Under the Oceans Act, a division of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Ecosystem Management Directorate is dedicated to the sustainable protection and management of ocean resources. This mission involves implementing integrated human activity management plans.
BACKGROUND:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada would like to obtain a detailed description of marine traffic via land observations of watercraft and gather information on the presence of belugas and other marine mammals in three identified sectors of the St. Lawrence Estuary: from Kamouraska to the southwest tip of Île du Pèlerin; from the eastern tip of Île du Pèlerin to the eastern tip of Île-aux-Lièvres; and from the western tip of Île Blanche to the western tip of Île Verte.
OBJECTIVES:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is the federal department responsible for protecting our waters and managing Canada’s fisheries, oceans and freshwater resources. Its roles include ensuring healthy and sustainable aquatic ecosystems through habitat protection and ensuring the sustainable development of ocean resources. Obtaining a detailed description of marine traffic focusing on watercraft without automatic identification systems and gathering information on the presence of belugas (an endangered species) and other marine mammals in a significant area of the beluga’s critical habitat in the St. Lawrence Estuary will make it possible to obtain information to support the initiatives of the Quebec Region’s Species at Risk Management Division and Oceans Management Division.
WORK REQUIREMENT:
Provide labour, equipment, tools and all services required to collect information via land observations to obtain a detailed description of marine traffic focusing on watercraft and provide labour, equipment, tools and all services required to collect information via land observations on the presence of belugas and other marine mammals in these three sectors.
The gathering of information described by the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Quebec Region project lead must be carried out within the predefined zone (see attached figure) representing a maximum observation distance of approximately 11 km offshore of the estuary.
The observation data must include the following information:
Date, site, sector, position (latitude/longitude and height), observer, time (UTC), effort (on/off);
Meteorological conditions (Beaufort, tide, reflection and intensity, water colour, cloud cover, visibility and level, precipitation, fog);
Description of marine traffic (time, vessel, type, motor in operation, name, activity, direction, distance, estimated speed by category);
Presence of marine mammals (species, identification indicators, number, adults, calves, distance measured with binoculars or inclinometer and estimated visually, swimming direction, behaviour, reactions to vessel movements, numbering of subsequent observations).
A teleconference with the Department’s project lead must be scheduled as soon as the contract is awarded to set out the context of the work and the DFO’s expectations of the supplier and ensure that the data being requested is clearly understood.
TASKS AND DELIVERABLES
The expected deliverable is the production of a report, drafted in French, detailing marine traffic (pleasure craft, MOAs, cruise operators, merchant marine vessels, ferry boats, marine or other operations) and collected observations of marine mammals, by 1 February 2021. An Excel database containing all the collected information must also be provided.
RESOURCES AND LEVEL OF EFFORT:
The estimated level of effort provided to the DFO shall be:
Data collection must be carried out between the period of contract award to October 16, 2020 and be performed simultaneously in the three identified sectors, in accordance with the predefined observation schedule below. The schedule was arranged on a two-week alternating basis to cover every second weekend, for a total of 40 hours/week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EDT:
Monday to Sunday of week 1: Observation (7 days),
Monday and Tuesday of week 2: Off (2 days),
Wednesday to Friday of week 2: Observation (3 days),
Saturday and Sunday of week 2: Off (2 days).MANDATORY CRITERIA:
Must have the required tools and equipment (observation platform, binoculars and inclinometer for each sector).
Must have the required knowledge of Excel and Word software.
Must have at least five years of experience in drafting observation activity reports in French.
Must have at least five years of experience in information gathering and identification of marine mammals in the middle St. Lawrence Estuary.
Must have at least five years of experience in information gathering and identifying watercraft in the middle St. Lawrence Estuary.
Must have at least five years of experience in information gathering and documenting meteorological conditions.
Must be able to collect the required information in accordance with the predefined observation schedule.
ESTIMATED VALUE
The total value of the contract must not exceed $48,000 before applicable taxes for the firm period from the contract award date until March 31, 2020. Each of the optional years (2021-2022 and 2022-2023) is estimated at $48,000.
TRADE AGREEMENTS APPLICABILITY OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS:
CFTA
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS REGULATIONS EXCEPTION AND LIMITED TENDERING REASONS:
The following policy requirements are applicable to this ACAN process:
Applicable Exceptions to Soliciting Bids under the Government Contracting Regulations (GCRs) (Section 6):
Section 10.2.1 Section 6 (d) only one person or firm is capable of performing the work applies to this ACAN for the following reasons:
-There are no known alternative sources of supply. It is feasible and affordable to compete the requirement.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:
It is important to note that the data, findings and products associated with this contract will be the exclusive property of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Under this mandate, Fisheries and Oceans Canada shall be the sole holder of the intellectual property and will have sole authority to use, manage, make derivative products from and disseminate the deliverables without violating copyright.
CONTRACT PERIOD:
The period of the contract is from contract award date to March 31, 2021. The collection services must be carried out between the period of the contract award to 16 October 2020. The supplier must submit the report and database no later than 1 February 2021. Given the current situation with COVID-19, two additional years of data gathering with a duration of 16 weeks may be required and will be included in the contract. The inclusion of these optional years in the contract is in no way binding and carries no obligation on the part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada or the project lead.
SUPPLIER’S RIGHT TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES:
Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services described herein, must submit a Statement of Capabilities in writing to the Contracting Officer identified in this Notice on or before closing date. The Statement of Capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.
CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMITTING STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES:
12 June 2020 at 2:00 p.m. (ADT)
Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:
Karen Dolan
Contracting Officer
Procurement Hub – Fredericton
Telephone: (506) 429-6073
Email: D••••••••@•••••••.••.ca
