1. Advanced Contract Award Notice
An advanced contract award notice (ACAN) is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date and time stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.
2. Definition of requirement
The Courts Administration Service (CAS) needs a supplier to deliver second language training to CAS employees.
2.1 Objective
CAS’ objective is to provide blended (self-study and with tutoring), full-time and part-time second language training, in French and English to CAS employees to:
ensure that clients can be served nationally in the official language of their choice;
ensure the quality of services at CAS in both official languages;
promote the use of both official languages in the workplace;
establish a bilingual workplace; and
develop their full professional potential in a bilingual environment.
2.2 Scope
CAS requires a solution that comprises the following components, but not limited to:
a subscription-based training delivered via a web portal for all CAS employees;
tutor-led training delivered in classroom, in a virtual classroom and by telephone applicable to selected CAS employees;
a language proficiency level evaluation delivered by a web portal;
an on-site Second-language evaluation (SLE) preparation course, on an as and when required basis;
a virtual SLE preparation course; and
a tutor-led SLE preparation session.
3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:
3.1 Capability
The second language training must be provided at the levels A, B, and C in accordance with the Government of Canada Qualification Standards in Relation to Official Languages
(http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/gui/squn03-eng.asp).
The second language training must be flexible to accommodate different schedules, as follow:
Full Time Individual Virtual tutoring
Part Time Individual Virtual tutoring
Individual Second Language Test Preparation (virtual)
SLE Preparation
Oral Language Proficiency Level Evaluation conducted virtually
Second Language Assessment
The proposed solution must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 – See definition at http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/ .
3.2 Learning Management System (LMS)
While not limiting to the following considerations, the solution:
Must provide virtual accessibility and availability 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
Must feature reporting capabilities that are downloadable, printable, and accessible online;
Must allow the learner to choose English or French as the interface language, according to the learner’s preference;
Must offer online access to every learner's personal profile, progress reports, self-study progress, and training schedule (number of hours per week of training, and tutoring schedule);
Must provide the learner with translations in their native tongue (French or English) of explanations and new vocabulary;
Must offer an automated, online language assessment (placement test) to determine the learner’s initial module;
Must allow for full-time (15 hours or more of tutoring per week) and part-time (14 hours or less of tutoring per week) delivery of second language courses, for both official languages—Canadian English and French—in order to achieve and maintain language proficiency levels A (Beginner), B (Intermediate) and C (Advanced);
Must be accessible in self-study with or without a tutor;
Must offer online access to Technical Authorities with different access rights, such as the ability to consult the learner’s profile, tracking the learner's progress, downloading / printing various usage reports, online timesheets to balance invoices received; and
Must provide the learner’s manager with an online access to the learner’s personal profile, progress reports, self-study progress and training schedule (number of hours per week of training, and tutoring schedule).
4. Applicability of the Trade Agreements to the Procurement
This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:
Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA); and
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
5. Set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business
This procurement is not subject to any set-asides for Aboriginal Suppliers.
6. Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement (s)
This procurement is not subject to a Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement.
7. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
The pre-identified supplier was selected based on the following capabilities:
Language Research Development Group uses a blended methodology, composed of Self-Study and Tutoring. This methodology allows the learners to progress at their own pace and at the same time reducing costs. Each learner will have lessons with a tutor tailored to their individual strengths, weaknesses, and learning style. Tutoring sessions can be held by telephone, Skype or WebEx, and each session is available 7 days a week from 6am to midnight (based on the Eastern Standard Time). The learner is free to choose their preferred time for tutoring sessions, in order to create a personalized schedule that works best for them.
At the end of each module, every learner must complete an end-of-module evaluation, to serve as a checkpoint to ensure the learner’s progression. This evaluation will come with a report.
Learning Management System (LMS): every learner is provided a personal account to access the LMS, a web-based portal. Learners can access it at any time from a computer, a tablet or a smartphone, allowing the learner to learn at their own pace and according to their own schedule. Learners have access to other tools such as a question forum, extended reference guide, conjugation tables, glossary, Buddy System, as well as progress tracking. Information for each learner’s personal Account Manager can be found on the LMS as well. At the end of each lesson, the tutor fills out an end-of-session report that learners and managers can access to on the LMS.
The LMS is also useful to coordinators and managers, who have access to free coordinator accounts in order to track their budget and their employees’ progress.
8. Government Contracts Regulations Exception
The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection: Only one person is capable of performing the contract. (6 (d))
9. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons
Exclusions and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the following agreements:
Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) Articles 513.b) ii) and c) i);
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Article(s) 1016.2 (b) and 1016.2 (d);
World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) Article XIII 1. b. iii., c. i.
10. Ownership of Intellectual Property
Ownership of any foreground intellectual property arising out of the proposed contract will vest with the Contractor.
11. The Period of the Proposed Contract
The proposed contract is for a period of one (1) year inclusive, from the date of award, with an irrevocable option to extend the period by up to two (2) additional periods of one (1) year each.
12. Cost Estimate of the Proposed Contract
The total estimated value of the contract, including all option years, is $120,000.00 (Applicable Taxes extra).
13. Name and Address of the Pre-identified Supplier
Name: Language Research Development Group
Adddress: 1407 rue Saint-Alexandre, Montréal (QC), H3A 2G3
14. Suppliers' Right to Submit a Statement of Capabilities
Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction 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 and time of this notice. This statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.
15. Closing Date and Time for a Submission of a Statement of Capabilities
The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is March 28, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
16. Inquiries and Submission of Statement of Capabilities
Enquiries and statement of capabilities are to be directed to:
[Mr.] Dominik Giroux
Manager, Contracting and Materiel Management
E-mail: d••••••••@••••••••.••.ca
