Marine Atlantic Inc. – Port aux Basques Navigation Improvement Project
Notice of Request for Proposals
Name of Procuring Entity:
Marine Atlantic Inc. (“MAI”)
Contact Person:
Katie Clark, Director, Supply Chain Management
ler2025@ma.ca
Description of Procurement:
Marine Atlantic Inc. is conducting a request for proposals (“RFP”) process for the removal of a landmass known as “Vardys Rock” and associated breakwater improvement (“Pikes I.”) both located in Port aux Basques Harbour in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (See Canadian Hydrographic Service Chart #4641, Port aux Basques and Approaches/et les Approches, for location reference only. Note: Vardys Rock referenced as Vardys I.)
The project’s objective is to improve navigational constraints impacting Marine Atlantic’s operations and vessel maneuvering restrictions, in addition to the development of new land to improve harbour protection and enhance lobster habitat.
Work in this project will include the following:
- The demolition and disposal of all miscellaneous structures, debris, and electrical components on Vardys Rock;
- The relocation and disposal of overburden on Vardys Rock to an offsite location;
- The removal of remaining earth materials and bedrock of and surrounding Vardys Rock to an elevation of -9.5m Chart Datum (with material relocation to an infill area adjacent to the nearby Pikes I.. The infill area will be reinforced by armourstone on all faces.
Construction will involve established marine techniques including drilling, blasting, dredging and excavation with material reused where possible to maximize efficiency and reduce waste.
Construction is expected to take approximately one year exclusive of removal of temporary infrastructure.
The RFP process will involve negotiation and will not involve an electronic auction.
Procurement Documents:
Prospective suppliers who are interested in participating in the RFP process are required to execute and return a confidentiality agreement in order to obtain access to the RFP documents and the data site that MAI will use for the RFP process. Prospective suppliers should email ler2025@ma.ca to request a copy of the confidentiality agreement.
Construction Period:
Completion of construction will be required by the end of Q1 2028.
Permitted Jurisdictions and Applicable Trade Agreements:
This RFP process is being conducted in accordance with the Government of Canada's Policy on Prioritizing Canadian Suppliers and Canadian Content in Strategic Federal Procurements and is therefore only open to Canadian Suppliers or Suppliers of an applicable trading partner as such terms are defined in such policy. The government procurement agreements that apply to this procurement are the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement.
Proponent Selection:
MAI intends to conduct a prequalification as the first phase of the RFP and will prequalify up to three prequalified proponents who will participate in the second phase.
MAI intends to select a preferred proponent at the conclusion of the procurement process using a combined technical and financial score based on the following criteria.
Organizational structure and project experience of Proponents providing similar services
Proposed construction methodology inclusive of regulatory compliance, and effective measures so as to not impact harbour traffic and operations of Marine Atlantic
Financial capacity;
Pricing;
The evaluation criteria are described in more detail in the RFP documents.
Language of Submission:
Proposals are to be submitted in English.
Address and Final Date for Submissions:
Proposals must be submitted electronically on or before December 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM Atlantic Standard Time on the project data site. The proposals will not be opened publicly.
Single Proponent Structure:
Proponent Team Members are only permitted to join a single Proponent. This applies to all Proponent Team Members.
Notes:
Prospective suppliers should note that information contained within this notice is subject to change. Prospective suppliers are encouraged to consult the RFP documents which contain the most current information. If there is a conflict between the RFP documents and this notice, the RFP documents will take precedence.
Bidding and Documents are available on http://www.merx.com. Fees may apply; See https://www.merx.com/public/pricing for more information.
