1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intendsto award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowingother suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If nosupplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on orbefore the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award tothe pre-identified supplier.2. Definition of the requirementThe Department of National Defence has a requirement for the supply of 67 Pallets/2010Cases for One (1) firm year & Three (3) option years (each years order quantity will be 67Pallets/2010 Cases) of Vegetarian/Kosher/Halal Rations. Each item must be kosher certifiedby a kashruth agency and approved by the Organization of Orthodox Kashruth Supervision.Each item also must be Certified Halal and Dhabiha Halal, and meet strict Islamic Halalstandards established by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA). Themanagement of three separate types of ration packs (vegetarian, Kosher, and Halal) is notcurrently possible in an operational theatre. DND is looking to obtain Reference number16816-59994, or equivalent. The current part number is owned by My Own Meals INC.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 its product meets thefollowing requirements:Each ration pack must consist of a main meal entrée in a retort pouch, and an accessory kit of miscellaneousfood items to ensure that the nutritional requirement for each meal is met.The total caloric value of the ration pack (main meal + accessory pack) must not be lower than 1100 calories.All items contained in the ration pack, including the retort pouch and accessory kit, must be vegetarian, andcertified Halal and Kosher according to Annex A, paragraph 5.Religious Certifications:The Contractor must be responsible for obtaining the services of a recognized Kosher supervisionagency that is prepared to meet the requirements for Kosher certification and a recognized Halalsupervision agency that is prepared to meet the requirements for Halal certification. The Contractormust be responsible for ensuring that appropriate Kosher and/or Halal guidelines are followed for allmeal components.The Contractor must ensure that the Kosher and Halal inspectors are fully familiar with all relevantaspects of the production. Certificates of compliance testifying that all ingredients meet Kosher andHalal requirements must be provided. The Kosher and Halal inspectors may provide a list ofingredients not requiring certification. Items requiring Kosher and/or Halal inspection must not be usedprior to approval.Materials and packaging may, at the discretion of the Kosher and/or Halal inspectors, requirecontrolled storage and may need to be released for each day’s production by the Kosherand/or Halal inspectors. Only equipment that has been approved by Kosher and Halalinspectors must be used. These procedures must be documented by the Contractor inconjunction with the Kosher and Halal inspectors.All packaging and transportation of foods must be in packages, containers, vessels, orvehicles that have been properly prepared according to the Kosher and Halal requirements.Packaging and labeling materials must be controlled and segregated in such a way that onlythe Kosher and Halal inspectors can release that material for the day’s production.Kosher and Halal inspectors must have access to all parts of production and storage facilitiesat all times.Records of attendance of the Kosher and Halal inspectors at the production facility, or at anysub-contractor’s facility, must be maintained and provided to the Contracting Authority,Procurement Authority or Technical Authority upon request.The bidder must provide a certificate of compliance from the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America(IFANCA) and the Organization of Orthodox Kashruth Supervision (OOKS).Retort Pouch SpecificationsThe retort pouch must be a commercially sold product.The retort pouch must have a shelf life of a minimum of 5 years.Product Descriptions for Retort Pouch MealsMain meal retort pouch must have a minimum post-retort weight of 227g.The total caloric value of the main meal retort pouch must be at least 180 calories.Each box of ration packs must contain four different meals; three pasta meals and one vegetarianstew.Accessory Kit SpecificationsAll items in the accessory kit must have a shelf life of a minimum of one year. It is desirable that allitems in the accessory kit have a shelf life of a minimum of three years.The accessory pack must at least contain the following; beverage mix, cereal, granola bar, candy/mint,peanuts, seeds, dried fruit, toilet paper and a spoon. Other items not listed can be included inthe accessory pack.The total caloric value of the accessory pack must be at least 920 calories.Packaging SpecificationsThe language on all packaging must be English, and it is desirable that French translations are alsopresent.Each shipping case must contain 12 full rations in two separate boxes; one box containing 12 retortedmain meals and the other box containing 12 accessory packs.Accessory pack must be packaged in a clear bag.Each case or retort pouches must contain three meals or each menu.The cases of ration packs must be palletized for shipping with 30 boxes per pallet.4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurementThis procurement is subject to the following trade agreement(s) (insert only the applicable tradeagreement(s)):o Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)5. Justification for the Pre-Identified SupplierThe pre-identified supplier is the only known supplier who can provide dual-certified Halal andKosher vegetarian ration packs.6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for thisprocurement under subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work.7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering ReasonsThe following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the (section of thetrade agreement(s) specified):o Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) – Article 513: 1. (b) (iii). Limited Tendering8. Period of the proposed contract or delivery dateProvide the period of the proposed contract or the required delivery, including potential renewal oroption years.o The goods must be delivered on or before March 31,2022. Optional goods must be deliveredwithin 90 days of exercising the option.9. Cost estimate of the proposed contractThe estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is $1,155,504.59 (GST/QST included).Name and address of the pre-identified supplierName: My Own Meals, Inc.Address: 400 Lake Cook Road, Suite 107PO box 334Deerfield, IL 60015(847) 948-1118Fax: (847)948-046814. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilitiesSuppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods described inthe ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in thisnotice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearlydemonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.15. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilitiesThe closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is January 4th, 2022 at2:00 p.m. EST.16. Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:Paige Morris, DLP A/6-3-1101 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa ON K1A 0K2E-mail: P••••••••@••••••.••.caPhone : 343-552-7713
