Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
Tendering Procedures:
Attachment: None
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address:
MEAL KIT SUPPLY CANADA INCORPORATED
162 Guelph Street
Suite 233
Georgetown Ontario
Canada
L7G5X7
Nature of Requirements:
W3935-13RH02/A
Meals Ready to Eat
1. ACAN Explanation
An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and
agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15)
calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it
intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a
pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or
before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets
the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority
may then proceed with the award.
2. Definition of Requirement
To supply and deliver complete Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's) to the
Department of National Defence, Regional Cadet Support Units
(RCSU) across Canada (i.e. Pacific, Prairie, Atlantic, Central,
Eastern and Northern Regions). Quantity is 22,916 cases of 12
meals ready to eat (274,992 individual meals). The Cadet
MRE's specifications have been developed in correlation with US
military specifications and DND's own specifications. In
addition, compliance with US MIL-PRF-44073G, Performance
Specification - Packaging of Food in Flexible Pouches must be
adherred to as well as Canadian language and labelling
requirements. In addition, the supplier must be able to
warehouse and deliver MRE's according to each Regions
requirements.
Delivery is required on or before March 28, 2013.
3. Criteria for Assessment of the Statement of Capabilities
3.1 Minimum Essential Requirements:
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement
of capabilities that its product meets the following
requirements:
Meals Ready to Eat Specifications:
a) Must have a minimum shelf life of 3 Years at 26 degrees
Celsius
Case Specifications:
a) Each case contains 12 MRE Pouches.
b) Each case will contain at least ten (10) different Entre/Side
dish combinations (10 different menus). No Lunch or Supper
Entre should be repeated in the case. Each case must have a
fully CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) compliant and CFIA
registered bilingual label.
c) Ingredient and nutritional information must be provided in
both French and English in each case.
d) Each case must weighs between 21 to 25 pounds.
e) Each case must include a military mail comment card in French
and English with each item in the case enumerated and feedback
questionnaire, pre-addressed to RCSU Central.
f) All food items in the case must be produced within 3 months
of the packing date.
g) Quality Assurance (QA) inspection reports must be provided
showing Quality Assurance at production for all food items as
follows:
i) For retort pouches: Production QA reporting on each batch
of retort produced, including recorded measurement for adherence
to specification MIL-PRF-44073G and comments from production
line QA personal. This includes QA measurement during cooking,
packaging, retorting and post-retort.
ii) For Ration Bars:
- Certificate of analysis from manufacturer showing acceptable
results in testing including organoleptic, microbiology, and
water activity.
- Organoleptic includes Colour aroma flavour and appearance
tests.
- Microbiology includes APC, E.Coli, Coliforms, Salmonella,
yeast, Mold and S.aureus tests
h) All Retort entrees and side dish items must be produced in
accordance with specification MIL-PRF-44073G Type 1 Single
Serving Pouch.
Meal Bag Specifications:
a) Each Meal Bag weight must be between 1 and 2 lbs.
b) The Meal Bag must be transparent Polyethylene of minimum
thickness of 0.01 inches.
c) The Meal Bag must be labelled in French and English
d) The Meal Bag must be open able by hand.
e) The Meal Bag must be waterproof.
f) The Meal Bag must not contain a flameless ration heater.
Meal Nutritional for Each Meal (averages across all menus):
a) 1,400+ calories.
b) % 33+ of the daily recommended Vitamin A, C, Calcium and Iron.
c) 8+ grams of fibre.
d) 30+ grams of protein.
e) Less than 36% calories from fat
Detailed Pouch Contents:
Each Meal Bag will be either Breakfast or Lunch/Supper and will
contain:
a) 227g Entre in Retort Packaging (DND has Options and
Specifications for each which are not detailed in this ACAN but
available upon request)
b) Side dish in Retort Packaging
c) 1 Desert
d) 1 Spread
e) 1 Shelf Stable Bread or Cracker
f) 1 Cold Beverage Mix
g) 1 Instant Hot Cocoa Beverage
h) 1 Shelf-stable Ration Bar (Lunch/Supper meal bags only)
i) 1 Condiment pack in Cellophane Containing:
i) 1 6 inch plastic spoon
ii) 1 Instant Coffee
iii) 1 Non Dairy Creamer
iv) 1 Granulated Sugar Package
v) 1 Salt package
vi) 1 Pepper Package
vii) 1 Moist Towlette
viii) 1 Napkin
4. Applicability of Trade Agreements
This procurement is subject to the following trade agreements:
Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
The Cadet Program has an interim requirement to purchase Meals
Ready to Eat (MREs) in support of the Cadet Program. The Cadet
Program has had an ongoing and long-term requirement for MREs
since 2005. Over the past seven (7) years, the Cadet Program
has purchased MREs on the economy via a series of competitive
procurements, of varying contract lengths. During these past
seven (7) years, Meal Kit Supply Canada, the recommended
supplier for this requirement , has been the only bidder. The
current multi-year contract (W0113-11RH02/001/BOR) which expires
on 31 March 2013 has been fully expended. A new multi-year
contract is currently in the process within DND. As this is an
interim requirement, and historically only Meal Kit Supply
Canada has met the technical specifications and has secured and
satisfied all import and distribution permits required by food
authorities within the Government of Canada, it is proposed to
recommend award to Meal Kit Supply Canada.
6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception
The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations
is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) - "Only
one person or firm is capable of performing the contract"; for
patent or copyright requirements, or technical compatibility
factors and technological expertise."
7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons
The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are
invoked under the section of the trade agreement(s) specified:
Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - Article 506.12 (b) "where
there is an absence of competition for technical reasons and the
goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier
and no alternative or substitute exists."
8. The Delivery Date
Delivery is required on or before March 28, 2013.
9. Name and Address of the Pre-Identified Supplier
Name: Meal Kit Supply Canada Incorporated.
Address: 162 Guelph Street, Suite 233, Georgetown, Ontario, L7G
5X7
10. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities
Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available
to provide the goods and 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
of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly
demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.
11. The closing date for a submission of a statement of
capabilities:
The closing date and time for accepting statement of
capabilities is 12 March 2013 at 2:00 p.m. EST.
12. Inquiries and submission of statement of capabilities
Inquiries and statement of capabilities are to be directed to:
Louise Smith
Supply Team Leader
33 City Centre Drive - Suite 480C, Mississauga, Ontario L5B2N5
Telephone: 905-615-2028
Facsimile: 905-615-2060
E-mail: l••••••••@•••••.••.ca
Delivery Date: 28/03/2013
You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate
with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any
questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting
officer identified above.
An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and
agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15)
calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it
intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a
pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or
before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets
the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority
may then proceed with the award. However, should a Statement of
Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the
ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full
tendering process.
Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available
to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a
statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person
identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this
Notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate
how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.
The PWGSC file number, the contracting officer's name and the
closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the
envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile
transmission, on the covering page.
The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any
procurement.
Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.
