1 By means of the RFP, NRCan is seeking proposals from bidders for the services of patent agents on an “as and when requested basis”, to protect its IP.The period of the Contract is from date of Contract to March 31, 2023 inclusive with an irrevocable option to extend the term of the Contract by up to 24 additional one-year periods.NRCan intends to award up to 3 contracts.2 There are security requirements associated with this requirement. For additional information, consult Part 6 - Security, Financial and Other Requirements, and Part 7 - Resulting Contract Clauses. For more information on personnel and organization security screening or security clauses, Bidders should refer to the Contract Security Program of Public Works and Government Services Canada (http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/esc-src/introduction-eng… ) website.3 The Federal Contractors Program (FCP) for employment equity applies to this procurement; see Part 5 - Certifications and Additional Information, Part 7 - Resulting Contract Clauses and the annex titled Federal Contractors Program for Employment Equity - Certification.4 This bid solicitation is to establish a contract with task authorizations for the delivery of the requirement detailed in the bid solicitation to the Identified Users across Canada, excluding locations within Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, and Labrador that are subject to Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements (CLCAs). Any requirement for deliveries within CLCAs areas within Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, or Labrador will have to be treated as a separate procurement, outside the resulting contract.5 The requirement is subject to the provisions of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).6 Only bids submitted using epost Connect service will be accepted. At least 48 business hours before the bid solicitation closing date and time, the Bidder must send an email requesting to open an epost Connect conversation to the following address:p••••••••@••••••••.••.caNote: Bids will not be accepted if e-mailed directly to this address. This e-mail address is to be used to open an ePost Connect conversation, as detailed in the Standard Instructions 2003 (Subsection 2 of Section 08), or to send bids through an ePost Connect message if the bidder is using its own licensing agreement for ePost Connect.IMPORTANT: It is requested that you write the bid solicitation number in “Subject” of the email:NRCan-5000064246 Intellectual Property (IP) Protection ServicesNRCan will not assume responsibility for proposals directed to any other location.The onus is on the Bidder to ensure that the bid is submitted correctly using epost Connect service. Not complying with the instructions may result in NRCan’s inability to ascertain reception date and/or to consider the bid prior to contract award. Therefore, NRCan reserves the right to reject any proposal not complying with these instructions.Due to the nature of the bid solicitation, bids transmitted by email, mail or facsimile to NRCan will not be accepted.AMENDMENT #001: To change the bid closing date on the notice. The RFP amendment will follow shortly.AMENDMENT #002: To change the bid closing date on the RFP (RFP Amendment #001) . The Questions and Answers will follow shortly.AMENDMENT #003: To publish RFP Amendment #002 and the Questions and Answers #001.
