DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTThe Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a requirement for (i) a bulk order of one thousand and eighty one (1,081) custom self-inking date stamps to be delivered to a single CRA location in Ottawa, Ontario; and (ii) new date stamps and replacement pads and ink refills to be supplied and delivered on an “as and when requested” basis to CRA locations across Canada.It is the CRA’s intention to award one contract to fulfill the requirement. The period of this contract will be for two (2) years with three (3) options to extend the period by one (1) year each. The contract will include the option to add and remove products and delivery locations.The process to submit bids to the CRA has changed and now involves opening a Connect conversation through the Connect service. To submit a bid using the Connect service, the Bidder must send as early as possible, at least six business days prior to the solicitation closing date and time, (in order to ensure a response), an email that includes the bid solicitation number to the Bid Receiving Unit requesting to open a Connect conversation. Requests to open a Connect conversation received after that time may not be answered. In the email, the Bidder must include the name and email address of all individuals who need to participate in the Connect conversation. For more details see Section 2.2.1 Revisions to Standard Instructions 2003.e-Procurement Solutioni) CRA e-Procurement SolutionThe CRA’s e-procurement solution for ordering, receiving and reconciling goods and services is an SAP Ariba tool which has been branded internally as Synergy 2.0. Synergy 2.0 will be used to place orders under any resulting contract.The highest-ranked responsive Bidder must be a member of the Ariba Network (AN) prior to contract award, and maintain membership in the AN throughout the period of any resulting Contract, including any exercised option periods. All costs associated with this membership shall be borne by the Bidder.ii) Government of Canada e-Procurement Solution (EPS) Canada is currently developing a government-wide EPS for ordering of goods and services. In support of the anticipated transition to this solution and how it may impact any resulting contract that is issued under this solicitation, refer to Part 6, article of the Model Contract, entitled “Transition to Government of Canada e-Procurement Solution (EPS)”.The Government of Canada’s press release provides additional information.APPLICABLE TRADE AGREEMENTSThe following trade agreement applies:Canadian Free Trade AgreementCanada Columbia Free Trade AgreementCanada-UK Trade Continuity AgreementCanada Peru Free Trade AgreementCanada Chile Free Trade AgreementCanada-Korea Free Trade AgreementCanada Panama Free Trade AgreementCanada-Ukraine Free Trade AgreementWorld Trade Organization Agreement on Government ProcurementCanada Honduras Free Trade AgreementComprehensive Economic and Trade AgreementComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific PartnershipCONTRACTOR SELECTION METHODOLOGYTo be declared responsive, a bid must:a. comply with all the requirements of the bid solicitation; andb. meet all mandatory criteria.The bids will be ranked by CRA based on the highest responsive combined rating of technical merit and price.CONTRACTING AUTHORITYAll enquiries regarding this Request for Proposal must be directed in WRITING (see email address below) to:Chelsea FournierCanada Revenue AgencyAdministration DirectorateContracting DivisionEmail Address: C••••••••@•••••••.••.caProposal documents and supporting information may be submitted in either English or French.Bids must be received on or before December 5, 2022 at 2:00 pm EDT.The CRA reserves the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.SUBMISSION OF BIDSBidders are to submit proposals by the time and date indicated on RFP Page 1. Bids must be submitted to:Canada Revenue AgencyBid Receiving U•••••••@•••••••.••.caBids will not be accepted if emailed directly to this email address. This email address must be used to request that CRA open a Connect conversation, as detailed in Standard Instructions 2003. Bidders must not use their own licensing agreement for Connect to initiate a Connect conversation with CRA.Bidders are hereby advised that the Bid Receiving Unit of CRA is available Monday to Friday inclusive, between the hours of 0830 and 1500 EST, excluding those days that the federal government observes as a holiday.Due to the nature of this solicitation, electronic transmissions of a proposal by facsimile is not considered to be practical and therefore will not be accepted.
