Notice of Proposed Procurement constituting (i) a Notice of Intended Procurement and Summary Notice under CETA/Canada-UK TCA, and (ii) a Tender Notice under the CFTA.
1.0 Introduction
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (“CATSA”) is a Crown corporation with headquarters at 99 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1P 6B9. CATSA is responsible for the delivery of consistent, effective and efficient screening of passengers and non-passengers in designated airports. Further information about CATSA can be obtained at www.catsa.gc.ca.
1.1 Estimated Contract Value
$750,000
2.0 Description
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (“CATSA”) has a requirement for the supply of: (i) Cyber Risk Management services; and (ii) Incident Response services (the “Services”) to provide a strategic approach to manage risks, and help respond quickly and effectively to resolve any threats and minimize the impact to the organization in the event of a compromise during a five-year period, as further described in the RFP.
3.0 Procurement Method
This RFP establishes an Open Tendering process to enter into a non-exclusive Contract.
The top ranked bidder will be invited to enter into negotiations with CATSA to finalize an agreement for the provision of the Services and Deliverables in accordance with the process set out in this RFP, and any document referenced by CATSA in this RFP.
4.0 Estimated Quantity of Services
CATSA’s estimated annual requirement is for approximately five hundred (500) hours of Cyber Risk Management Services and fifty (50) hours of prepaid Incident Response Services.
During the term of the Contract, CATSA may, subject to the availability of funding, purchase additional Services on an as and when required basis, via purchase orders issued under the Contract.
By responding to the RFP, bidders acknowledge that: (i) the foregoing are estimates only and are subject to change, in CATSA’s sole and absolute discretion, at any time, up to and including any time after any resulting Contract is entered into; and (ii) CATSA cannot commit to purchase any quantity of services until a purchase order is issued in accordance with any resulting Contract.
These estimated requirements are for informational purposes only and do not represent a commitment by CATSA to buy all or any quantities.
5.0 Term of Resulting Contract
It is anticipated that the term of any resulting Contract will be for five years.
As this is anticipated to be a recurring Contract, it is CATSA’s intention to issue a notice of intended procurement in respect of a new RFP prior to the expiry of the term of the resulting Contract.
6.0 Address for Submission of Questions and Proposals/Responses; Question Acceptance Deadline and Closing Date
The question acceptance deadline and the closing date are set out in the “Dates” section above. CATSA may extend either or both of such dates.
Questions and proposals/responses must be submitted through the MERX Electronic Bid Submission system at www.MERX.com.
7.0 Mandatory Requirements
This RFP does not include any Mandatory Requirements.
8.0 Rated Requirements
The RFP will contains details of the rated requirements.
9.0 Contractor Selection
1. Selection Method
All proposals will be examined in accordance with the following process:
Step 1: Evaluation of Rated Requirements (one hundred (100) Points)
Technical Offers will be evaluated against the Rated Requirements, as outlined in Schedule “C” (Technical Offer Requirements and Evaluation). Technical Offers will be assigned a score for each rated requirement to establish a Step 1 “Technical Score”. The maximum Technical Score is one hundred (100) points.
At the end of this Step 1 (Evaluation of Rated Requirements), CATSA will establish a shortlist of up to the top three bidders with the highest total Technical Scores that are within a twenty percent (20%) range of the highest Technical Score. Only the bidders meeting these criteria will be eligible to proceed to the next step of the evaluation and selection process.
Step 2: Evaluation of Financial Offer
Financial Offers will be evaluated and assigned an “Evaluated Price” in accordance with Schedule “D”, (Financial Offer Requirements and Evaluation).
Step 3: Ranking of Bidders
Bidders will be ranked in order of lowest Evaluated Price Per Point.The top-ranked bidder will receive a written invitation to enter into direct contract negotiations to finalize the Contract with CATSA, subject to Schedule “G” (Security Requirements Assessments) and without limitation to any other provision in this RFP, including but not limited to Section 11 (CATSA’s Reserved Rights).
The top ranked bidder will be identified BY CATSA in accordance with the above at which point the RFP will be at an end.
The evaluations under this RFP and the preceding steps in this RFP, AND ANY SCHEDULE UNDER THIS RFP are solely for the purposes of establishing a TOP ranked bidder with whom to Enter into negotiationS and nothing shall limit CATSA’s ability to negotiate and to conclude and agreement with the Top ranked bidder (or successive ranked bidders) on terms, commitments or prices different from those identifed in this RFP, any Schedule under this RFP or the TOP Ranked Bidder’s Proposal.
Step 4: Negotiations
- Negotiations will be subject to the process rules contained in this RFP, and will not constitute a legally binding offer to enter into a contract on the part of CATSA or the bidder and there will be no legally binding relationship created with any bidder prior to the execution of a written agreement. The terms and conditions attached to the RFP are to form the basis for commencing negotiations between CATSA and the top ranked bidder. The scope of negotiations and the process of negotiations will be determined by CATSA and will be identified in a document provided to the top ranked bidder. Without limiting the foregoing, negotiations may include requests by CATSA for supplementary information from the bidder to verify, clarify or supplement the information provided in its proposal or to confirm the conclusions reached in the evaluation, and may include requests by CATSA for improved pricing or performance terms from the bidder.
- Time Period for Negotiations
CATSA intends to enter into negotiations and finalize the agreement with the top-ranked bidder during the Contract Negotiation Period, commencing from the date CATSA invites the top-ranked bidder to enter negotiations. A bidder invited to enter into direct contract negotiations should therefore be prepared to satisfy the pre-conditions of award listed in the RFP, provide requested information in a timely fashion and conduct its negotiations expeditiously.
- Failure to Enter into Agreement
Bidders should be aware that CATSA does not represent or warrant that they will be able to conclude an agreement and neither party shall have any obligation to conclude an agreement. If the parties cannot conclude negotiations and finalize the agreement for the Services and Deliverables within the Contract Negotiation Period, CATSA may discontinue negotiations with the top-ranked bidder and may invite the next-best-ranked bidder to enter into negotiations, in CATSA’s best interests. This process will continue until an agreement is finalized, until there are no more bidders remaining that are eligible for negotiations or until CATSA elects to cancel the RFP process.
- Notification of Negotiation Status
Other bidders that may become eligible for contract negotiations may be notified at the commencement of the negotiation process with the top-ranked bidder.
Step 5: Security Requirements Assessments
Prior to award, pre-condition to award of a contract, CATSA will, for the bidder selected from Step 4 (Negotiations), assess that bidder’s ability to meet the Security Requirements specified in the RFP.
10.0 Trade Agreement
This procurement is subject to:
- Chapter Nineteen (Government Procurement) of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA);
- The Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuty Agreement; and
- Chapter Five (Government Procurement) of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).
11.0 Use of MERX
CATSA will only use MERX as its web-based forum to post solicitations. As such, the attached procurement document has only been posted on MERX, and all related documents, notices, addendums, and questions and responses thereto will only be posted on MERX.
See MERX at http://www.merx.com for details respecting how to access the solicitation documents and any costs related thereto.
CATSA does not authorize, or make any representations or warranties in respect of, any postings relating to its procurements found on any other web-based forum.
12.0 Language
A French language version of the RFP will be made available upon request.
Proposals may be submitted in either the English or French language.
