ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (“CATSA”) has a requirement for a pre-board screening workforce segmentation feasibility study (“Research”). The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (“ACAN”) is to signal CATSA’s intention to direct a contract to the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (“FHNW”) School of Applied Psychology Institute Humans in Complex Systems, Riggenbachstrasse 16, 4600 Olten, Switzerland.
Before directing the contract however, CATSA would like to provide other suppliers with the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of satisfying the requirements set out in this ACAN, by submitting a statement of capabilities during the fifteen (15) calendar day posting period.
If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during the fifteen (15) calendar day posting period that meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, CATSA may proceed to a competitive process.
If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities meeting the requirements set out in the ACAN, a contract will be awarded to the pre-selected supplier named above.
1. Background
CATSA currently employs a generalist labour model at its checkpoints, which trains most Screening Officers (“SOs”) on all screening positions, allowing those SOs to rotate into any position, as required. In contrast to the generalist model, workforce segmentation, otherwise known as the division of labour, is a concept that allows components of a workforce system to be assigned to the individuals best suited to the task. It divides the system into smaller processes or individual positions, to enable personnel to focus on specific tasks assigned based on their natural aptitude and performance.
In 2019, CATSA conducted preliminary research of workforce segmentation models and concepts for PBS checkpoints, with assistance from CASRA, and concluded that segmenting PBS screening by process, rather than by individual position, could be a viable option. Over the past five years in particular, there has been a lot of evolution in terms of screening technologies and processes, with more change coming in the future, given the potential use of Computed Tomography (“CT”) X-ray technology at pre-board screening checkpoints. These changes prompted an interest in exploring the workforce segmentation concept which could generate performance improvements. CATSA would like to mature and evaluate the concept and, once fully developed, conduct a trial (as feasible).
CATSA would like to engage FNHW to assist CATSA in exploring a preliminary model for workforce segmentation, to gain important insights on whether and how to conduct workforce segmentation at some PBS checkpoints. FNHW will provide services for the following:
- Feasibility study and trial preparation;
- PBS Workforce Segmentation Feasibility Pilot Study support;
- PBS Workforce Segmentation Feasibility Trial support.
- quantitative and qualitative data analyses and recommendations; and
- presentation of findings and recommendations to CATSA.
The research and development of segmentation models will be conducted by FHNW. CASRA, the organization that supported the further exploration of a workforce segmentation model, is a consulting firm. Some members of CASRA are also part of a research team at FHNW. For this project, CATSA would be working on a research project with FHNW, and FHNW would provide a percentage of the funding for the project.
The term of the contract will be from time of contract award (estimated as late December 2021) to March 31, 2024.
The estimated contract value is $96,000.00 CAD, excluding applicable taxes.
2. Minimum Essential Requirements
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:
- A minimum of ten (10) years of experience, as of the date of ACAN closing, in the field of human factors, sociotechnical systems, and work design; and
- A minimum of five years of experience, as of the date of ACAN closing, reseaching and providing advice to clients in the aviation industry.
3. Justification for the Pre-Selected Supplier
The School of Applied Psychology of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland is a leading competence centre specializing in work, organizational and business psychology. More specifically, human factors, sociotechnical systems, and work design are key areas of research and consulting of the Institute Humans in Complex Systems, the largest institute of the School of Applied Psychology. The proposed project team includes an expert with more than twenty (20) years of research and consultancy experience in the field of aviation security human factors, sociotechnical systems, and work design, with many scientific publications and presentations.
4. Statement of Capabilities
Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to meet the specified requirements above, may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the Procurement and Contracting Advisor identified in this ACAN, on or before the closing date of this ACAN. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the requirements above.
5. Enquiries
Enquiries are to be submitted via MERX Electronic Bid Submission (“EBS”) system at www.merx.com.
6. Closing Date
The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is noted in the details section of this ACAN.
Statements of capabilities are to be submitted by MERX Electronic Bid Submission (“EBS”) system at www.merx.com.
The largest file that may be submitted to the MERX EBS system is 500MB. There is no limit to the number of files that may be submitted. An e-bid confirmation number will be provided by the MERX EBS system to the applicable bidder upon successful completion of submitting its e-bid documents.
If you have any questions or require additional information regarding MERX EBS System, please visit www.merx.com or contact MERX Customer Support at 1-800-964-MERX (6379).
CATSA may cancel this ACAN before the closing date set out above. If the ACAN is cancelled for any reason before the closing date, a notice will be posted on MERX advising of the cancellation.
CATSA retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.
Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.
