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 and their baggage in designated airports. Further information about CATSA can be obtained at www.catsa.gc.ca.
1.1 Estimated Standing Offer Value
$500,000
2.0 Description
Following RFSO21-1645 issued on June 17, 2021 (“Initial RFSO”), the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (“CATSA”) awarded three Standing Offers (“Initial Standing Offers”), one additional Standing Offer was awarded following RFSO No. RFSO21-1645-2022 Refresh issued on July 12, 2022 and one Standing Offer was awarded following RFSO No. RFSO21-1645-2023 Refresh issued on July 13, 2023. CATSA has a requirement to establish up to two Standing Offers (up to one per Stream) during this annual qualification opportunity (“2024 Refresh”), and up to an additional two Standing Offers (up to one per Stream) during the next annual qualification opportunity, for the provision of Financial Advisory Services, including but not limited to, the following “Streams”:
- Stream A: Tax Advisory Services
- Stream B: Financial and Assurance Advisory Services,
on an “as and when required” basis for a period of approximately two years, that is, from the effective date of the resulting Standing Offers to September 30, 2026, as further described in Schedule “A” (Statement of Work) and this RFSO.
3.0 Estimated Volume of Services
During the term of the Standing Offer(s), CATSA may, subject to the availability of funding, purchase financial advisory services on an as and when required basis, via purchase orders under the Standing Offer(s).
By responding to this RFSO, bidder acknowledges that CATSA cannot commit to purchase any volume of services until a purchase order is issued in accordance with any resulting Standing Offer(s).
CATSA makes no commitment or representation that a minimum level of business or any level of business will result from a Standing Offer.
4.0 Term of resulting Standing Offers
It is anticipated that the term of any resulting Standing Offers will be for a term of approximately two (2) years.
5.0 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 must be submitted through the MERX Electronic Bid Submission system at www.MERX.com.
6.0 Mandatory Requirements
M1.The bidder MUST demonstrate that they have a minimum of five years’ experience in providing relevant expertise within the last ten years as of the Deadline for Proposals. The bidder MUST provide a brief summary of the dates claimed for experience, including:
- the client company name for whom the work was performed;
- the type of work performed; and
- the duration of the work.
For greater certainty, the bidder’s response MUST demonstrate the requisite experience in each Stream for which the bidder submits a Technical Offer.
M2. The bidder MUST demonstrate they have an existing physical office that provides professional services (i.e. not offices that provide administrative services only), with valid DESIGNATED ORGANIZATION SCREENING (DOS), with DOCUMENT SAFEGUARDING CAPABILITY (DSC) at the SECRET level, issued by the Canadian Industrial Security directorate (CISD), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), in the National Capital Region by providing the following information:
- Physical office address in the National Capital Region; and
- Types of services provided at the physical office address in a) above (i.e. professional services, administrative services, other, etc.).
M3. By submitting a response, the bidder confirms that it can provide Financial Advisory Services for the Stream(s) in both official languages and otherwise in accordance with the Official Languages Act for each Stream for which the bidder wishes to be considered.
7.0 Rated Requirements
The RFSO contains details of the rated requirements.
8.0 Contractor Selection
From this annual qualification opportunity, CATSA intends to recommend award of a Standing Offer to the shortlisted bidder in each Stream without limitation to any other provision in this RFSO, including, but not limited to Section 11 (CATSA’s Reserved Rights). If a bidder is recommended for award for both Streams, one Standing Offer will be awarded that is inclusive of both Streams.
9.0 Allocation of Tasks/Requirements
See RFSO for details of allocation of tasks/requirements.
10.0 Ongoing Qualification of New Suppliers (Standing Offer Refresh)
See RFSO for details of ongoing qualifications of new suppliers.
11.0 Trade Agreement
This procurement is covered by Chapter Nineteen (Government Procurement) of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA), and Chapter Five (Government Procurement) of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).
12.0 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 webbased forum.
13.0 Language
Proposals/Responses may be submitted in either the English or French language.
