UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO - NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SINGLE SOURCE CONTRACT: #20-046
International research survey panels – longitudinal study
The University of Waterloo (UW) intends to award a contract for the continuation of services supporting international survey panels, to AC Nielsen Company of Canada, of Markham, Ontario, as outlined below.
This is an advanced Notice indicating to the supplier community that UW intends to award a contract for these services to a pre-identified supplier. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date of this notice, a challenge with a suitable plan for an alternate approach, the competitive requirements of the University are considered to have been met. Following notification to any suppliers not successful in demonstrating an approach that is in the best interests of the University, the contract will then be awarded to the pre-identified supplier.
Overview
The University of Waterloo’s School of Public Health is engaged in a longitudinal study that conducts on-line surveys for the International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS), including thousands of respondents aged 16-65 years (youth) across Canada and the United States (US).
The services being purchased from Nielsen include sample and data collection, survey programming, hosting and data file delivery. The data collection will be conducted online and will utilize a proprietary panel as well as trusted partner panels to reach the target sample:
Target Sample: 17,000 (Canada) and 36,500 (USA)
The budget for these services is approximately $300,000 (not including HST).
PROPOSED SOLUTION:
In order to continue the work done to date, and without interruption, the University of Waterloo’s School of Public Health research team has requested a continuation of services from Nielsen to preserve the integrity of the longitudinal research.
SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION:
Nielsen conducted the survey collection for the previous two waves of the ICPS, and it is necessary to continue with the same survey panels to ensure consistent sampling methodology between survey waves:
by using Nielsen for the ongoing surveys, we are able to compare responses to previous years using the same sample and methodology.
This would not be possible if we changed to a different survey agency using different commercial panels of respondents.
Process
Agencies who wish to challenge the award of this work may, in writing, detail their reasons, including their suggested alternate approach, to the attention of the contact person identified below, on or before the closing date of this Notice.
Date of issue: Thursday, July 30, 2020
Closing Date: Friday, August 14, 2020, at 2:30 P.M. Eastern Time
Contact: Christine Wagner, CPPB, CSCP – Procurement Specialist, Research
Procurement and Contract Services
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Ph: 519-888-4567 ext. 32074
Email – cpwagner@uwaterloo.ca, or, procure@uwaterloo.ca