1.
Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)
An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the competitive requirements of the Government’s contracting policy have been met. The Department may then proceed with the award of a contract to the pre-identified supplier.
2.
Definition of the requirement
The Department of Finance Canada has a requirement for a licensed virtual online second language training solution which offers a fully interactive and modular based program. Part time and full-time for individual and group tutoring/self-paced learning program, using a virtual modeled approach and requires a qualified language school to provide tailored language training services.
• in Canadian English and Canadian French;
• aligned with levels A, B and C in accordance with the Qualification Standards in Relation to Official Languages of the Government of Canada; and
• that can be undertaken in self-study, in self-study with virtual one-on-one tutoring services or in self-study with small group tutoring services.
3.
Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:
3.1 Capability
The second language training must be provided at the A, B, and C levels in accordance with the Government of Canada Qualification Standards in Relation to Official Languages Government of Canada Qualification Standards in Relation to Official Languages.
The second language training must be flexible to accommodate different programs and schedules, as follows:
Programs
One-on-one or Group
Access to self-paced online platform
Program A
self-study one using online platform
One-on-one
Yes
Program B
self-study + part-time one-on-one tutoring (14 hours or less per week)
One-on-one
Yes
Program C
self-study + full-time one-on-one tutoring (15 hours or more per week)
One-on-one
Yes
Program D
self-study + part-time group tutoring (14 hours or less per week)
Group
Yes
Program E
self-study + full-time group tutoring (15 hours or less per week)
Group
Yes
Program F
Second language evaluation preparation
One-on-one or Group
If necessary
Program G
Maintenance
Group
If necessary
CATEGORY OF SERVICES
ESTIMATED HOURS USAGE (ANNUALLY)
Subscription based training program (Self-study without tutoring)
Unlimited
Second language level assessments
150
Tutoring Services – One-on-one
2000
Tutoring Services – Group
3700
Maintenance – Group
180
SLE preparation
315
The proposed solution must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 – See definition at http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/.
3.2 Learning Management System (LMS)
The Contractor must ensure that the online training program includes a learning management system that has been in place for a minimum of 5 years and proven to be efficient. It must:
Be accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
Provide Technical Authorities and Coordinators a secure and automated environment for registrations, creation of personal profiles, timesheets, tracking the learner training and progress, and learner training hours information (total of hours authorized, total of hours charged and, total of hours available);
Provide the learner online access to his/her personal profile, progress reports, self- study progress, and training schedule (number of hours per week of training, and tutoring schedule);
Allow for the delivery of second language courses, for both official languages – Canadian English and French, in order to achieve and maintain language proficiency - levels A (Beginner), B (Intermediate) and C (Advanced) for reading comprehension, written expression and oral proficiency (in accordance with the Qualification Standards in relation to Official Languages of the Government of Canada);
Be accessible in self-study with or without a tutor;
Be accessible from a computer or tablet compatible with the following minimum technical requirements:
Browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Apple safari
Operating System: Windows 7 or later, Mac OS X 11 or greater
Provide an unlimited number of licenses for the online training platform to respond to all the training requests with and without tutoring;
Allow the learner to choose English or French as the interface language, according to his/her preference;
Provide the learner with translations in preferred language (French or English) of explanations and new vocabulary;
Offer an automated, online language evaluation (placement test) to determine the learner’s initial module;
Enables the learner to review or redo an exercise (go back) as often as needed in order to respect his/her learning style and speed;
Enables the learner to print vocabulary and grammar sections;
Has full tracking capabilities enabling learners to pick-up their online learning exactly where they left off during their previous self-study session;
Provides audio activities, activities with visual aids and interactive activities at all language levels (A, B and C);
Includes a help and a search function or a guide to help the learner use the program properly;
Enable FIN Coordinators to have access to status reports and to monitor progress;
Provide, in each learner file, reports that are downloadable, printable, and accessible online and that provide:
online placement test results, including the number of hours of training and the initial module recommended to achieve the target level;
placement test results for learners with tutoring, including the number of hours of training and the initial module recommended to achieve the target level;
the training activities and the modules completed by the learner in self-study;
the tutoring sessions completed by the learner, presented in the form of an attendance report (noting if the learner was present or absent for the tutoring session);
the type of training authorized by the Department (full-time, part-time, self-study only, self-study with tutoring, one-on-one or small group, and any other format agreed to between the Department and the Contractor in compliance with the Statement of Work);
the learner’s progress, such as the Teaching Resources’ notes and/or the results of the online program progress tests, throughout the training and according to the training type (tutoring, one-on-one);
the initial estimated end date of the training and the updated estimated end date in case it has changed (e.g. vacation, sick leave...);
3.3 Experience:
3.3.1 The Pedagogical Advisor must have at least one of the other following qualifications:
Education and experience requirements
At least one year of experience since January 1st, 2015 as a Pedagogical Advisor of a Teaching Resource team in English and/or French as a second language for adults.
One year of experience corresponds to 1,500 hours of supervision of at least two Teaching Resources. The Pedagogical Advisor may have accumulated his/her hours over several years. However, he/she may not accumulate more than one year of experience (as defined above) in one calendar year. For example:
Scenario 1: A Pedagogical Advisor may have accumulated 1,500 hours over 5 years. In this case, he/she will be recognized as having one year of experience in supervision;
Scenario 2: A Pedagogical Advisor has accumulated 4,500 hours in two years. He/she will then be recognized as having two years of experience, because no more than 1,500 hours per year are taken into account.
Equivalence in case of failure to meet experience or education requirements
If the proposed resource does not meet the experience requirement as a Pedagogical Advisor or does not have the level of education required, he/she must have a minimum of five years of experience in teaching English and/or French as a second language to adults since January 1st, 2012.
This equivalency can serve to mitigate only one of the two above-mentioned at 3.3.1 criteria but not both. Thus, the proposed resource must have at least one year of supervisory experience or the requested level of education.
One year of experience corresponds to 1,000 hours of teaching. The person may have accumulated his/her hours over several years. However, he/she may not accumulate more than one year of experience (as defined above) in one calendar year. For example:
Scenario 1: The person may have accumulated 1,000 hours over 5 years. In this case, he/she will be recognized as having one year of experience in teaching;
Scenario 2: The person has accumulated 3000 hours in two years. He/she will then be recognized as having two years of experience, because no more than 1000 hours per year are taken into account.
3.3.2 The contractor must provide a Teaching Resource that meets the requirements listed below within no more than two weeks after initial assessment.
If the proposed Teaching Resource does not have a university degree in a discipline related to the position, he/she must have a minimum of three years’ experience in teaching English and/or French as a second language to adults since January 1, 2015.
One year of experience corresponds to 1,000 hours of teaching in French and/or English as a second language to adults. The Teaching Resource may have accumulated his/her hours over several years. However, he/she may not accumulate more than one year of experience (as defined above) in one calendar year. For example:
Scenario 1: A Teaching Resource may have accumulated 1,000 hours over 5 years. In this case, he/she will be recognized as having one year of experience in teaching;
Scenario 2: A Teaching Resource has accumulated 3,000 hours in two years. He/she will then be recognized as having two years of experience, because no more than 1,000 hours per year are taken into account.
3.4 Knowledge and understanding of Online Module Language Training:
The Contractor must provide learners with access to a web portal Learning Management System (LMS) that delivers, enables and supports bilingual language training in French and English;
· The LMS must provide a fully interactive self-study modular-based French and English language training program;
· The LMS must be able to run and function properly within the technical environment described above, including any laptop or desktop without the requirement to connect to any outside server for any reason whatsoever;
· The LMS must provide language training content at the Active Offer of Services level in accordance with the obligation of making an active offer and put the client's experience at the heart of the discussions.
· The LMS must enable users to prepare individually for Second Language Evaluation tests (English and French) prescribed by the Public Service Commission of Canada.
· The contractor must offer a subscription that allows access to an unlimited number of licenses for all Department of Finance employees for the online training program to respond to all the training requests with and without tutoring;
· The LMS web portal must be able to run and function properly within the technical environment described above, including any laptop, desktop or server;
· The LMS must provide language training content at the levels A, B, and C in accordance with the Government of Canada ;
· The LMS must provide language training content at the Active offer of service in both official languages;
Qualification Standards in Relation to Official Languages;
· The LMS must enable users to prepare individually for Second Language Evaluation tests (English and French) prescribed by the Public Service Commission of Canada;
· The LMS must be available 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week/365 days a year;
· The LMS must enable users to register and provide personal data in an automated and secure environment;
· The LMS must enable users to access their personal profile via a password, including their training schedule (number of hours of training per week and the course schedule with the tutor);
· The LMS must enable administrators to monitor activities and download usage, and performance reports of all users;
· The LMS must enable administrators to track the hours billed for any training session and enable administrators to download invoices;
· The LMS must ensure the security of personal data and Information.
4.
Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement
Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)
Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
Canada–Colombia Free Trade Agreement
Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement
Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement
Canada–Peru Free Trade Agreement
5.
Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
Language Research Development Group uses a blended methodology, composed of Self-Study and Tutoring. This methodology allows the learners to progress at their own pace and at the same time reduce costs. Learners will have lessons with a tutor tailored to their strengths, weaknesses, and learning style. Tutoring sessions can be held by telephone or MS Teams, and each session is available 7 days a week from 6 am to 6 pm (based on the Eastern Standard Time). Individual learners and the department (for groups) are free to choose their preferred time for tutoring sessions, in order to create a personalized schedule that works best for them.
At the end of each module, every learner must complete an end-of-module evaluation, to serve as a checkpoint to ensure the learner’s progression. This evaluation will come with a report.
Learning Management System (LMS): every learner is provided a personal account to access the LMS, a web-based portal. Learners can access it at any time from a computer, a tablet or a smartphone, allowing the learner to learn at their own pace and according to their own schedule. Learners have access to other tools such as a question forum, extended reference guide, conjugation tables, glossary, buddy system, as well as progress tracking. Information for each learner’s personal account manager can be found on the LMS as well. At the end of each lesson, the tutor fills out an end-of-session report that learners and managers can access in the LMS.
The LMS is also useful to coordinators and managers, who have access to free coordinator accounts in order to track their budget and their employees’ progress.
It is the intent of the department to enter into a contract with Language Research Development Group (LRDG) to provide identified individuals with virtual language training services through online self-paced module exercises and tutoring sessions.
The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement:
Subsection 6(d) - only one person is capable of performing the work.
Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons
The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the (section of the trade agreement(s) specified):
Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) – Article(s) 513 – (b) (ii) the protection of patents, copyrights, or other exclusive rights;
Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) - Chapter K, Article kbis 16-2c
Canada–Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) - Article 1402: Security and
General Exceptions
Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement (CHFTA) - Chapter 17 –Government
Procurement – Article 17.11 –Limited Tendering – 2 (b) (ii)
Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) - Chapter 16 Government
Procurement - Article 16-10 Limited Tendering - (b) ii)
Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) - Chapter 14 Government
Procurement-Article 14 - Security and General Exceptions - 2 c
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Article 15.10: Limited Tendering (b) (ii) the protection of patents, copyrights or other exclusive rights
8.
Ownership of Intellectual Property
Ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract will vest in the Contractor.
9.
Period of the proposed contract or delivery date
The proposed contract is for a period of one (1) year, from the date of award to March 31, 2024.
There is an option to extend the term of the Contract by up to two (2) additional one (1) year period(s) under the same conditions.
10.
Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
Language Research Development Group (LRDG)
1407 Rue St Alexandre, Site 300
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 2G3
11.
Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities
Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.
12.
Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities
The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is January 5, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
13.
Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities
Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:
Name: Justin Foubert
Electronic Mail Address: procurement-approvisionnement@fin.gc.ca
