This procurement is subject to the provisions of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, the Atlantic Procurement Agreement and the Quebec-New Brunswick Procurement Agreement.
This procurement is subject to the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement.
No totals required.
***** Amendment # 3 *****
This document has been amended to answer the following vendor questions. All other information remains the same. No further questions will be accepted.
Q1. section 7.2.4 Work Samples. As an integrated agency, we are responding to multiple categories and are wondering if it would be possible to provide 3 full cases clearly highlighting the expertise related to the propose services?
R1. Work examples/cases which cover multiple of the services we are seeking are perfectly fine. Proponents should clearly indicate that a given example or case covers which category our categories of service.
Q2. Do you require the service agreement document to be completed/signed and added as part of the RFP appendix?
R2. No, this is just an example of our standard service contract for vendor information.
Q3. For Work Samples, much of the work I've done in the past three years has been strategic advice, strategic plans and workshops. How would you like me to demonstrate that under section 7.2.4 Work Samples?
R3. Brief summary of the plan or strategy and a link added for more information.
Q4. We will be bidding on the Marketing Research Services and there is a request for three work samples. Most of our work would be written reports. Do you want us to include actual copies of these reports or would links to them be sufficient. If we are to supply actual copies, is one copy sufficient, or is there a need to supply one for each copy of the proposal.
R4. Brief summary of the plan or strategy and a link added for more information.
Q5. Section 7.2.2 requires 2 client references for whom work of similar scope was completed. Do you require 2 references per category we are responding or 2 references total that can speak to each category.
R5. Two total is fine, but should reflect the number of categories the proponent is applying for.
***** Amendment # 2 *****
This document has been amended to answer the following vendor questions. All other information remains the same.
Q1. For item 6.3.2 Marketing, are you just looking for a vendor to solely do work with future marketing campaigns? Or can you share what other marketing activities you anticipate you might require?
R1. A major qualifier for a marketing agency vs. a graphic design shop is the ability to develop a complete marketing strategy and tactical plan as opposed to creative/design work for various marketing tactics, but traditional (printed materials, signs, banners, print and radio ads, etc.) and digital (web graphics, television/video products, social media sharables, etc.)
Q2. Regarding item 6.3.5 Website Content/Development - Can you elaborate on the type of website content you're looking for (i.e writing services, SEO, accessibility training, governance review etc.)?
R2. Typically for standing offer projects, our clients within GNB are looking for web content that aligns with a given marketing campaign in terms of tone and messaging. Our main clients want to stress that such developed content should be created to be optimized for search engines. We can't assume that all agencies would craft content with this in mind. Other times, an outside agency is called on to build a promotional microsite and in that scenario, we are looking for content (with SEO in
mind), design/layout, user friendly functionality and training / style guide so we can make future updates in-house with ease.
***** Amendment # 1 *****
This document has been amended to answer the following vendor questions and add sample service agreements as attachments (English and French).
Q1. Whether companies from Outside Canada can apply for this?
R1. Yes.
Q2. Whether we need to come over there for meetings?
R2. There is definitely a requirement that firms who do work for GNB be able to meet in person as required. A lot of back-and-forth is done by electronic means, of course, but there are times when face-to-face meetings and presentations are required by our departmental clients.
Q3. Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside Canada?
R3. Please see answer to question 2.
Q4. Can we submit the proposals via email?
R4. No, please refer to section four of the RFP document for proposal delivery instructions.
Q5. As we look to meet a sustainability's mandate each year, I wonder if you are willing to reduce the number of printed copies, only require a USB submission or an online/email submission alone?
R5. Please see section four of the RFP document for the requested number and format of proposal copies.
Q6. Could you let us know how many vendors are to be approved to get on the pre-approved list?
R6. Any proponent that qualifies through the RFP process will be admitted to the pre-qualification list.
Q7. We are travel/tourism focused; specifically targeted Chinese visitors. I couldn't tell from the information provided whether or not such services were under the scope of the tender?
R7. Please refer to section 6.3 of the RFP document for the services being requested.
This is a tender notice only. In order to submit a bid, you must obtain official tender documents from the New Brunswick Opportunities Network, another authorized tendering service or as indicated in the tender notice.
RETURN TO:
Note change to mailing address:
Central Tendering Branch
Fredericton Regional Centre
Suite 2300, 300 St. Mary's Street,
Fredericton, N.B.
E3A 2S4
Fax: (506) 444-4200
Public opening of bids will take place on closing day at 14:00 Atlantic Time, in Fredericton Regional Centre, Suite 2300, 300 St. Mary's Street, Fredericton, N.B. E3A 2S4.
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All bids must be stated in Canadian Funds.
All tenders must be F.O.B. destination, freight prepaid.
Sales taxes should not be included in the unit, extended or total prices.
This Invitation is being conducted under the provisions of the Procurement Act and Regulation as of the date of the issuance of the Invitation. Bidders may obtain a copy of the Act and Regulation on-line free of charge Procurement Act, Regulation or a paper copy may be purchased from the Queen's Printer, Province of N.B., P.O. Box 6000,Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5H1.
QUESTIONS:
Written questions relating to this opportunity may be submitted to the address provided below via email by clicking on Questions. Please be sure to include the solicitation/tender number in the subject line.
EMAIL ADDRESS: bidquestionssoumissions@snb.ca
NOTE:
This email account is strictly for the receipt of questions on open opportunities. This email is not for the submission of bids.
All suppliers engaged to deliver services on behalf of the Government of New Brunswick must ensure compliance with the
Official Languages Act in the delivery of those services. For more information, please refer to the
Official Languages Act.
The Atlantic Provinces Standard Terms & Conditions for Goods and Services apply to this procurement and are considered to be incorporated into this document. By submitting a bid, you agree and accept these terms and conditions. Current "Atlantic Provinces Standard Terms and Conditions" are available on the New Brunswick Opportunities Network, the Council of Atlantic Premiers' Website or from an authorized service provider.
Under Canadian law (and international agreements), your Bid must arrive separately and independently, without conspiracy, collusion or fraud; see http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/home for further information.
A bidder must obtain official bid documents from a distribution service, authorized by the Minister of Service New Brunswick, in order to submit a bid. The current authorized distribution services are the
New Brunswick Opportunities Network (NBON) (operated by Service New Brunswick, Province of NB),
BIDS (operated by Tendering Publications Ltd.) and
MERX (operated by Mediagrif Interactive Technologies). Failure to submit the official bid documents or provide proof that the
official bid documents were properly obtained will result in rejection of the bid. In order to facilitate the evaluation process, Bidders are requested to respond in the same format as the official bid documents.
Where the estimated value of the goods or services to be procured is below
the lowest applicable threshold value of any relevant trade agreement, Service New Brunswick reserves the right to give preferential treatment to a prospective supplier from New Brunswick or the Atlantic Region. Should this right be exercised, the following order of priority will apply: a) firstly, New Brunswick manufacturers if the goods to be procured are manufactured in New Brunswick; b) secondly, New Brunswick vendors; and c) thirdly, Atlantic Suppliers. The preference will be applied based
on the price differential
between the lowest acceptable bid and the bid receiving preferential treatment. Unless otherwise indicated, there shall be no limit on the price differential under which a preference may be applied. The decision to apply a preference will be at the sole discretion of Service New Brunswick.
All discounts quoted will be considered to be without limitations.
Payment of invoices is the responsibility of the department or organization to whom the goods are shipped or services are supplied.
Award of contracts: no contract shall be awarded and no payment shall be made to a vendor unless authorized by the Minister or his delegates. The Minister may make an award to the preferred vendor conditional on the negotiation and acceptance of a detailed contract between the Province and the vendor. In such cases, should the detailed contract negotiations not be completed in a reasonable period of time, the Province reserves the right to discontinue negotiations with the vendor and
subsequently enter into negotiations with the second preferred vendor.
No right or duty, in whole or in part, of the vendor under a contract issued may be assigned or delegated without the prior consent of the Strategic Procurement Branch.
Unless the Strategic Procurement Branch has determined otherwise prior to tender closing, all prices must be extended and totaled.
The province of New Brunswick reserves the right to negotiate pricing, value added and other savings opportunities with the successful proponent at time of award and throughout the contract.
Pay Equity
Does your organization have 50 or more employees?
The Government of New Brunswick is committed to encouraging and incentivizing the adoption of pay equity by employers doing business with government.
Prior to the award of procurements for goods and services valued over $1,000,000, suppliers, with fifty (50) or more employees will be required to complete the Pay Equity Learning Module developed by the Women's Equality Branch. Suppliers should provide a copy of their certificate of completion with their bid submission.
To complete the online module and obtain your certificate, please visit www.gnb.ca/payequity. For questions, please contact the Pay Equity Bureau toll free: (877) 253-0266 or by Email: peb-bes@gnb.ca.
All Suppliers engaged to deliver goods or services to the Government of New Brunswick must ensure compliance with the Designated Materials Regulation in the provision or delivery of those goods obligated under that Regulation. Please refer to
Recycle NB's website and the
Designated Materials Regulation for specifics.
Direct Deposit
The Province of New Brunswick is now using Direct Deposit as the standard method of issuing payments. Suppliers are required to provide bank account information and an email address for the notice of remittance. Please send the completed Direct Deposit Form to Service New Brunswick (e-mail address and mailing address are indicated on the form).
Please click on the link below to view the Direct Deposit Form.
http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/gs-sg/pdf/Procurement/DirectDepositVirementDirect.pdf
Solicitation documents will be provided in either of the Province of New Brunswick's two official languages; English or French upon request.
