CONTRACT OF SUPPLY
To be delivered as and when required for the period indicated upon receipt of an official Release under Contract. The Province of N.B. does not guarantee that any amount, make, model, brand, item, part or service will be purchased.
This procurement is subject to the provisions of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, the Atlantic Procurement Agreement and the Quebec-New Brunswick Procurement Agreement.
No totals required.
GENERAL PURPOSE AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (INCLUDING FIRMWARE), SOFTWARE, SUPPLIES AND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
*****Amendment #5*****
The tender has been amended to address the following Bidder questions.
Q1: Is SNB willing to waive the requirement that the appliance be 1 Rack-unit in size and accommodate a 2RU appliance as a maximum height?
A1: No. The requirement is for a 1 rack-unit in size appliance.
Q2: Is SNB willing to accommodate a physical configuration with fewer RJ45 interfaces; such as 4 10/100/1000 RJ45 and 8 Gigabit SFP?
A2: No. Lines 22 to 29 lists SNB's interface requirements.
Q3: Understanding that not all vendors test and publish the exact performance scenario described in line 33 is SNB willing to consider alternative performance testing scenarios (such as Next-Gen-Firewall Throughput with a mix of packet sizes)?
A3: No, line 33 describes the minimum throughput requirements.
Q4: Is SNB willing to waive the requirement for 10 Virtual Firewall instances or replace it with 10 Virtual Routers/VRFs?
A4: No, 10 virtual firewall instances is a requirement of the solution.
Q5: Taking into account that an effective SD-WAN implementation will require additional hardware beyond just the branch appliance, is SNB willing to remove the SD-WAN requirements or make them optional?
A5: No. Line 94 to 98 describe SNB's requirements around SD-WAN.
Q6: Would SNB be willing to accept a smaller storage device, such as 240GB of storage?
A6: No, line 32 describes SNB's onboard storage requirements.
Q7: Would SNB consider modifying the tender from a "supply arrangement" to a standard RFP tender being a one time purchase with QTY's for purchase to be negotiated after the contract award? Being that SD-WAN may form part of the SNB cyber-security strategy in the future the concern is that an SD-WAN standard could be derived from such a long supply arrangement without having evaluated all SD-WAN technologies and their value to SNB.
A7: No. The intent of this supply arrangement has been defined in the preface of the tender document and is considered a supplement to other technology supply arrangements. This supply arrangement is for an initial term of 3 years.
All other items remain unchanged.
*******************************
*****Amendment #4*****
The Tender has been amended to address the following Bidder questions.
Q1: Would GNB consider replacing the unsecured performance requirements by performance requirement with security features turned on; such as TCP packets with real world packet size in order to match the need GNB expressed about security?
A1: Line 33 of the requirements spreadsheet remains unchanged. Line 52 asks for published throughput specification with all features "on" for informational purposes only.
Q2: Is the current architecture looking to leverage this type of architecture. What are you planning to secure at the branch level, and what plans, if any are related to SD-WAN. Are the following layers relevant to your branch security approach?
1. Application visibility and control
2. Protection against malicious sites (URLF)
3. Protection against static attacks and known attacks (IPS/Malware protection/File Protection)
4. Protection against advanced attacks (Zero days, sandboxing, File analysis etc.)
5. Scanning for virus on the network with the gateway anti-virus?
6. Scanning encrypted traffic for advance encrypted threats?
A2: SNB addresses all its requirements in the specification sheet.
Q3: We would like to bid with a cloud based NGFW platform that provides Service New Brunswick with a scalable platform to secure branch offices, remote users and core sites however there are mandatory requirements identified for hardware based solutions including the section "HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY/SIZING/PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS". Would Service New Brunswick consider a cloud based security model that doesn't explicitly meet the hardware requirements in this section but addresses all of the
security use cases?
A3: No. SNB is looking for a hardware product that meets the specified requirements.
Q4: If SNB will not accept a cloud based NGFW platform, would it consider leveraging a router to address the hardware requirements while accepting a bid for a cloud based security platform?
A4: SNB is looking for an all-inclusive hardware product that meets the specified requirements.
Q5: Is the goal for Service New Brunswick to provide a Vendor of Record type offering to their supported branches of government similar to the Ontario Security Vendor of Record?
A5: SNB cannot comment, as it is not familiar with the Ontario Security Vendor of Record. SNB plans to leverage the resulting contract as per the terms outlined in the tender.
Q6: Is the goal for Service New Brunswick to provide a "Service New Brunswick" branded NGFW offering?
A6: SNB is the established IT service provider to the various government bodies and operating agencies in New Brunswick.
Q7: Can you confirm, if the required number of interfaces is per node or per cluster?
A7: The required number of interfaces is per node.
All other items remain unchanged
**************************************
*****Amendment #3*****
The Tender has been amended for the following reasons.
The closing date has been extended.
All other items remain unchanged.
*************************************
*****Amendment #2*****
Tender was amended for the following reason.
Updated Address.
All other items remain unchanged.
*****************************************
*****Amendment 1*****
Closing date updated for administrative purposes.
All other items remain unchanged.
****************************************
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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.
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.
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.
https://www2.snb.ca/content/dam/snb/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.
