CANARIE - Infrastructure Extension Program

2.1 How to Respond

The formal closing date for the submission of detailed proposals to CANARIE is Monday, April 11, 2011, at 16:00 Eastern Time.

All proposals must be submitted using the Appendix "A" EXCEL worksheet. All proposals must be submitted using the online application at:
http://php.canarie.ca/iep4_rfp_submission.php

A detailed proposal(s) in PDF file format can also be attached using the online submission system. CANARIE will issue a confirmation within 24 hours of receipt of any proposal. We strongly encourage respondents to follow-up in the absence of an email confirmation. Responses to this RFP will be accepted in either English or French. In the event of interpretation or translation discrepancies, the English version of this RFP is the official version.

CANARIE staff is available to meet with individual respondents to discuss the details and requirements of this RFP until April 4, 2011.  If you require further information or wish feedback from a CANARIE staff member, please send an e-mail to CANARIE rfp@canarie.ca.  

2.2 Important Dates:

Milestone	Date
Issuance of the Request for Proposal	March 1, 2011
Due Date for Submission of Responses	April 11, 2011
Contract Negotiations Commence	May 2, 2011
Deadline for Negotiated Contracts to be in place	June 30, 2011
Deadline to Deliver the Connection(s)	September 30, 2011
Expiration of the Connection(s)	March 31, 2014

2.3 Evaluation Criteria

CANARIE Inc. will be solely responsible for the review of the responses to this RFP and the decision as to the appropriate next steps.

In reviewing the responses to this RFP, CANARIE will pay particular attention to the following considerations:

• The respondent's overall price for functionality that addresses the collective needs of CANARIE's clients' research needs;
• A solution that allows for easy expansion, for a small incremental cost, to meet additional needs at a later date; and,
• The ability to deliver the facilities in a timely and efficient manner.

A dark fibre solution is preferable but should it be deemed cost prohibitive or impractical, then managed service may be an alternate solution.

2.4 Terms of Offer  

The supplier's response to this RFP constitutes an offer by the supplier. Offers must remain open for a period of at least 90 days from the closing date of this solicitation. All terms and conditions attached to the offer, or parts thereof, must be clearly identified within the proposal.

This request does not commit CANARIE to any contract for supply and services. CANARIE reserves the right to accept the proposal which it deems most advantageous, and the right to reject any or all proposals. CANARIE also reserves the right to accept the proposal as a whole or reject parts from the proposal.

In some cases, CANARIE is requesting quotes for multiple "z" locations to determine the most cost effective solution. Please note that only one solution per “a” location will/may be selected.

Also note that the term of any contract will be from the date of service delivery until March 31, 2014. For further clarification, contracts for service will not extend past March 31, 2014.  

2.5 Proposal Disposition

All responses and materials provided to CANARIE in response to this RFP become the property of CANARIE. CANARIE will not return any of the supplier's proposals or supporting documents.

2.6 Confidentiality

All information contained in proposals regarding terms, conditions, financial and/or technical components or configurations, which in the supplier's opinion is of a proprietary or confidential nature, should be marked clearly as "Confidential" at each relevant section or page. All information submitted to CANARIE which is marked confidential will be held in strict confidence and will not be revealed to other parties outside of those involved in the evaluation of the responses, without the suppliers written consent, except as may be required by any applicable law.

Proposals may be reproduced by CANARIE for internal use.

2.7 Proposal Costs

Respondents to this RFP are solely responsible for assuming all costs associated with preparing and submitting responses as well as for the cost associated with subsequent contract negotiations.

The respondents should clearly outline all costs associated with the following:

• Bringing service to the various locations, as noted in Appendix A;
• All costs should be detailed and estimated, such as termination, building entrance, risers and short laterals, cost to access the building or location; and,
• Where CANARIE is requesting dark fibre, the cost and logistics of getting from a nearby splice point to the final termination point.

All prices must be quoted in Canadian dollars. Taxes are not to be included.
Suppliers should be prepared to negotiate a contract by June 30, 2011.

The timing for the delivery of the service is critical. Contracts must be negotiated and signed with CANARIE by June 30, 2011 and the installation and/or service must be available for use by September 30, 2011. Provision for dealing with the delays related to the deliverable will be dealt with in individual contracts.