Joint Information and Intelligence Fusion Capability (JIIFC) Project Re-Evaluation of Bids for the Project Management and Engineering Support Services (PMESS)

Table of Contents

• 1. Background and Introduction
• 2. Project Requirement
• 3. Attestation of Assurance
• 4. Methodology
• 5. Reference Document

1. Background and Introduction

PPI Consulting Limited (PPI) was engaged as a Fairness Monitor (FM) to observe the selection process for the re-evaluation of bids for the Project Management and Engineering Support Services (PMESS) solicitation for the Joint Information and Intelligence Fusion Capability (JIIFC) Project related to Request for Proposal (RFP) which was issued by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) as RFP # W8474-13BN06/A to qualified Bidders on November 9, 2012. Qualified Bidders were selected from the existing Task Based Informatics Professional Services (TBIPS) Supply Arrangement. PPI is an independent third party with respect to this activity.

The Department of National Defence (DND) has issued a contract for the provision of IM/IT professional services to support the JIIFC Project; more specifically, to provide Project Management and Engineering Support Services (PMESS) to the Project. The initial period is two years in length and there are three one-year option periods.

The contract has been contested by a bidder who did not, based on the technical and financial bid evaluation, attain the lowest cost-per-point. It was determined that a re-evaluation of all bids received would take place to ensure a fair, open and transparent process is followed. A new PWGSC representative (Contracting Authority) was assigned to the file for the re-evaluation and a new Technical Evaluation Team was established. No members of the previous Technical Evaluation Team were involved in the re-evaluation.

A total of three bids were received in response to the initial solicitation. All three bids were re-evaluated by the new Technical Evaluation Team.

We reviewed all of the information provided and observed all relevant re-evaluation activities.

The Fairness Monitoring Team was assigned to the project on July 8, 2013. We hereby submit the Final Report covering the activities of the Fairness Monitor, commencing July 9, 2013 with a Technical Re-Evaluation Team Kick-off meeting and continuing through to the Technical Re-Evaluation Team Consensus Meeting of the bids on July 19, 2013 and final ranking of proposals received in response to the RFP on July 22, 2013.

This report includes our attestation of assurance, a summary of the scope and objectives of our assignment, the methodologies applied and relevant observations from the activities undertaken.

2. Project Requirement

The main objective of the JIIFC Project is to provide a Joint Operational-level Battlespace management capability to the Operational Commands. This capability will broaden commanders' shared and situational understanding by introducing automation capabilities, where applicable, as part of a single operating environment. The Joint Operational-level Battlespace Management capability will reside on the Classified Network and leverage the existing and planned Consolidated Secret Network Infrastructure Services.

Support is required to implement the Joint Operational-level Battlespace Management architecture, to integrate available operational information and provide procedures and training on use and support to the capability for operators, administrators and maintainers.

As set out in the RFP documents, PMESS support services will include, but is not limited to, the following services:

1. Project Management Support with emphasis on project scheduling, reporting, risk management, configuration management, and requirements management;
2. Technical Support including but not limited to data conversion support, performing independent verification and validation services for deliverables, reviewing the design, development, installation and testing solutions; and,
3. Business Transformation Support with emphasis on change management, change readiness and training.

The JIIFC PMESS contract will comprise both Core and Non-Core resources. The Core resources will provide day-to-day support to the JIIFC Project Management Office (PMO); the Non-Core Resources will be on an as and when required basis through the issuance of Task Authorizations.

3. Attestation of Assurance

The Fairness Monitor hereby provides the following unqualified assurance statement concerning the monitored activities outlined in Section 5 inclusive of RFP development, issuance, evaluation and selection.

It is our professional opinion that the re-evaluation of bids we observed for the PMESS solicitation for the JIIFC was carried out in a fair, open and transparent manner.

___________________
Howard Grant
President, PPI Consulting

___________________
Ian Brennan
FM Team Leader 

___________________
Ross Smiley CPA, CA, CIA, CRMA
FM Specialist

4. Methodology

PPI Consulting Limited was engaged as a Fairness Monitor (FM) to observe the re-evaluation of bids for the PMESS solicitation for the JIIFC Project related to Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) as RFP # W8474-13BN06/A and to attest to the fairness, openness and transparency of this monitored activity.

In accordance with the terms of our engagement, we familiarized ourselves with the relevant documents, observed bid re-evaluation activities, identified fairness-related matters to the Contracting and Technical Authorities and ensured that responses and actions were reasonable and appropriate.

5. Reference Documents

The following documents are referenced in this report and are available through PWGSC.

Table Summary

The following table includes a list of documents referred to in the report such as the RFP, amendments, clarification letters, debriefing letters, etc. Each row is numbered, followed by the document title, then a document identifier such as a date or document number.

#	Document	Document date/number
1	Request for Proposal	Posted on MERX on November 12, 2012; Solicitation #: W8474-13BN06/A
2	Amendment 1 to RFP	Dated November 14, 2012
3	Amendment 2 to RFP	Dated November 20, 2012
4	Amendment 3 to RFP	Dated November 20, 2012
5	Amendment 4 to RFP	Dated November 27, 2012
6	Amendment 5 to RFP	Dated December 3, 2012
7	Amendment 6 to RFP	Dated December 6, 2012
8	Amendment 7 to RFP	Dated December 11, 2012
9	Amendment 8 to RFP	Dated December 17, 2012

Addendum to the Final Report
October 15, 2013

Addendum to Fairness Monitor Final Report dated August 9, 2013 on the Re-Evaluation of Bids for the Project Management and Engineering Support Services (PMESS) solicitation for the Joint Information and Intelligence Fusion Capability (JIIFC) Project.

This addendum to the Fairness Monitor Report covers the period following the conclusion of the re-evaluation phase.

FM Activities Related to Contract Award and Debriefings

There were three bids submitted in response to the initial RFP. All three bids were re-evaluated by the new Technical Evaluation Team. On September 12, 2013, the bidders were advised of the results of the re-evaluation. The re-evaluation confirmed that the contract would remain awarded to the successful bidder who was awarded the contract on February 19, 2013.

Debriefings were not requested by either the unsuccessful bidders or the successful bidder.

Fairness Monitor Attestation of Assurance of Assurance

The FM hereby provides the following unqualified assurance statement concerning the re-evaluation of bids for the PMESS solicitation for the JIIFC Project following the conclusion of the Contract Award and Debriefing Phase.

It is our professional opinion that the re-evaluation of bids we observed for the PMESS solicitation for the JIIFC Project was carried out in a fair, open and transparent manner.

___________________
Howard Grant
President, PPI Consulting

___________________
Ian Brennan
FM Team Leader 

___________________
Ross Smiley CPA, CA, CIA, CRMA
FM Specialist