PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING COMPLETELY AND CAREFULLY PAYING ATTENTION TO ALL REQUIREMENTS AND DATES.
CBC/Radio-Canada is seeking proposals from industry in response to its request for proposals (RFSO) for an audio/video encoding/transcoding/processing/decoding platform to be used primarily for web encoding. The initial term of any Agreement resulting from this RFSO shall be for three (3) years with two (2) irrevocable option(s) for CBC/ Radio-Canada to extend for one (1) year period(s), by sending written notice prior to the end of each term. Any option(s) period shall be under the same terms and conditions as those of the initial term, unless otherwise specified by CBC/ Radio-Canada.
1. SUMMARY OF REQUIRED GOODS/SERVICES:
The key objective in issuing this RFSO is as follows:
CBC/Radio-Canada is seeking proposals to identify the successful proponent(s) for the supply of a compression platform which includes the following major components: (1) H.262 MPEG-2, H.264 AVC and H.265 HEVC encoder/transcoder units/servers/instances with web streaming capabilities (HLS/Dash, ABR) and (2) an enhanced management tool specifically aimed at the dynamic operational requirements of web distribution.
We are seeking an integrated, single vendor solution for all encoding, transcoding, decoding and management for the web/digital distribution applications.
2. MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION:
This RFSO is open only to proponents who meet each of the following mandatory requirements as evidenced in its written request for RFSO documents:
- The proponent must provide evidence that their company is either the manufacturer of the equipment covered by this RFSO or their designated representative in Canada and/or in the USA. If the proponent is a reseller, he must provide a letter signed by a duly authorized representative of the manufacturer stating that the proponent has a formal business relationship.
- CBC/Radio-Canada will consider only proposals from proponents with established business in the field of web encoding for broadcast with demonstrated sales in the North American market (in minimum of 5 of the ten largest broadcast markets in Canada or in the USA). The proponent must provide references to demonstrate conformity to this point.
- The proposed encoder’s uncompressed/baseband inputs must support the SMPTE ST 2110 family of standards for independent video, audio and ancillary data essences: (1) SMPTE ST 2110-10: System Timing. (2) SMPTE ST 2110-20: Uncompressed Video Transport. (3) SMPTE ST 2110-21: Traffic Shaping Uncompressed Video. (4) SMPTE ST 2110-30: PCM Audio. (5) SMPTE ST 2110-31: AES3 Transparent Transport. (6) SMPTE-ST 2110-40: Ancillary Data. If the SMPTE 2110 inputs are in development but not yet available, the proponent must provide technical documentation and a firm schedule of feature availability to demonstrate conformity to this point.
- The proposed encoder, transcoder and decoder’s compressed inputs and/or outputs must support SMPTE ST 2022-2:2007 - Unidirectional transport of constant bitrate MPEG transport streams on IP networks. The proponent must provide technical documentation to demonstrate conformity to this point.
3. TO REQUEST THE RFSO DOCUMENTATION
As CBC/Radio-Canada uses Merx (
www.merx.com/cbc/radio-canada) to manage its solicitation process, all proponents must obtain the RFSO documents through Merx. Here is the link to the Merx Quick Get Started Steps
for new users (
http://bit.ly/2NW0a93).
To obtain the RFSO documentation, the proponents must submit a
Qualification Request form completed and signed by a duly authorized representative confirming that the proponent meets all the mandatory requirements described in Section 2 above.
The document(s) to be completed and signed must be submitted no later than
3rd July, 2019 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time to the CBC/Radio-Canada representative for this RFSO (see item 4 below for coordinates).
Following receipt of the required document(s) and CBC/Radio-Canada’s positive assessment of your company’s submissions, you will receive an email from Merx that the RFSO documents are ready for download,
no earlier than, 4th July 2019.
Please note that CBC/Radio-Canada is not responsible for the distribution of the documents.
4. COMMUNICATION WITH CBC/RADIO-CANADA
Any contact with CBC/Radio-Canada at this stage of the RFSO must be undertaken by email only, which will be addressed to the CBC/Radio-Canada representative for this RFSO, whose coordinates appear below. All emails pertaining to this RFSO must state the RFSO reference number (RFSO # MTIS20190617) in the “Subject” of the e-mail.
CBC/Radio-Canada Representative:
Vakul Arora
Strategic Sourcing Manager
Finance & Administration
CBC/Radio-Canada
E-mail:vakul.arora@cbc.ca
The proponents may have queries, require further information or clarification, or discover certain omissions or ambiguities in the RFSO documents. If so, or if there is any doubt about the meaning of any part of this RFSO, the questions must be submitted in writing by Merx as defined in
PART I: INTRODUCTION , Table 1: critical dates of the RFSO process.
5. RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS
The proposals must be received by CBC/Radio-Canada, via electronic submission to the Merx website (www.merx.com) no later than 25th, July 2019 at 8:00:00 pm, Eastern Time.
The proponent has the sole responsibility for the timely receipt of a proposal by CBC/Radio-Canada. The proponent cannot transfer such responsibility to CBC/Radio-Canada. The MERX clock shall be used to determine the time of receipt of the proposal, whether the time indicated on such clock is accurate or not.
Any partial proposals, amendments or revisions which are received after the date and time for the RFSO submission closing date will not be accepted.
6. POC's & DEMONSTRATIONS
After the submissions have been accessed, CBC/ Radio Canada may request a system for a Proof of Concept or demonstration for up to one week. The vendor will be responsible for all shipping, set up and costs associated with conducting these tests.
Note:
CBC/Radio-Canada retains the right to negotiate with proponents on any procurement.
