Notice of Proposed Procurement
OVERVIEW
Parks Canada Agency (PCA) is posting this Notice of Proposed Procurement (NPP) to advise industry of three (3) upcoming solicitations.
Parks Canada is in the process of consolidating its National Collection of 25 million historical and archaeological artifacts under its care, from four remaining facilities in three cities to a purpose-built facility nearing completion in Gatineau, Quebec.
2. SCOPE OF WORK AND TIMELINES
Parks Canada’s Historical and Archaeological artifacts are presently stored in warehouses in Winnipeg, Manitoba Quebec City (2 locations), Quebec and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. and will need to be relocated to a new, purpose-built artifact collections facility presently under construction in Gatineau, QC.
The artifacts will need to be accessed, packed, loaded, moved, unloaded, unpacked and stored at destination in the facility’s specialized storage system, comprised of high density 6 meter (20’) high mobile shelving units, fixed pallet racking and cantilever shelving, art racking, cool storage and secure storage.
Upon completion of construction of the new facility, the collection, representing a volume of approximately 4500 m3, will need to be moved from the four facilities to the new facility over an estimated period of 1 ½ years, from 2025 to 2026.
Starting in the fall of 2024, Parks will be posting separate request for proposals (RFPs) for each city that remains to be relocated. Below is a list of cities with facilities and estimated timelines for the RFPs as well as the estimated time frame as to when the first truck will be able to deliver artifacts to the new facility. Park’s goal is to provide as much lead time as possible to the successful bidder before the first load can be delivered. This will also allow time to start preparation work (creating swing space, packing, etc.) at the existing facilities.
3. PROPOSED PROCUREMENT PROCESS
Estimated Timelines, RFP Posting and First Delivery
City Est. RFP Posting Est. First delivery to Gatineau Facility
Quebec City (2 facilities), QC September 2024 May 2025
Winnipeg, MB November 2024 September 2025
Dartmouth, NS January 2025 November 2025
o There will be one Request for Proposal and one contract issued for each city where artifacts are located.
o The successful bidder of one or any contract can also bid on the contracts for the other cities.
o Joint ventures are welcomed.
o Interested bidders will be evaluated on criteria, including past experience, capacity, key personnel, and price. An Indigenous procurement strategy component will also be part of the evaluation.
o Mandatory site visits to all facilities will be required.
4. THE ARTIFACTS
The following are examples of objects and that will need to be moved:
• large or long objects for cantilever storage – e.g. canoes, sleds, agricultural tools
• large objects for pallet racking storage – e.g. anchors, furniture
• oversized objects >20 ft2 for storage on cantilever racking - e.g. boats, sleighs, whale bones, agricultural and industrial components
• objects requiring cold storage – e.g. furs
• art objects / hanging collections – e.g. paintings, pictures, photography, mirrors, frames
• small/fragile and mixed objects on trays – e.g. ceremonial objects, personal objects, tools and equipment, archaeological objects
• large/medium sized objects for mobile shelving units – e.g. furniture, textiles, clothing, sports equipment, and archaeological objects
• banker boxes of archaeological objects ranging from small, to very small artifacts – e.g. ceramic chips, stone, glass, metals, and faunal material. Average weight is 16 lbs per box. As such these boxes make up the bulk of the 25 million artifacts being moved.
• Historical and archaeological documentation to accompany the artifacts – e.g. files, periodicals, multi-media, books reports
• Specialized equipment and furniture –e.g. map cabinets, packaging tables, work benches
• Personnel workstation items – e.g. files, binders, stationary
5. FACILITIES LOCATION, SIZE AND ARTIFACT VOLUMES
Below is a table indicating the remaining locations where the national collection is currently stored, as well as the approximate volumes of artifacts to be moved from each facility, along with the facility location and size.
Location Facility size Estimated volume of artifacts
Quebec City (1) 2,200 m2 550 m3
Quebec City (2) 1,510 m2 1800 m3
Winnipeg 5,284 m2 800 m3
Dartmouth 2,058 m2 700 m3
The location of the new collections storage facility where the artifacts will be moved is 555 Avenue des Entreprises, Gatineau, QC. The 8,200 m2 (88,000 sq.ft.) facility has a 4,300m2 (46,000 sq.ft.) of storage area that is mostly comprised of high-density 20’ high mobile shelving units, as well as pallet racking and cantilever shelving, art racking, cool storage, and secure storage.
6. ENQUIRIES
Because this is not a bid solicitation, Canada will not necessarily respond to enquiries in writing or by circulating answers to all potential bidders. However, respondents with questions regarding this NPP may direct their enquiries to the Contracting Authority.
Bonnie Knott, Contracting Advisor
Email: bonnie.knott@pc.gc.ca
7. NOTES / OTHER INFORMATION
This is not a bid solicitation and this NPP will not result in the award of any contract. Procurement of the services described in this NPP will not necessarily follow this request.
Respondents and potential suppliers of any goods or services described in this NPP should not earmark stock or facilities, nor allocate resources, as a result of any information contained in this NPP. This NPP will not result in the creation of any source list; therefore, whether or not any supplier responds to this NPPwill not preclude that supplier from participating in any future procurement.
There will be no shortlisting of potential suppliers for the purposes of undertaking any future work as a result of this NPP. Similarly, participation in this NPP is not a condition or prerequisite for the participation in any potential subsequent solicitation. Nothing in this NPP will be construed as a commitment from Parks Canada to issue a solicitation for this requirement. Parks Canada may use non-proprietary information provided in this review and/or in the preparation of any formal solicitation document. Parks Canada will not be bound by anything stated herein and reserves the right to change at any time, any or all parts of the requirement, as it deems necessary. Parks Canada also reserves the right to revise its procurement approach, as it considers appropriate, either based upon information submitted in response to this NPP or for any other reason it deems appropriate.
