RFP - Computer-aided Translation (CAT) Software

Notice of Proposed Procurement (NPP) for a software licenses for a computer-aided translation (CAT) software tool including maintenance and support .

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) intends to enter into an as and when requested contract with a single contractor to acquire a software licenses for a computer-aided translation (CAT) software tool including maintenance and support.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is looking to replace it’s computer aided translation (CAT) software tool, Multitrans 7, that is being sunsetted.

The CAT software tool is currently used across the CRA branches’ linguistic services to:

•        accomplish computer-aided translation;

•        build a database with existing proofread matching English and French sentences;

•        recycle existing translations to reduce translation time;

•        analyze recycling possibilities to estimate translation deadline;

•         access previous translations for contextual information, and

•         to build terminology records.

This requirement also includes irrevocable options to extend the term of the contract by up to four additional, one-year contract periods, and to acquire the additional quantities of the goods, services or both.

The period of any resulting contract will be a firm one-year contract period.

A bid must comply with the requirements of the bid solicitation and meet all mandatory evaluation criteria to be declared responsive. The responsive bid with the highest combined rating of technical merit and price will then be evaluated in accordance with the Proof of Proposal (POP) testing.

Proposal documents and supporting information must be submitted in either English or French.

Conditional Set-Aside Under the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business

•        This procurement may be conditionally set aside under the federal government Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business.

•        In order to be considered for the set-aside, the Bidder must certify that it qualifies as an Indigenous business as defined under PSIB and that it will comply with all requirements of PSIB. If bids from two (2) or more Indigenous businesses are compliant with the terms of the Request for Proposal, the contracting authority will limit the competition to those Indigenous businesses and will not consider bids from any non-Indigenous businesses that may have been submitted.

•        For more information on Indigenous business requirements of the Set-aside Program for Indigenous Business, refer to Eligibility for Indigenous procurement set aside and Procurement information for Indigenous business owners.

•        Questions must be directed in writing to the contracting authority via email: magued.elyas@cra-arc.gc.ca

Bids must be submitted by using the Connect service provided by the Canada Post Corporation by the time and date indicated on page 1.

To submit a bid:

At least six business days prior to the solicitation closing date and time, the Bidder must send a request to the Bid Receiving Unit at the email address below requesting that CRA open a Connect conversation.

Canada Revenue Agency

Bid Receiving Unit
BRUg@cra-arc.gc.ca

Bids will not be accepted if emailed directly to this email address.

•         Once the Connect conversation has been opened, the Bidder can submit their bid though the Connect conversation.

•        Bidders must not use their own licensing agreement for Connect to initiate a Connect conversation with CRA.

The CRA reserves the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

The Federal Contractors Program (FCP) for employment equity applies to this procurement.

Promoting Accessibility

The Accessible Canada Act, having received Royal Assent in June 2019, is intended to enhance the full and equal participation of all persons, especially persons with disabilities, in society. This is to be achieved through the progressive realization, within the purview of matters coming within the legislative authority of Parliament, of a Canada without barriers, particularly by the identification, removal and prevention of barriers.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a role in implementing the Government of Canada (GC)’s vision for an accessible Canada and is engaged in the procurement of goods and services that support the delivery of programs and services covered by the Accessible Canada Act.

The CRA is committed to providing leadership to procure accessible goods and services and supporting the goal of inclusive by design, accessible by default. As it is intended that this initiative take place progressively, suppliers should anticipate that, over time, the accessibility requirements in Canada’s procurement contracts will evolve and may become more demanding.

To accomplish this, the CRA has adopted the EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021-03) Accessibility Standard for all Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services.

Note. On May 31, 2024, Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) published the CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024 Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services (EN 301 549:2021, IDT) as an official standard of the Government of Canada. The approved version of this standard is in PDF format. It is identical to the original standard from the European Committee for Standardization (EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021-03) Accessibility Standard) mentioned in this document. For accessibility, ASC also provides the standard in Word format and HTML format. The CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024 accessibility standard is available in English and French. For the purpose of this document the French PDF version can serve as the valid translation of the EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021-03) Accessibility Standard.

Accessibility questions or concerns?

The CRA invites suppliers to identify any accessibility concerns with this solicitation document or any of the associated requirements. Please address your concerns to the contracting authority identified in this RFP.

A contracting officer can use limited tendering for specific reasons outlined in the applicable trade agreements. The reason for this contract is described below:

• None