User Testing Software Platform for Accessibility Testing

Notice of Proposed Procurement (NPP) for Software as a Service (SaaS) - User Testing Software Platform for Accessibility Testing

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) intends to enter into a contract with a single contractor for access to a user testing software platform for accessibility testing of CRA content on Canada.ca by persons with disabilities – specifically, those users with impairments that require assistive reading and adaptive technologies. The objective is to identify any barriers in accessing CRA content on Canada.ca for persons with disabilities so that improvements can be made where required.

This requirement also includes irrevocable options to procure additional quantities of test requests to be used within the User Testing Software Platform annual entity license for the user testing software platform for accessibility testing.

The period of any resulting contract will be for two (2) years with CRA retaining the irrevocable option to extend the period of the contract for up to five (5) additional one (1) year periods.

A bid must comply with the requirements of the bid solicitation and meet all mandatory technical evaluation criteria to be declared responsive. The Bidder with the lowest Total Evaluated Cost responsive bid and meeting all the requirements as outlined in Article 4.2 Steps in the Evaluation Process as identified in the Request For Proposal (RFP) will be recommended for award of a contract.

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 RFP, 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: mark.gordon@cra-arc.gc.ca

Bids must be submitted by using the Connect service provided by the Canada Post Corporation. When responding, the proposal MUST be delivered to:

Canada Revenue Agency

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

Bids will not be accepted if emailed directly to this email address. This email address must be used to request that CRA open a Connect conversation, as detailed in Appendix 3: Standard Instructions - Goods or Services - Competitive Requirements included in the RFP. 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.

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