UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO - NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SINGLE SOURCE CONTRACT: 21-046
The University of Waterloo (UW) intends to award a single source contract to Overleaf Commons, of London, UK for a three-year subscription renewal to LaTex editor.
This is an advanced Notice indicating to the supplier community that UW intends to award a contract for this system to a pre-identified supplier. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date of this notice, a statement of specifications that, at a minimum, equals or exceeds the stated requirements set out in this Notice, the competitive requirements of the University are considered to have been met. Following notification to any suppliers not successful in demonstrating that their statement of specifications meets the requirements set out in this Notice, the contract may then be awarded to the pre-identified supplier.
If other potential suppliers submit statements of specifications during the fifteen-calendar day posting period, and meet the requirements set out in this Notice, UW will proceed to a Request for Proposal process, in order to award the contract.
BACKGROUND:
Overleaf provides an online LaTeX generation (mathematical typesetting) tool that allows researchers to work collaboratively in a Cloud environment. Online collaboration between researchers in different countries helps decrease edits for publishing of co-authored research papers and promotes world-wide collaboration.
The University currently uses Overleaf in several faculties across campus (e.g. Math, Engineering and Science) ,and wishes to continue doing so.
PROPOSED SOLUTION:
Overleaf is a popular LaTeX-based writing and collaboration platform for students and researchers alike. Overleaf Commons offers subscription services for institutions to provide Overleaf Professional accounts to students, faculty and staff throughout their university or organization. This service provides streamlined, branded enrollment, a resource portal with featured templates, member training and administrative analytics/metrics.
SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION:
Since Overleaf and ShareLaTeX integrated platforms, the University of Waterloo has access to both through institutional accounts. Moving to a different LaTeX online service vendor would not be efficient because customized templates for the University of Waterloo are in place.
The cost of the current 3-year renewal is less than $60,000 CAD, not including HST.
Process
Suppliers who can offer a fully compatible subscription may submit a statement of specifications with a proposal, in writing, to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this Notice. The statement of specifications and proposal must unequivocally demonstrate how the supplier proposes to manage the existing arrangement with LaTeX editor and provide the required access.
Date of issue: May 4, 2021
Closing Date: May 19, 2021, at 2:30 P.M. Local Time
Contact:
Christine Wagner, Procurement Specialist
Procurement and Contract Services
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Ph: 519-888-4567 ext. 33982
Email – cpwagner@uwaterloo.ca or, procure@uwaterloo.ca
