This procurement is subject to the provisions of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the Agreement on Government Procurement under the World Trade Organization and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
No totals required.
Where permissible under the applicable trade agreements and the regulation under the
Procurement Act, Service New Brunswick reserves the right to give preferential treatment to a prospective supplier from New Brunswick. Should this right be exercised, the following order of priority will apply: a) firstly, New Brunswick manufacturers if the goods to be procured are manufactured in New Brunswick; and b) secondly, New Brunswick vendors.
When bid submissions are evaluated on price:
- Applicability of the preferences will be determined based on the price differential between the lowest-priced acceptable bid and the bid receiving the preferential treatment.
- The price differential under which a NB supplier preference may be applied will vary between 2.5% and 10% depending on the total estimated value of the procurement, in accordance with the ranges set out in the regulation under the
Procurement Act.
- The preferential treatment will be applied by making the award to the NB supplier.
When bid submissions are evaluated on a point system:
- Applicability of the preferences will be determined based on the price differential between the pricing component of the highest scoring acceptable bid submission and the pricing component of the bid(s) receiving the preferential treatment.
- The price differential under which a NB supplier preference may be applied will vary between 2.5% and 10% depending on the total estimated value of the procurement, in accordance with the ranges set out in the regulation under the
Procurement Act.
- The preferential treatment will be applied by allotting a maximum of an additional 5% of the total possible points to New Brunswick manufacturers' total scores and 4% to NB vendors' total scores. If no bid from a New Brunswick manufacturer has been retained for preferential treatment, New Brunswick vendors may receive a maximum of an additional 5% of the total possible points rather than 4%.
The decision to apply a preference will be at the sole discretion of Service New Brunswick. To be eligible, suppliers must meet the definition of NB supplier as identified by the regulation under the
Procurement Act. NB manufacturers should indicate in their bid that they are a NB manufacturer to be considered for the NB manufacturer preference.
NURSING CARE SERVICES
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (Includes Site Construction)
*******AMENDMENT # 13 *******
The following vendor questions have been received:
Question #1
Could the Authority please confirm that having a Central Laundry per section E.3.8.2 in addition to Resident Laundry per section E.3.5.7 is acceptable. The response to question #3 in Amendment #12 could be interpreted that Resident Laundry, in each Resident House, is the only acceptable laundry in the facility.
Response #1
Section E.3.5.7 describes the requirements for Resident Laundry facilities as "a space for washing Resident's personal clothing using best infection control practices", and section E.3.8.2 defines the requirements for a Central laundry, described as "space, if provided where Resident linen (e.g. bed linens, towels, etc.) will be laundered...", and notes that proponents may have alternate facilities to service this function (outsourced laundry).
Question #2
As referenced in Amendment #12, could the Authority please provide the basis and specifications for "dementia-friendly design" as there is no reference to the criteria that will be used to evaluate "dementia-friendly design" in the RFP.
Response #2
The Department does not have specifications, but does encourage "dementia-friendly design" via innovative design. Proponents are encouraged to follow the parameters or guidelines of "APPENDIX E - SPACE AND DESIGN REQUIREMENTS AND PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION" provided and APPENDIX F - PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS and any other related appendices in the RFP.
All other information remains the same.
*******AMENDMENT # 12 *******
The following vendor questions have been received:
Question #1
Section E.3.3 Building Configuration, Spatial Requirement #9 (p.55): This section and the DSD Nursing Home Design Standard both note that dead-end corridors are not permitted. Is this referring to the building code definition of dead-end corridor (with respect to avoiding delays in moving occupants to a safe place/exit during an emergency), or does this represent a dementia-related design principle for circulation layout (i.e. is the intent that continuous/looping corridors are provided to
allow residents, in particular those with dementia, to safely and securely wander without encountering a dead-end)?
Response #1
There must be no dead-ends to meet requirements for dementia-friendly design. However, the provisions of NBC, Group B Division 2 occupancy also apply for appropriate egress and exiting for the entire facility. Any shortcomings in the design following code review not meeting the requirements of the OFM will be the responsibility of the proponent.
Question #2
Section E.3.5.6 Resident's Kitchen (Recreation Kitchen) (p.70): If food is prepared in a central kitchen as per "Additional Consideration #1", is a full suite of kitchen equipment required as per "Equipment Requirements #2"?
Response #2
Yes, Equipment Requirements #2 MUST be met to be compliant.
Question #3
Section E.3.5.7 Resident Laundry (p.70): This section implies that resident laundry is a mandatory requirement in each Resident House. Is it acceptable to have one (1) a Resident Laundry in the facility, but not duplicated in each Resident House? (Note: a Central Laundry will be included).
Response #3
No, it is not acceptable, a Resident Laundry is mandatory in each resident House, This is for infection control, especially important with learnings from the pandemic and also is considered beneficial to create a home-like environment and even activity opportunities for residents
All other information remains the same.
*******AMENDMENT # 11 *******
The following vendor questions have been received:
Question #1
Per the RFP timetable the Anticipated Execution of Agreement is expected 6-months after submission deadline. During this 6-month period there is potential for significant movement of base rates up or down (e.g. CDOR, Prime, GOC Bond Yields, etc.). As base rate risk is beyond the control of either the Proponent or Authority, can the Authority please clarify that base rates will be adjusted at Execution of the Agreement. This will mitigate interest rate assumptions, thus enabling submission of the
most competitive pricing proposal and is consistent with our public procurement experience in other jurisdictions.
Response #1
During the 6-month period between submission and execution of the agreement, there will be a negotiation period to finalized the accepted final per diem. Any changes in pricing should be identified during the negotiation period.
Question #2
Per the RFP timetable the Anticipated Execution of Agreement is expected 6-months after submission deadline. This length of time is compromising lender commitments who typically hold credit spreads for no more than two months. The lender commitments obtained by proponents at bid submission are on the basis of a base rate plus a credit spread or margin guaranteed for less than 6-months. Can the Authority please clarify its credit spread benchmarking mechanism to provide a market-based and
pre-agreed adjustment to the credit spread or margin (i.e. index based on movement of the average spread on a pre-agreed basket of liquid rated public utility and infrastructure bonds). This will mitigate the inclusion of flex pricing to satisfy lender requirements or interest rate assumptions, thus enabling submission of the most competitive pricing proposal and is consistent with our public procurement experience in other jurisdictions.
Response #2
The Department does not use a credit spread benchmarking mechanism. Please refer to Appendix D, Section B.6 for payment details and to 18.2 and 18.3 in the draft Service Agreement for additional details.
Question #3
Appendix K includes non-cash items and thus does not reflect an operating budget on a cash basis. Can the Authority please explain why Appendix K has not been established on a cash basis to reflect actual cash inflows and outflows during any fiscal year, excluding depreciation, but including principal payments on debt to accurately reflect operating surpluses/deficits. Will the Authority consider revising Appendix K to reflect budgeting on a cash basis.
Response #3
Please refer to tab K.3 in the Appendix K for operating budget items. Proponents should include any additional information in a separate appendix. Also refer to section C.11 for equity contributions.
All other information remains the same.
*******AMENDMENT # 10 *******
The closing date has been changed from March 24, 2023, to April 12, 2023.
No further questions will be accepted after March 31, 2023.
Question #1
Please confirm that the information within the New Brunswick DSD Design Standards for Nursing Homes, version 3.0, dated 2015 is not to be referenced for this RFP. We understand this document has been superseded by the RFP Appendix documents. Please confirm. Schedule E
Response #1
Space and Design Requirements and Performance Specifications replaces the old DSD Design Standards.
Question #2
Section A.3 Resident Levels of Care - Psychogeriatric Level of Care (p.31): What proportion of the total resident bed count is required to meet this level of care (meeting Standard A-IV-3 of the DSD Standards Manual for Nursing Home Services)?
Response #2
This RFP is not requesting any psychogeriatric level beds. If proponents wish to propose this level of care in their submissions, they should include the number of beds and their rationale for proposing this level of care, as well as pricing.
Questions #3
Section E.3.3 Building Configuration, Spatial Requirement #6 (p.55): "With the exception of Administration Services, areas as defined in Appendix E, Section E.3.5 must be partitioned from the Resident areas."
Question #3a)
Does this refer to all spaces listed under Section E.3.5.- including Bathing Suite,
Resident House Common Areas, and Resident House Support Spaces (note that
Administration Services are not listed under Section E.3.5.)?
Response #3a)
Yes it refers to all spaces in E.3.5, and Administration Services are described in
E.3.8.7
Question #3b)
Is the intent of the requirement that the Resident Bedroom areas are partitioned, or
that Common Areas (for example, Dining Room), are partitioned?
Response #3b)
Resident rooms are to be secluded from common areas, therefore the intent of the
requirement is to partition the residents rooms from these areas listed under
section E.3.5. ( except administration services)
All other information remains the same.
*********
*****AMENDMENT # 9 ******
The following vendor questions have been received:
Question#1
Under section C.2. Proponent Experience, for the each of the examples to be provided for Design, Construction, Service Care Provider and Facility Operator, the reference contact details (names, titles, telephone numbers and email addresses) should be for employees of the proponent who worked on the project?
Response #1
The RFP is designed in such a way to allow for a consortium of companies who can fill one or more of the roles described above (Design, Construction, etc.). The reference contact should be provided for the company that fills each individual role, and should be provided by a leader of the referenced project. A reference is required for each of the roles.
Question#2
For section C.3, Proponent Team Leads Experience, can you please confirm a "lead for the owner" reference means that if the project worked on was for the Department of Social Development, the reference to be given should be an employee/former employee of the DSD?
Response #2
The proponent team lead is simply the individual who is leading the project. This does not have anything to do with being an employee of DSD - DSD is not the owner, the proponent is the owner.
Question#3
For section C.3., if there is no available reference that is a "lead for the owner" what other reference would be acceptable to provide?
Response #3
The reference should be able to speak to the experience and qualifications of the Team Lead, including information regarding the Lead's work on the project being referenced, and should be the "lead" for the referencing company/organization.
All other information remains the same.
*******
*****AMENDMENT # 8 ******
The following vendor questions have been received:
Question #1
Can the Province provide the date that should be used for calculating the per diem to ensure proponents are aligned on which collective agreements should be considered as well as which CPI rates should be used?
Response #1
Proponents should use the most recent collective agreements available in calculating the per diem and clearly identify the date used. For CPI, proponents should build their per diem using an estimated rate at April 1, 2023, and inflation will be adjusted yearly as a standard CPI increase.
Question #2
For bidding purposes, will the proponents per diem be adjusted to the actual assessment in property tax rate year to year and would any surplus or deficit flow into the protected envelope? For example, if the proponent bids $200,000 in property tax portion and property tax is actually $175,000, would the extra flow into the protected envelope as a surplus?
Response #2
Surpluses and deficits will not flow into the protected envelope. Property taxes will be paid at actual rates year-to-year. Proponents are encouraged to obtain a property tax appraisal from a professional appraiser to calculate the property tax amount to ensure a best estimate is used, and adjustments will be made upon licensing/opening.
Question #3
For bidding, should we include the new holiday on September 30th? (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation)
Response #3
Yes
Question #4
Section C.11 of the RFP document references that we are to provide the internal rate of return (IRR) for each equity funder. We are looking for clarification that this calculation is based on the expected return to the equity provider from this specific RFP project financials only and not the full financials of the equity provider.
Question #4
Correct, this calculation is based on the expected IRR for this specific project.
All other information remains the same.
*****AMENDMENT # 7 ******
The following vendor questions have been received:
Question: 1
The RFP refers to Design-Build terminology, and also identified the Design-Builder in the Rated Criteria C.3 Proponent Team Lead list. Although it is not explicitly stated, does the Province mandate that the construction delivery methodology be through a Design-Build approach?
Response #1
Yes, the intent of the RFP model is to procure the design, construction and operation of a 60 bed nursing home. This model provides the developer/operator with the opportunity to be innovative in the design, construction, and operation of the nursing home, moving away from prescriptive design in favor of performance-based output specifications.
Question #2
Although it is clearly stated in the RFP that the Province will not make any capital contributions to the Project, and the Successful Proponents will be reimbursed through regular payments in the form of Per Diem payments, will the Province consider options to expediate the reimbursement of Capital Construction Costs (either through a deposit at Service Commencement, or through weighted per diem payments)?
Response #2
NO
Question #3
Appendix F - Program Requirements, F.3.9 Human Resource Management: The minimum care hour ratio/percentage is provided for RNs and LPNs. Does the Province have a preferred ratio for the other staffing requirements (i.e. Resident Attendant/Rehab/Unit Clerk/etc.)?
Response #3
The current staffing ratio is identified in the Nursing Home Standards Manual, attached as Appendix "L"
Question #4
Appendix G - Facility Development Approval Process (FDAP): Is the Province able to provide the anticipated durations for the Province to perform the reviews for each FDAP Step submission?
Response #4
Provided the design team's submission is accepted, an employee of SD will work closely with the successful proponent to ensure that the 24 month timeline is met.
Question #5
In Appendix K.7 - Budget Breakdown: It states three (3) categories under the Unprotected Envelope that are "Not subject to increases". Will the Province consider a reconciliation period, prior to the Service Commencement Date, to adjust the unprotected envelope budget due to factors outside of the Proponent's control (i.e. inflation, interest rates, fluctuating market conditions, etc.)? If not, is it the expectation of the Province for Proponents to include this risk contingency into their per
diem rate?
Response #5
Although the province may consider a reconciliation period to adjust the unprotected envelope budget, it is expected that proponents will include risk contingency in their per diem rate.
Question #6
Is there a maximum "do not exceed" per diem amount for the Unprotective Envelope?
Response #6
NO
All other information remains the same.
****** AMENDMENT #6 ******
Please note the following changes of section 1.4 of RFP timetable:
Deadline for Question will be 14 days prior to Submission Deadline
Deadline for Issuing Amendment will be 7 days prior to Submission Deadline
Rectification Period will no longer than 2 days after submission Deadline
Anticipated Final Ranking: 3 months after submission Deadline
Anticipated Execution of Agreement 6 months after submission deadline
All other information remains the same.
****** AMENDMENT #5 ******
Amended to adjust the closing date from February 24, 2023, to March 24, 2023.
All other information remains the same.
****** AMENDMENT #4 ******
Please note a new boundary map for Bouctouche is now included in the attachments. See document "Appendix H Boundary Location-Bouctouche rev-1"
All other information remains the same.
****** AMENDMENT #3 ******
Please note due to an administrative error, this is a correction to the response provided on Amendment #2. The village of Saint Antoine will now be included in the Bouctouche boundary map.
A new boundary map for Bouctouche will be provided Tuesday, December 13, 2022.
All other information remains the same.
****** AMENDMENT #2 ******
Please note the following changes:
Bathurst boundary has been revised to include the city of Bathurst. See attached document "Appendix H Boundary Location-Bathurst rev 1".
The closing date for this Request for Proposal was extended to February 24, 2023.
The following vendor question has been received:
Q1. Request that the Village de Saint-Antoine (Champdoré) be included in the bidding area of Bouctouche".
R1. The department is not considering changing the Bouctouche boundary at this time.
All other information remains the same.
***** AMENDMENT #1 *****
This tender has been amended in accordance with sections 132 and 152(g) of the Goods and Services Regulation under the Procurement Act, to state that preferential treatment may be given to New Brunswick suppliers for this procurement. All other information remains the same.
All other information remains the same.
_________________________
This is a tender notice only. In order to submit a bid, you must obtain official tender documents from the New Brunswick Opportunities Network, another authorized tendering service or as indicated in the tender notice.
Direct Deposit
The Province of New Brunswick is now using Direct Deposit as the standard method of issuing payments. Suppliers are required to provide bank account information and an email address for the notice of remittance. Please send the completed Direct Deposit Form to Service New Brunswick (e-mail address and mailing address are indicated on the form).
Please click on the link below to view the Direct Deposit Form.
https://www2.snb.ca/content/dam/snb/Procurement/DirectDepositVirementDirect.pdf
Instructions for Bid Submission
1. Effective April 15, 2020, Service New Brunswick is no longer accepting paper bids,
and the Central Tendering Branch is closed to the public. Public tender openings are
no longer taking place; however, results continue to be posted on NBON.
2. Bids will only be accepted by electronic transmission as follows:
a. By e-bidding through NBON (when e-bidding is possible); OR
b. By fax to: (506) 444-4200 (fax to dedicated mailbox).
Note: Proposals in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) will not be accepted by fax; OR
c. By email to NBBids@snb.ca or SoumissionsNB@snb.ca (do not submit bids to any other email).
Click here
Instructions for Bid Submission for important instructions on how to submit bids by email.
d. Please refrain from submitting your bid through multiple electronic channels
to avoid duplicate bids.
3. All bids must be properly signed by an authorized person.
a. For bids submitted by email or fax: typed signatures (in any font)
that are not on the bid itself (i.e. in the body of the email or on the
fax cover sheet) will NOT be accepted.
4. All bids must be legible, properly completed and contain the proper solicitation number.
5. The proponent is solely responsible for ensuring that the bid submission
in its entirety, including all attachments, is received before Closing Date and Time
as indicated on the solicitation documents.
a. The proponent bears all risk associated with delivering its bid by electronic
submission, including but not limited to delays in transmission between the Proponent's computer and the Province's Electronic Mail System, NBON or fax.
b. The date and time of official receipt of the bid will be the time of receipt
recorded in the NBON system (for e-bids) or the time of receipt in the Province's
Electronic Mail System (for fax and email bid submissions).
6. All bids must be stated in Canadian Funds. Sales taxes should not be included in
the unit, extended or total prices.
7. All tenders must be F.O.B. destination, freight prepaid.
8. This Invitation is being conducted under the provisions of the Procurement Act
and Regulation 2014-93 as of the date of the issuance of the Invitation.
A bidder must obtain official solicitation documents from a distribution service, authorized by the Minister of Service New Brunswick, in order to submit a bid. The current authorized distribution services are the
New Brunswick Opportunities Network (NBON) (operated by Service New Brunswick, Province of NB),
BIDSAlert (operated by Tendering Publications Ltd.) and
MERX (operated by Mediagrif Interactive Technologies). Bids should be submitted on the official bid documents
obtained from these authorized distribution services.
The province of New Brunswick reserves the right to negotiate pricing, value added and other savings opportunities with the successful proponent at time of award and throughout the contract.
All suppliers engaged to deliver services on behalf of the Government of New Brunswick must ensure compliance with the
Official Languages Act in the delivery of those services. For more information, please refer to the
Official Languages Act.
COVID-19 Restrictions for Workers entering New Brunswick
All suppliers and workers entering the province of New Brunswick for work purposes must comply with the requirements established by WorkSafe NB and Public Health, including isolation requirements where applicable.
Click here for more information on these requirements.
The Atlantic Provinces Standard Terms & Conditions for Goods and Services apply to this procurement and are considered to be incorporated into this document. By submitting a bid, you agree and accept these terms and conditions. Current "Atlantic Provinces Standard Terms and Conditions" are available on the New Brunswick Opportunities Network, the Council of Atlantic Premiers' Website or from an authorized service provider.
COVID-19 Supplier Vaccination Policy
Suppliers must comply with all GNB health and safety policies and standards including, without limitation, all health and safety policies and standards related to COVID-19, as applicable. Go to www.gnb.ca/nbon to view the full policy and FAQs.
Under Canadian law (and international agreements), your Bid must arrive separately and independently, without conspiracy, collusion or fraud; see http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/home for further information.
QUESTIONS:
Written questions relating to this opportunity may be submitted to the address provided below via email by clicking on Questions. Please be sure to include the solicitation/tender number in the subject line.
EMAIL ADDRESS: bidquestionssoumissions@snb.ca
NOTE:
This email account is strictly for the receipt of questions on open opportunities. This email is not for the submission of bids.
Solicitation documents will be provided in either of the Province of New Brunswick's two official languages; English or French upon request.
Pay Equity
Does your organization have 50 or more employees?
The Government of New Brunswick is committed to encouraging and incentivizing the adoption of pay equity by employers doing business with government.
Prior to the award of procurements for goods and services valued over $1,000,000, suppliers, with fifty (50) or more employees will be required to complete the Pay Equity Learning Module developed by the Women's Equality Branch. Suppliers should provide a copy of their certificate of completion with their bid submission.
To complete the online module and obtain your certificate, please visit www.gnb.ca/payequity. For questions, please contact the Pay Equity Bureau toll free: (877) 253-0266 or by Email: peb-bes@gnb.ca.
All discounts quoted will be considered to be without limitations.
Award of contracts: no contract shall be awarded and no payment shall be made to a vendor unless authorized by the Minister or his delegates. The Minister may make an award to the preferred vendor conditional on the negotiation and acceptance of a detailed contract between the Province and the vendor. In such cases, should the detailed contract negotiations not be completed in a reasonable period of time, the Province reserves the right to discontinue negotiations with the vendor and
subsequently enter into negotiations with the second preferred vendor.
No right or duty, in whole or in part, of the vendor under a contract issued may be assigned or delegated without the prior consent of the Strategic Procurement Branch.
Unless indicated otherwise in this tender notice or attached documents, all prices must be extended and totalled.
All Suppliers engaged to deliver goods or services to the Government of New Brunswick must ensure compliance with the Designated Materials Regulation in the provision or delivery of those goods obligated under that Regulation. Please refer to
Recycle NB's website and the
Designated Materials Regulation for specifics.
PAYMENT OF INVOICES
Payment of invoices is the responsibility of the department or organization to whom the goods are shipped or services are supplied.
Where the estimated value of the goods or services to be procured is below the lowest applicable threshold value of any relevant trade agreement, Service New Brunswick reserves the right to give preferential treatment to a prospective supplier from New Brunswick. Should this right be exercised, the following order of priority will apply: a) firstly, New Brunswick manufacturers if the goods to be procured are manufactured in New Brunswick; and b) secondly, New Brunswick vendors.
When bid submissions are evaluated on price:
- Applicability of the preferences will be determined based on the price differential between the lowest-priced acceptable bid and the bid receiving the preferential treatment.
- The price differential under which a NB supplier preference may be applied will be limited to 10%. When the lowest-priced acceptable bid before preferential treatment is applied is a New Brunswick vendor, the price differential under which a NB manufacturer preference will be applied will be limited to 5%.
- The preferential treatment will be applied by making the award to the NB supplier.
When bid submissions are evaluated on a point system:
- Applicability of the preferences will be determined based on the price differential between the pricing component of the highest scoring acceptable bid submission and the pricing component of the bid(s) receiving the preferential treatment.
- The price differential under which a NB supplier preference may be applied will be limited to 10%. When the highest scoring acceptable bid submission before preferential treatment is applied is a New Brunswick vendor, the price differential under which a NB manufacturer preference will be applied will be limited to 5%.
- The preferential treatment will be applied by allotting a maximum of an additional 5% of the total possible points to New Brunswick manufacturers' total scores and 4% to NB vendors' total scores. If no bid from a New Brunswick manufacturer has been retained for preferential treatment, New Brunswick vendors may receive a maximum of an additional 5% of the total possible points rather than 4%.
The decision to apply a preference will be at the sole discretion of Service New Brunswick. To be eligible, suppliers must meet the definition of NB supplier as identified by the regulation under the
Procurement Act. NB manufacturers should indicate in their bid that they are a NB manufacturer to be considered for the NB manufacturer preference.
