RFPOEBCRTS05192021 - Court Reporting Transcription Services (Transcription Services)

Project Background
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is a public entity and an adjudicative tribunal that, as part of its mandate, holds oral hearings and other events where verbatim transcription and related services are required.

Objectives
The OEB is the regulator of the Province of Ontario's electricity and natural gas sectors.  The OEB holds oral hearings and other related regulatory events concerning applications or policy setting to set electricity and natural gas rates, for the construction natural gas pipelines or electricity transmission lines, for matters referred to it by the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines or for any other matter appropriately brought to the OEB by application, or which the OEB determines that it will hear on its own motion.
 
The OEB requires full verbatim transcription of OEB proceedings, including the ability to provide service in both Official Languages, when required.  On the premises are two hearing rooms and both can be operational at the same time. In addition, the transcribed OEB proceedings may take place virtually through an on-line streaming service (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom), on-site at the OEB offices, or a combination of both.

Purpose and Scope
The vendor must be able to:

1. Transcribe all Proceedings accurately in the format specified by the OEB.

1. In both Official Languages, if required;
2. Making provisions for alternative formats to comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), if required (e.g., producing transcripts in contrasting colours for legibility and to make available in braille, large font or audio format.

1. NOTE: these requirements can fall outside of prescribed timelines for the regular transcript delivery). 

1. Provide one electronic version of the transcript (the "Official Transcript") to the OEB in an agreed-upon format - currently MS Word within two (2) hours of the close of each day's proceeding to all authorized parties requesting copies as follows. The electronic copy to be fully indexed as per sample: https://www.rds.oeb.ca/CMWebDrawer/Record/710946/File/document
    
2. Provide an electronic copy by email (in the format specified) of the Official Transcript to the OEB and to registered parties within two (2) hours of the close of each day’s Proceeding:
        a. The OEB will require the following format, unless otherwise directed;

1. MS Word with formatting and pagination;
2. Date format is to be International Standard - yyyymmdd;
               iii. The OEB’s file number is to be clearly shown along with appropriate volume number, for example:  EB-9999-0000 2006019_Vol_01;
              iv. Via e-mail to the Registrar (registrar@oeb.ca), registered parties, and to the hearing Panel and OEB Staff two (2) hours after the hearing has concluded. 

1. Provide additional email copies: In addition to the above, other parties to the Proceeding may require electronic copies of the transcript (in the specified format) by email.  These are required within two (2) hours of the conclusion of each day's proceeding.