Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle Border Crossing Modernization: Construction Management Services
Fairness monitor final report: April 11, 2023
Addendum to final report: January 16, 2024
Submitted to: Director, Fairness Monitoring Program
Submitted by: Samson
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Attestation of assurance
The fairness monitor (FM) hereby provides the unqualified assurance statement below concerning the competitive selection process for the Modernization of Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle (StBB) Border Port of Entry Construction Management Services from the publication of the request for proposals (RFP) to the conclusion of bid evaluation.
It is our professional opinion that the competitive selection process we observed or monitored for the above activities, was carried out in a fair, open and transparent manner.
Original signed by:
Mathieu Farley
Chartered Professional Accountant Auditor
Certified Internal Auditor
Certified Information Systems Auditor
Certified Fraud Examiner
Fairness Monitors Team Leader
Fairness Monitor
Fairness Monitoring Contractor Representative
Samson
Jocelyne Lafrenière
Chartered Professional Accountant
Fairness Monitor
Project requirement
Samson was engaged on December 15, 2022, as a fairness monitor (FM) to observe the competitive procurement process for the Modernization of Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle (MSBL) Border Port of Entry Construction Management Services initiative undertaken by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) on behalf of Canada Border Services Agency, in the context of tender WS3870297321. Samson is an independent third party with respect to this activity.
This report covers the activities of the FM beginning with the RFP phase of February 16, 2023, until the bid evaluation process closes on March 29, 2023.
The MSBL aims to completely reorganize the Canada Border Services Agency site and infrastructure to meet current and anticipated operational constraints. The project involves the demolition or modification of a portion of existing infrastructure and the construction of new infrastructure.
We reviewed all the information provided and observed all relevant activities.
This report includes:
- our attestation of assurance
- a summary of the scope and objectives of our mandate
- details of the methodologies applied
- relevant findings from the activities undertaken
Fairness monitoring engagement and observations
In accordance with the terms of our mandate, we:
- reviewed relevant documents
- observed activities related to this procurement, that is
- RFP and amendments
- related questions and answers process
- bid evaluation
- have brought the fairness issues to the attention of the technical and contracting authority (CA)
- examined whether the responses and actions taken were reasonable and appropriate
Request for proposals
The RFP EF937-231362 (WS3870297321) was published on CanadaBuys on February 15, 2023, and closed on March 22, 2023. Four amendments have been published on CanadaBuys, the last of which was on March 21, 2023. Questions from potential bidders were accepted and responses were provided and distributed on CanadaBuys.
Only 1 bid was submitted by an interested bidder.
The FM examined all documentation of the RFP, and all questions and answers provided during the RFP posting period, to ensure that fairness considerations were satisfactorily taken into account.
No equity gaps were identified.
Evaluation of the request for proposals
The FM reviewed the guide for the evaluation committee and the scoring file. The evaluation team consisted of 3 evaluators.
The evaluation of the bid consisted of a review of the documentation submitted by the bidder as identified in the RFP. Evaluation of the bid began on March 23, 2023. All mandatory criteria have been met. The consensus meeting was held on March 29, 2023, to assess the technical requirements.
The FM reviewed the guide for the evaluation committee and the scoring file. The FM attended the consensus meeting with the evaluation team. The FM reviewed the results of the financial assessment as well as the summary report on the overall technical and financial assessment produced by PWGSC on March 29, 2023, and signed by the evaluators to confirm the winning bidder.
No equity gaps were identified.
Reference documents
Documents related to the WS3870297321 competition are available on CanadaBuys or through the project office.
Addendum to the final report
January 16, 2024
Addendum to the final report, dated April 11, 2023, for the procurement process for the MSBL Construction Management Services.
This addendum covers the period following the conclusion of the evaluation phase, including contract award and debriefing activities.
Fairness monitoring activities related to contract award and debriefings
Only 1 bid was submitted by an interested bidder that met all mandatory criteria.
The contract award was communicated to the winning bidder on December 11, 2023. He did not request a debriefing session. The FM reviewed correspondence with the bidder.
Attestation of assurance
The FM hereby provides the unqualified assurance statement below concerning MSBL Border Port of Entry Construction Management Services procurement process up to and including the conclusion of the contract award and debriefing activities.
It is our professional opinion that the process we observed or monitored was carried out in a fair, open and transparent manner.
Original signed by:
Mathieu Farley
Chartered Professional Accountant Auditor
Certified Internal Auditor
Certified Information Systems Auditor
Certified Fraud Examiner
Fairness Monitors Team Leader
Fairness Monitor
Fairness Monitoring Contractor Representative
Samson
Jocelyne Lafrenière
Chartered Professional Accountant
Fairness Monitor
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