Last Friday, Public Works and Government Services confirmed that it had distributed a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) to industry interested in the fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft.
The draft RFP is the latest step in a lengthy process to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s ageing fleet of CC-115 Buffalos and legacy CC-130 Hercules. For the past two years, the government has been gathering feedback from industry on aspects of the FWSAR program – from the Basis of Payment concept, to the role of the in-service support integrator, to the aircraft requirements – through letters of interests, one-on-one consultations and workshops.
The feedback from these engagements and the draft RFP will be integrated into the final RFP, due sometime in early 2014.
According to the government, “the principles of Smart Procurement have been applied throughout this procurement, including good governance, early engagement and consultation with industry, and the use of third-party independent advisors, such as the fairness monitor appointed to oversee the integrity of the process.”