The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, yesterday revealed that the Government of Canada has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to seek industry feedback on the next generation of Coast Guard lifeboats.
These ships will be built as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy’s (NSPS) small vessels program.
The intent of this RFI is to engage directly with Canadian shipyards who are potential suppliers of these new vessels. This first step in the procurement process will provide the Government with valuable information before drafting the Request for Proposal.
As announced in June 2013, the small vessels program includes 18 to 21 new vessels for the Coast Guard fleet. Canadian shipyards, other than the two selected under the NSPS to build the large vessels and their affiliated companies, will be able to compete in individual procurement processes on a project-by-project basis.
Early and proactive engagement with industry, along with the establishment of a strong governance structure and the involvement of independent third parties, is consistent with the Smart Procurement principles now applied to Canada’s major procurements.
Government of Canada, February 11, 2014