request for proposals for · 2019-08-08 · this request for proposals (the “rfp”) is an...

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR

Website Development and Deployment in China

For Nova Scotia Business Incorporated

Request for Proposal Number: MK2019-20-01

Template Version: September, 2018

2

Revised June 7, 2016 Consultant Service Agreement - NSBI

TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1 – INVITATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS ..................................................................... 3

1.1 Invitation to Proponents .................................................................................................................. 3 1.2 RFP Contact ...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Type of Contract for Deliverables .................................................................................................... 3 1.4 RFP Timetable .................................................................................................................................. 3 1.5 Submission of Proposals .................................................................................................................. 4

PART 2 – EVALUATION AND NEGOTIATION ......................................................................................... 6 2.1 Stages of Evaluation ......................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Stage I – Mandatory Submission Requirements .............................................................................. 6 2.3 Stage II – Evaluation ......................................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Stage III – Pricing .............................................................................................................................. 7 2.5 Selection of Highest Scoring Proponent .......................................................................................... 7 2.6 Notification to Other Proponents .................................................................................................... 7

PART 3 – TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE RFP PROCESS .................................................................... 8 3.1 General Information and Instructions ............................................................................................. 8 3.2 Business Registration ....................................................................................................................... 8 3.3 Communication after Issuance of RFP ............................................................................................. 9 3.4 Notification and Debriefing ............................................................................................................. 9 3.5 Conflict of Interest and Prohibited Conduct .................................................................................. 10 3.6 Confidential Information ............................................................................................................... 11 3.7 Reserved Rights, Limitation of Liability and Governing Law .......................................................... 11

APPENDIX A – FORM OF AGREEMENT ............................................................................................... 13 APPENDIX B – SUBMISSION FORM .................................................................................................... 19 APPENDIX C – SUBMISSION PRICING FORM ...................................................................................... 22 APPENDIX D – RFP PARTICULARS ...................................................................................................... 24

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PART 1 – INVITATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

1.1 Invitation to Proponents

This Request for Proposals (the “RFP”) is an invitation by Nova Scotia Business Incorporated (“NSBI”) to prospective proponents to submit proposals for the provision of services related to website development and deployment in China as further described in the RFP Particulars (Appendix D) (the “Deliverables”). This RFP is being conducted pursuant to the NSBI Procurement Policy and the Nova Scotia Sustainable Procurement Policy, where applicable. NSBI is implementing a project to establish a web presence for our organization within China, with the overall aim of attracting global investment opportunities, identifying potential sales opportunities for our Nova Scotia export companies, and building Nova Scotia brand equity. The website will be used as a marketing tool and will not require an e-commerce component. NSBI is seeking a Proponent with the expertise to navigate China’s digital restrictions, to develop and deploy the website in China with a targeted completion date of November 1, 2019. NSBI is a business development agency for the Province of Nova Scotia, led by a private sector board of directors. To strengthen and grow the Nova Scotia economy, NSBI’s primary efforts are focused on helping Nova Scotia businesses grow exports through access to business advisory services, skills development and training, market intelligence, access to financing, support in accessing global markets, and by attracting innovative, globally competitive companies to establish a business location in Nova Scotia. Go to www.novascotiabusiness.com to learn more.

1.2 RFP Contact

For the purposes of this procurement process, the “RFP Contact” shall be: Jennifer Dunbar, Contracts Specialist E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 902-424-4242 Proponents and their representatives are not permitted to contact any employees, officers, agents, elected or appointed officials or other representatives of NSBI, other than the RFP Contact or their designate, concerning this RFP. Failure to adhere to this rule may result in the disqualification of the proponent and the rejection of the proponent’s proposal.

1.3 Type of Contract for Deliverables

The selected proponent will be requested to enter into an agreement with NSBI for the provision of the Deliverables in the form attached as Appendix A to the RFP (the “Agreement”). The initial term of the agreement will be for a period of fourteen (14) months.

1.4 RFP Timetable

Issue Date of RFP 8/9/2019

Deadline for Questions 8/14/2019

Deadline for Issuing Addenda 8/16/2019

Submission Deadline Date and Time 8/23/2019 @ 4:00 PM Atlantic Time

Anticipated Execution of Agreement 9/6/2019

http://www.novascotiabusiness.com/

mailto:[email protected]

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The RFP timetable is tentative only and may be changed by NSBI at any time.

1.5 Submission of Proposals

1.5.1 Proposals to be submitted at the Prescribed Location Proposals must be submitted at:

Nova Scotia Business Incorporated Attn: Jennifer Dunbar 1800 Argyle Street, Suite 701 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 3N8

Ensure the external packaging is marked with the RFP number and proponent’s contact information. 1.5.2 Proposals to be submitted on Time Proposals must be submitted at the location set out above on or before the Submission Deadline as indicated in section 1.4. Proposals submitted after the Submission Deadline will be rejected. NSBI’s time clock will be deemed to be correct. 1.5.3 Proposals to be submitted in Prescribed Format In a sealed package, Proponents should submit their proposal containing three (3) hard copies of their proposal and one (1) electronic copy saved as a Portable Document Format (PDF) submitted with the hard copy package, or via e-mail to [email protected]. For greater certainty, both hard copies and the electronic copy must be received prior to the submission deadline as indicated in section 1.4. The file name on the electronic copy should include an abbreviated form of the proponent’s name and RFP#. If there is a conflict or inconsistency between the hard copy and the electronic copy of the proposal, the hard copy of the proposal shall prevail. In the interest of sustainability, please refrain from using binders, binding, plastic covers, or similar fastening or presentation materials when submitting the proposal. Similarly, unless specifically requested in this solicitation document, proponents should not submit product catalogues, swatches, or other marketing materials with their proposal. Sealed packages should be prominently marked with:

• the RFP title and number (see RFP cover)

• the full legal name and return address of the proponent NSBI will not accept proposals submitted by facsimile transfer, or any other electronic means except as identified above. 1.5.4 Amendment of Proposals Prior to Submission Deadline Proponents may amend their proposals prior to the Submission Deadline by submitting the amendment in a sealed package prominently marked with the RFP title and number and the full legal name and return address of the proponent to the location set out above in section 1.5.1. Any amendment must clearly indicate which part of the proposal the amendment is intended to amend or replace. Any amendments received after the Submission Deadline will not be accepted. Amendments must be signed by the person who signed the original bid submission, or a person authorized to sign on his or her behalf. 1.5.5 Withdrawal of Proposals Proponents may withdraw their proposals prior to the Submission Deadline. To withdraw a proposal, a notice of withdrawal must be received by the RFP Contact prior to the Submission Deadline and must be signed by an authorized representative of the proponent. NSBI is under no obligation to return withdrawn proposals.

mailto:[email protected]

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1.5.6 Proposals Irrevocable after Submission Deadline Proposals shall be irrevocable for a period of Ninety (90) days from the Submission Deadline.

[End of Part 1]

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PART 2 – EVALUATION AND NEGOTIATION

2.1 Stages of Evaluation

NSBI will conduct the evaluation of proposals and negotiations in the following three stages: Stage I: Mandatory Submission Requirements Stage II: Evaluation Stage III: Pricing

2.2 Stage I – Mandatory Submission Requirements

Stage I will consist of a review to determine which proposals comply with all of the Mandatory Submission requirements. Proposals that do not comply with all of the Mandatory Submission requirements as of the Submission Deadline will be disqualified and not evaluated further.

The mandatory submission requirements are as follows: 2.2.1 No Amendment to Forms Other than inserting information requested on the mandatory submission forms set out in the RFP, a proponent may not make any changes to any of the forms. Any proposal containing any such changes, whether on the face of the form or elsewhere in the proposal, will be disqualified. 2.2.2 Submission Form (Appendix B) Each proposal must include a Submission Form (Appendix B) completed and signed by an authorized representative of the proponent. 2.2.3 Submission Pricing Form (Appendix C) Each proposal must include a Submission Pricing Form (Appendix C) completed according to the instructions contained in the form.

2.3 Stage II – Evaluation

The following is an overview of the categories and weighting for the rated criteria of the RFP. Proponents who do not meet a minimum threshold score for a category will not proceed further in the evaluation process.

Rated Criteria Category Weighting (Points) Minimum Threshold

D.4.1 Corporate Overview 5 points N/A

D.4.2 Skills and Expertise 40 points N/A

D.4.3 Understanding of web requirements in China 20 points N/A

D.4.4 Project Management Plan 10 points N/A

D.4.5 Hosting/Service Agreement 15 points N/A

D.4.5 References 10 points N/A

Subtotal A 100 points 70 points

C.3.1 Pricing 20 points N/A

Total Points 120 points N/A

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Stage II will consist of the following two sub-stages: 2.3.1 Mandatory Technical Requirements NSBI will review the proposals to determine whether the Mandatory Technical requirements as set out in Section D.3 of the RFP Particulars (Appendix D) have been met. Proponents that do not comply with all of the Mandatory Technical requirements will be disqualified and not evaluated further. 2.3.2 Rated Criteria NSBI will evaluate each compliant proposal on the basis of the rated criteria as set out in Section D.4 of the RFP Particulars (Appendix D).

2.4 Stage III – Pricing

Stage III will consist of a scoring of the submitted pricing of compliant proposals in accordance with the price evaluation method set out in the Submission Pricing Form (Appendix C). The evaluation of price will be undertaken after the evaluation of Mandatory Submission requirements, Mandatory Technical requirements, and rated criteria has been completed, and only for those proposals that have met all minimum threshold scores.

2.5 Selection of Highest Scoring Proponent

After the completion of Stage III, all scores from Stage II and Stage III will be added together and the proponent with the highest score will be selected to enter into the Agreement in accordance with Part 3. Upon finalization of an Agreement with NSBI, the proponent shall thereafter be known as the successful proponent.

2.6 Notification to Other Proponents

Once an agreement is finalized and executed by NSBI with a proponent, the other proponents will be notified in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the RFP Process (Part 3).

[End of Part 2]

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PART 3 – TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE RFP PROCESS

3.1 General Information and Instructions

3.1.1 RFP Incorporated into Proposal All of the provisions of this RFP are deemed to be accepted by each Proponent and incorporated into each proponent’s proposal. A proponent who submits conditions, options, variations, or contingent statements inconsistent with the terms set out in the RFP, including the terms of the Agreement in Appendix A, either as part of its proposal or after receiving notice of selection, will be disqualified. 3.1.2 Proponents to Follow Instructions Proponents should structure their proposals in accordance with the instructions in this RFP. Where information is requested in this RFP, any response made in a proposal should reference the applicable section numbers of this RFP. 3.1.3 Language All proposals are to be in English, or both English and French. If there is a conflict or inconsistency between the English version and the French version of the proposal, the English version of the proposal shall prevail. 3.1.4 No Incorporation by Reference The entire content of the proponent’s proposal should be submitted in a fixed form, and the content of websites or other external documents referred to in the proponent’s proposal but not attached will not be considered to form part of its proposal. 3.1.5 References and Past Performance In the evaluation process, NSBI may include information provided by the proponent’s references and may also consider the proponent’s past performance or conduct on previous contracts with NSBI. 3.1.6 Information in RFP Only an Estimate NSBI makes no representation, warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy of the information contained in this RFP, received from the RFP Contact, or issued by way of addenda. Any quantities shown or data, or opinion contained in this RFP or provided by way of addenda are estimates only and are for the sole purpose of indicating to proponents the general scale and scope of the Deliverables. It is the proponent’s responsibility to obtain all the information necessary to prepare a proposal in response to this RFP. 3.1.7 Proponents to Bear Their Own Costs The proponent shall bear all costs associated with or incurred in the preparation and presentation of its proposal, including, if applicable, costs incurred for interviews or presentations. 3.1.8 Proposal to be retained by NSBI NSBI will not return the proposal or any accompanying documentation submitted by a proponent.

3.2 Business Registration

Proponents may be required to be registered to carry on business in accordance with applicable laws. For information on the business registration requirements of the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies, please consult: http://www.novascotia.ca/snsmr/access/business/registry-joint-stock-companies.asp

http://www.novascotia.ca/snsmr/access/business/registry-joint-stock-companies.asp

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The status of a proponent’s business registration does not preclude the submission of a proposal in response to this RFP. A proposal can be accepted for evaluation, regardless of (i) whether the company is registered, or (ii) whether its business registration is in good standing. However, a contract cannot be awarded unless the successful proponent is registered and in good standing, in accordance with applicable laws. If the proponent’s business is not required to register in Nova Scotia, the proponent will be required to submit registration from their applicable jurisdiction.

3.3 Communication after Issuance of RFP

3.3.1 Proponents to Review RFP Proponents shall promptly examine all of the documents comprising this RFP, and

a) report any errors, omissions, or ambiguities; and b) direct questions or seek additional information

in writing by email to the RFP Contact, as set out in section 1.2, on or before the Deadline for Questions. NSBI is not obligated to respond to questions or comments received after this period has passed. No such communications are to be directed to anyone other than the RFP Contact. NSBI is under no obligation to provide additional information, and NSBI will not be responsible for any information provided by or obtained from any source other than the RFP Contact. It is the responsibility of the proponent to seek clarification from the RFP Contact on any matter it considers to be unclear. NSBI will not be responsible for any misunderstanding on the part of the proponent concerning this RFP or its process. 3.3.2 All New Information to Proponents by Way of Addenda This RFP may be amended only by addendum in accordance with this section. If NSBI, for any reason, determines that it is necessary to provide additional information relating to this RFP, such information will be communicated by addendum on the Nova Scotia Procurement Web Portal. Each addendum forms an integral part of this RFP and may contain important information, including significant changes to this RFP. Proponents are responsible for obtaining all addenda issued by NSBI. 3.3.3 Post-Deadline Addenda and Extension of Submission Deadline If NSBI determines that it is necessary to issue an addendum after the Deadline for Issuing Addenda, NSBI may extend the Submission Deadline for a reasonable period of time. 3.3.4 Verify and Clarify During the evaluation process, NSBI may request further information from the proponent or third parties to verify or clarify the information provided in the proponent’s proposal, including but not limited to clarification with respect to whether a proposal meets the Mandatory Technical requirements set out in Section D.3 of the RFP Particulars (Appendix D). NSBI may revisit and re-evaluate the proponent’s response or ranking on the basis of any such information.

3.4 Notification and Debriefing

3.4.1 Selection of Proponent and Execution of Agreement NSBI will notify the selected proponent in writing. The selected proponent shall execute the Agreement in the form attached as Appendix A to this RFP and satisfy any other applicable conditions of this RFP within fifteen (15) days of notice of selection.

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3.4.2 Failure to Enter into Agreement In addition to all of NSBI’s other remedies, if a selected proponent fails to execute the Agreement or satisfy any other applicable conditions within fifteen (15) days of notice of selection, NSBI may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without incurring any liability, withdraw the selection of that proponent and proceed with the selection of another proponent or cancel the RFP Process. 3.4.3 Notification of Contract Award Once an Agreement is executed by NSBI with a Proponent, notification of the outcome of the procurement process will be posted on the Nova Scotia Procurement Web Portal. 3.4.4 Debriefing Proponents may request a debriefing after posting of the outcome of the procurement process on the Nova Scotia Procurement Web Portal. All requests must be in writing to the RFP Contact and must be made within sixty (60) days of posting of the outcome of the procurement process. The intent of the debriefing information session is to aid the proponent in presenting a better proposal in subsequent procurement opportunities. Any debriefing provided is not for the purpose of providing an opportunity to challenge the procurement process or its outcome. 3.4.5 Supplier Complaint Procedure If a proponent wishes to file a complaint in regard to the RFP process, it must provide written notice to the RFP Contact within sixty (60) days of posting of the outcome of the process on the Nova Scotia Procurement Web Portal, and NSBI will respond in accordance with its Supplier Complaint Protocol.

3.5 Conflict of Interest and Prohibited Conduct

3.5.1 Conflict of Interest NSBI may disqualify a proponent for any conduct, situation or circumstance, determined by NSBI, in its sole and absolute discretion, to constitute a Conflict of Interest. For the purposes of this Section, “Conflict of Interest” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Submission Form (Appendix B). 3.5.2 Disqualification for Prohibited Conduct NSBI may disqualify a proponent, or terminate an Agreement entered into if NSBI, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines that the proponent has engaged in any conduct prohibited by this RFP. 3.5.3 Prohibited Proponent Communications A proponent shall not engage in any communications that could constitute a Conflict of Interest and must take note of the Conflict of Interest declaration set out in the Submission Form (Appendix B). 3.5.4 Proponent not to Communicate with Media A proponent may not at any time directly, or indirectly, communicate with the media in relation to this RFP or any Agreement entered into pursuant to this RFP without consent of NSBI, and then only in coordination with NSBI. 3.5.5 No Lobbying A proponent shall not, in relation to this RFP or the evaluation and selection process, engage directly or indirectly in any form of political or other lobbying whatsoever to influence the selection of the successful proponent. 3.5.6 Illegal or Unethical Conduct Proponents shall not engage in any illegal business practices, including activities such as bid-rigging, price-fixing, bribery, fraud, coercion or collusion. Proponents shall not engage in any unethical conduct, including lobbying, as described above, or other inappropriate communications; offering gifts to any

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employees, officers, agents, elected or appointed officials or other representatives of NSBI; submitting proposals containing misrepresentations or other misleading or inaccurate information; or any other conduct that compromises or may be seen to compromise the competitive process provided for in this RFP. 3.5.7 Rejection of Bids NSBI may reject a bid based on past performance or based on inappropriate conduct, including but not limited to the following: (a) illegal or unethical conduct as described above; (b) the refusal of the Contractor to honour its submitted pricing or other commitments; (c) any conduct, situation or circumstance determined by NSBI, in its sole and absolute discretion, to

have constituted an undisclosed Conflict of Interest; or (d) NSBI’s past experience with the bidder within the last 18 months for similar or related services

3.6 Confidential Information

3.6.1 Confidential Information of NSBI All information provided by or obtained from NSBI in any form in connection with this RFP either before or after the issuance of this RFP (a) is the sole property of NSBI and must be treated as confidential; (b) is not to be used for any purpose other than replying to this RFP and the performance of the

Agreement for the Deliverables; and (c) must not be disclosed without prior written authorization from NSBI (d) must be returned by the proponent to NSBI immediately upon request of NSBI

3.6.2 Confidential Information of Proponent A proponent should identify any information in its proposal or any accompanying documentation supplied in confidence for which confidentiality is to be maintained by NSBI. The confidentiality of such information will be maintained by NSBI, except as otherwise required by law or by order of a court or tribunal. Proponents are advised that their proposals will, as necessary, be disclosed, on a confidential basis, to advisers retained by NSBI to advise or assist with the RFP process, including the evaluation of proposals. 3.6.3 Personal Information International Disclosure Protection Act The Personal Information International Disclosure Protection Act (PIIDPA), creates obligations for the Government of Nova Scotia and its service providers when personal information is collected, used or disclosed. Provisions related to PIIDPA requirements are included in the agreement terms. A copy of the Act is available online at: http://nslegislature.ca/legc/statutes/persinfo.htm

3.7 Reserved Rights, Limitation of Liability and Governing Law

3.7.1 Reserved Rights of NSBI NSBI reserves the right to: (a) make public the names of any or all proponents; (b) request written clarification in relation to a proponent’s proposal; (c) waive minor formalities that do not constitute Mandatory Submission requirements or

Mandatory Technical requirements; (d) verify with any proponent or with a third party any information set out in a proposal; (e) check references other than those provided by any proponent;

http://nslegislature.ca/legc/statutes/persinfo.htm

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(f) disqualify any proponent whose proposal contains misrepresentations or any other inaccurate or misleading information;

(g) disqualify any proponent or the proposal of any proponent who has engaged in conduct prohibited by this RFP;

(h) amend this RFP process without liability at any time prior to the execution of a written agreement between NSBI and a proponent. These changes are issued by way of addendum in the manner set out in this RFP;

(i) cancel this RFP process without liability at any time prior to the execution of a written agreement between NSBI and a proponent. A cancellation is communicated by way of addendum in the manner set out in this RFP. NSBI may in its sole discretion issue a new RFP for the same or similar Deliverables; or

(j) reject any or all proposals

and these reserved rights are in addition to any other express rights or any other rights that may be implied in the circumstances. 3.7.2 Limitation of Liability By submitting a proposal, each proponent agrees that:

(a) neither NSBI nor any of its employees, officers, agents, elected or appointed officials,

advisors or representatives will be liable, under any circumstances, for any claim arising out of this proposal process including but not limited to costs of preparation of the proposal, loss of profits, loss of opportunity or for any other claim; and

(b) the proponent waives any claim for any compensation of any kind whatsoever, including claims for costs of preparation of the proposal, loss of profit or loss of opportunity by reason of NSBI’s decision to not accept the proposal submitted by the proponent, to enter into an Agreement with any other proponent or to cancel this proposal process, and the proponent shall be deemed to have agreed to waive such right or claim.

3.7.3 Governing Law and Interpretation These Terms and Conditions of the RFP Process:

(a) are intended to be interpreted broadly and independently (with no particular provision

intended to limit the scope of any other provision); (b) are non-exhaustive and shall not be construed as intending to limit the pre-existing rights

of NSBI; and (c) are to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Nova

Scotia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.

[End of Part 3]

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APPENDIX A – FORM OF AGREEMENT The terms of the agreement that will be used for this project are provided below. CONSULTANT SERVICE AGREEMENT dated the _____ day of _____________, 20__. BETWEEN:

NOVA SCOTIA BUSINESS INCORPORATED, a body corporate, incorporated pursuant to the Nova Scotia Business Incorporated Act (Nova Scotia) (hereinafter called “NSBI”) -and-

[NAME OF CONSULTANT] (hereinafter called “Consultant”)

WHEREAS NSBI requires the services, advice and assistance of a consultant to assist in ______________________ as set out and described in Schedule “A” annexed (the "Consultant Services"). AND WHEREAS NSBI wishes to retain the services of the Consultant to provide the Consultant Services, and the Consultant is willing to be so retained, subject to Terms and Conditions contained in this Consultant Service Agreement (“CSA”) and the Standard Terms and Conditions attached as Appendix “A”. 1. CONSULTANT’S SERVICES 1.1 Subject to section 2, the Consultant shall provide the Consultant Services to NSBI with respect to

matters attached to this agreement as Schedule "A", or as otherwise agreed to by the Parties in writing. The Term of the Agreement shall be from _________ until ___________ unless otherwise extended by written agreement of the parties.

1.2 With respect to matters identified in Schedule "A" and any others agreed to in writing by the Parties,

NSBI may require the Consultant to prepare a detailed work plan and/or budget for each stage or component of the work when known with sufficient clarity to reasonably permit this work to be done. The work plan and budget shall be submitted to NSBI for prior written approval and instructions prior to any work commencing.

1.3 Unless NSBI otherwise informs the Consultant in writing, the contact person ("Retainer Administrator") for NSBI is __________.

2. CONTRACT DOCUMENTS 2.1 The following documents are incorporated by reference and form part of this Agreement: Appendix

“A” (Standard Terms and Conditions), Appendix “B” (Personal Information Protection Terms and Conditions)” and Schedule “A” (Consultant Services).

2.2 In the event of conflict or inconsistency the provisions set out herein and in Appendix “A” and Appendix “B” take priority over the annexed as Schedule “A” or any portion thereof, and, except as may be provided therein, in any additional schedules added by the Parties subsequent to execution of this Agreement.

3. PRICE AND PAYMENT 3.1 Work performed by the Consultant will be billed to NSBI by providing accounts in such format as

may be required by NSBI. There will be a holdback of 10%, to be paid out within 30 days of the conclusion of the Agreement, released at NSBI’s discretion. Invoiced amounts in respect of the

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different phases of the Consultant Services shall not exceed those amounts set out in Schedule “A” annexed, if applicable.

3.2 NSBI shall pay HST/GST on applicable items, and the Consultant agrees to remit in accordance

with the laws of Canada. 3.3 The total price and payment under this Agreement, excluding HST/GST, shall not exceed

$___________.00.

4. NOTICES

4.1 Notices shall be provided in accordance with Appendix “A” to the following persons:

To NSBI as follows: To the Consultant as follows: NSBI [NAME OF CONSULTANT] Attention: Attention: 1800 Argyle Street, Suite 701 Consultant Address Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 3N8 Address line 2 E-mail: E-mail: Phone: Phone:

5. APPLICATION OF STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

5.1 This Agreement is subject to the Standard Terms and Conditions attached as Appendix “A” to this Consultant Service Agreement and is also subject to the Personal Information Protection Terms and Conditions attached as Appendix “B” to this Consultant Services Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NSBI, through its duly authorized representatives, and the Consultant have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written. EXECUTED NOVA SCOTIA BUSINESS INCORPORATED in the presence of: Per:

________________________________ __________________________________ Witness Name: Name:

Title:

Per:


Title:

[NAME OF CONSULTANT] Per:


Title:

Per:


Title:

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Schedule “A” 1. Consultant’s Proposal, Dated _________________.

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Appendix ”A” Consultant Services

Standard Terms & Conditions

1. WHOLE AGREEMENT: These Standard Terms and Conditions, together with the Consultant Service Agreement (“CSA”) and schedules, shall constitute the whole agreement (“Agreement”) between the Parties and no representation or statement not expressly contained herein shall be binding upon either Party. 2. TERM AND TERMINATION Term of this Agreement shall be as defined in subsection 1.1 of the CSA. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, this Agreement may be terminated by NSBI upon giving at least thirty (30) days notice thereof in writing to the Consultant. Notwithstanding the two preceding paragraphs, this Agreement may be terminated by NSBI without further liability, damage or cost, if, in the opinion of NSBI, the Consultant has breached or defaulted or failed to comply with any of the terms of conditions of this Agreement and has failed to remedy the same after being given five days notice in writing to remedy the breach, default or failure, or if the Consultant commits any act of bankruptcy. Completion by the Consultant of the services outlined in subsection 1.1 of the CSA or termination of the Agreement by NSBI in accordance with section 2, of the Appendix “A” shall in no way relieve or be deemed to relieve the Consultant from any ongoing duties, obligations or liabilities which may arise from this Agreement. Covenants, warranties, representations and agreements contained herein shall survive any termination as may be necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement. In the event of termination, in accordance with this section NSBI shall pay the Consultant an amount calculated under the terms of payment for all work performed and accepted together with such further amount as will in the opinion of NSBI compensate the Consultant for reasonable expenses continuing after the date of termination, less any amounts that have been previously paid to the Consultant under section 3 of the CSA. 3. ASSIGNMENT AND SUBCONTRACTING The Consultant shall not assign or subcontract this Agreement or any part thereof without the prior written consent of NSBI. The Consultant shall be liable to NSBI for any obligation to NSBI not met or any right of NSBI breached by any agent, consultant or subcontractor engaged by the Consultant as if that agent, consultant or subcontractor was the Consultant itself. With respect to any agents, consultants, or subcontractors engaged by the Consultant, the Consultant shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure the rights of NSBI are protected, and obligations owed by the Consultant to NSBI are met. Without limiting the foregoing, the Consultant shall bind by contract any agent, consultant or subcontractor which is assisting or performing work and services for the Consultant in relation to the Consultant Services to meet the obligations and preserve the rights of NSBI as if that agent, consultant or subcontractor were the Consultant and a party to this Agreement 4. BOOKS AND RECORDS The Consultant agrees to maintain proper and accurate accounts and records relating to this Agreement and the services provided. All contracts, correspondence, copies, books, records, accounts, working papers, and other information of the Consultant relating to NSBI and to expenses incurred by the Consultant in performing its services under this Agreement shall be made available for inspection by NSBI or by its designate(s) at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice.

5. NSBI’S OBLIGATIONS Weekly Meetings. NSBI shall use reasonable best efforts to attend meetings as contemplated in the contract documents. Duty To Co-Operate: NSBI shall co-operate with and assist the Consultant by providing to the Consultant such reasonable information and access to NSBI’s personnel and other resources as are reasonably necessary to complete the work. All such information and access will be considered the NSBI’s deliverables.

Payment: Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, NSBI shall make payment to the Consultant for Consultant Services provided under this Agreement within 30 days following the date on which invoices and substantive documentation are received and approved. Payment may be withheld by NSBI in part or in full, or NSBI has a right of set-off if the Consultant Services described in Schedule "A" are not carried out in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or if the Consultant has accounts outstanding with NSBI. 6. CONSULTANT’S OBLIGATIONS The Consultant shall use reasonable best efforts to attend meetings as contemplated in the contract documents. With respect to matters identified in Schedule "A" and any others agreed to in writing by the Parties, NSBI may require the Consultant to prepare a detailed work plan [and budget] for each stage or component of the work when known with sufficient clarity to reasonably permit this work to be done. The work plan [and budget] shall be submitted to NSBI for prior written approval and instructions prior to any work commencing. The Consultant shall meet the deadlines for the work established under Schedule “A” or that may arise from meetings with NSBI as agreed to by the Consultant and NSBI. Delays in the Consultant meeting its deadlines are excused and shall be deemed acceptable to NSBI for the purposes of this Agreement only to the extent that such delay is a reasonable consequence of NSBI’s failure to meet or provide its deliverables. The Consultant shall have the exclusive authority to make staffing decisions with respect to use of its personnel in the completion of its work and obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, NSBI may request the removal of any personnel that it reasonably determines are not satisfactorily performing the work and services (including matters relating to inter-personal skills) and the Consultant shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to comply with any such request. All services supplied by the Consultant shall be performed in such manner only as is usual and customary in skillful and proper supply of Consultant Services in Canada. 7. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR It is understood and agreed that this Agreement is a contract for the performance of services and that the Consultant is engaged as an independent contractor and that the Consultant or its employees, agents, consultants or any subcontractor are not, nor shall be deemed to be, an employee, servant or agent of NSBI. The Consultant has no authority under this Agreement to bind NSBI by contract or otherwise without the prior written approval of NSBI. 8. LIABILITY AND WARRANTY The Consultant agrees that NSBI shall not be liable for any injury including death to any person or for the loss of or damage to any property that is caused in any way by the Consultant's performance of its services under this Agreement, unless the injury, loss or damage is caused by the gross negligence of an officer or employee of NSBI while working within the scope of his or her employment.

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The Consultant agrees that it shall at all times indemnify and save harmless NSBI, its officers, employees and agents from and against all claims, demands, losses, costs, damages, actions, suits or other proceedings of any kind based upon injury, including death, to any person, or damage to or loss of property arising from any willful or negligent act, omission or delay on the part of the Consultant, its servants or agents in carrying out this Agreement. 9. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP Information and Documents: All research, reports, papers, material, audio-visual material and information forming part of or produced in the performance of this Agreement and all copyrights thereto, and all patents, trademarks and industrial designs arising therefrom, are the property of NSBI, and are hereby assigned by the Consultant to NSBI, provided that the intellectual property rights in pre-existing materials and information belonging to the Consultant shall remain with or vest in the Consultant. The Consultant shall not divulge, release or publish any such research, reports, papers, material, audio-visual material or information, or any part thereof, without first having obtained written permission from NSBI. Publication: NSBI reserves the right to publish or release in whole or in part, to publish an amended version and not to publish or release at all, or to use or not use as NSBI may deem fit, any research, reports, material, audio-visual materials, or information produced in the performance of this Agreement. Trade Marks: The Consultant may only use the NSBI trade marks with the prior written consent of NSBI, and in such case the use shall be limited for the purposes of performing its obligations under this Agreement and for no other purpose. NSBI Properties And Work Product: NSBI will at all times be and remain the sole and exclusive owner of the work created under the Agreement, and the Consultant hereby assigns and conveys its entire right, title and interest to any work product created under this Agreement, and all copyright and other proprietary rights therein, without further consideration, free from any claim or lien or retention of rights. Indemnity: If a claim or proceeding is brought against NSBI for an infringement of a proprietary right resulting from the Consultant Services of a third party enforceable in the United States or Canada, then the Consultant shall indemnify and defend such claim or proceeding at its expense and pay any costs or damages (including solicitor fees on a solicitor-client basis) that may be incurred or finally awarded against the NSBI. 10. CONFIDENTIALITY Consultant and its employees and agents shall treat as confidential, during and after the term of this Agreement, any information or materials of a confidential nature concerning the affairs of NSBI or any third party which the Consultant or any of its employees or agents acquire knowledge of or that comes into its or their possession by reason of its or their business with NSBI or any third parties under this Agreement. The Consultant and its employees and agents shall not make public or disclose, either directly or indirectly, any such confidential information or materials to anyone, including a person, Consultant or corporation, without first obtaining the prior written permission of NSBI. The Consultant will take commercially reasonable steps to ensure that it, its employees and its agents comply with this provision. Without limiting the foregoing, the Consultant shall provide a certificate to NSBI stating that all employees and agents have acknowledged and agreed to be bound by the terms of this provision. A new certificate will be given for new employees and agents hired after the date of any prior certificates and who may be reasonably expected to acquire knowledge of confidential information or materials of NSBI. The parties acknowledge and agree that all materials and information provided to NSBI shall be kept confidential, subject to the provisions of the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the laws of Nova Scotia and Canada generally The Consultant hereby acknowledges and agrees that it is a “service provider” as defined in the Nova Scotia Personal Information International Disclosure Protection Act (PIIDPA) and is legally bound by the obligations imposed on it as a service provider under PIIDPA, including the obligation, notwithstanding the laws or the order of any court outside Canada, to

immediately notify the Nova Scotia Minister of Justice in writing of the receipt of a known or suspected “foreign demand for disclosure” or that a suspected “unauthorized disclosure of personal information” has occurred in response to a “foreign demand for disclosure” as each of those terms is defined under PIIDPA. Delivery of such notice shall be made by rush courier to both NSBI and to the: Attorney General of Nova Scotia 1690 Hollis Street, PO. Box 7 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2L6 11. INFORMATION The Consultant warrants that all information submitted to NSBI respecting this Agreement is true and accurate. Any misrepresentation or omission by the Consultant in this regard shall entitle NSBI to terminate this Agreement forthwith and shall entitle NSBI to exercise any of its rights under this Agreement or as may be available at law. 12. GENERAL CHOICE OF LAW AND FORUM: This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Province of Nova Scotia, and shall be treated in all respects as a Nova Scotia contract. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS: The Consultant shall comply with all laws, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable to the Consultant Services. SUCCESSORS: This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of each Party, its successors and assigns, provided however that the Consultant may not assign this Agreement except with the prior written consent of NSBI, which consent shall be at NSBI’s sole discretion. HEADINGS: The headings used in this Agreement are inserted for reference purposes only, and shall not affect the meaning or construction of any provision. AMENDMENT: This Agreement may only be altered by means of a written memorandum signed by both Parties. The said memorandum shall be supplemental to and shall be deemed to form part of this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be changed, modified or discharged orally. CONSENT TO BREACH AND WAIVER: No term or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed waived and no breach excused, unless the waiver or consent to the breach is in writing, signed by the Party making the waiver or giving the consent. Any consent by a Party or waiver of a breach by the other, whether expressed or implied, shall not constitute consent to, waiver of, or excuse for any different or subsequent breach or continuation of the same breach, unless expressly stated. SEVERABILITY: If any term or provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable or illegal, the rest of the Agreement remains in full force and effect, except that the offending term or provision is deemed to be removed from the Agreement. NOTICES: Except as otherwise stated in the Agreement, all notices to or upon the respective parties to this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be deemed to have been fully given immediately when delivered by hand/fax or two business days after posting by prepaid registered post to the party to which such notice is required to be given under this Agreement, as defined in Section 4.1 of the CSA. Either party may by written notice designate a new address for notices given hereunder. Nothing herein shall preclude the delivery of notices pursuant hereto by means other than mailing, and if mailed delivery shall be deemed to be made five (5) business days following the date of mailing. FISCAL PERIOD: In the event this contract extends beyond the end of the fiscal period of NSBI then in such event any obligation of NSBI shall be subject to appropriation in the subsequent or later fiscal periods, as the case may be. TIME: Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement

Appendix ”B” Consultant Services

Personal Information Protection Terms & Conditions

1. DEFINITIONS: In Appendix B, “personal Information” has the same meaning as in the Freedom of

Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Nova Scotia), S.N.S. 1993, c.5,. 2. COLLECTION AND USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION The Consultant acknowledges and agrees that in providing the Consultant Services to

NSBI under this Agreement it shall only collect and use such personal information that is necessary to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.

3. PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION: The Consultant acknowledges and agrees that in providing the Consultant Services to

NSBI under this Agreement it shall at all times make reasonable security arrangements to protect personal information it collects or uses by or on behalf of NSBI against such risks as unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure or disposal.

4. ACCESS, STORAGE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION OUTSIDE CANADA: NSBI authorizes the Consultant, in providing the Consultant Services to NSBI under this

Agreement, to store personal information outside Canada and to access personal information from outside Canada.

5. TEMPORARY TRANSPORT OF PERSONAL INFORMATION OUTSIDE CANADA: NSBI authorizes the Consultant, in providing the Consultant Services to NSBI under this

Agreement, to temporarily transport personal information outside Canada in a computer, a cell phone or another mobile electronic device, where there is a reasonable expectation the personal information is necessary for the Consultant’s performance of duties under this Agreement while travelling outside Canada.

6. NOTICE: The Consultant shall promptly notify NSBI of any known or suspected unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure or disposal of personal information the Consultant collects and uses on behalf of NSBI.

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APPENDIX B – SUBMISSION FORM

B.1 Proponent Information

Please fill out the following form, naming one person to be the proponent’s contact for the RFP process and for any clarifications or communication that might be necessary.

Full Legal Name of Proponent:

Any Other Relevant Name under which Proponent Carries on Business:

Street Address:

City, Province/State:

Postal Code / Zip Code:

Phone Number:

Fax Number:

Company Website (if any):

Proponent Contact Name and Title:

Proponent Contact Phone:

Proponent Contact Fax:

Proponent Contact Email:

Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Number (Leave blank if NOT applicable):

HST / GST Registration Number (Leave blank if NOT applicable):

SIN # (only required if you do not have an HST/GST or NSRJST number):

B.2 Offer The proponent has carefully examined the RFP documents and has a clear and comprehensive knowledge of the Deliverables required. By submitting a proposal, the proponent agrees and consents to the terms, conditions and provisions of the RFP, including the Form of Agreement, and offers to provide the Deliverables in accordance therewith at the rates set out in the completed Pricing Form (Appendix C).

B.3 Pricing The proponent has submitted its rates in accordance with the instructions in the RFP and in the Pricing Form (Appendix C). The proponent confirms that it has factored all of the provisions of Appendix A, including insurance and indemnity requirements, into its pricing assumptions and calculations.

B.4 Mandatory Forms The Proponent encloses as part of the proposal the mandatory forms set out below:

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FORM INITIAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE

Appendix B - Submission Form

Appendix C - Submission Pricing Form

B.5 Addenda The proponent is deemed to have read and taken into account all addenda issued by NSBI.

B.6 No Prohibited Conduct The proponent declares that it has not engaged in any conduct prohibited by this RFP.

B.7 Conflict of Interest For the purposes of this RFP, the term “Conflict of Interest” includes, but is not limited to, any situation or circumstance where:

(a) in relation to the RFP process, the proponent has an unfair advantage or engages in conduct,

directly or indirectly, that may give it an unfair advantage, including but not limited to (i) having, or having access to, confidential information of NSBI in the preparation of its proposal that is not available to other proponents, (ii) communicating with any person with a view to influencing preferred treatment in the RFP process (including but not limited to the lobbying of decision makers involved in the RFP process), or (iii) engaging in conduct that compromises, or could be seen to compromise, the integrity of the open and competitive RFP process or render that process non-competitive or unfair; or

(b) in relation to the performance of its contractual obligations under an agreement for the Deliverables, the proponent’s other commitments, relationships or financial interests (i) could, or could be seen to, exercise an improper influence over the objective, unbiased and impartial exercise of its independent judgement, or (ii) could, or could be seen to, compromise, impair or be incompatible with the effective performance of its contractual obligations.

Proponents should disclose the names and all pertinent details of all individuals (employees, advisers, or individuals acting in any other capacity) who participated in the preparation of the proposal; AND were employees of NSBI within twelve (12) months prior to the Submission Deadline. If the box below is left blank, the proponent will be deemed to declare that (a) there was no Conflict of Interest in preparing its proposal; and (b) there is no foreseeable Conflict of Interest in performing the contractual obligations contemplated in the RFP. Otherwise, if the statement below applies, check the box.

☐ The proponent declares that there is an actual or potential Conflict of Interest relating to the preparation of its proposal, and/or the proponent foresees an actual or potential Conflict of Interest in performing the contractual obligations contemplated in the RFP.

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If the proponent declares an actual or potential Conflict of Interest by marking the box above, the proponent must set out below details of the actual or potential Conflict of Interest:

B.8 Proposal Irrevocable The proponent agrees that its proposal shall be irrevocable for a period of Ninety (90) days following the Submission Deadline

B.9 Disclosure of Information The proponent hereby agrees that any information provided in this proposal, even if it is identified as being supplied in confidence, may be disclosed where required by law or by order of a court or tribunal. The proponent hereby consents to the disclosure, on a confidential basis, of this proposal by NSBI to the advisers retained by NSBI to advise or assist with the RFP process, including with respect to the evaluation of this proposal.

B.10 Execution of Agreement The Proponent agrees that in the event its proposal is selected by NSBI, it will finalize and execute the Agreement in the form set out in Appendix A to this RFP in accordance with the terms of this RFP. _______________________________ ________________________________ Signature of Witness Signature of Proponent Representative _______________________________ ________________________________ Name of Witness Name of Proponent Representative

________________________________ Title of Proponent Representative

________________________________ Date

I have the authority to bind the proponent.

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APPENDIX C – SUBMISSION PRICING FORM

C.1 Instructions on How to Complete Submission Pricing Form

(a) Rates shall be provided in Canadian funds, inclusive of all applicable duties and taxes except for HST, which should be itemized separately.

(b) Rates quoted by the proponent shall be all-inclusive and shall include all labour and material costs, all travel and carriage costs, all insurance costs, all costs of delivery, all costs of installation and set-up, including any pre-delivery inspection charges, and all other overhead, including any fees or other charges required by law.

(c) Annual hosting/service fees should be broken out separately and should be based on twelve (12)

months starting from the date of deployment. Hosting/service fees will be renegotiated annually

at NSBI’s discretion, and negotiation of renewal will take place ten (10) months into the awarded

contract.

C.2 Evaluation of Pricing

Pricing is worth 20 points of the total score. Pricing will be scored based on a relative pricing formula using the rates set out in the Pricing Form. Each proponent will receive a percentage of the total possible points allocated to price for the particular category it has bid on, which will be calculated by dividing that proponent’s price for that category into the lowest bid price in that category. For example, if a proponent bids $120.00 for a particular category and that is the lowest bid price in that category, that proponent receives 100% of the possible points for that category (120/120 = 100%). A proponent who bids $150.00 receives 80% of the possible points for that category (120/150 = 80%), and a proponent who bids $240.00 receives 50% of the possible points for that category (120/240 = 50%). Lowest rate ------------------- X Total available points = Score for second-lowest rate Second-lowest rate Lowest rate ------------------- X Total available points = Score for third-lowest rate Third-lowest rate And so on, for each proposal.

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C.3 Pricing Form

C.3.1 Fixed Price per Deliverable

Prepare a fixed price per deliverable for your proposed services. Provide appropriate details to support these figures, including estimates of the work effort and a breakout of expected expenses.

Deliverable Level of Effort Fixed Price

Development and Deployment of Website

Annual Hosting (12-month period)

Service Agreement (12-month period)

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APPENDIX D – RFP PARTICULARS

D.1 THE DELIVERABLES

D.1.1 Overview NSBI is implementing a project to establish a web presence for our organization within China, with the overall aim of attracting global investment opportunities, identifying potential sales opportunities for our Nova Scotia export companies, and building Nova Scotia brand equity. The website will be used as a marketing tool and will not require an e-commerce component. NSBI is seeking a Proponent with the expertise to navigate China’s digital restrictions, to develop and deploy the website in China with a targeted deployment date of November 1, 2019. In addition to the technical capabilities required to complete the scope of work, Proponents should have a general understanding of the business environments in Nova Scotia and China, particularly as it relates to foreign direct investment, and export. D.1.2 Scope of Work NSBI is looking to enter into an agreement for a project to develop, deploy, and maintain an online presence for NSBI in China. The proponent will be required to publish the site to a suitable development/test environment to an agreed specification. NSBI approval will be required for testing in a live production environment. The successful proponent must provide:

(a) End-to-end examination and definitions of full website requirements, content types and

performance applications, in order to blueprint a new website development that is 100% China-

friendly (free of links to blocked sites, easily discoverable by Chinese search engines, optimized for

preferred China UX)

(b) Client website functionality review and definitions process with NSBI Project Lead

(c) Development of new website (TBD platform and/or CMS)

(d) User logins for System Admin and NSBI content editor(s) to have the ability to update and manage

content and content types

(e) A customized stateless front-end website

(f) Mobile responsive design. The website will be expected to render quickly and to-scale for both

smart phones and tablets; and for both iOS and Android operating systems.

(g) Quality Assurance, Deployment, and Launch (h) Internet Content Provider (ICP) Registration and Filing (i) Service level agreement for maintenance and support (j) Analytics Reporting Capabilities (k) Transfer and placement of content on new website (l) Design elements and features around database (if required) (m) Links (internal and external) (n) Technical requirements document outlining which technologies will be used, licensing or other

costs, and timelines for delivery

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(o) Weekly updates on activity to NSBI Project Lead (p) A Project Lead to be NSBI’s primary point of contact for the duration of this contract.

Proponent will work with the NSBI Project team to analyze business requirements and determine feasibility, priority and fit within budget and timelines. The technical requirements document must be reviewed and signed off by the NSBI project lead before any work is to commence. NSBI will be responsible for:

(a) Providing translated content and design for the website (b) Ongoing management of website analytics (c) Updates to website content

D.2 MATERIAL DISCLOSURES

D.2.1 The Agreement with the successful proponent will include a 10% holdback clause, payable 30 days after successful deployment of the website, at NSBI’s discretion. D.2.2 All code and content will be owned by NSBI.

D.3 MANDATORY TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

No. Deliverable Proponent Response (Yes or No)

D.3.1 Ability to develop and deploy website by November 1, 2019

D.3.2 Ability to host website in China

D.4 RATED CRITERIA

D.4.1 Corporate Overview (5 points)

Each proponent should provide the following in its proposal:

(a) a brief description of the proponent;

(b) a description of the goods and services the proponent has previously delivered and/or is currently delivering, with an emphasis on experience relevant to the deliverables;

(c) the roles and responsibilities of the proponent and any of its agents, employees and sub-contractors who will be involved in providing the deliverables, together with the identity of those who will be performing those roles and their relevant respective expertise;

D.4.2 Skills and Expertise (40 points)

Provide a comprehensive description of the skills and capabilities of your organization as it relates to the deliverables. At a minimum, the following should be clearly addressed in your description:

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(a) Ability to build the web/CMS system to include all business and technical requirements outlined above.

(b) Mobile responsiveness across multiple platforms. (c) Develop site architecture to provide exceptional usability and easy navigation. (d) Optimize pages for search engine indexing. (e) Integrate web analytics tracking. (f) Content transfer and placement on new website. (g) Links (internal and external).

D.4.3 Knowledge of Web Requirements in China (20 points)

D.4.3.1 Proponents must demonstrate technical knowledge of Chinese website development requirements including, but not limited to, legal obligations in relation to ICP filing, Chinese Search Engine Optimization, and website functionality as it pertains to page loading speed and blocked links. D.4.3.2 The successful proponent must fully demonstrate that they have successfully navigated challenges and website deployment in this market.

D.4.4 Project Management Plan (10 points)

Provide a description of how the proponent will provide the deliverables, which should include a work plan and incorporate an organizational chart indicating how the proponent intends to structure its working relationship with NSBI. D.4.5 Hosting/Service Agreement (15 points) D.4.5.1 Provide details on hosting solution to ensure website environment is reliable, secure and scalable. Indicate who will be providing the hosting solution. D.4.5.2 Include a copy of a sample service level agreement you have in place for a similar project with regards to website maintenance. If none in place, please indicate so and propose some sample service levels you would consider appropriate. Include types of services included; typical response/resolution times; any limitations with regard to number of hours/issue resolutions per year, etc.

D.4.6 References (10 points)

Each proponent is requested to provide three (3) references from clients who have obtained goods or services similar to those requested in this RFP from the proponent in the last five (5) years. Ideally, references would be corporate entities operating in global markets, and/or economic development organization(s). Provide the name of each project reference, along with his/her phone number and email address. The project reference information provided should identify the size of the projects conducted, as well as demonstrate the extent of your previous experience, the clients’ overall satisfaction with your services and the results achieved, including your adherence to interim and final deadlines.

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NSBI will only evaluate three (3) references. If more than three (3) references are provided by the proponent only the first three (3) listed in the proposal will be evaluated.