File PR-2023-064

NOTICE OF INQUIRY

OFFICE FURNITURE

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has received a complaint from Global Total Office (GTO) of Toronto, Ontario, concerning a procurement (solicitation W6863-11-161) made by the Department of National Defence (DND). The solicitation was for the provision and installation of office furniture. Pursuant to subsection 30.13(2) of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act and subsection 7(2) of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Procurement Inquiry Regulations, notice is given that the Tribunal made a decision on March 21, 2024, to conduct an inquiry into the complaint.

GTO alleges that DND privately issued the solicitation to three bidders instead of publicly posting it; that the Request for Quotation (RFQ) explicitly referred to specific Supply Arrangements (SA) but did not include direction concerning product specifications or Government of Canada identification codes (GoCUID); that the RFQ was issued, evaluated, and awarded in a manner where both SA were not separated; that a contract was awarded to GTO, but was subsequently rescinded because the solicitation was ceased; and that the regret letters to competing bidders exposed GTO’s total bid price, which resulted in an unfair and prejudiced second procurement process.

Further information may be obtained from:

The Registry
Telephone: 613-993-3595
Email: citt-tcce@tribunal.gc.ca

Ottawa, March 21, 2024