REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
CABOT TRAIL VIEWSCAPES PROJECT
Municipality of the County of Victoria
495 Chebucto Street, P.O. Box 370
Baddeck, Nova Scotia, B0E 1B0
BACKGROUND
The Municipality of the County of Victoria (Victoria County)
Victoria County is located in the middle of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia along the Cabot Trail and the
Bras d’Or Lake Scenic Drive.
It is a county that has, and continues to play, a prominent and cooperative role in the region’s tourism
industry development and growth. Through Victoria County’s Municipal Recreation and Tourism
Department assistance is provided to local associations, attractions, organizations and partners for
research, product development, marketing, websites, training and capital projects. In addition, Victoria
County actively supports its not-for-profit organizations with festival and event funding, online
marketing and promotion thru social media channels & websites.
Tourism in Victoria County
Victoria County offers numerous world class scenic, outdoor, historic and cultural experiences some of
which include the world famous Cabot Trail, the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, the Cape
Breton Highlands National Park, seven provincial parks, two of Canada's top golf courses, Highlands
Links and Bell Bay, the Cabot Trail Relay Race, Nova Scotia Highland Village, KitchenFest , Gaelic College
and the Celtic Colours International Festival.
In addition, all of the above experiences are complemented by Victoria County’s:
•
tourism organizations, all of which have responsive websites and are quite knowledgeable with
social media and engaging visitors;
•
experienced and accommodating tourism operators;
•
12 campgrounds; and
•
approximately 1200 rooms from a wide variety of fixed roof accommodations including: inns,
resorts, cottages and cabins, bed and breakfasts, and vacation homes.
1.1 The Cabot Trail
Cape Breton is renowned for the Cabot
Trail, considered as one of the World’s Most
Scenic Destination Areas. The Cabot Trail is
a highway and scenic roadway in northern
Victoria County and Inverness County on
Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada.
The route measures 355 kms in length and
completes a loop around the northern tip of
the island, passing along the Margaree
River and through the scenic Cape Breton
Highlands. It is named after the explorer
John Cabot who was believed to land in
Atlantic Canada in 1497. The Cabot Trail,
completed in 1932, joined previously
isolated fishing villages and today the Cabot
Trail connects eight major regions with
intriguing histories, ranging from the
Acadian Region to Irish and Scottish
settlements as well includes the Cape
Breton Highlands National Park. These
vibrant regions are gateways to outdoor
adventures and cultural festivities.
2. GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Goal : To implement the Cabot Trail Viewscapes Plan and provide outstanding views to the visitors,
encouraging them to stop and stay longer on the Cabot Trail.
Objectives :
1) To develop 43 sites along the Cabot Trail in Inverness and Victoria Counties starting in fall of 2016
with completion by the end of 2017.
2) To follow the plan and scope of work per each site and complete the site work in a safe environment
and well executed manner.
3) Follow reporting requirements such as pre and post photos, work site safety assessment, and site
reports. Include how sites can be sustainable and maintenance plans for each.
4) Stay on budget
5) Prepare a final report on the project outlining work done on each site, pre and post photos of the site,
sustainable and maintenance plan for each site as well equipment needed.
6) Organize a training & maintenance workshop for local community organizations who will maintain
each site in the future.
3. SCOPE OF WORK
1) Review all the components of The Cabot Trail Viewscapes – 2015 Site Selection & Implementation
Plan and implement the plan including the Environment Impact and Site Assessment.
2) Before each site is worked on, the supervisor and or contractor must complete a work site Safety
Assessment and communicate clearly how the site will be cleared and developed to his/her
project team.
3) Signed Land owner(s) agreements must be in place before the site is developed. This will be the
responsibility of Inverness & Victoria Counties as well the contractor.
4) Provide a final report of the project.
4. REPORTING
Upon written approval to proceed, the Consultant shall complete a Draft of the final report six weeks
following written approval to proceed and the Final Report will be due within three weeks following
written comments on the final draft.
The consultant shall report to the Management Committee and at the following project milestones:





Initial Client Meeting – Meet with Management Committee to review the terms of reference,
project deliverables, project time line and delivery of reports.
Bi-weekly reports – The Contractor shall prepare and submit bi-weekly electronic reports on the
progress of Viewscapes Project to ensure the sites are progressing as planned.
Delivery of Draft Report – Presentation to the Management Committee
Delivery of Final Report – Submission to the Management Committee
The Contractor shall also provide an electronic copy of the Final Report in both Microsoft Word
and PDF formats.
PROJECT SUBMISSION
The contractor’s proposal submission must include the following information :
1) Corporate Name and company profile
2) A description of the methodology to be followed by the contractor & team to implement the Cabot
Trail Viewscapes Project.
3) A statement of the contractor ‘s understanding of the scope of the project
4) A description of the contractor’s project team including a representation of their experience, training,
and skills on projects . Provide a list of their qualifications, skills and training.
5) A listing of similar projects undertaken with client reference.
6) A schedule of fees and expenses, rates or remuneration for project team members and estimate of
time each project member will devote to the project.
7) A project review schedule
8) A maximum price for the Cabot Trail Viewscapes Project including all expenses and HST
9) Project Period : Cabot Trail Viewscapes Project to be completed by December 31, 2017.
PROPOSAL EVALUATION
The level of effort for this project should be a maximum of $101,000 including fees, all expenses and
HST. The Municipality of County of Victoria reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. Only
tenders considered to be in the best interest of the County will be chosen.
Proposals shall be evaluated on the following criteria :
a) Relevant skills, training and qualifications’ by the contractor & team
b) Relevant experience and projects relegated to work;
c) Comprehensive of projects objectives;
d) Quality of proposal approach;
e) Cost and confirmation to budgeted amounts;
f) Project total;
7. SELECTION PROCESS
Proposals will be reviewed by the Cabot Trail Façade, Streetscapes and Viewscapes Management
Committee under the co-ordination of the Municipality of the County of Victoria. A scoring system will
be used in accordance with the proposed components listed above.
8. OWNERSHIP OF INFORMATION
All information collected, materials gathered and reports shall be the property of the Municipality of
County of Victoria and its partners. The contractor will not be permitted to publish or in any way use the
said information, materials and reports without the express and prior approval of the Municipality of the
County of Victoria.
9. INQUIRIES & SUBMISSIONS
Inquiries concerning the terms of references for the Cabot Trail Viewscapes Project shall be directed
by e-mail to:
Cabot Trail Viewscapes Project
att: Tom C. Wilson, Director of Recreation & Tourism
Municipality of the County of Victoria
495 Chebucto Street
Baddeck, NS B0E 1B0
Tel: 902-295-3664
email: [email protected]
The contractor is required to submit an electronic copy of his/her proposal to the above e-mail address.
Proposals will be accepted until 4 :00 pm. on Monday, November 7, 2016