3.1 The General Information Session will cover the following topics :
• general presentation of the A-30 Completion;
• technical presentation of the physical layout of the A-30 Completion;
• main environmental obligations;
• presentation of the traffic and toll revenue study, rate policy and collection framework;
• compensation of the Private Partner;
• the Consultation and Selection Process;
• presentation of third-party agreements;.
3.2 Three Topical Information Sessions are planned :
• a half-day multilateral topical information session will be held on August 1, 2007 involving persons designated by the Minister (primarily traffic, revenue, toll system and rate-setting experts), the Invited Respondents and their Collaborators;
• a half-day multilateral topical information session will also be held on August 1, 2007 involving persons designated by the Minister, the Invited Respondents and their Collaborators. This session will deal
with third-party agreements, such as those with Hydro-Québec, CN and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation;
• a full-day multilateral topical information session will be held on August 2, 2007 involving persons designated by the Minister (primarily geotechnical, drainage, civil engineering and roadwork experts), the Invited Respondents and their Collaborators.
3.3 Eight Discussion Workshops will be organized to deal with the following topics :
Discussion Workshop No. 1 – Technical Specifications and studies
• technical Specifications that must be met by the Private Partner in the design, construction, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation and end-of-term requirements.
Discussion Workshop No. 2 – Payment mechanisms and the Partnership Agreement
• the Private Partner’s compensation;
• other terms of the Partnership Agreement.
Discussion Workshop No. 3 – Environment - permits and authorizations
• requirements re CAR – Western Portion and CAR – Supplemental A-30 Sections, and procedure for obtaining the CACs (Private Partner’s responsibilities and Minister’s responsibilities);
• approvals required from the federal government and steps taken by the Minister (Private Partner’s responsibilities and Minister’s responsibilities);
• approvals required from the municipalities and MRCs and steps taken by the Minister (Private Partner’s responsibilities and Minister’s responsibilities).
Discussion Workshop No. 4 – Traffic, revenue and rate policy
• modelling assumptions;
• traffic and revenues forecasting model;
• sensitivity analysis;
• rate policy.
Discussion Workshop No. 5 – Technical Specifications and studies (continued)
Discussion Workshop No. 6 – Discussion with each of the Invited Respondents regarding their respective comments on the first draft Partnership Agreement and the Technical Specifications
Discussion Workshop No. 7 – Submission of Proposals and compliance requirements
• commercial compliance requirements;
• technical compliance requirements;
• financial compliance requirements;
• price offer requirements.
Discussion Workshop No. 8 – Discussion with each of the Invited Respondents regarding their respective comments on the second version of the Partnership Agreement and the Technical Specifications
3.4 The Minister has scheduled Information Sessions to be held with all Invited Respondents and the Discussion Workshops to be held separately with each Invited Respondent. The meetings will be held on the dates indicated hereinbelow or on any other date indicated by the Minister to each Invited Respondent.
Activity Due Date
1. General information session July 26, 2007
2. Topical information sessions August 1 and 2, 2007 3. Discussion Workshop No. 1 – Technical Specifications
and Studies Week of September 3, 2007
4. Discussion Workshop No. 2 – Payment mechanisms
and Partnership Agreement Week of September 10, 2007
5. Discussion Workshop No. 3 – Environment – permits
and authorizations Week of September 17, 2007
6. Discussion Workshop No. 4 – Traffic, revenue and rate policy
Week of September 24, 2007
7. Discussion Workshop No. 5 – Technical Specifications
and Studies (continued) Week of October 1, 2007
8. Discussion Workshop No. 6 – Discussions with each Invited Respondent regarding their respective comments on the first draft Partnership Agreement and Technical Specifications
Week of October 29, 2007
9. Discussion Workshop No. 7 – Submission of
Proposals and compliance requirements Week of November 5, 2007 10. Discussion Workshop No. 8 – Discussions with each
Invited Respondent regarding their respective
comments on version 2 of the Partnership Agreement and Technical Specifications
Week of December 17, 2007
3.5 Before each of the first five and the seventh Discussion Workshops, and no later than six (6) Business Days before the week the Discussion Workshop is scheduled to take place, each Invited Respondent must provide the Minister’s Representative with a list of the items it would like to have included on the agenda and the matters that it would like to specifically discuss, while respecting the topic of the Discussion Workshop. After receiving the list, the Minister’s Representative will confirm the reservation of the Invited Respondent and provide it with terms and conditions of the Discussion Workshop.
3.6 The Invited Respondents will be required to confirm their attendance by e-mail or by fax to the Minister’s Representative, who must receive confirmation no later than six (6) Business Days before the date of the proposed Discussion Workshop. The first Invited Respondents who confirm
their attendance, following receipt of the invitation, shall have first choice of Discussion Workshop dates. The Minister’s Representative will inform Invited Respondents of their assigned Discussion Workshop dates.
3.7 No part of the evaluation of the Invited Respondent’s Proposal may be based on information obtained or disclosed during the General Information Session, a Topical Information Session or a Discussion Workshop, the conduct of the Invited Respondent or the Minister, or on discussions held between the Minister and the Invited Respondent during the General Information Session, a Topical Information Session or a Discussion Workshop.
3.8 If an Invited Respondent wishes to rely on anything stated or clarified in the General Information Session, in a Topical Information Session or in a Discussion Workshop or wishes an official reply to one of its questions, it must forward its question to the Minister’s Representative using the Request for Information Form. A description of the procedure for completing the Request for Information Forms is set forth in Schedule D.
3.9 If one or more Invited Respondents requests additional Discussion Workshops, or if the Minister considers it advisable or necessary to schedule same, the Minister may, in his discretion, schedule additional workshops. Such additional workshops will be offered to all Invited Respondents, but attendance will not be mandatory.
3.10 The Minister may issue written responses to some or all of the questions raised by Invited Respondents and he may issue one or more clarifications or Addenda revising or supplementing the Request for Proposals or the draft form of Partnership Agreement.
3.11 No aspect of the General Information Session, the Topical Information Sessions or the Discussion Workshops is intended to provide an Invited Respondent with access to information not similarly available to other Invited Respondents.
3.12 The Invited Respondent acknowledges and agrees that the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement apply to the General Information Session, to each Topical Information Session and to each Discussion Workshop.
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