Development of Accredited National Minimum Decontamination Standard.

Introduction: Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are freshwater or marine plants, animals and algae introduced outside their natural or past distribution that have significant negative impacts on the environment, economy, society and human health. The National Aquatic Invasive Species Committee (NAISC) is a standing committee under the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM). NAISC provides leadership and strategic advice to strengthen collaboration and action by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to address AIS. DFO’s AIS National Core Program is the federal co-chair and secretariat of NAISC. NAISC works towards implementing AIS strategies and action plans. On November 29, 2022, CCFAM Ministers, including the Minister of Fisheries Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard, tasked NAISC with developing national minimum decontamination standards for AIS. NAISC agreed that these minimum decontamination standards for multiple AIS will be more easily adopted and implemented nationally if it is nationally accredited, therefore the accredited SDO will lead on the process to develop the accredited national minimum decontamination standard. Objective The objective of this contract is to have an accredited Standards Development Organization (SDO) develop a nationally consistent accredited standard that includes different minimum decontamination standards for multiple AIS. The development of the accredited national minimum decontamination standard should follow what is outlined in the “National Minimum Decontamination Standards Project Charter”. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS There are no security requirements associated with this requirement PERIOD OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT The period of the proposed contract is from date of Contract Award to September 30, 2025