Data Centre Refresh

PROCUREMENT OVERVIEW

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) is issuing a Negotiated Request for Proposals (NRFP) to procure a new data centre infrastructure. This includes the supply, deployment, and support of modern servers, storage, and virtualization solutions. The primary objectives are to replace aging systems with scalable and resilient infrastructure that enhances performance, availability, disaster recovery, and data protection. The CMHR aims to reduce operational risks and complexity while supporting an annual growth of at least 7% in compute capacity and 10% in storage capacity over the next 5-7 years. Additionally, the new infrastructure must align with the museum's sustainability and security goals.

ISSUING ORGANIZATION

Organization: Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Contact: Procurement Specialist
Email: [email protected]

KEY DATES

• Posted Date: March 2, 2026
• Proposal Due Date: April 10, 2026
• Anticipated Contract Start Date: November 1, 2026
• Transition Period: August, September, and October 2026

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

Bidders must meet the following mandatory requirements:

• Demonstrated experience in supplying and supporting data centre infrastructure.
• Proven capability to enhance availability, disaster recovery, and data protection.
• Ability to support specified growth rates in compute and storage capacity without major infrastructure replacement.
• Compliance with security, compliance, and sustainability goals of the CMHR.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

Bidders should possess expertise in:

• Modern server and storage technologies.
• Virtualization solutions.
• Infrastructure management and deployment methodologies.
• Security compliance standards relevant to data centres.

DELIVERABLES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Key deliverables include:

• Supply and deployment of new data centre infrastructure.
• Support services for the installed systems.
• Performance metrics related to system availability, disaster recovery, and data protection must be outlined in the proposal.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Technical approach and capabilities.
• Past performance and experience in similar projects.
• Cost-effectiveness.
  The evaluation may prioritize a best-value approach rather than simply the lowest price.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

While not mandatory, the following qualifications may provide a competitive advantage:

• Relevant certifications in data centre management or security (e.g., ISO, CMMI).
• Experience with similar-sized organizations or projects.
• Advanced capabilities in sustainability practices within IT infrastructure.

This comprehensive summary provides bidders with the essential information needed to assess their fit for the CMHR's data centre refresh project.