EMPLOYEE GROUP BENEFITS PROGRAMS

This Request for Proposals (“RFP”) is issued by Marine Atlantic Inc., a federal Crown corporation that reports to the Government of Canada through the Minister of Transport (“MAI”). MAI provides a constitutionally mandated passenger and commercial marine transportation system between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. If Proponents wish to obtain further information about MAI, they may visit the MAI website at www.marineatlantic.ca. (2) The scope of work and responsibilities to which this RFP applies are described in Schedule 1 to the RFP (the “RFP Data Sheet”) and Schedule 4 – Scope of Work. MAI intends to award the final agreement that will be entered into pursuant to the RFP Process (the “Final Agreement”) through an open, fair and competitive RFP process. (3) In this RFP, individuals or firms that submit documents in response to this RFP are referred to as "Proponents" and their submissions are referred to as "Proposals". Each Proposal is comprised of a Proposal Submission Form, a Technical Submission and a Financial Submission. The entity that is selected by MAI to negotiate an agreement in respect of the scope of work are referred to as “Negotiations Proponent(s)”. The Proponent that MAI enters into the Final Agreement is referred to as the "Successful Proponent". (4) The procurement process to select a Proponent that has succeeded in the RFP process shall commence with the issuance of these RFP Documents and shall terminate on execution of the Final Agreement (the “RFP Process”). (5) Proponents are advised that Mercer (Canada) Limited is MAI’s benefits consultant and is consulting on this RFP Process and will be involved in the evaluation process for the RFP. 1.2 Confidentiality Agreement (1) MAI will post only the RFP main body and Confidentiality Agreement on MERX. Each Proponent that would like to participate in the RFP Process shall, on behalf of itself and its Representatives and Advisors, execute and deliver to MAI, through MERX, a confidentiality agreement in the form set out in Schedule 5 – Form of Confidentiality Agreement (each, a “Confidentiality Agreement”). A Proponent will not receive access to the Data Room (and, therefore, will not receive the Schedules to this RFP, any Background Information or any documents issued after the original issuance of the RFP main body and Confidentiality Agreement, including Addenda) unless it has executed the required Confidentiality Agreement.Bidding and Documents are available on http://www.merx.com. Fees may apply; See https://www.merx.com/public/pricing for more information.