United Nations Environment Programme Life Cycle Initiative Biogenic Carbon Project

The National Research Council of Canada is seeking a contractor to support its participation in the United Nations Environment Programme’s Life Cycle Initiative Biogenic Carbon Project – Phase II, with the primary goal of advancing harmonized, scientifically credible methodologies for accounting for biogenic carbon in life cycle assessments of bio-based products, particularly within the Canadian wood construction sector. The selected contractor must possess demonstrated expertise in life cycle assessment of wood and other bio-based construction materials, access to and experience working with Canadian-specific life cycle inventory data, a proven track record in international research collaborations focused on carbon accounting or sustainability, and the ability to coordinate multi-organization technical initiatives. The contractor’s responsibilities include active participation in the North American Collaboration Group, providing monthly progress reports to NRC, communicating key findings and their implications for Canada’s wood industry, and facilitating coordination among NRC, UNEP, and other stakeholders while managing administrative and financial aspects of Canada’s involvement. The contract is being awarded on a sole-source basis to the Canadian Wood Council, the only entity deemed technically capable of fulfilling the requirements due to its unique access to national LCI datasets, established role in UNEP initiatives, and deep ties to Canada’s wood product industry. The procurement was justified under multiple international trade agreement exceptions, including CFTA, CETA, WTO-AGP, and CPTPP, citing the absence of competition for technical reasons. The contract has a fixed 12-month performance period with deliverables centered around reporting and coordination rather than physical goods, and no firm contract value has been disclosed. Submission of a Statement of Capabilities is required to qualify, with proposals due by August 7, 2026, sent via email to the contracting officer. Acceptance is determined solely on meeting four minimum essential requirements with no price-based evaluation, and any foreground intellectual property developed under the contract remains the property of the contractor. Performance is expected to be conducted remotely from the contractor’s Ottawa headquarters, with oversight and acceptance handled by the National Research Council of Canada.