How to Challenge the CRTC's ISP Market Data ACAN (1000129202) Before July 7, 2026

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has issued an Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) to procure comprehensive ISP market data, and they've already identified a proposed supplier. This creates a significant opportunity for any Canadian enterprise capable of meeting the stringent requirements to challenge the CRTC's ISP market data ACAN and compete for the contract. However, the window to act is narrow.

This Advance Contract Award Notice closes on July 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT. You have just 15 calendar days from the date of posting to submit a Statement of Capabilities to challenge this sole-source award. Use Tendriv to manage the complex requirements and respond faster.

This post will break down the ACAN, detail the mandatory requirements, and provide a step-by-step guide on how to structure a compelling Statement of Capabilities to challenge this procurement and position your company to win.

Executive Summary: CRTC's Sole-Source ACAN for ISP Market Intelligence

On behalf of the CRTC, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) has posted ACAN 1000129202 with the intent to award a contract directly to Opensignal Limited. The contract, valued at an estimated $1,566,419.00 CAD, is for the provision of a data intelligence service platform focused on Internet Service Provider (ISP) performance and market share across Canada. The justification for this sole-source award rests on Government Contracts Regulations (GCRs), subsection 6(d) — "only one person is capable of performing the contract."

The CRTC requires this data to support its mandate, including monitoring the competitive landscape and informing its annual Communications Market Reports. The initial contract period is for one year, with four additional one-year option periods.

Understanding the ACAN: Why Opensignal is the Proposed Supplier

An ACAN is a public notice indicating that the government intends to award a contract to a pre-identified supplier, believing they are the only one capable of performing the work. As outlined in the Government Contracts Regulations, other suppliers have 15 days to challenge this by demonstrating they can also meet the requirements.

The Pilot Project Precedent and 'Proprietary Technology' Claims

The CRTC's justification for sole-sourcing to Opensignal stems from a successful pilot project conducted from February 2023 to February 2024. During this pilot, the CRTC evaluated Opensignal's platform and concluded that its "proprietary data collection methodologies and analytical models" are unique. The ACAN states that Opensignal's methodology, which leverages software embedded in hundreds of thousands of mobile devices to collect real-world performance data, provides a level of accuracy and scale the CRTC believes is unmatched.

Implications for Canadian Competitors

The CRTC's position presents a high bar for any competitor. A sole-source award of this nature suggests that crowd-sourced, mobile-app-based data collection is the new gold standard for regulatory evidence. This could sideline firms using other valid methodologies (e.g., hardware-based probes or advanced survey analytics). Successfully challenging this ACAN not only opens the door to this multi-year contract but also signals to the CRTC and other departments like ISED that a competitive domestic market exists for advanced data intelligence.

Can You Challenge This ACAN? Decoding the Mandatory Requirements

To challenge this ACAN, your organization must submit a Statement of Capabilities that proves, point-by-point, that you can meet every mandatory requirement listed in the notice. A failure to meet even one requirement will result in the challenge being dismissed. Let's break down the key criteria.

Data Granularity and Scope: FSA Level, 200+ ISPs, and Brand Separation

The core of the requirement is the data itself. Any challenger must demonstrate the ability to provide:

• National Coverage: Data covering all Canadian provinces and territories.
• ISP Scope: Measurement of at least 200 Canadian ISPs, including major brands (Bell, Rogers, Telus, Shaw, Cogeco, Videotron) and their respective flanker or wholesale-based brands (e.g., Fido, Koodo, Virgin Plus).
• Geographic Granularity: Data viewable and exportable at the Forward Sortation Area (FSA) level, which corresponds to the first three characters of a Canadian postal code.
• Brand Distinction: The system must be able to accurately differentiate between incumbent brands, flanker brands, and third-party ISPs (TPIAs) operating on the same network infrastructure.

Technical Capabilities: Accuracy Verification and Privacy Compliance

Your methodology will be under intense scrutiny. You must be able to prove:

• Key Metrics: Collection and reporting of, at minimum, average download speed, upload speed, and latency for both fixed and mobile internet services.
• Accuracy: A verifiable methodology for data collection and analysis that ensures a high degree of statistical accuracy. You must be able to provide sample raw data for independent verification.
• Privacy: Strict adherence to Canadian privacy laws, including the Privacy Act and PIPEDA. Data must be fully anonymized and aggregated to protect personal information.
• Technology Distinction: The capability to distinguish between different access technologies (e.g., Fiber, Cable, DSL, Fixed Wireless, Satellite) for a given ISP in a specific location.

Platform Requirements: Dashboards, CSV Downloads, and 36 Months of Historical Data

The data must be delivered via a functional and user-friendly platform:

• Web-Based Platform: An intuitive, secure, web-based dashboard for data visualization, filtering, and analysis.
• Data Export: The ability for users to easily export all underlying data in CSV format for offline analysis.
• Historical Data: Access to at least 36 months of relevant, historical ISP performance data for Canada upon contract award.
• Data Refresh: Data must be refreshed on at least a quarterly basis.

Experience Mandate: The 3-Year Track Record Requirement

The government wants an experienced provider. Your organization must prove it has been providing similar ISP market intelligence services to clients for a minimum of three consecutive years. This will require you to cite client references and project examples in your Statement of Capabilities.

How to Build a Winning Statement of Capabilities for This ACAN

A generic capability statement won't work. Your response must be a detailed, evidence-based document that directly refutes the claim that only Opensignal can meet the need.

Step 1: Use a Compliance Matrix to manage complex mandatory requirements

Before writing, you must deconstruct the ACAN's requirements into a manageable format. Use a tool like Tendriv's Shredder to automatically break down the tender document into individual requirements. These can then be managed in Tendriv's Compliance Matrix, which allows your team to map every single requirement, assign owners, track progress, and link directly to the evidence and narrative you will use to prove your capability. This systematic approach eliminates the risk of missing a critical point that could disqualify your challenge.

Step 2: Compile Sample Data for Quebec, Calgary, and Canada

The ACAN explicitly requires challengers to provide sample data sets as proof of capability. You must be prepared to deliver:

1. Fixed Internet Data: A sample dataset for the H2V FSA in Quebec.
2. Mobile Internet Data: A sample dataset for the T2G FSA in Calgary.
3. Comprehensive List: A list of all Canadian ISPs and brands for which you can provide data, covering the entire country.

Failure to provide these specific datasets will invalidate your challenge.

Step 3: Structure Your Response for building a Statement of Capabilities to challenge an ACAN

Organize your document for clarity and directness. A recommended structure is:

1. Cover Letter: State your firm's identity and your explicit intent to challenge ACAN 1000129202 by demonstrating your capability to meet all requirements.
2. Executive Summary: Briefly summarize your capabilities and directly refute the "only one supplier" claim.
3. Point-by-Point Compliance: Dedicate a section to each mandatory requirement from the ACAN. Use the same numbering and headings as the notice. Under each heading, write a clear statement ("We comply") followed by a detailed explanation and evidence (e.g., screenshots, methodology documents).
4. Appendices: Include the required sample data sets, your corporate experience references, and any technical documentation on your methodology.

Using Prime Contractor Software for Complex CRTC Bids

Challenging an ACAN on this scale is a high-stakes, time-sensitive project that requires perfect execution. To succeed, you need software designed for the complexity of federal bidding.

Streamline Document Assembly with enterprise-grade proposal collaboration

Your technical experts, data scientists, and proposal writers must work in lockstep. Tendriv provides enterprise-grade proposal collaboration tools that create a single source of truth. By using features like Tendriv Drafter, your team can pull pre-approved content from libraries describing your data methodology and corporate history, ensuring consistency. Document templates can be pre-configured to match the required structure of a Statement of Capabilities, saving valuable time.

Leverage software built for prime contractors to gain a strategic edge

This CRTC bid is a prime contractor opportunity. Your ability to manage internal resources and a mountain of technical evidence is what will set you apart. Tendriv is software built for prime contractors, providing the strategic oversight needed to not only challenge the ACAN but to prepare the full-scale proposal that will follow. It helps you move from a reactive response to a proactive, winning strategy.

This Advance Contract Award Notice closes on July 7, 2026. You have 15 days to submit a Statement of Capabilities to challenge this sole-source award. Use Tendriv to manage the complex requirements and respond faster.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about ACAN 1000129202

What is an Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)?

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is a public notice posted on CanadaBuys for a minimum of 15 calendar days. It signifies that a government department intends to award a contract to a pre-identified supplier without a competitive bidding process. It allows other suppliers to challenge the sole-source decision by demonstrating they are also capable of satisfying the requirements. This process is governed by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Contracting Policy, Section 10.2.1.

Who is the proposed supplier and why were they chosen?

The proposed supplier is Opensignal Limited. The CRTC has chosen them based on the claim that they are the only supplier capable of meeting the requirement. This justification is founded on Opensignal's proprietary methodology of using crowd-sourced data from mobile devices and the successful completion of a pilot project with the CRTC from 2023-2024.

What is the deadline to challenge this ACAN?

The deadline for suppliers to submit a Statement of Capabilities is July 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Submissions must be sent to the Contracting Authority listed on the official CanadaBuys notice.

What happens if a valid Statement of Capabilities is submitted?

If PWGSC determines that a Statement of Capabilities from a challenger is valid and demonstrates the ability to meet all mandatory requirements, the government must cancel the ACAN. They would then proceed with a traditional competitive procurement process, such as a Request for Proposal (RFP), open to all qualified bidders.