The Government of Canada purchases professional services primarily through contract vehicles such as standing offers (SO) and supply arrangements (SA). In some cases, the use of a standing offer or supply arrangement is mandatory.

Learning Services SO and SA: Qualify for contracts for Design, Development and Delivery of Learning Services [OPEN for Renewal – Due Date: October 29, 2021]

The Learning Services SO and SA are the mandatory procurement tools for most purchases of learning services to be provided to locations across Canada. Learning Services includes all aspects of the design, development and delivery of classroom learning, blended learning and eLearning product development. In general, the provision of services involves the development and delivery of government-owned materials.

The Learning Services Methods of Supply are organized into the following streams:

• Stream 1 – Strategic Learning Advisory Services
• Stream 2 – Instructional Design and Development Services
• Stream 3 – Custom and Rapid Learning Product Programming
• Stream 4 – Multi-media Design and Development
• Stream 5 – Training Delivery
• Stream 6 – Training Evaluation Services
• Stream 7 – Project Management

A new directive, the Treasury Board Directive on the Management of Procurement took effect May 13, 2021. This directive replaces two Treasury Board policy instruments:

• Contracting Policy, and
• Policy on Decision Making in Limiting Contractor Liability in Crown Procurement Contracts

Government of Canada departments have until May 13, 2022 to make the transition to the new directive, with the exception of the requirements in Appendix A: Contracting Approvals which became effective immediately on May 13, 2021. During this transition period, departments may choose to follow the requirements of either the new directive, or of the two policy instruments noted above.

Starting in 2021, the Government of Canada is transitioning from the use of the Goods and Services Identification Numbers (GSIN) classification system for procurement items to an international standard, the United Nations Standard Products and Services Codes (UNSPSC).

The decision to transition to UNSPSC classification is driven by the Government of Canada’s need to meet evolving reporting obligations established through Treasury Board’s Data Standard on Classification of Procurement Items, and trade agreement requirements.

Key Benefits of the Switch to UNSPSC
The adoption of UNSPSC as the new data standard for classification of procurement items is expected to provide an improved classification system for products and services, increase the ease of data sharing, and centralize the governance of the classification system.

How Will Suppliers Use UNSPSC?
In a way similar to how they use GSIN codes today, suppliers will use UNSPSC to:

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) inviting interested businesses to provide feedback to help shape and modernize the online tools used to procure the majority of Government of Canada IT and Non-IT professional services. As part of the Professional Services Modernization Initiative, PSPC is reviewing the following supply arrangements (SAs):

• ProServices
• Task and Solutions Based Professional Services (TSPS)
• Learning Services
• Professional Audit Support Services (PASS)

The review will look at qualification requirements and processes to maximize efficiency; and will consider current and future trends and priorities, with a view to updating the streams and categories in these supply arrangements.

Take the Survey

PSPC has prepared a survey to gather feedback from the vendor community, addressing specifically the Tier structure and the related Qualification Criteria.

The Government of Canada purchases professional services primarily through contract vehicles such as standing offers and supply arrangements. In some cases, the use of a standing offer or supply arrangement is mandatory.

Task and Solutions Professional Services (TSPS) Task-Based Supply Arrangement (SA): Qualify for Contracts for Non-IT Professional Services [Open for bids indefinitely – Quarterly due dates: last business day of the month in March, June, September and December. The next due date is December 31, 2021.]

The TSPS Task-Based SA is one of several mandatory contract vehicles related to the provision of non-IT Professional Services. The other related contract vehicles are the TSPS Solutions-Based SA and the ProServices SA.

Task-based services generally involve the assignment of a resource or group of resources to complete a well-defined set of deliverables/responsibilities on a per diem basis.

TSPS is organized according to the following streams (each containing multiple categories of resources):

The TSPS Task Based Standing Offer (SO) will not be renewed past its current expiry date of May 31, 2021. Call-ups submitted before the effective date remain valid until the work is completed in accordance with the call-up terms.

Two alternate methods of supply are available for the same type of service:

• ProServices Supply Arrangement (SA)
  For requirements valued below the Canada Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) (currently 100K). Note that the ProServices categories mirror those of TSPS.

• TSPS Task Based Supply Arrangement (SA)
  For requirements valued at or above the Canada Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA).

Businesses that do not hold either of these methods of supply will be contacted by the TSPS team to discuss the options for transferring the categories currently on their Task-Based SO to an alternate method of supply. If you have further questions about the discontinuation of the TSPS Task Based SO, please email spts.tsps@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.

For questions about qualifying for ProServices or the TSPS Task Based Supply Arrangements, or any of the Government of Canada methods of supply, or doing business with the Government of Canada, please don’t hesitate to contact us at The Proposal Centre.

If you sell goods or services to the Government of Canada, disagreements or disputes can occur from time to time. The Business Dispute Management (BDM) Program offers neutral and confidential resources to Government of Canada suppliers and contract managers when they experience challenges with a contract for which Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is the contracting authority. The BDM Program operates separately from PSPC operations

The BDM Program provides help with the prevention, early identification and resolution of business disputes through information and awareness activities, and the provision of alternate business dispute management services including consultation, coaching, facilitation, mediation and arbitration.

The Business Dispute Management Program is available to help at any point during the contract lifecycle, for example, when you

• are unsure of the next steps to take to address a business dispute
• believe you would benefit from the assistance of a dispute resolution practitioner
• are seeking options other than more formal resolution approaches such as litigation

For more information, please refer to

• Alternative business dispute management services
• Dispute resolution resources

or contact the Business Dispute Management Program.

As of July 1, 2020, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is now in force, and replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). For any procurement that commences on or after July 1, 2020, NAFTA no longer applies.

Under CUSMA, Canada is not a party to the government procurement chapter in CUSMA, which pertains only to Mexico and the United States. Canada will maintain government procurement commitments with the United States through the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-GPA) and with Mexico through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

With the implementation of CUSMA, the Government of Canada’s threshold that determines whether goods and services may be directed to pre-qualified suppliers changes to follow that of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA). The current CKFTA threshold is $100,000, inclusive of taxes.

Following the April 2020 renewal of the Learning Services Standing Offer and Supply Arrangement, the Government of Canada has published the established Learning Services Standing Offer median rates by Region, Category and Level. The rates can be viewed online, or downloaded in PDF format from the Learning Services Standing Offer Median Rates notice.

The data in the Learning Services Standing Offer Median Rates notice is provided for information and reference purposes to vendors and other interested parties to review the current median results. Existing and potential vendors in particular may be interested in this information in preparation for the next renewal of the Learning Services Standing Offer and Supply Arrangement which is currently targeted for December 2021.

As announced on April 2020, effective October 1, 2020, the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) is moving to a Managed Service Provider (MSP) model for buying temporary information technology (IT) contractor services. MGCS has selected Flextrack Inc. to provide, manage and administer Contingent IT Contractor Services. This will replace the I&IT Task Based Vendor of Record arrangement.

The use of the MSP’s services for contingent IT contractor services will become mandatory for all ministries and agencies covered by the OPS Procurement Directive in its entirety, regardless of value.

Vendors wishing to supply contingent IT contractor services to the Government of Ontario will be required to register with Flextrack. Any interested IT Qualified Firm will be able to register, provided they are not sole proprietors and meet the MSP requirements such as insurance and tax compliance.

Vendor Information Sessions

Flextrack will publish information on how to register as a vendor on June 24, 2020 on YouTube.