Primer: Solutions-Based Informatics Professional Services (SBIPS) Supply Arrangement
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.
For Information Technology (IT) professional services contracts, the Solutions-Based Informatics Professional Services (SBIPS) SA is one of several available contract vehicles, and will be for years to come.
Solutions-Based Informatics Professional Services (SBIPS) Supply Arrangement (SA): Qualify for Contracts for Contracts for 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 SBIPS SA is one of several procurement tools for the purchase of IT professional services. While the better known Task-Based Informatics Professional Services (TBIPS) SA and the ProServices SA focus on contracts dealing with resource-based contracts (i.e., services provided by individuals), the SBIPS SA is used to procure complete solutions. PWGSC defines SBIPS as follows:
A Solutions-Based Informatics Professional Services (SBIPS) Project:
1. is meant to produce a self standing outcome-driven result. Such result does not require any further work and could be used as a reference for future requirements, phases or projects.
2. comprises mainly of IT services and, in certain situations, essential goods, whereby a Supplier delivers a solution to a requirement, phase or project, manages the overall requirement, phase or project and accepts responsibility/risk for the outcome.
3. may comprise of consulting services which are typically team based and deliverable focused, involving advisory work, and thought leadership, innovation or strategy.
4. may include methodologies and processes that may be required to manage the project (including Project Management, Contract Management, Quality Management, Risk Management and Solution Development or any other established and recognized methodologies) and may include various business models depending upon the requirement.
5. it may include end-to-end project work where the Supplier is requested to devise a solution to a business problem in which case there may be a proof of concept; or a requirement where there is a business problem and a Supplier comes forward with a methodology, an approach or an already established solution as well as the requisite expertise to enable the Supplier to leverage the value of its methodology and/or approach to deliver the solution.
SBIPS is separated into two tiers:
- Tier 1: Contracts under $2,000,000
- Tier 2: Contracts over $2,000,000
SBIPS is organized according to the following streams:
- Stream 1. Business Transformation
- Stream 2. Enterprise Resource Planning/Customer Relationship Management (ERP/CRM)
- Stream 3. Electronic Services Delivery
- Stream 4. Geospatial Informatics Services
- Stream 5. Information Management/Business Intelligence
- Stream 6. IT Systems Management
- Stream 7. Legacy Support and Transition
- Stream 8. Managed Services
- Stream 9. Network Services
- Stream 10. Security Management
- Stream 11. Systems Integration
A full description of all the streams included in the SBIPS SA can be found in our TPC Overview – PWGSC SBIPS SA (2020-02).
SBIPS is an essential contract vehicle to hold if you wish to provide services to the Government of Canada in any of the professional services areas listed above.
To qualify for SBIPS you must respond to and comply with the SBIPS Request for Supply Arrangement.
Highlights of the SBIPS Request for Supply Arrangement
The SBIPS RFSA was posted on August 2, 2019, and is open for bids indefinitely. Bids are evaluated periodically and are due on the last day of the month in March, June, September and December.
Key Requirements
- Three years in business
- $250,000 in revenue in the most recent fiscal year
- Three projects, for each proposed stream, completed within the past three years as of bid closing:
- Combined total value of the three projects must be >$1.5 Million (Tier 1) or >$6 Million (Tier 2)
- Each project must be a solution and must be related to the stream(s) being demonstrated by the project
- Your contract must represent 100% of each project/solution. At least 70% of the value must be for professional services
- For each of the projects, you must provide a client reference, a description of the project, and an explanation of how it relates to the stream(s) and how it is a solution
A proposal requires both an email submission (to be provided when requested) and the entry of data into the Centralized Professional Services System (CPSS).
Government of Canada Security Clearances
In addition to the requirements noted above, suppliers need to obtain a minimum of a Designated Organization Screening (DOS) security clearance. This is an organization clearance, which is separate from personal security clearances.
Suppliers may submit a bid for SBIPS without holding a security clearance, but will not be awarded a supply arrangement until their clearance is granted. As soon as possible (even before submitting a bid), suppliers who do not yet hold a DOS (or higher) organization clearance should request sponsorship from the SBIPS SA Authority to start the clearance process.
[N.B. DOS organization clearance is essential for all firms providing services under government contracts, even for organizations who are subcontractors/independent contractors working for a larger firm]
Relationship to TBIPS and ProServices
As noted above, TBIPS and ProServices are other methods of supply for IT Professional Services. TBIPS and ProServices are for “task-based” requirements, which focus on procuring individuals to complete a task. SBIPS focuses on the procurement of complete solutions. TBIPS is used for contracts above the CKFTA Threshold, while ProServices is used for contracts below the threshold.
Please see our Primers for more information on TBIPS, ProServices, and other Methods of Supply.
Additional Information and Support
We’re here to help! If you have any questions about the SBIPS Supply Arrangement, doing business with the federal government, or doing business with any public sector organization, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would be very happy to answer your questions. We have even created a special package to support you with your submission. Contact us today for more details.
