[ARCHIVED February 18, 2020 – This page will no longer be updated. Please see https://blog.theproposalcentre.ca//list-of-primers/ for current information on key Government of Canada and Government of Ontario contract vehicles]
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-Based Informatics Professional Services (TBIPS) Standing Offer (SO) and Supply Arrangement (SA): Qualify for Contracts for IT Professional Services [Open – SA Refresh – Quarterly due dates: last business day of the month in March, June, September and December. Next due date: March 31, 2020]
The TBIPS SA is a mandatory contract vehicle related to the provision of IT Professional services.
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. The tasks involved are finite work assignments with specific start dates, specific end dates and set deliverables.
TBIPS is organized according to the following streams, each containing multiple categories of resources:
- Stream 1 Application Services
- Stream 2 Geomatics Services
- Stream 3 IM/IT Services
- Stream 4 Business Management Services
- Stream 5 Project Management Services
- Stream 6 Cyber Protection Services
- Stream 7 Telecommunications Services
A full listing of all the streams and categories of personnel included in TBIPS can be found in our TPC Overview – PWGSC TBIPS SA (2019-08).
The TBIPS SA is an essential contract vehicle to hold if you wish to provide services to the Government of Canada in any of the IT professional services areas listed above.
To qualify for TBIPS you must respond to and comply with the TBIPS Request for Supply Arrangement RFSA.
TBIPS Supply Arrangement vs. TBIPS Standing Offer
By qualifying for the TBIPS SA, your firm becomes eligible to provide task-based services to the federal government for contracts valued over the NAFTA Threshold ($108,400 to December 31, 2021). There are two tiers for the TBIPS SA:
- Tier 1: Contracts from $106,000 to $3,750,000
- Tier 2: Contracts over $3,750,000
The TBIPS SA is used for the provision of services on a best value basis, where technical and financial criteria are used to award contracts.
The TBIPS SO can be used for contracts of any dollar value up to $250,000. The Standing Offer is used for the provision of services on a low-cost compliant basis, where a ranking of suppliers (created at the time of issuance of the Standing Offers) provides a right of first refusal to the lowest cost vendors. Please note that the TBIPS SO will not be renewed at the end of the current SO period.
Highlights of the TBIPS RFSA
The TBIPS RFSA was posted on February 22, 2017 and is currently open for bids. 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 previous fiscal year
- Total Cumulative Value Billed in Informatics Service over the past three years:
- SA Tier 1: $1.5 Million
- SA Tier 2: $12 Million
- A minimum number of substantiated categories (client contact only) for each stream proposed. A listing of the minimum number of categories for each stream is included in our TPC Overview – PWGSC TBIPS SA (2019-08).
- Security clearance (prior to SA award)
A proposal requires both a hard copy 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 TBIPS 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 TBIPS 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]
Other Related Contract Vehicles (ProServices, SBIPS)
The following contract vehicles are closely related to the TBIPS SO and SA:
- ProServices SA: The ProServices Supply Arrangement is a mandatory procurement tool for most purchases of professional services under the NAFTA Threshold. The IT streams and categories included in the ProServices SA mirror the TBIPS SO and SA
- SBIPS SA: This is the solutions-based companion to TBIPS, used when a client is seeking a complete solution from a vendor. While task-based opportunities typically involve the government specifying the resource category and the effort allocated, Solutions typically involve a single vendor responsible for all aspects of the design and development of a standalone outcome-focused result.
Please see our Primers for information on other Methods of Supply.
Additional Information and Support
We’re here to help! If you have any questions about the TBIPS SA, 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.
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Posted by Keith Parker
