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

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):

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.

In support of Canada’s response to COVID-19, PWGSC has enhanced three of its supply arrangements for providing professional services to the Government of Canada.

A Health Services stream has been added to the following two vehicles

• TSPS Task-Based Supply Arrangement (SA) (Stream 6)
• ProServices Supply Arrangement (SA) (Stream 14)

The Health Services stream is identical in both the TSPS Task-Based SA and the ProServices SA, and includes the following categories

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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 [CLOSED]

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:

The Government of Ontario, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS), has awarded a Vendor of Record (VOR) agreement to Flextrack Inc., effective April 6, 2020, to be the Managed Service Provider (MSP) for Contingent Information Technology (IT) Resources. The agreement with Flextrack Inc. begins October 1, 2020, and will replace the current Task-based I&IT Services Vendor of Record Arrangement (VOR-OSS-00430429), which expires on September 30, 2020. Contract term is for three years, with two optional one-year extensions.

The MSP will be the single channel through which Contingent IT Resources are provided to clients, responsible for sourcing, providing and managing Contingent IT Resources for short-term IT consulting services.

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) 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 is December 31, 2021.]

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 (2020-11).

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.

By qualifying for the TBIPS SA, your firm becomes eligible to provide task-based services to the federal government for contracts valued over the CKFTA Threshold ($100,000 to December 31, 2021). There are two tiers for the TBIPS SA:

• Tier 1: Contracts from $100,000 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.

Note that previously there was also a TBIPS Standing Offer. As of 2018, the Standing Offer has been discontinued and vendors may qualify only for a TBIPS Supply Arrangement.

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 (2020-11).
• Security clearance (prior to SA award)

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 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 SA:

• ProServices SA: The ProServices Supply Arrangement is a mandatory procurement tool for most purchases of professional services under the CFTKA Threshold. The IT streams and categories included in the ProServices SA mirror the TBIPS 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.