[ARCHIVED August 2, 2016 – 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 BuyandSell.gc.ca Tenders website went live over the weekend.  As of now all new opportunities and amendments for existing opportunities will be posted at https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tenders instead of MERX.

As with any transition, there is a lot to learn, bugs to be fixed, and necessary workarounds for less than ideal usability or missing features which will hopefully be addressed in the future.  In this post we look at what we consider to be the essentials of getting started with the BuyandSell.gc.ca Tenders service.  To start off, the two most critical actions you should take include:

Read the rest of this entry »

[ARCHIVED August 2, 2016 – 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]

Public Works and Government Services Canada has provided a date for the ProServices Bidder’s conference with two sessions in English and one in French. Read the rest of this entry »

[ARCHIVED August 2, 2016 – 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]

It can be difficult to sort through all the different methods of supply (and their acronyms!) circulating these days.  Let me help clear up what’s happening with the major federal government Professional Services methods of supply (TSPS, TBIPS, SBIPS, ProServices, Others): Read the rest of this entry »

In March, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) released the final version of its new “National Procurement Strategy for Communications Services” after almost a year and a half in the works, a period that included consultations with industry and government departments.

The new strategy applies to federal departments and agencies that use PWGSC to buy their communications services through requests for standing offers or supply arrangements for repeat purchases, or through one-time requests for proposals.

Here are a few highlights from the strategy, available on www.merx.com. Read the rest of this entry »

[ARCHIVED August 2, 2016 – 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 has finally released the much overdue refresh for the Task and Solutions Professional Services (TSPS) Task-Based Supply Arrangement. This supply arrangement is used to procure professional services valued at $78,500 and above in the following streams:

1. Human Resources Services Stream
2. Business Consulting / Change Management Stream
3. Project Management Services Stream
4. Real Property Project Management Services Stream
5. Technical, Engineering And Maintenance Services Stream

It is an essential contract vehicle to hold if you provide professional services in the categories covered by the supply arrangement. Read the rest of this entry »

[ARCHIVED August 2, 2016 – 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 has finally released its much anticipated ProServices Request for Supply Arrangement. This supply arrangement (SA) will replace PS Online and will be used to procure professional services valued under $78,500. It mirrors the streams and categories of the Task-Based Informatics Professional Services (TBIPS) Standing Offer (SO) and SA and the Task and Solutions Professional Services (TSPS) Task-Based SA, and as such, includes the following streams:

IT Streams:

• Stream 1 (A) – Application Services Stream
• Stream 2 (G) – Geomatics Services
• Stream 3 (I) – IM/IT Services
• Stream 4 (B) – Business Services
• Stream 5 (P) – Project Management Services
• Stream 6 (C) – Cyber Protection Services/IT Security Services
• Stream 7 (T) – Technical Engineering and Maintenance

Non-IT Streams

• Stream 8 – Human Resources Services
• Stream 9 – Business Consulting/Change Management
• Stream 10 – Project Management Services
• Stream 11 – Real Property Project Management Services
• Stream 12 – Technical, Engineering and Maintenance Services

ProServices is an essential contract vehicle to hold if you provide professional services in any of the categories covered by the Supply Arrangement. Read the rest of this entry »

[ARCHIVED August 2, 2016 – 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]

Federal Government RFPs and Tenders are moving from MERX to Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders. Will you be ready?

On June 1, 2013 federal government opportunities will be posted on Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders. It will be quite different than the current experience at MERX. Major changes include: Read the rest of this entry »

[ARCHIVED August 2, 2016 – 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 2013 TSPS refresh has been posted at:

http://www.merx.com/English/SUPPLIER_Menu.asp?WCE=Show&TAB=1&PORTAL=MERX&State=7&id=PW-%24%24ZN-003-25481&src=osr&FED_ONLY=0&ACTION=&rowcount=&lastpage=&MoreResults=&PUBSORT=2&CLOSESORT=0&IS_SME=Y&hcode=jiY6%2bWELV3%2f9qP2%2fL5RmCg%3d%3d

Further analysis will follow, but for the moment here is the full list of categories, including the new Stream 5, which comes from the soon to be sunset TEMS Supply Arrangement. Read the rest of this entry »

[ARCHIVED August 2, 2016 – 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]

Whether you are new to doing business with government, or have many years of experience in doing business with government, there is a good chance you’ll come out learning something new at a session the City of Ottawa is hosting on March 13, 2013.

In this session the City of Ottawa, the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada will each make a presentation on how you can sell your products or services to them. While most of the presentations will focus on the basics for those just getting started, we at The Proposal Centre still find it helpful to get an update on any changes being made or future plans being considered by each government.

The topics Read the rest of this entry »

[ARCHIVED August 2, 2016 – 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]

Suppliers to the Federal Government received some more details in the past week about the ProServices Supply Arrangement which will be replacing PS Online for the purchase of professional services under $78,500 (NAFTA Threshold). In this post we focus on the key aspects of the ProServices SA including what it is, what’s new, the qualifications suppliers will need to meet and suggested next steps. Read the rest of this entry »