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 professional services contracts under the $106,000, the ProServices SA is an essential contract vehicle and will be for years to come. Read the rest of this entry »

Shared Services Canada (SSC) has issued a Software Licensing Vehicle (SLV) solicitation for the procurement of software and its associated maintenance and support that fall under SSC’s mandate. The SLV will effectively be the SSC version of the Software Licensing Supply Arrangement (SLSA) used by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

The SLSA will continue to be a mechanism of choice to meet PSPC’s ongoing needs. However, in order to support its service offerings, SSC requires its own vehicle, the SLV. Read the rest of this entry »

[ARCHIVED August 15, 2018 – 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 (SO) and supply arrangements (SA). In some cases, the use of a standing offer or supply arrangement is mandatory.

Learning Services SO and SA: Design, Development and Delivery of Learning Services across Canada [Closed – SA Refresh scheduled January 22, 2019]

The Learning Services SO (currently closed) and the Learning Services 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: Read the rest of this entry »

[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.

Do you need help in navigating the Government of Canada security screening process? The Contract Security Program offers training for private sector organizations bidding and working on government contracts with security requirements.

The Contract Security Program offers a free live webinar series related to the program. The webinars are designed to increase your ability to fulfill the Contract Security Program requirements, and are presented on a monthly basis, in both official languages. Read the rest of this entry »

As part of the security screening process for Government of Canada contractors, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) (formerly Public Works and Government Services Canada) requires a criminal record check. On February 1, 2017, PSPC put in place a new criminal record check process for contractors. Applicants who require a new personnel security screening clearance or a renewal or upgrade to their clearance are subject to the new process and will be required to provide electronic fingerprints. Read the rest of this entry »

[ARCHIVED February 6, 2018 – 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 Ontario, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) purchases management consulting services through a Vendor of Record (VOR) Arrangement. The VOR is similar to a Supply Arrangement and is used by all Government of Ontario ministries and other entities to procure a range of management consulting services.

Ontario Management Consulting Services (MCS) Vendor of Record (VOR): Qualify for opportunities to provide Management Consulting Services to the Ontario Public Service [Currently closed – Replacement anticipated for November 2017]

[N.B. This primer provides information on the current Management Consulting Services VOR. The extent to which the replacement VOR will be similar is unknown at this time.]

This VOR is mandatory for Ontario Government ministries and for Ontario Public Service (OPS) entities who wish to obtain professional services in the categories listed below. It is optional for Provincially Funded Organizations (which include but are not limited to municipalities, hospitals, and school boards).

As defined in the RFP: Read the rest of this entry »

Do you supply goods and services to Shared Services Canada? As of July 2016, all Shared Services Canada (SSC) suppliers must submit their bids and invoices using the Procure-To-Pay (P2P) portal. As well as providing an electronic procurement and payment system, the portal provides enhanced visibility for procurement activities in SSC, and is expected to result in an improved end-to-end service delivery experience.

Suppliers must register to  use the P2P portal.  To register, please email: SSC.p2p-p2p.SPC@canada.ca.

Training on how to use the portal is provided through “How-to” documents and instructional videos available on the P2P portal.  Suppliers may also arrange P2P tutoring/coaching sessions for their firm by contacting the P2P Help Desk at sscp2p.goc@cgi.com.

You may also contact the Help Desk for ongoing support questions.

[ARCHIVED October 23, 2018 – 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 and Solutions Professional Services (TSPS) Task-Based Standing Offer (SO) and Supply Arrangement (SA): Qualify for Contracts for Non-IT Professional Services [Closed – Replacement anticipated for Fall 2018]
The TSPS Task-Based SO and TSPS Task-Based SA are two 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): Read the rest of this entry »

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) Solutions-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.  Next  due date is December 31, 2021.]

The TSPS Solutions-Based SA is one of several procurement tools for the purchase of Non-IT professional services. While the better known TSPS Task Based SA and the ProServices SA focus on resource-based contracts (i.e., services provided by individuals), the TSPS Solutions-Based SA is used to procure a complete solution in response to a client business problem. Services are not related to one particular activity or initiative, and suppliers are expected to manage the overall project and accept responsibility for the outcome.

The TSPS Solutions-Based SA is separated into two tiers:

• SA Tier 1: Contracts up to $3,750,000
• SA Tier 2: Contracts over $3, 750,000

The TSPS Solutions-Based SA is organized according to the following streams:

• Stream 1: Human Resource Services
• Stream 2: Business Services / Change Management Services
• Stream 3: Project Management Services
• Stream 4: Real Property Project Management Services
• Stream 5: Technical Engineering and Maintenance Services (TEMS)

Please also see our TPC Overview – PWGSC TSPS Solutions SA (2020-11).

The TSPS Solutions-Based SA is an important contract vehicle to hold if you wish to provide services to the Government of Canada in any of the non-IT professional services areas listed above.

To qualify for the TSPS Solutions-Based SA, you must respond to and comply with the TSPS Solutions-Based Request for Supply Arrangement.

Highlights of the TSPS Solutions-Based RFSA
TSPS Solutions-Based SA was published October 5, 2018 and is currently open for bids. Bids are evaluated quarterly and are due on the last day of the month in March, June, September and December.

Key Requirements:

• Three years in business
• Must have invoiced a gross business volume of at least $1,000,000 (Tier 1)/$2,000,000 (Tier 2) in the past five years.
• Minimum of three projects, and a maximum of five projects,  for each stream proposed:
  • Each project must have been completed within the past five years
  • Each project must relate to the stream and have been for a complete solution involving initiation, planning and execution. This is demonstrated as part of detailed project summary write-ups.
  • In each stream the combined value billed for the projects must be a minimum of $500,000 for Tier 1 or $1,000,000 for Tier 2, excluding all taxes
• 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 the TSPS Solutions-Based SA 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 TSPS Solutions-Based 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 TSPS Task-Based Methods of Supply and ProServices
As noted above, the TSPS Task Based SA and the ProServices SA are other methods of supply for non-IT Professional Services. The TSPS Task-Based SA and the ProServices SA are for “task-based” requirements, which focus on procuring the services of individuals to complete a task. The TSPS Solutions-Based SA focuses on the procurement of complete solutions.

The TSPS Task-Based SA is used for best-value contracts above the CKFTA threshold, while ProServices is used for contracts below the threshold. The TSPS Task-Based SO is used for contracts up to $250,000 awarded based on a low-cost compliant selection method, following a right of first refusal list established with the SO.

Please see our Primers for more information on TSPS Task Based SA and ProServices SA, and other methods of supply.

Additional Information and Support
We’re here to help! If you have any questions about the TSPS Solutions-Based 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.