[Archived] Primer: PWGSC Temporary Help Services (THS) Standing Offer and Supply Arrangement
[ARCHIVED August 15, 2019 – 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.
Temporary Help Services (THS) Standing Offer (SO) and Supply Arrangement (SA): Qualify to provide Temporary Help Services in the National Capital (NCR) area [Open – Renewal – Next Due Date: July 31, 2019. Quarterly due dates: Last business day of the month in March, June, September and December]
The THS RFSO and RFSA are for the provision of Temporary Help Services to any Canadian Government Department, Departmental Corporation or Agency in the National Capital Area.
Temporary Help Services (THS) are services that are provided by a supplier’s employee. There are only three situations in which Temporary Help Services can be used by Designated Users to fulfill their requirements:
- When a public servant is absent for a temporary period of time
- When a requirement exists for additional staff during a temporary workload increase, in which there is an insufficient number of public servants available to meet the requirement
- When a position is vacant and staffing action is being completed
THS is organized according to the following streams, each containing multiple categories:
- Stream 1 Office Support
- Stream 2 Administrative Services
- Stream 3 Operational Services
- Stream 4 Technical Services
- Stream 5 Professional Services
A full listing of all the streams and categories of personnel included in THS can be found in our TPC Overview – PWGSC THS SOSA (2019-02).
The THS SO and/or SA are essential contract vehicles to hold if you wish to provide services to the Government of Canada in any of the IT temporary help services areas listed above.
NB: Current RFSO and RFSA to be Sunset
THS published a new Request for Supply Arrangement on February 8, 2019. All suppliers who wish to supply Temporary Help Services in the National Capital Region must submit a response. This new Supply Arrangement (SA), once implemented, replaces all existing THS Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements.
THS Supply Arrangement vs. THS Standing Offer
Individual call-ups against the Standing Offer or Supply Arrangement must not exceed the financial limitation of $400,000.00 (Travel expenses, Goods and Services Tax or Harmonized Sales Tax, overtime and all amendments included) and should not exceed the time limitation of 48 consecutive weeks (including all absences, and all subsequent amendments), whichever of the two limitations comes first.
The Supply Arrangement is used for the provision of services on a best value basis, where technical and financial criteria are used to award contracts.
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. The methodology must be used for call-ups valued above $25,000, and may be used for call-ups valued at or below $25,000.
Highlights of the THS RFSO
The THS RFSO and RFSA are currently open for renewal. To maintain your current THS SO or SA, or to qualify as a new supplier for the THS SO or SA, you must respond to and comply with the requirements of the Request for Standing Offers for Temporary Help Services or the Request for Supply Arrangements for Temporary Help Services, respectively.
The THS RFSO renewal was posted on November 6, 2018, and the THS RFSA renewal was posted on November 8, 2018. The next due date for both is July 31 2019. Note that this may be the final due date under the current RFSO and RFSA, with the a new THS Supply Arrangement, which replaces both methods of supply, anticipated to be in place .
Bids are evaluated periodically and are due on the last day of the month in March, June, September and December.
Key Requirements
- One Year in Business
- For each stream you wish to qualify for, you need to provide a list of “Named Resources” (i.e., different individuals placed in positions relevant to the stream) including dates their services were provided, and a client contact to act as a reference.
- 20-40 different individuals per Stream
- Each must have worked 37.5 hours since
- May 20, 2006 (Streams 1, 2, and 3)
- May 20, 2005 (Streams 4 and 5)
- Minimum 3 different clients located in National Capital Area
- For Stream 1, Offerors must demonstrate to the satisfaction of PWGSC that they have appropriately conducted the testing of their THS resources, including
- a description of their testing protocol
- tests used to comply with the four types of examinations described in Annex ‘”E”- Basic Standards for Testing the Office Support Classifications
- tests used to test official languages capabilities
Offers must be submitted to Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC) Bid Receiving Unit by the date, time and place indicated on page 1 of the Temporary Help Services Request for Standing Offer or Temporary Help Services Request for Supply Arrangement.
NOTE: A proposal requires a hard copy submission. Temporary Help Services for the National Capital Region is currently outside of the Centralized Professional Services System (CPSS). The THS Method of Supply will be migrating to CPSS in the near future.
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 a THS SO/SA without holding a security clearance, but will not be awarded a standing offer or 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 THS 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.]
Please see our Primers page for information about other Methods of Supply.
Additional Information and Support
We’re here to help! If you have any questions about the THS SO or 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.
