[ARCHIVED November 7, 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 Primer for the new TSPS Task-Based Re-Compete will be posted on November 8, 2016]

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 [Next renewal anticipated for June 2016]
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 »

[ARCHIVED November 7, 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 Primer for the new TSPS Solutions-Based Re-Compete will be posted on November 8, 2016]

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 [Next renewal is anticipated for June 2016]
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, TSPS Task-Based SO, 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: Read the rest of this entry »

Following the renewal of the Task-Based Request for Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements, the Government of Canada has established the 2015 median rates for TSPS Standing Offers by Region and Metropolitan Area, Category of Personnel, and Level of Expertise. The rates can be viewed online, or downloaded in Microsoft Excel or PDF format from the TSPS SO Median Rates notice.

Read the rest of this entry »

[ARCHIVED –  This article has been replaced by https://blog.theproposalcentre.ca//2016/01/21/2015-tbips-so-median-rates/]

Following the renewal of the Task-Based Informatics Professional Services (TBIPS) Request for Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements, the Government of Canada has published the median rates established for TBIPS Standing Offers by Region and Metropolitan Area, Category of Personnel, and Level of Expertise. The rates can be viewed online, or downloaded in Microsoft Excel or PDF format from the TBIPS SO Median Rates notice. 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]

Following the renewal of the Task-Based Request for Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements, the Government of Canada has published the median rates established for TSPS Standing Offers by Region and Metropolitan Area, Category of Personnel, and Level of Expertise. The rates can be viewed online, or downloaded in Microsoft Excel or PDF format from TSPS SO Median Rates notice.

The data in TSPS SO Median Rates is provided for information and reference purposes, to enable government, private sector, and non-government organizations to review the current median rates. The median rates apply to TSPS Task-Based Standing Offers only. 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]

Earlier this week we provided  highlights from the November 19, 2013 information sessions hosted by the Ontario Ministry of Government Services which provided vendors with information about the upcoming renewals for the Task-Based Information & Information Technology (I&IT) VOR and the Management Consulting Services VOR.

As a follow-up to our post , the slides from the presentation are now available at:

http://www.doingbusiness.mgs.gov.on.ca/mbs/psb/psb.nsf/Attachments/VOR-InfoSessionPresentation-Nov13/$FILE/VOR-InfoSession-Nov13.pdf

[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 year of renewals for the Government of Canada’s major professional services standing offers (SO) and supply arrangements (SA) continues on, with delays in the awarding of standing offers and supply arrangements in response to proposals submitted in the spring/early summer of 2013.

While limited information has been available from PWGSC regarding the status of each solicitation, the following reflects The Proposal Centre’s current understanding for each: 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 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]

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 »