PWGSC TBIPS (task-based informatics professional services) – Due March 4, 2013

Public Works has released the revamped TBIPS which has been posted to MERX and is due on March 4, 2013.

It includes two new streams: Cyber Protection Services and Telecommunications Services, which replace the former Cyber Protection Supply Arrangement (CPSA) and the Telecommunications Services stream that was under the Technical, Engineering, and Maintenance Services Supply Arrangement (TEMS SA).

To view the RFSO/RFSA on MERX, please see:  http://www.merx.com/English/SUPPLIER_Menu.asp?WCE=Show&TAB=1&PORTAL=MERX&State=7&id=PW-%24%24EI-003-25338&src=osr&FED_ONLY=0&ACTION=&rowcount=&lastpage=&MoreResults=&PUBSORT=2&CLOSESORT=0&IS_SME=Y&hcode=RPBn%2fOTe341Ca1dk2LT1uQ%3d%3d

It is important to note that it is anticipated that TBIPS holders will be “grand-fathered” onto ProServices and will therefore not need to submit a technical proposal for ProServices when it is released.  As such, if you qualify for TBIPS and are not already on it, you are encouraged to submit a proposal at this time.  ProServices will replace PS Online later this year.

Should you have any questions or require assistance with TBIPS, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Ontario Government seeks Tendering Services Provider – Will this lead to improvements?

Posted this morning to MERX is a call for comments on a draft RFP to provide electronic tendering services.  It is of course ironic that MERX and all its competitors will need to download the RFP from MERX in order to view it and eventually bid on it.

Here’s hoping that this will lead to usability improvements and client-friendly features like free receipt of amendments by email, better search capabilities, and social media share features.  Will MERX improve or is this a chance for someone to come in an put a chink in MERX’ armour?

With the Federal Government itself going to tender on a new electronic tendering service in the next year or two, big changes could be underway, or at least we can hope!

Changes made to TBIPS for the upcoming refresh

As discussed in my previous blog post, the Technical, Engineering, and Maintenance Services Supply Arrangement (TEMS SA), and the Cyber Protection Supply Arrangement (CPSA) will be discontinued and migrated to other vehicles, including the Task-Based Informatics Professional Services (TBIPS) and Task and Solutions Professional Services (TSPS) Task-Based Methods of Supply.

TEMS/CPSA being migrated to TBIPS and TSPS

The government is eliminating two major supply arrangements and migrating their categories into other existing vehicles.  The Technical, Engineering, and Maintenance Services Supply Arrangement (TEMS SA) and the Cyber Protection Supply Arrangement (CPSA) will be migrated to the TBIPS and TSPS Task-Based vehicles during the next refresh.

Updates to Professional Services Strategy – New dates for TBIPS, TSPS, and ProServices

Based on feedback received during consultations, PWGSC is re-organizing its release dates for its major Professional Services Supply Arrangements and Standing Offers.

Save the trees, but what about the coyotes?

The RCMP is looking to line its Officers’ hoods with coyote fur which has prompted an exchange between animal rights groups and the fur industry over the practice and which is more environmentally sustainable – using synthetics or using Canis latrans; leading to this observation from the article writer:

So what? How does the Professional Services National Procurement Strategy affect how I do business with the government?

In this post I try to hone in on the key items that vendors need to know about the Professional Services National Procurement Strategy (the “Strategy”) and the resulting impacts to how they do business with the government in the future.

PWGSC ProServices Consultation Presentation Slides

The following attachments are the official slides from Public Works and Government Services Canada that were used during the ProServices Consultations in August and September 2012:

• ProServices Consultation Slides – English (September 2012)
• ProServices Consultation Slides – French (September 2012)

Backgrounder: PWGSC’s Professional Services National Procurement Strategy

In last week’s presentation on ProServices, PS Online’s replacement for Professional Services purchases under $78,500, Public Works and Government Services Canada representatives spent a fair amount of time discussing their “new” strategy for purchasing professional services. Several aspects of this strategy should have a meaningful impact on small and medium-sized vendors, and vendors new to selling to the federal government.

PWGSC Consultations on ProServices, the Government of Canada’s new way to buy professional services under $78,500

As previously written, the Government of Canada is moving forward at replacing its outdated and under-used PS Online system which is used to purchase services under the NAFTA threshold ($78,500 in 2012). On September 18th, 2012, I attended the National Capital Region information and consultation session regarding ProServices. This post talks about what I heard from both PWGSC representatives and from vendors, along with some thoughts of my own.