TSPS 2013 Renewal

Trade Agreement: WTO-AGP/NAFTA/AIT/Canada-Peru FTA/Canada-Colombia FTA Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid Attachment: None Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Nature of Requirements:

This Amendment is raised to extend the closing date of the RFI to March 21, 2013.

***************************************************************** **************************************** The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to provide information of potential bidders to the changes planned to the TSPS Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements to harmonize with the Professional Services National Procurement Strategy. This RFI is also being published to consult the industry about the new categories added to TSPS, its definitions and resulting qualifications for expertise level of the consultants.

All potential bidders/industry are provided with the following information in advance:

1. Provide a draft solicitation document open to industry comments;

2. General information about the next TSPS Renewal process for bidders;

3. Information concerning the migration of the Technical, Engineering and Maintenance Services (TEMS) (excluding the Telecommunications Services Stream) Supply Arrangement as a new stream of services into TSPS; and

4. Overview of the changes incorporated in this TSPS renewal solicitation.

***************************************************************** ********************************************** 1. Provide a draft solicitation document open to industry comments. Please, see attached document (Annex A).

2. General Information about the next TSPS Renewal process for bidders:

A number of changes will affect the next TSPS renewal as a result of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) Professional Services National Procurement Strategy. The details of the strategy can be found on MERX at http://www.merx.com under solicitation # E60ZH-110001/B. As also previously announced on the TSPS website, as a notice on : http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/spc-cps/avissnamsp-noticepsn ps-eng.html

All suppliers that want to bid will have to establish an account in the Supplier Module of the PWGSC Central Professional Services System (CPSS) e-Portal. Instructions on accessing the Supplier Module e-Portal application will be specified in the RFSO/RFSA document when published.

Suppliers who currently hold a TSPS SO and/or SA will be required to demonstrate and/or certify they still meet all TSPS mandatory criteria.

Suppliers will be required to submit a portion of their technical bid through the CPSS e-Portal Supplier Module.

Suppliers submitting a financial bid against the standing offer portion must do so through the CPSS e-Portal Supplier Module.

NOTE: As the CPSS e-Portal does not currently accommodate digital signatures, Bidders will also be required to submit documents in hard copy format through the Bid Receiving Unit. Instructions in the RFSO/RFSA will provide details.

Unless they wish to change their status, Existing TSPS SA and SO Holders and TEMS SA Holders in a given categories, bidders will not be required to provide further details under the Mandatory criterion B1-MTT2, B2-MTT2, C1-MTT2 and C2-MTT2.

3. Information concerning the migration of the TEMS SA ( excluding the Telecommunications Services Stream) as a new stream of Categories into TSPS:

Bidders who currently hold a TEMS SA (excluding the Telecommunications Services Stream) will be required to meet the grandfathering provisions as stated in Attachment B and /or Attachment C.

a) B1-MTT2/C1-MTT2 and B1-MTT3/C1-MTT3: Migration process from the TEMS SA (excluding the Telecommunications Services Stream) to the new TEMS Stream under TSPS:

(i)Bidders who currently hold a TEMS SA (excluding the Telecommunications Services Stream) will be granted the categories for which they substantiated and were deemed technically compliant as a result of the TEMS technical evaluation.

(ii)Bidders who currently hold a TEMS SA (excluding the Telecommunications Services Stream) will have the option to select unsubstantiated categories in accordance with the TSPS evaluation process; · For the TEMS Stream, the number of unsubstantiated Categories will not exceed 50% of the number of already substantiated Categories for which they were technically compliant. In their bid, a bidder must prioritize those requested unsubstantiated Categories. · Unsubstantiated Categories will not be counted towards the minimum number of Categories required to qualify for a Stream. (TSPS RFSA only)

(iii)If a Bidder wishes to be considered for the TSPS RFSA, or was previously qualified on the TEMS RFSA, the Bidder must either: · Have provided the minimum of two (for Tier 1) or four (for tier 2) technically compliant categories under its previous TEMS qualification; or · Provide substantiation for additional categories in its bid (to meet the minimum number of two (for Tier 1) or four (for tier 2) substantiated categories, through the TSPS evaluation process.

(iv)If the Bidder wishes to be considered for additional categories, substantiation must be provided in the bid and will be subject to the TSPS renewal evaluation process (ie: 2 positively substantiated categories for one (1) unsubstantiated category).

4. Overview of the changes incorporated in this TSPS renewal solicitation

a) Applies to the RFSO and RFSA components - TSPS now has 31 pre-approved SRCLs which can be found at: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/spc-cps/31-eng.html - To simplify the bidding process, the TSPS RFSA (tasks based) and the RFSO are now combined in one single RFSO/SA document. - The electronic (excel format) templates have been replaced by a data collection component. Suppliers need to create their profiles and follow the steps for their enrolment: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/spc-cps/ifcp-secp-eng.html - Change of vocabulary, the sub-regions is becoming metropolitan area. Metropolitan Areas have been added to the SA component, where previously there were only regions. Also, introduction of a National Zone. Definitions can be found at: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/spc-cps/dznrrm-dnzrma-eng.ht ml - Possibility for clients to direct a requirement to a qualified supplier for requirements valued under $25,000. - Terminology changes such as previously referred to "Classes" in TSPS will now be known as "Streams". - New categories have been added as well as a new Stream. Find below the new complete list of Stream and Categories:

1. HUMAN RESOURCES SERVICES STREAM 1.1 Human Resources Consultant 1.2 Organizational Design and Classification Consultant 1.3 Employment Equity Consultant 1.4 Employee Relation Consultant 1.5 Compensation Consultant 1.6 HR Information System Consultant 1.7 Leadership Development Consultant 1.8 Staffing Consultant 1.9 HR Policy Development Consultant 1.10 HR Assistant Consultant

2. BUSINESS CONSULTING / CHANGE MANAGEMENT STREAM 2.1 Business Analyst 2.2 Business Continuity Consultant 2.3 Business Consultant 2.4 Organization Development Consultant 2.5 Business Process Consultant 2.6 Change Management Consultant 2.7 Needs Analysis and Research Consultant 2.8 Business Architect 2.9 Statistical Analyst 2.10 Knowledge Management Consultant 2.11 Information/Records Management/Recordkeeping Specialist 2.12 Evaluation Services Consultant 2.13 Performance Measurement Consultant 2.14 Subject Matter Expert *NEW* 2.15 Life Cycle Management Specialist *NEW* 2.16 Facilitator Consultant

3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES STREAM 3.1 Project Administrator 3.2 Project Manager 3.3 Project Leader/Executive 3.4 Project Planner 3.5 Quality Assurance/Management Specialist 3.6 Risk Management Specialist 3.7 Procurement Specialist 3.8 Financial Specialist 3.9 Project Monitor 3.10 Technical Writer *NEW*3.11 Communications Consultant

4. REAL PROPERTY PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES STREAM 4.1 Project Administrator for Real Property 4.2 Project Manager for Real Property 4.3 Project Leader for Real Property 4.4 Project Planner for Real Property 4.5 Financial/Cost Specialist for Real Property 4.6 Portfolio Planner for Real Property 4.7 Claims Analyst

*NEW STREAM* 5. TECHNICAL, ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES STREAM 5.1 Draftsperson / Illustrator 5.2 Technician 5.3 Engineer 5.4 Clothing Technologist 5.5 Textile Technologist 5.6 Personal Protection Equipment Technologist 5.7 Nuclear/Biological/Chemical (NBC) Personal Protection Technologist 5.8 Handwear/Knitted Footwear and Accessories Technologist 5.9 Footwear Technologist 5.10 Pattern Design, Development, and Sizing Technologist 5.11 Clothing and Personal Protection Equipment Design and Prototyping Technologist 5.12 Badges/Insignia/Ceremonial Accoutrements Technologist 5.13 Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) Specialist 5.14 Technical Clerk

Note: The new Telecommunications Services Stream of categories originates from the Technical, Engineering and Maintenance Services (TEMS) Supply Arrangement which is scheduled to be sunset, in whole or in part, once the next TSPS renewal will be completed.

b) Applies to the RFSA component only - The RFSA does not have a financial component. The ceiling rates have been removed. - The RFSA will be subject to quarterly refresh, where new suppliers will be able to bid and existing suppliers who want to qualify for more would be able to do so. - The number of suppliers invited to each resulting RFP is being harmonized and a reduced number of suppliers will be invited to bid for requirements up to $2 million.

c) Applies to the RFSO component only - The financial evaluation in the RFSO is changing. Rates minus 30% and plus 30% of the median will be deemed non-compliant.

Schedule It is anticipated that the next Task and Solutions Professional Services (TSPS) Request for Standing Offer (RFSO) Renewal and Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA) Renewal will be published on the Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS/MERX) with a tentative schedule as follows: RFSO/SA Issued: March 2013 RFSO/SA Closing: April / May 2013 RFSO/SA Evaluations: May - August 2013 RFSO/SA Issued: September / October 2013

Delivery Date: 21/03/2013

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.