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: Subsequent/Follow-on Contracts Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Nature of Requirements:

******************************************************** REVISION TO BID CLOSING DATE FROM MAY 28, 2013 at 14:00 EDT to MAY 30, 2013 14:00 EDT.

********************************************************* IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SUPPLIERS

Government of Canada is moving its Government Electronic Tendering Service from MERX to Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders on June 1, 2013

Starting June 1, 2013, federal government tenders (tender notices and bid solicitation documents) will be published and available free of charge on a Government of Canada Web site on Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders.

The Government Electronic Tendering Service on Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders will be the sole authoritative source for Government of Canada tenders that are subject to trade agreements or subject to departmental policies that require public advertising of tenders.

Get more details in the Frequently Asked Questions section of Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders.

After June 1, 2013, all tenders and related documents and amendments will be on Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders.

On June 1, 2013, suppliers must go to Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders to check for amendments to any tender opportunities that they have been following on MERX prior to June 1.

Bookmark Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders now to be ready for June 1!

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This is a Bid Solicitation for Task Based Supply Arrangements (SA) and Standing Offers (SO) under the Task and Solutions Professional Services (TSPS)

BACKGROUND --------------------- PWGSC is renewing its Task and Solutions Professional Services (TSPS) methods of supply in its entirety. This includes the Task Based Standing Offer(s), Task-Based Supply Arrangement(s), and Solutions Based Supply Arrangement(s).

This is a bid solicitation to request new Task Based SOs and SAs. It allows new and existing Offerors and Suppliers to submit a bid to qualify for those Regions, Metropolitan Areas, Streams and Categories for which they currently do not have an SO or SA. It also allows existing Offerors to provide their new rates.

Existing Offerors and Suppliers are not required to re-qualify for any Categories for which they already have an SO or SA although they must otherwise comply with the requirements of the bid solicitation.

Task based professional services are services related to a particular activity or initiative that are required to address a specific professional services need, which are usually associated with a specified set of responsibilities. Professional services are purchased typically on a per diem basis and are related to a particular activity or initiative. Tasks can be for short or long periods of time and can be subsets of a larger project. Deliverables are well defined, often with specific timelines. Identified Users are looking for a consultant with direct or specialized knowledge and sufficient expertise to accomplish the work

Further to PWGSC's Information Notice: Implementation Update on PWGSC's Professional Services National Procurement Strategy accessible on the Task and Solutions Professional Services methods of supply http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/spc-cps/avissnamsp-noticepsn ps-eng.html, TSPS has incorporated a number of changes to harmonization as outlined in the draft solicitation. For further information on the Professional Services National Strategy, it is accessible on www.merx.com, reference: E60ZH-110001/B.

NOTICE: * TSPS also has a Solutions Based RFSA which is posted on MERX under Solicitation Number E60ZN-13TSSB/B.

REQUIREMENT: ----------------------- This solicitation is a Request for Bids to satisfy Canada's requirement for the provision of Task Based Professional Services to locations throughout Canada, excluding any locations in areas subject to any of the Comprehensive Land Claims Agreements.

Each bid may result in a Supply Arrangement (SA), a Standing Offer (SO), or both. All suppliers capable of meeting the requirements of this bid solicitation are invited to submit a bid for the Services in an arrangement for a Supply Arrangement or an offer for a Standing Offer, or both.

This procurement vehicle includes four existing Streams of professional services and introduces new categories for Facilitation and Communications:

Stream 1: Human Resources Services Stream 2: Business Services/Change Management Services Stream 3: Project Management Services Stream 4: Real Property Project Management Services

It will also include the addition of a new Stream of Services: Stream 5: Technical, Engineering and Maintenance Services

This new Stream of services will provide the federal government with a convenient means of contracting with private sector companies for a wide variety of Technical and Engineering Services.

SA's and SO's resulting from this RFSO/SA will not be used for staffing or for Temporary Help Services (THS) requirements.

Until such time as PS Online is replaced by ProServices, the framework established under this Request for Bids will allow Identified Users to contract for some services below the Professional Services (PS) On-line maximum dollar threshold, Identified Users are encouraged to utilize the PS On-line application for requirements valued at or below its dollar value limit. (PS On-line URL: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/sp-ps/index-eng.html)

The Standing Offer and the Supply Arrangement will remain valid for a period of 18 months or until such time as Canada no longer considers them to be advantageous to use them. The period for awarding Call-ups against the Standing offer and contracts under the Supply Arrangement begins on the start date of the Standing Offer and the Supply Arrangement.

In as much as possible, PWGSC will issue a bid solicitation intended to replace the Supply Arrangements and Standing Offers for the Services on an annual basis, although PWGSC reserves the right to choose to proceed with a different procurement vehicle for the requirement if it considers such action appropriate. Each such re-competition (a "renewal bid solicitation") requires all bidders, including those who may have received instruments under the previous solicitation, to submit a bid in response to the renewal bid solicitation in order to continue to provide services under its resulting Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements.

SECURITY REQUIREMENT: -------------------------------------- There is a security requirement associated with the requirement of the Standing Offer and Supply Arrangement. For additional information, see Part 4 - Evaluation Procedures and Basis of Selection, Part 6A - Supply Arrangement and Part 7A - Standing Offer.

SET-ASIDE PROGRAM FOR ABORIGINAL BUSINESS: ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Part of this procurement may be designated by one or more Identified Users as set-aside under the federal government's Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB). In these specific cases, (i) the procurement is set aside from the international trade agreements under the provision each has for set-asides for small and minority businesses, and (ii) as per Article 1802 of the AIT, the AIT does not apply.

In order to be considered as an Aboriginal Business under the PSAB, the Bidder must complete the Aboriginal Business certification contained in the Data Collection Component of the CPSS.

By executing the certification, the Bidder warrants that it is an Aboriginal business as defined in the Set-aside Program for Aboriginal Business.

LOCATION OF SERVICES: ------------------------------------ The document titled "Definitions of the National Zone, Regions and Metropolitan Areas" at the following link are incorporated by reference into any resulting SO or SA, with the exception that the National Zone is to be considered as another Region: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/spc-cps/dznrrm-dnzrma-eng.ht ml The following Regions and Metropolitan areas may receive Services under this supply arrangement where a Supplier is qualified to do so:

Regions: National Zone, Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Western, Pacific, National Capital.

Metropolitan Areas: Halifax, Moncton, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Victoria, National Capital Region.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: --------------------------------- The services to be provided will be delivered in one or both of the two official languages of Canada according to the requirements of the Identified User issuing a Call-up against the SO or a contract against the SA.

MANDATORY TECHNICAL CRITERIA: ---------------------------------------------------- The technical bid should address clearly and in sufficient depth the points that are subject to the evaluation criteria against which the bid will be evaluated. As the status and circumstances of each bidder is unique, it is the responsibility of each bidder to read all documents related to this solicitation, and to ensure that all mandatory criteria, Certifications, and elements required for bid validity are met in their bid submission.

EVALUATION OF FINANCIAL (STANDING OFFER ONLY): ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Each offer meeting the mandatory requirements for the Standing Offer technical evaluation will be evaluated in accordance with the financial requirements identified in Attachment D - Standing Offer Financial Evaluation.

SELECTION METHODOLOGY: ----------------------------------------- The Supplier Selection will be conducted per Tier, Region and Metropolitan Area, for each specific Category and Level of Expertise.

Each technically responsive arrangement will be recommended for the issuance of a Supply Arrangement on the terms stated in Component II of the bid solicitation.

Each technically and financially responsive offer will be recommended for issuance of a Standing Offer on the terms stated in Component III of the bid solicitation.

Where an Aboriginal Bidder qualifies for both an Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Standing Offer, only one Standing Offer will be awarded.

Where an Aboriginal Bidder qualifies for both an Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Supply Arrangement, only one Supply Arrangement will be awarded

CENTRALIZED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SYSTEM (CPSS) ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ All suppliers that want to bid will have to establish an account in the Supplier Module of the PWGSC Centralized Professional Services System (CPSS) e-Portal. Instructions on accessing the Supplier Module e-Portal application are specified in the RFSO/SA document published on MERX.

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/SA provide further details.

NEW TSPS BIDDER, EXISTING TSPS HOLDER AND CURRENT TEMS HOLDER ----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- Please refer to Component 1, Part 3 Bid Preparation Instruction, Bid Submission Grid for more information on how to complete your bid. The purpose of the grid is to assist Bidders with their bid preparation and bid submission. It is the responsibility of each bidder to read all documents related to this solicitation, and to ensure that all mandatory criteria, Certifications, and elements required for bid validity are met in their bid submission. Where in the Bid Submission Grid the symbol "&" is used, it means that the Bidder must submit the information requested through both methods.

INFORMATION REGARDING RFSO/SA: ------------------------------------------------------ Information regarding the RFSO/SA can be obtained in accordance with the Enquiries provisions set out in the solicitation and by sending an e-mail to the TSPS inbox at : SPTS.TSPS@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

Delivery Date: 30/05/2013

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.