TSPS - Solutions Based SA

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.

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The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to provide information of potential bidders to the changes planned to the TSPS Supply Arrangements Solutions to harmonize with the Professional Services National Procurement Strategy. This RFI is also being published to consult the industry about the new streams added to TSPS and its definitions.

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

1. 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.

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1. A draft solicitation document open to industry comments. Please, see attached document.

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 announce 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 RFSA document when published.

Suppliers who currently hold a TSPS 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.

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 RFSA will provide details.

Unless they wish to change their status Existing TSPS Solutions SA Holders and TEMS SA Holders in a given Stream, bidders will not be required to provide further details under the Mandatory criterion B1-MTS2.

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

a) B1-MTS2: 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 new Stream 5 (TEMS Stream).

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

- 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 - 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 Solutions, where there was previously 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. - 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 millions. - Terminology changes such as previously referred to "Classes" in TSPS will now be known as "Streams". - New Streams have been added. Find bellow the new complete list of Streams:

1. HUMAN RESOURCES SERVICES STREAM 2. BUSINESS CONSULTING / CHANGE MANAGEMENT STREAM 3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES STREAM *NEW STREAM* 4. REAL PROPERTY PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES STREAM *NEW STREAM* 5. TECHNICAL, ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES STREAM

Note: The new TEMS Stream 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.

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