TSPS - Solutions Based RFSA 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: Best Overall Proposal 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 at 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! *******************************************************

This is a Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA) for Solutions Based Supply Arrangements (SA) 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 Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA) to request new Solutions Based Supply Arrangements (SA). It allows New and Existing Suppliers to submit arrangements to qualify for those Regions, Metropolitan Areas and Streams for which they currently do not have a SA.

Existing Suppliers are not required to re-qualify for any Stream for which they already have a SA although they must otherwise comply with the requirements of the RFSA.

Solutions based professional services are services that are not related to a particular activity or initiative; they are requirements where Identified Users require options how to resolve a business problem.

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. 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 Task Based RFSO/SA which is posted on MERX under Solicitation Number E60ZN-13TSPS/B.

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

All suppliers who are capable of meeting the requirements of this RFSA are invited to submit an arrangement for the Services under a Supply Arrangement.

The TSPS Solutions Based Supply Arrangement includes the following Streams: Stream 1: Human Resource Services; Stream 2: Business Services / Change Management Services; and Stream 3: Project Management Services. Stream 4: Real Property Project Management Services. Stream 5: Technical Engineering and Maintenance Services (TEMS)

All five (5) Streams will be structured according to the following Tiers: Tier 1: Requirements up to and including $2 million (GST/HST included); Tier 2: Requirements greater than $2 million (GST/HST included).

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

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 contracts under the Supply Arrangement begins on the start date of the Supply Arrangement.

In as much as possible, PWGSC will issue a RFSA intended to replace the Supply Arrangements 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 RFSA") requires all Suppliers, including those who may have received a Supply Arrangement under the previous RFSA, to submit an arrangement in response to the renewal RFSA in order to continue to provide services under its resulting Supply Arrangements.

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

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 Supply Arrangement, 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 contract against the SA.

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

SELECTION METHODOLOGY: ----------------------------------------- The Supplier Selection will be conducted per Tier, Region, Metropolitan Area and Stream.

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

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 submit an arrangement 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 RFSA document published on MERX.

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

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

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

INFORMATION REGARDING RFSA: ------------------------------------------------------ Information regarding the RFSA can be obtained in accordance with the enquiries provisions of the solicitation and by sending an e-mail to the TSPS inbox: 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.