TSPS Business Architects– Developing Enhanced Reporting Mechanisms for Margin Based Programming

NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT (NPP)For

TASK AND SOLUTIONS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES (TSPS)

GSIN: R019U - Professional Services / Program Research Analysis

Reference Number:

01B68-20-0050

Solicitation Number:

01B68-20-0050

Organization Name:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Solicitation Date:

2021-03-19

Closing Date:

2021-04-09 (12:00PM EDST)

Anticipated Start Date:

At contract signature

Estimated Delivery Date:

2021-12-31

Estimate Level of Effort: 

“As Required”

Contract Duration:

The contract period will be from contract award to December 31, 2021

Solicitation Method:

Competitive

Applicable Trade Agreements:

NAFTA, CFTA…

Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement Applies:

No

Number of Contracts:

1

Requirement Details

Tendering Procedure: Selective Tendering

This requirement is open only to those TSPS Supply Arrangement Holders who qualified under Tier 1 for services in the National Capital Region for the following categories:

Resource Category

Level of Expertise

1. 2.8 Business Architect 3
2. 2.8 Business Architect 1

The following SA Holders have been invited to submit a proposal:

Accenture Inc.

S.I. SYSTEMS ULC

Samson & Associés CPA/Consultation Inc

Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP

Orbis Risk Consulting Inc.

MNP LLP

KPMG LLP

Ernst & Young LLP

Deloitte Inc

CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants Inc.

4Plan Consulting Corp.

Action Personnel of Ottawa-Hull Ltd

CPCS Transcom Limited

Lumina IT inc./C.B.-Z. Inc. (Joint Venture)

SRA Staffing Solutions Ltd.

1. Background
Federal-provincial-territorial (F/P/T) governments have been offering nationally-consistent margin-based income programming since the early 2000s as a part of ongoing collaboration in policy and program development. Over time, the delivery of margin-based programs has shifted between jurisdictions. As a result, despite a nationally-consistent approach to programs, there are several delivery agents throughout the country, including federal delivery in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Yukon. In other participating jurisdictions, the provincial agriculture ministry or a Crown Corporation are engaged in program delivery.

Although margin-based programs have been around for many years, and have seen significant changes in data needs and collection, the same underlying data collection model has been in place continuously. This model focuses primarily on obtaining producer-level data through tax filings and additional supplementary forms. This approach has been associated with added complexity (e.g., the need to transfer from cash-based tax filing to an accrual-based program accounting approach), timeliness concerns (e.g., time required to have accountants fill forms and file them, nine months after a year is completed), and costliness to producers (e.g., the costs associated with hiring accounting firms). As a result, the value proposition for the flagship margin support program, AgriStability, has been viewed as declining over time, as these concerns are exacerbated by a shift towards disaster-level coverage, reducing the frequency and amount of benefits. This is juxtaposed by more popular programming, like production insurance, that includes more routine and frequent engagement and data collection from farmers, but focuses less on complex income calculations.

As governments continue to examine opportunities to enhance margin-based programming, there is an opportunity to consider the vast improvements in technology since the early 2000s. In particular, there is an interest in understanding how common software or systems could be used to more rapidly and routinely collect a wide variety of farm financial data. A more rapid approach, in turn, would aid in making the program more transparent, responsive, and potentially less complex.

On these grounds, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) is seeking a Contractor to undertake a new project that would examine the system requirements, potential software alignment, and user interfaces that could be used to more efficiently and effectively collect producer data throughout a production year.

2. Objective

The objective of this contract is to obtain a clear analysis and guidance document on the most effective, efficient and simple approach to collect the information required to provide margin-based support to Canadian farmers. To obtain a range of possible models or approaches to expedite and simplify collection of producer data, taking into account the differences between current administrative technologies and availability of existing tools or services.

Security Requirement: None

Contract Authority

Name: Kyle Harrington

Phone Number: 613-773-0732

Email Address: kyle.harrinton@canada.ca

Inquiries

Inquiries regarding this RFP requirement must be submitted to the Contracting Authority named above. Request for Proposal (RFP) documents will be e-mailed directly from the Contracting Authority to the Qualified Supply Arrangement Holders who are being invited to bid on this requirement. BIDDERS ARE ADVISED THAT “BUYANDSELL.GC.CA” IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS. The Crown retains the right to negotiate with any supplier on any procurement. Documents may be submitted in either official language.

NOTE: Task and Solutions Professional Services (TSPS) Method of Supply is refreshed three (3) times per year. If you wish to find out how you can be a “Qualified SA Holder”, please contact RCNMDAI.‐NCRIMOS@pwgsc.gc.ca