TRANSLATION BUREAU/INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES ADVISORY PANEL (IRAP)

IMPORTANT : Please disregard all other versions of the terms of reference than: TermsOfReference_IRAP_Dec042014


Activity

The Translation Bureau intends to set up an advisory panel for the language industry and would like to invite the language industry stakeholders to participate in this new panel as a member. 


Why set up an industry advisory panel?
The Translation Bureau has undertaken a large-scale transformation initiative designed to modernize the Bureau and put it on solid footing for the future. 
 
One of the pillars of this transformation is the reform of the linguistic services procurement process, whose objectives are to: 
•	Consolidate and streamline internal procurement services
•	Improve contracting processes
•	Adopt a procurement strategy for the Translation Bureau as a whole 

With this new procurement strategy, the Bureau wishes to collaborate further with the industry by establishing an advisory body that will meet biannually to discuss industry and supplier issues and perspectives relating to Bureau and other government initiatives, as well as to look at future trends in the industry, government purchasing and technology.  


What is the purpose of the advisory panel?
The Industry Representatives Advisory Panel will:
•	Serve as an ongoing platform for holding consultations, sharing information and experiences regarding the language industry and discussing linguistic-service and procurement issues raised by suppliers that fall within the responsibility of the Bureau and PWGSC;
•	Complement and supplement the Bureau’s expertise by providing the Bureau with external perspectives and greater knowledge of the industry;
•	Capitalize on procurement-related and share best practices by providing a platform for industry wide issues with the aim of resolving them, and thus improve Bureau-supplier relations;
•	Add opportunities for improvement, best practices and trends; and
•	Serve as a mechanism for identifying emerging procurement issues.

 
1) Mandate
2) Industry Representatives Advisory Panel Membership 
3) Roles
4) Industry Representatives Advisory Panel Operations 

Expression of interest in becoming an Industry Representatives Advisory Panel member
If you are interested in participating on the Committee, please send your request before December 8, 2014 to the agent responsible of the Panel: joel.pronovost@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca. Indicate in the subject heading "Industry Representatives Advisory Panel Membership Request" and include a response (Yes or No) to each of the numbered questions below.

1)	Are you able to comply with the responsibilities assigned to the member roles as described in the terms of reference?

2)	Are you able to commit to attending committee meetings and to undertaking committee work that may arise? 

3)	Do you have knowledge and capacity to participate effectively on behalf of your operational sector in the industry?

4)	Have you had experience working with government and government clients?

5)	Do you represent a professional association?

The Translation Bureau will review membership requests and will assign membership taking into consideration, as a minimum, the representation of necessary interests, committee size and according to the conditions below:

•	Preference will be given to granting membership to a professional association over individual or companies when a large number of individuals and companies express an interest in participating on the Committee. 

•	Preference will be given, to the extent possible, to candidates representing the three main areas of the language industry, namely translation, interpretation and terminology. 

Participants will be invited to attend the first Panel meeting in the coming weeks.