Supplier Pre-Qualification (RFSA) - Temporary Help Services for the National Capital Region (NCR)

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This Request for Supply Arrangement is now available at the following link: Tender opportunities | CanadaBuys

Suppliers are reminded of the importance of reading this document in its entirety, as well as all documents incorporated by reference.

March 24, 2023: A new version of the Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA), Spring 2023 version, has been added below.

December 6, 2021: A new version of the Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA), December 2021 version, has been added below.

June 18, 2020: Addition of a new recourse mechanism clause in Part 2, Article 2.8.

June 17, 2020: A new version of the Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA), Summer 2020 version, has been added below.

April 16, 2020: Addition of 2 new categories [nurse and psychologist]. A new version of the Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA), Spring 2020 version, has been added below.

PERMANENT NOTICE

This is the permanent notice for the Request for Supply Arrangement of the Temporary Help Services method of supply in the National Capital Region only. As long as this permanent notice remains active, THS Supply Arrangements may be issued to all suppliers that meet the qualification requirements of the RFSA.

Potential suppliers must submit their bids through the Centralized Professional Services System (CPSS) and follow the instructions provided in the RFSA document and on the CPSS system available at: https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/spc-cps/spc-cps-eng.html

Canada may receive arrangements perpetually but reserves the right to conduct the evaluation of arrangements in cycles, not less than quarterly.

Quarterly Submission and Evaluation Periods:

Q1 - Submission before June 30 – Evaluation from July 1 to September 30

Q2 - Submission before Sept 30 – Evaluation from October 1 to December 31

Q3 - Submission before Jan 3 – Evaluation from January 4 to March 31

Q4 - Submission before March 31 – Evaluation from April 1 to June 30

Once a Supply Arrangement has been awarded, a THS supplier may qualify for additional classifications or streams every quarter.

NATURE OF REQUIREMENTS:

Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (may be applicable to a subsequent THS RFP):

A portion of this procurement may be set aside under the federal government's Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB). In order to be considered, firms must certify that they qualify as an Aboriginal business as defined in the PSAB and comply with all requirements of the PSAB.

Where a Supplier wishes its arrangement to be considered for set aside for Aboriginal business under the federal government's Set-Aside Program for Aboriginal Business, Suppliers must complete and sign the certification in Part 5 - Certifications of the RFSA.

Only the Canadian Free-Trade Agreement (CFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) apply to this RFSA and any THS subsequent RFPs.

Two pilot projects are being introduced in this method of supply:

1) The first pilot project is to promote greater opportunities for self-identified indigenous suppliers (including PSAB registered businesses) and to increase the diversity of suppliers from other underrepresented groups (such as women, people with disabilities, and visible minorities), in federal government procurement.

2) The second project introduces the Right-Fit Basis of Selection. Under specific circumstances, users have the option of choosing the lowest priced bid or the one representing the best value within a certain price band. Refer to PART 6B, Article 6.2 for details.

These pilot projects will be monitored closely to potentially establish a permanent framework.

By submitting an offer against the RFSA, suppliers are acknowledging that they agree to the process as well as the terms and conditions as described in this solicitation.

BACKGROUND:

The THS method of supply has a total of 14 streams. A full description of the streams and their categories can be found on the Temporary Help Services website at:

https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/sat-ths/sat-thc-26112018-eng.html

No limit is set on the number of Supply Arrangements to be issued.

SECURITY REQUIREMENT:

There is a security requirement associated with this requirement. For additional information, refer to the RFSA document below, Part 4, section 4.2.2 Other Mandatory Requirements.

LOCATION OF SERVICES:

Supply Arrangements will be awarded to Qualified Suppliers for service delivery in the National Capital Region (NCR) only. The NCR boundary is recognized as the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton boundaries in the province of Ontario and the Outaouais Regional Community in the province of Quebec.

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 Supply Arrangement.

ENQUIRIES:

Inquiries can be sent to the Supply Arrangement Authority at:

TPSGC.DGASAT-ABTHS.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

Canada retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any future procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ): (This section will be updated on a regular basis if required)

Question 1:

How can I tell if I will be awarded a Supply Arrangement (SA)?

Answer 1:

After evaluating your bid, the THS Team will be notifying your company via the email address provided in CPSS with details on if your company is awarded a SA. If your company isn’t awarded a SA, details will be provided for why including if only a portion of your bid was rejected, i.e., newly substantiated categories that weren’t awarded. 

Question 2:

In the Evaluation Procedures, Mandatory Technical Criteria, M3 Submission Instructions column it states “Qualify for 3 or more categories but indicate if you are not interested in supplying any of the remaining categories within that stream.” I assume this means that suppliers have the choice of supplying only the categories for which an offer has been submitted without supplying the whole stream. 

Answer 2:

Yes, suppliers have the choice of supplying only the requested categories if they do not intend on supplying the whole stream.

However, if bidders have 3 categories in a stream, they can gain the rest of the categories in the stream without providing references.

Please refer to the RFSA’s Attachment A section for instructions on completing your bid in CPSS.

Question 3:

How do we identify ourselves as a diverse supplier?

Answer 3:

1- In CPSS, suppliers must check the box under the “Diverse Status” section.

2- In the RFSA, suppliers must refer to Annex B, Validation for Diverse Suppliers

3- Suppliers will be asked by the THS Team to submit the completed Diverse Supplier Self-Attestation form (Attachment “B” of the RFSA) by email.

Question 4:

I am a new supplier to the Government of Canada (GoC), can I bid on this requirement?

Answer 4:

Yes, as long as the supplier meets the RFSA requirements.

Question 5:

What regions are covered under this THS Method of Supply (MoS)?

Answer 5:

This solicitation covers only the National Capital Region (NCR). For information on other regions refer to the Temporary Help Services website – Regional Contact Information found at https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/sat-ths/region-eng.html

Question 6:

I don’t currently have an SA and just submitted my bid in Centralized Professional Service System (CPSS). What else is required from me?

Answer 6:

After the solicitation closing period has closed, Canada will be evaluating your bid and following up via email for additional documents which are identified as DCC+ in the RFSA - Submission Grid – Section 3.3; Canada encourages all bidders to have these documents prepared in PDF format so that a timely response can be provided. Additionally, note that Canada reserves the right to request additional information beyond what is identified in the RFSA – Submission Grid.

Question 7:

Can Canada please confirm that our understanding is correct and that if there are 10 categories in a stream and we have 3 substantiated categories in that stream through the grandfathering process we can mark the remaining categories as “Newly Substantiated”?

Answer 7:

Yes, this is correct. Mark all desired categories as “Newly Substantiated”. If you do not wish to be granted a category within a stream, select it as “Not offered”.

Question 8:

In marking the remaining categories “Newly Substantiated” the “Substantiate Reference” appears. Can Canada further confirm that we are not required to complete the “Substantiate Reference” fields since we have qualified for 3 or more categories and therefore should be qualified for all categories within that stream, as per Part 4, 4.2 Evaluation Criteria, M3 Stream Qualifications?

Answer 8:

Yes, bidders may choose to supply reference information for only three categories. By only supplying reference information for three categories, the bidder is supplying only the bare minimum, and if PSPC does not receive the necessary reference responses for all three categories during the evaluation period, it will therefore not be able to award the entirety of the stream in question. As per page 41 of the RFSA: “Mandatory Criterion M3 allows for a Supplier who qualifies for 3 or more categories to be considered qualified for all categories within a stream, but the more categories that are bid with complete reference information, the greater the odds Canada may substantiate three categories.