RFSA - SaaS Method of Supply (GC Cloud)

Trade Agreement: 
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Competitive Procurement Strategy: Subsequent/Follow-on Contracts
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 

AMENDMENT 022
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is issuing Amendment 022 to advise industry of the following:

- The RFSA - SaaS Method of Supply (GC Cloud) (Solicitation number: EN578-191593/F) will become inactive on this landing page as of October 20th, 2023 as it is being transferred to SAP Ariba.

- The  RFSA - SaaS Method of Supply (GC Cloud) (Solicitation number: EN578-191593/F) is now available here: https://service.ariba.com/Discovery.aw/ad/viewRFX?id=17716403 

- That all other terms and conditions within the RFSA remain the same. 

- This does not impact the current status of any active Supply Arrangements or Submissions.

- Any questions regarding the RFSA SaaS Method of Supply can be sent to our generic inbox: LENQS / SAAS (TPSGC/PWGSC) TPSGC.LENQS-SAAS.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca 
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AMENDMENT 021
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is issuing Amendment 021 to:
- Minor administrative changes that do not affect the meaning and impact of the terms and conditions made throughout.
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AMENDMENT 020
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is issuing Amendment 020 to:
- Respond to questions received regarding the RFSA.
- Modify the RFSA.
- Replace Part 6 - Supply Arrangement in its entirety with an updated version.
- Replace Annex N- List of Approved PSPC and Client Authorities with an updated version.
- Minor administrative changes that do not affect the meaning and impact of the terms and conditions made throughout.
- Replace solicitations documents in their entirety to incorporate revisions made in Amendment 001 to Amendment 020.
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AMENDMENT 019
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is issuing Amendment 019 to:

Advise industry that due to an administrative error Amendment 018 did not include a summary of changes. As a result of such, Amendment 019 is to notify industry of the summary of changes evident in Amendment 018.
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AMENDMENT 018
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is issuing Amendment 018 to:

- Respond to questions received regarding the RFSA.

- Modify the RFSA.

- Replace Part 6 - Supply Arrangement in its entirety with an updated version.

- Amend Annex A - Qualification Requirements, to modify Tier 1 M6 and M7, and Tier 2 M11.

- Replace Annex F - Resulting Contract Clauses with an updated version.

- Replace Annex N- List of Approved PSPC and Client Authorities with an updated version.

- Replace Form 1 - Request for Supply Arrangement Submission Form with an updated version.

- Minor administrative changes that do not affect the meaning and impact of the terms and conditions made throughout.

- Replace solicitations documents in their entirety to incorporate revisions made in Amendment 001 to Amendment 018.
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AMENDMENT 017
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is issuing Amendment 017 to:

- Respond to questions received regarding the RFSA.

- Modify the RFSA and incorporate Stream 4: Unclassified.

- Replace Part 6 - Supply Arrangement in its entirety with an updated version.

- Replace Annex F - Resulting Contract Clauses with an updated version.

- Replace Annex J - Security Classification Guide with an updated version.

- Replace Annex N- List of Approved PSPC and Client Authorities.

- Replace Form 5 - Submission Completeness Review Checklist Form with an updated version.

-Remove Form 6 - SCI Submission Template in its entirety.

- Minor administrative changes that do not affect the meaning and impact of the terms and conditions made throughout.

- Replace solicitations documents in their entirety to incorporate revisions made in Amendment 001 to Amendment 017.
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AMENDMENT 016
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is issuing Amendment 016 to:

- Respond to questions received regarding the RFSA.

- Modify the RFSA.

- Replace Part 6 - Supply Arrangement in its entirety with an updated version.

- Replace Annex C - SaaS Solutions and Ceiling Prices in its entirety with an updated version.

- Replace Annex F - Resulting Contract Clauses in its entirety with an updated version.

- Replace Annex J - Security Classification Guide in its entirety with an updated version.

- Replace Annex M - Supply Arrangement Quarterly Reports Template in its entirety with an updated version.

- Replace Form 1 - Request For Supply Arrangement Submission Form in its entirety with an updated version.

- Minor administrative changes that do not affect the meaning and impact of the terms and conditions made throughout.

- Replace solicitations documents in their entirety to incorporate revisions made in Amendment 001 to Amendment 016.
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AMENDMENT 015
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is issuing Amendment 015 to:

- Notify the industry of the second round of Submissions to be evaluated by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) and give specifications on how to apply.

- Respond to questions received regarding the RFSA.

- Share the questions that were raised during the SaaS RFSA Industry Day on January 11, 2021, along with the associated responses.

- Amend Annex A - Qualification Requirements, to modify Tier 1 M5 and M7, and Tier 2 M8 and M11.

- Replace Annex C - SaaS Solutions and Professional Services Ceiling Prices in its entirety with an updated version.

- Replace Part 6 - Supply Arrangement in its entirety with an updated version.

- Amend Part 7 - Contractor Selection and Resulting Contract Clauses, to modify Section 7.2 Contractor Selection and Section 7.3 Bid Solicitation Process.

- Replace Annex F - SaaS Resulting Contract Clauses in its entirety with an updated version.

- Replace Annex H - Security Requirements for Foreign Suppliers in its entirety with an updated version.

- Provide the industry with a copy of the Protected SaaS RFSA Industry Day presentation.
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AMENDMENT 014
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is issuing Amendment 014 to:

- Respond to questions received regarding the RFSA.

- Replace Part 6 - Supply Arrangement in its entirety with an updated version of the Supply Arrangement, which has been added in an editable version under the Attachments section of the Tender Notice page: RFSA - SaaS Method of Supply (GC Cloud) (EN578-191593/F).

- Add Annex M - Supply Arrangement Quarterly Reports Template; and 

- Add Annex N - List of Approved PWGSC and Client Authorities.
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AMENDMENT 013
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has issued Amendment 013 to:

-  Notify Suppliers who onboarded into the first round of CCCS IT Security Assessment Program that may expect delays in having their assessments completed due to the COVID-19 situation; and,

- Respond to questions received from the Industry regarding the RFSA. 
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AMENDMENT 012
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has issued Amendment 012 to:

- Respond to questions received from the Industry regarding the RFSA;  

- Update the RFSA to incorporate new changes as well as those made in Amendments 1 to 11; 

- Update Annex F - Resulting Contract Clauses; and,

- Add Forms 1 to 6 and Annex C in editable versions.
See Attachments section to download the files in editable versions:

- Annex C - SaaS Solutions and professional Services Ceiling Prices

- Form 1 - Request for Supply Arrangement Submission Form

- Form 2 - SaaS Publisher Certification Form

- Form 3 - SaaS Publisher Authorization Form

- Form 4 - Certification Requirements for the Set-Aside Program for Aboriginal Business

- Form 5 - Submission Completeness Review Checklist

- Form 6 - SCI Submission Template
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AMENDMENT 011
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) would like to notify the industry that the first round of Submissions will be onboarded by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) on February 10, 2020.  For additional information on the onboarding process, please see notice under Amendment 011.  
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AMENDMENT 010
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has hold a SaaS RFSA Industry Information Day on January 21.  A copy of the Protected SaaS RFSA Industry Day presentation and Q and A are available under Amendment 010 of the RFSA. 

The intent of the Information Industry Day was to provide suppliers with information and guidance related to the SaaS RFSA and how to participate under this procurement vehicle to meet GC business needs and requirements on the proposed service delivery options and procurement processes for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).  
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Summary of the Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA):

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on behalf of the Government of Canada (GC), is issuing this Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA) to establish a new method of supply to satisfy various Software as a Service (SaaS) requirements. This new method of supply is a key procurement enabler for the GC’s Cloud First direction and is part of an envisioned GC Cloud Services Procurement Vehicle framework that will consist of various methods of supply to satisfy both classified and unclassified cloud requirements.

The objectives of this SaaS RFSA are to:

a) simplify the procurement process to acquire SaaS Solutions and support GC procurement modernization and contract simplification initiatives;

b) increase competition and access to the latest SaaS solutions on the market for the GC; and

c) increase transparency, openness and fairness in public sector procurement processes. 

As highlighted in the GC Digital Operations Strategic Plan: 2018-2022 published by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, procurement enablers such as this SaaS RFSA will help position the GC and public sector partners to leverage the latest digital technologies to achieve better results for Canadians.

Background:

The GC Cloud Services Procurement Vehicle framework represents an innovative approach to procure cloud by leveraging various methods of supply to satisfy cloud requirements for the GC and public sector entities, which may include but are not limited to provincial, territorial, and municipal governments.

On September 7, 2018, Shared Services Canada (SSC) published an Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) as the first stream of the procurement process for the GC Cloud Services Procurement Vehicle (https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-18-00841719). In parallel, PSPC issued an RFI on October 29, 2018 to seek feedback from the industry on proposed approach and requirements to procure SaaS Solutions. PSPC received 47 responses to the Request for Information, and conducted one-on-one sessions with interested suppliers to refine the approach and requirements of this RFSA, and better align with industry best practices on cloud procurement.

Organizing the GC to Effectively Deliver Cloud Procurements:

Within the GC, PSPC and SSC jointly support federal organizations in procuring IT goods and services. With respect to procuring cloud-based offerings, the procurement responsibilities of each organization extends to the various elements of cloud stack from the infrastructure to the software application layers. The division of procurement responsibilities reflects the procurement mandate of each respective organization in supporting GC clients.

In line with each organization’s mandate, SSC’s procurement role in cloud-based offerings mirrors their responsibilities in managing the GC infrastructure, networks, common workplace technology devices and cyber security. PWGSC?s procurement role is primarily in software application and development space, supporting clients in their service delivery and back-office functions. 

This RFSA will qualify Suppliers for issuance of Supply Arrangements with SaaS solution catalogues and will facilitate simplified solicitation and contracting processes for individual client requirements. 

PSPC and SSC are working closely to ensure the alignment of best practices on cloud procurement, including the development of a cloud commodity group to address limitation of liability as well as common security requirements. These elements lay the foundation of cloud procurement activities in the GC.

Overview of the Submission Review Process:

To best meet the needs of the GC and manage the volume of Submissions in response to this RFSA, the process to review Submissions and to qualify Suppliers will be categorized as follows: 

a) Stream 1: will include Submissions from Suppliers with SaaS Solutions and Services that comply with Canada’s requirements for storing and processing Protected B information as detailed in Annex A, Qualification Requirements, Tier 2. 

b) Stream 2: will include Submissions from Suppliers with SaaS Solutions and Services that comply with Canada’s requirements for storing and processing information up to Protected A, as detailed in Annex A, Qualification Requirements, Tier 1. 

c) Stream 3: will include Submissions from Value-Added Resellers of SaaS Solutions and Services.  Value-Added Resellers who intend to present a Submission to qualify as a Supplier must comply with Annex A, Qualification Requirements, Tier 1 for up to Protected A and must submit certifications from the SaaS Publisher, in accordance with the SaaS Publisher Authorization Form (Form 3), to certify that the Supplier has been authorized to supply the SaaS Solution Publisher’s Solution(s). Value-Added Resellers will not be permitted to qualify under Protected B.

d) Stream 4: will include Submissions from Suppliers or Value-Added Resellers with SaaS Solutions and Services that comply with Canada’s requirement for storing and processing unclassified information

Canada will begin reviewing Submissions received under Stream 1, 2 and 3 on June 17, 2019 and began reviewing Submissions received under Stream 4 on February 21, 2022.

Canada wishes to clarify that this Request for Supply Arrangements is intended as a collaborative process. Therefore, any Submission received by Canada that fails to demonstrate compliance to the requirements of this RFSA will not be rejected. Rather, Canada will work with the Supplier in order to clarify and obtain the missing information.
Please refer to the Solicitation Documents section below for the RFSA package, including all relevant documents to prepare Submissions in response to this Request for Supply Arrangements.

Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.