Foreign Banking Services

Trade Agreement: WTO-AGP/NAFTA/AIT/Canada FTAs with Peru/Colombia/Panama
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Competitive Procurement Strategy: 
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 

TITLE: Foreign banking services 

Overview

The Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) on behalf of the Receiver General (RG) for Canada requires foreign banking services.  The scope of the arrangement which the RG is seeking to put in place covers payments in foreign currency with a foreign or Canadian destination and acceptance of foreign currency receipts.  

The initial period of any resulting contract is proposed to be five (5) years commencing from date of contract award with an irrevocable option to extend the period of the proposed Contract by up to three (3) additional one (1) year periods plus a transition period for post payment activities of up to one (1) year.

There is a security requirement associated with this requirement.  Respondents who currently do not meet the facility security clearance and/or personnel security clearance should initiate the security clearance process promptly by requesting sponsorship from the Contracting Authority.  See “Security requirement” section below.

Requirement

The Contractor is responsible for the provision of all foreign banking services on behalf of the RG. The RG does not use any financial instruments, such as forwards, swaps, futures or options to manage its exposures to foreign exchange variations. The scope covers the issuance of payments in foreign currency with a foreign or Canadian destination and the acceptance of foreign currency receipts.

The RG’s primary goals and objectives are to:

a. maintain or improve current levels of service provided to recipients of  RG payments outside of Canada, with an emphasis on minimizing the cost to recipients for receiving and cashing RG payments and enhancing the options available to recipients, bearing in mind the cost to Canada and unique or unusual conditions in the destination country;
b. meet the requirements of federal government departments and agencies in terms of breadth of coverage, availability of payment options, and provision of operational support;
c. integrate the provision of foreign banking services into the RG’s domestic processes to the extent possible, taking into consideration differences in national banking processes and cost to Canada;
d. increase efficiency through automation and best practices while fully ensuring payment system integrity,  privacy of information and that federal identity requirements are met; 
e. maintain or improve current levels of service for the handling of foreign currency receipts; and,
f. utilize AFTto the greatest extent to make government payments and receipts in each country as efficient, fast, convenient, cost-effective and secure as possible.
g. Facilitate the use of new technology-enabled business models, such as mobile money, mobile point-of sale systems, and card-less ATM access to reduce costs and enhance access to remittances, particularly for Canadians residing in remote areas.

Security requirement
  
The following security requirement (SRCL and related clauses provided by the Industrial Security Program (ISP)) apply and form part of the Contract: 

1.  The Contractor/Offeror must, at all times during the performance of the Contract/Standing Offer, hold a valid Designated Organization Screening (DOS) with approved, Document Safeguarding at the level of PROTECTED B, issued by the Canadian Industrial Security Directorate (CISD), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

2.  The Contractor/Offeror personnel requiring access to PROTECTED information, assets or work site(s)must EACH hold a valid RELIABILITY STATUS, granted or approved by the Canadian Industrial Security Directorate (CISD), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

3.  The Contractor MUST NOT utilize its Information Technology systems to electronically process, produce or store PROTECTED information until the CISD/PWGSC has issued written approval.  After approval has been granted or approved, these tasks may be performed at the level of PROTECTED B. (including an IT Link at the level of B).

4. Subcontracts which contain security requirements are NOT to be awarded without the prior written permission of CISD/PSPC.

5.  The Contractor/Offeror must comply with the provisions of the:

(a) Security Requirements Check List and security guide (if applicable), attached at Annex C;
(b) Industrial Security Manual (Latest Edition).

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

The bid must meet the mandatory technical criteria and any bid which meets all the mandatory technical criteria will be evaluated and scoredas specified in the point rated technical criteria.

MTC1: The Bidder must be a member of the Canadian Payments Association (CPA), or have an agreement with a CPA member during the period of the contract and any exercised option and transition periods.

MTC2: The Bidder must be a Large Value Transfer System (LVTS) participant, or have an agreement with an LVTS participant during the period of the contract and any exercised option and transition periods.

MTC3: The Bidder must provide AFT payment coverage to all countries where AFT coverage is mandatory. This includes Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

MTC4: The Bidder must provide local currency cheque payment coverage to all countries where local currency cheque coverage is mandatory. This includes Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (China), India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

MTC5: Canada has an obligation to issue socio-economic payments abroad. In support of this requirement, the Bidder must be able to offer payment coverage, in the form of local currency cheque or AFT or CAD / USD cheque payments or wire, to all countries identified in Annex A, Appendix 1 - Required Payment Coverage.

BASIS OF SELECTION

A bid must comply with the requirements of the bid solicitation and must meet all mandatory evaluation criteria and obtain the required minimum number of points specified for the point rated technical criteria to be declared responsive.

The responsive bid with the lowest evaluated price per point will be recommended for award of a contract.
  
PWGSC CONTACT:

Roxane Baker
Supply Specialist
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Acquisitions Branch
Professional Services Procurement Directorate
Place du Portage, Phase III, 10C1
11 Laurier Street
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0S5

Tel: (873) 469-4960
Fax: (819) 956-2675
Email: roxane.baker@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca


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.