Background information for suppliers
On this page
- Procurement vehicle framework
- Procurement phases
- Objectives
- Delivering cloud procurements
- Overview: Submission review process
- More information
Procurement vehicle framework
The Government of Canada (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 Government of Canada cloud services procurement vehicle. In parallel, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) issued a request for information (RFI) on October 29, 2018 to seek feedback from the industry on proposed approach and requirements to procure software as a service (SaaS) solutions. PSPC received 47 responses to the request for information, and conducted 1-on-1 sessions with interested suppliers to refine the approach and requirements of this request for supply arrangement (RFSA), and better align with industry best practices on cloud procurement.
The SaaS RFSA procurement phases were extensive as reflected below.
Procurement phases of the software as a service supply arrangement
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A flowchart depicts 4 phases of the software as a service supply arrangement (SaaSSA) procurement process.
October 2018
- Software as a service request for information (47 responses received)
- Industry 1 on 1 sessions (33 one on one sessions held)
May 10, 2019
- Publish request for supply arrangement
June 17 2019
- Public Service and Procurement Canada begins accepting submissions
2020
- Procurement vehicle available for use
Procurement phases
In this section
- Request for information
- 1-on-1 sessions with request for information respondents
- Request for supply arrangements
- Public Services and Procurement Canada began accepting submissions
Request for information
A request for information (RFI) (EN578-191593/C) was issued in October 2018. This RFI aimed to obtain input from industry in order to help establish a new method of supply for SaaS requirements. PSPC received 47 submissions in response to the RFI.
1-on-1 sessions with request for information respondents
33 1-on-1 sessions with interested suppliers were held in March and April 2019 to gather feedback in order to finalize the requirements for the RFSA. PSPC incorporated feedback from the industry in simplifying contract terms and conditions and developing the public cloud limitation of liability provisions.
Request for supply arrangements
PSPC, on behalf of the GC, issued an RFSA in May 2019 to establish a new method of supply to satisfy various 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. In the RFSA phase, PSPC may issue supply arrangements (SA). Once established, the SaaS supply arrangements (SaaSSA) (resulting from the SaaS RFSA) will allow suppliers to join the qualified list of suppliers and update their products, services and prices on an ongoing basis.
Public Services and Procurement Canada begins accepting submissions
PSPC began 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.
Objectives
The objectives of this GC Cloud SaaS RFSA are to:
- simplify the procurement process to acquire SaaS solutions and support GC procurement modernization and contract simplification initiatives
- increase competition and access to the latest SaaS solutions on the market for the GC
- increase transparency, openness and fairness in public sector procurement processes
As highlighted in the GC Digital Operations Strategic Plan: 2018 to 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.
Delivering 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. PSPC’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 SAs with SaaS solution catalogues and will facilitate simplified solicitation and contracting processes for individual client requirements.
PSPC and SSC worked closely to ensure the alignment of best practices on cloud procurement, including the development of a cloud commodity grouping to address limitation of liability, as well as inclusion of common security requirements in our respective cloud procurement vehicles. These elements lay the foundation of cloud procurement activities in the GC.
Overview: 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 is categorized as follows:
- Stream 1 includes 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
- Stream 2 includes 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
- Stream 3 includes 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 certification 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
- Stream 4 includes 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 began 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 SAs is intended as a collaborative process. Therefore, any submission received by PSPC that fails to demonstrate compliance to the requirements of this RFSA will not be rejected. Rather, PSPC 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 a submission in response to this request for SAs.
More information
For any questions regarding the RFSA, please feel free to Contact the supply arrangement authority.
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