MGI Policy Implementation Fund: Call for Project Proposals

The purpose of this letter is to invite you to submit project proposals for the second intake of the MGI Policy implementation fund. On January 23, 2004 the TBSAC Information Management Sub-Committee (TIMS) approved a central fund of $6M over two fiscal years to support the implementation of the MGI Policy. TIMS delegated to the Information Management Policy Committee (IMPC) the management of the MGI Policy Implementation Fund.

On April 29, 2004, an invitation was sent out to federal government departments and agencies to submit project proposals. In the first round, forty-one project proposals were received from 23 departments. Following an evaluation process involving experts from various domains of IM from 15 departments and agencies, nineteen projects were recommended, and subsequently approved by IMPC for funding. The list of projects with summaries of objectives are available on the IMRC website at the following URL: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/im-gi/implement/mgi-gig_e.asp

We are now prepared to proceed with intake 2 of the MGI Policy Implementation fund, and you are invited to submit proposals. As the remaining funds are limited - $868,000 - funding is restricted to a ceiling of $100,000 per project. As in the first round, project proposals must be based upon an IM Capacity assessment or a departmental or agency IM plan, approved by a CIO or senior executive. Substantiating documentation must be submitted with the project proposal. Also, as required in intake 1, departments and agencies must contribute at least 50% of the total project cost.

In general, projects must be innovative with transferable results and support implementation of the MGI policy. Once again, given the limited funding available, projects that are aimed at resolving existing legacy record problems (the "paper mountain") as well as those related to the purchase or deployment of RDIMS licenses will not be considered.

Please submit your proposal(s) using the attached project proposal template and submit them to Chantalle Boudreau, Government On-Line Initiative, Public Works and Government Services Canada at chantalle.boudreau@pwgsc.gc.ca no later than February 28, 2005. Proposals may be submitted electronically, however, in such cases a signed hard copy is required to be submitted within a week of the above noted deadline.

Proposals will be rated by expert review teams in accordance with selection criteria as outlined in the attached document. The review results will form the bases of the funding recommendation presented to IMPC for decision in March. Projects that receive funding approval from IMPC will then be required to submit, for review, project proposals prior to implementation.

We appreciate your co-operation and look forward to continuing the collaboration on this important initiative.