Open Source Software Position
Background
Licensed software including Open-Source Software (OSS) and methods are part
of the corporate standards-based, Information Technology (IT) infrastructure of
the Government of Canada (GoC). Acquisition and usage
decisions must align with the GOC Federated Architecture, while respecting
federal legislation, agreements, guidelines and maximizing the GOC IT
investments and opportunities.
The GoC Federated Architecture Program
The Federated Architecture Program (FAP) has established a set of overarching
principles to guide the development of information technology systems. Guidelines containing one or more of the principles are and will be made
available on various areas of interest including Open Source Software. With
regard to a guideline for use of Open Source Software the following four
principles would be directly applicable:
The FAP does not differentiate among the diverse business models for software
development and any software component developed or obtained for use within the
government of Canada must engage viable and appropriate standards-based
technologies. Integration complexity reduction and the contributing factors must
be considered when making decisions so as to have an effective overall reduction
of the total cost of ownership of the GoC's information technology
infrastructure.
Governance and Oversight
The Treasury Board Secretariat is responsible for the GoC policy on open
source software and for managing governance and oversight of the Government of
Canada Federated Architecture Program. Comptrollership processes ensure
that GoC projects conform to the FAP.
Government of Canada Resources
The complete Federated Architecture Iteration 1 document including the
13 architectural principles can be found at http:www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/fap-paf/documents/iteration/iteration01_e.asp.
A directory of Canadian vendors of open source software solutions and
services is made available by Industry Canada on Strategis is a useful tool.
Guidance and resources related to the acquisition of software can be found on
the Public Works and Government Services Software Acquisition Reference Centre
Web site http://software.pwgsc.gc.ca//help-e.cfm.
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