Contracting for Services

Every year, the Canadian government contracts for thousands of services from the private sector to satisfy immediate needs or in connection with the purchase of goods. Services being contracted relate either to goods or to intangible services.

Eligibility Criteria

All suppliers who wish to do business with the Government of Canada.

Summary

Contracting for services has always been an effective way for the federal government to meet unexpected fluctuations in workload, acquire special expertise not available in-house and sometimes replace public servants during temporary absences.

A sizeable part of service contracting is directly done by the end users: Special Operating Agencies (SOAs), individual departments and Crown corporations. Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) only contracts for a portion of all services bought from the private sector by the federal government.

In PWGSC, most competitive service opportunities valued at $25,000 or more are advertised electronically on MERX^TM (electronic tendering service) as Notices of Proposed Procurement (NPPs), including requirements subject to international trade agreements. Printing service requirements over $10,000 are also advertised on MERX^TM .

Requirements worth $84,000 or more for architectural and engineering services and services related to real property are posted as NPPs on MERX^TM. Construction requirements worth $100,000 or more are also posted as NPPs on MERX^TM .

MERX^TM  - Electronic Tendering Service posts requirements for expressions of interest from suppliers to carry out specific projects. MERX^TM also provides information on companies that have requested bid documents. This information can be used by would-be bidders to seek alliance, partnership, or joint venture opportunities.

PWGSC Key Markets for Service Requirements

• Land, Aerospace and Marine Systems and Major Projects Sector (LAMSMPS);
• Commercial Acquisition and Supply Management Sector (CASMS);
• Real Property Contracting Directorate; 
• Services and Technology Acquisition Management Sector (STAMS);
• Translation Bureau;
• Consulting and Audit Canada (CAC).

PWGSC also plays a special role with regard to temporary help contracting. This department negotiates standing offer agreements with private firms to provide for qualified personnel for temporary assignments of up to 20 weeks. 

The Business Access Canada Information Centre has a continuing program of seminars and information on key topics such as proposal writing, contracting for services to the federal government and Canadian content. For more information on how to sell services, contact your nearest PWGSC office or the Business Access Canada Information Centre.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Division
Ms. Nathalie Sears
Client/Supplier Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Unit 108, Lobby C, 1st Floor
1045 Main Street
Moncton, New Brunswick  E1C 1H1
Telephone: 506-851-3467
Fax: 506-851-6759
E-mail: nathalie.sears@pwgsc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/text/index-e.html

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National Contact(s):
Business Access Canada
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Room 6C1, Phase III, Place du Portage
11 Laurier Street
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0S5
Fax: 819-956-6123
Toll-free (information): 1-800-811-1148
E-mail: ncr.contractscanada@pwgsc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/text/index-e.html