ProServices

ProServices is the Government of Canada's mandatory method of supply for professional services valued below the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) threshold. It is implemented through supply arrangements that give federal organizations access to pre-qualified suppliers. It is not a standing offer and it is not a contract. Details are on the PSPC ProServices page.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) administers ProServices for Government of Canada client departments, Crown corporations and agencies. Suppliers pre-qualify once, and departments then use the arrangement to find suppliers for their professional-services requirements. A contract is formed only after a department runs a solicitation or issues a directed contract under the applicable rules.

A supply arrangement, not a standing offer

A supply arrangement is a pre-qualification mechanism. Being on the ProServices list shows that a supplier has met the evaluation criteria for a category. It does not guarantee any work. PSPC states that call-ups cannot be issued against ProServices, because it is not a standing offer. Each requirement needs its own bid solicitation or directed contract.

Streams and categories covered by ProServices

ProServices contains 15 streams and 185 categories. The method covers information technology professional services, non-IT professional services, alternative dispute resolution, health services and learning services for government-owned training. Non-IT work includes areas such as business and project management, human resources and technical services. The full breakdown is published on the streams and categories page.

These categories mirror those used in the Task-Based Informatics Professional Services (TBIPS) and Task and Solutions Professional Services (TSPS) methods. The difference is scope. ProServices remains the mandatory method for covered requirements below the CKFTA threshold.

Directed contracts and competitive bids

How a department buys through ProServices depends on the value of the requirement. For requirements below $40,000, departments with appropriate delegated contracting authority may award a directed contract to a pre-qualified supplier, subject to the stated conditions.

• For other requirements below the CKFTA threshold, the department solicits bids from pre-qualified suppliers and generally invites at least two.
• The bid solicitation or directed contract sets out the mandatory qualifications, security requirements, statement of work and resulting-contract clauses.

Pre-qualifying through the RFSA and the CPSS ePortal

The principal pre-qualification solicitation is the Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA). Suppliers respond to it to show they meet the applicable evaluation criteria for each category they want. They must enrol and submit the required online response through the Centralized Professional Services System (CPSS) ePortal, as the RFSA instructs. PSPC explains the steps on its page on how to pre-qualify for ProServices.

What ProServices means for suppliers

If you sell professional services to federal departments and the work falls below the CKFTA threshold, pre-qualification under ProServices is the route to those requirements. Without it, you cannot take part in these solicitations or receive directed contracts.

• Pre-qualify in every category that matches your services.
• Keep your CPSS ePortal information current.
• Read each department's solicitation closely for its mandatory qualifications and security requirements.
• Expect each contract to be won on its own terms, since the arrangement itself carries no guaranteed work.

You can also review the guidance PSPC gives government employees to see how buyers approach these requirements.