Supply Arrangement Authority (SAA)

The Supply Arrangement Authority (SAA) is the designated PSPC official who holds the delegated authority to issue, administer, and manage a supply arrangement on behalf of Canada and the Minister. Think of this person as the gatekeeper and steward of the entire pre-qualified supplier pool. While individual departments can compete task authorizations among qualified suppliers, the SAA maintains control over who gets on the list, who stays on it, and when the arrangement itself gets modified or terminated.

How It Works

When PSPC establishes a supply arrangement for recurring needs like professional services, IT support, or audit services, they designate an SAA to run the show. According to PSPC's guidance on solution-based professional services, the SAA "is the main delegated authority on behalf of Canada and the Minister for the administration and management of this SA" and "will act as the overall maintainer of the TSPS SA pre-qualified supplier's list."

Here's the thing: the SAA doesn't just set up the arrangement and walk away. They're responsible for issuing the original SA to qualified bidders, managing supplier performance issues, and authorizing any changes to the arrangement terms. The 2009-2010 Procurement Practices Review notes that while an SA is "a non-binding arrangement between the government and a pre-qualified supplier," the SAA maintains significant control over the supplier pool. If a supplier defaults on their commitments, the SAA can suspend them. After three suspensions? A fourth default means the SAA terminates their SA entirely—and that supplier faces a one-year waiting period before they can even apply for requalification.

The SAA also decides when to add new suppliers to existing arrangements. Canada explicitly reserves the right to issue SAs to bidders who qualify "throughout the entire period of the SA," as outlined in the task-based services policy. The supplier list isn't static—the SAA can expand it as new qualified firms emerge, which keeps competition healthy but also requires ongoing administration.

Key Considerations

• The SAA's authority is specific to the arrangement itself—not to individual task authorizations or call-ups. Your department can compete and award tasks from the pre-qualified list without involving the SAA, but any issues with supplier qualification or SA terms go back to them.

• Changes to the SA require written authorization from the SAA. You can't negotiate side deals with suppliers that modify the fundamental terms of the arrangement, even if both parties agree.

• If the SAA needs to cancel an entire supply arrangement, they must provide at least 30 calendar days' notice to all qualified suppliers. That's not a lot of time if your department relies heavily on that SA for ongoing work.

• The SAA role typically sits within PSPC's procurement services branches, organized by commodity or service type. Professional audit support, IT services, and consulting arrangements each have their own designated authorities.

Related Terms

Supply Arrangement, Task Authorization, Standing Offer, Contracting Authority

Sources

• Solution-based Supply Arrangement - Professional Services, PSPC

• Procurement Practices Review 2009-2010, Office of the Procurement Ombud

• Supply Manual, PSPC

When you're working with a supply arrangement, know who the SAA is and what falls under their authority versus yours. It'll save you headaches when performance issues arise or when you need clarity on whether a supplier truly qualifies.