Task-Based Informatics Professional Services (TBIPS)

Task-Based Informatics Professional Services (TBIPS) is a Government of Canada method of supply for informatics professional services. It addresses a specific information technology need through finite, defined tasks, each with specified responsibilities, a start date, an end date and deliverables. A task may call for one or more consultants with specialized skills. The federal task-based supply arrangement page sets out this definition.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) established TBIPS as part of the federal informatics method of supply. Under the informatics method of supply, TBIPS is mandatory for task-based informatics professional services at or above the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) threshold.

What counts as a task under TBIPS

The Government of Canada describes task-based work as generally finite and focused on a particular activity or initiative. It may be one part of a larger project, but it is not ordinarily a broad, end-to-end solution. Transport Canada, in its audit of IM/IT procurement, names TBIPS as one of the instruments it uses most often. It describes TBIPS as addressing a specific IM/IT need through finite assignments with defined dates and deliverables.

The seven TBIPS streams

The TBIPS Supply Arrangement is organized into seven streams. Suppliers qualify within these streams, and each stream contains consultant categories. The streams and categories page lists them:

• Application services
• Geomatics services
• Information management/information technology services
• Business services
• Project management services
• Cyber protection services
• Telecommunications services

TBIPS compared with SBIPS

TBIPS is distinct from Solutions-Based Informatics Professional Services (SBIPS). TBIPS provides predefined, task-focused services. SBIPS is used for broader, comprehensive IT solutions. Both sit within the centralized professional services system run by PSPC, so a buyer's first decision is whether the need is a bounded task or a wider solution.

How federal departments use TBIPS

Federal organizations use TBIPS to acquire software development, project management, cybersecurity, network support, database management, business analysis, quality assurance and technical support, according to PSPC briefing material for the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. CanadaBuys notices show the method in practice:

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada issued “TBIPS – Power Platform”, seeking IM/IT professional services to design, configure, implement, support, integrate and convert data for Microsoft Power Platform operations and projects.
• A PSPC notice of proposed procurement required services under the TBIPS Supply Arrangement, including an Application/Software Architect resource on an “as and when requested” basis.
• An Indigenous Services Canada requirement sought IT business and application services for education and social-development systems through a Task Authorization process.
• A National Defence award notice for a Privacy Impact Assessment Specialist was restricted to TBIPS Supply Arrangement holders qualified in the relevant stream, category, tier, region and expertise level.

What TBIPS means for a supplier

A supplier generally needs the applicable TBIPS Supply Arrangement qualification before it can compete on a TBIPS solicitation. It must be qualified in the stream and consultant category the buyer names. Each solicitation then requires a response that proposes resources meeting the stated tier, expertise level, location and other requirements. Bid teams should read the notice closely for the stream, category, tier and region, because buyers can limit competition to arrangement holders that match all of them. Where work is issued through Task Authorizations, resources are requested as and when the department needs them.