Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Getting Work with the Federal Government: A Guide to Figuring out the Procurement Puzzle
    Getting Work with the Federal Government: A Guide to Figuring out the Procurement Puzzle
    Getting Work with the Federal Government: A Guide to Figuring out the Procurement Puzzle
    Ebook120 pages1 hour

    Getting Work with the Federal Government: A Guide to Figuring out the Procurement Puzzle

    By Marion Soublière

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    The Government of Canada, which spends about $20 billion yearly on goods and services, wants to do more business these days with small and medium-sized Canadian firms. Can even independent professionals get in on this lucrative market? Absolutely! Find out where to look for federal government contracts through the MERX online tendering system, materiel managers, staff with Public Works and Government Services Canada as well as regional federal economic development agencies, subcontracting opportunities, temp agencies and other sources. Discover how the new Office of Small and Medium Enterprises can help you do business with the feds. Learn how to get on departmental source lists, register with government-wide supplier databases such as Professional Services Online and SELECT, avail of free government seminars, prepare winning proposals, market yourself before and after being awarded standing offers, obtain government security clearance, do business with other governments in Canada and beyond, and more. Getting Work with the Federal Government also includes contact information for the 125 standing offer / supply arrangement holders under the much-utilized new Temporary Help Services On-Line System that fulfils many federal contract demands in the National Capital Region.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisheriUniverse
    Release dateSep 10, 2010
    ISBN9781450245067
    Getting Work with the Federal Government: A Guide to Figuring out the Procurement Puzzle
    Author

    Marion Soublière

    Marion Soublière is president of M.E.S. Editing and Writing Services (www.meseditingandwriting.com), and a veteran of the communications, journalism and public relations fields. Since 2007, she has been awarded standing offers with four Government of Canada departments/agencies and today contracts primarily to federal clients. She lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

    Related to Getting Work with the Federal Government

    Related ebooks

    Small Business & Entrepreneurs For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Are Debt Collectors Overcharging You? How to Protect Yourself

      Aug 25, 2022

      It’s tough enough trying to get ahead of a debt that’s gone to collection; it’s worse when a debt collector piles on fees, charging you extra to give them money. Yep, that’s right. According to federal officials, some debt collectors charge consumers

      3 min read

    • Article

      Know Your Rights

      Sep 16, 2021

      When buying a motorhome, it’s important to know your rights if something goes wrong. The Consumer Rights Act (CRA) is designed to make consumer law easier to understand, so customers can buy and businesses can sell in confidence, each knowing where t

      3 min read

    • Article

      Busting Trust Myths

      Sep 3, 2020

      “Trust busting” is the term often used to describe instances where a court finds in favour of a claimant trying to access trust assets. Here, though, I do not want to talk about “trust busting”. Instead I want to bust some trust myths. There has been

      2 min read

    • Article

      6 Apartment REITs to Buy for Steady Yields

      Jun 10, 2019

      In a world of minuscule interest rates, investors are searching far and wide for yield. But many of them don't need to look beyond the front door - if they live in an apartment. Apartment real estate investment trusts (REITs) are well-poised to deliv

      7 min read

    • Article

      Changes To Trust Legislation

      Apr 2, 2020

      It has often been considered that the role of trustee of a trust is an onerous one, with trustees exposed to liability claims by beneficiaries if financial decisions don’t work out. This has led to increasing reluctance by professionals to offer them

      2 min read

    • Article

      What You Need to Know About the Shadow Banking System Now

      Jun 21, 2019

      The term "shadow banking" often elicits thoughts of shady back-alley dealings and loan sharks waiting to take drastic measures against debtors who can't pay. While that makes for an interesting story, it couldn't be further from the truth. Most cons

      6 min read

    • Article

      You Be The Judge

      Jul 1, 2018

      Parents will do anything for their children. Jeffrey Dow Sr. and Kathyrn Dow were no different. They raised their two children, Jeffrey Jr. and Teresa, on 125 acres of bucolic land that they planned to leave to their kids in the hope that both of the

      1 min read

    • Article

      Build a Retirement Plan That Provides Paychecks AND Playchecks

      Apr 22, 2019

      If you're worried about not having enough money saved to retire, you certainly aren't alone. Time and again, polls find it's a top concern for pre-retirees. In one telling survey conducted for Allianz Life in 2017, 63% of respondents said they feare

      3 min read

    • Article

      Consider Your Trustee Carefully: It Makes a Difference

      Oct 14, 2019

      You've made it to a place in your estate planning where it's been determined that setting up a trust will help accomplish the many goals you have for your family. You've done extensive research and worked with your adviser to select the type of tr

      2 min read

    • Article

      Why Do I Need a Trust?

      Aug 31, 2022

      There are some simple estate planning techniques that you can use, such as adding beneficiaries to your retirement accounts or adding transfer on death (TOD) designations to after-tax accounts. When you pass away these assets will avoid probate and c

      3 min read

    • Article

      Pre-Election Estate Planning Moves for High-Net-Worth Families

      Aug 16, 2020

      Election Day may seem far off at the moment, but as we stride into the summer, it’s prudent to reflect on the intimate relationship between presidential politics, policy changes and your estate planning. As you may recall, prior to the 2016 president

      6 min read

    • Article

      What Trustees Should Know About Property Transactions

      Apr 17, 2021

      UNDER the Alienation of Land Act, any deed of sale of immovable property has to be in writing, and the parties thereto or their agents have to be legally authorised to act at the time of signing of the contract. Section 2(1) of the act provides that

      4 min read

    • Article

      What Happens to Your Digital Assets When You Die?

      Apr 29, 2021

      Not very long ago, owning a personal computer was a novelty. Today we all interact personally and professionally using desktop or laptop computers and access the internet by way of cellphones. The constant presence of digital information in our lives

      2 min read

    • Article

      How to Beat Pesky Fees

      Dec 27, 2019

      How to Beat Pesky Fees
      10 min read

    • Article

      Tax Forms You Need to File Your Return

      Jan 28, 2019

      [Question]What tax forms should I be receiving before tax-filing season, and when should I expect to get them? [Answer]Your employer should be sending your Form W-2 to you by the end of January. In the next few weeks you should also be on the lookout

      2 min read

    • Article

      Free Up Extra Cash For Christmas

      Dec 10, 2021

      Too few small businesses keep unnecessary costs to an absolute minimum. Here are six ideas that might pay for a Christmas bonus. Many small firms do not realise they can claim valuable tax breaks. Consider tax credits for research and development (R&

      1 min read

    • Article

      What To Watch Out For In 2019

      Mar 28, 2019

      The world is becoming increasingly digital and businesses have to adapt to meet the needs of the modern consumer. This is also true of the FM services sector, with technology set to play a major role in the success of providers moving forward. But wh

      2 min read

    • Article

      Money In A Hurry

      Dec 8, 2019

      Money In A Hurry
      3 min read

    • Article

      Should You Bank With Google?

      Dec 27, 2019

      Daniel Latimore is a senior vice president for banking at research and consulting firm Celent. Why are Apple, Google, Facebook and other tech companies interested in offering banking and financial services? It's not that banking is where the money is

      2 min read

    • Article

      The Competitors

      Aug 17, 2021

      The Competitors
      4 min read

    • Article

      Top Honors

      Aug 15, 2023

      Top Honors
      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Getting Work with the Federal Government

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Getting Work with the Federal Government - Marion Soublière

      Table of Contents

      1. Introduction

      2. How the Federal Government Shops

      • A $20-billion annual market

      • Using the Internet to level the playing field

      • Standing offers, supply arrangements and other purchasing methods

      3. First, Answers to Common Questions

      4. Where to Look for Contracts

      • MERX

      • Office of Small and Medium Enterprises

      • PWGSC procurement officers and regional staff

      • Departmental materiel managers and managers in your field

      • Regional federal economic development agencies

      • Firms that already have contracts / Temp agencies

      • House of Commons and Senate

      5. Getting Started

      • The Supplier Registration Information service and the all-important Procurement Business Number

      • Other supplier databases and procurement vehicles

      SKU-000187292_TEXT-5.jpg Professional Services Online

      SKU-000187292_TEXT-5.jpg SELECT

      SKU-000187292_TEXT-5.jpg Task-Based Informatics Professional Services and Solutions-Based Informatics Professional Services

      SKU-000187292_TEXT-5.jpg Cyber Protection Supply Arrangement

      SKU-000187292_TEXT-5.jpg Task-Based and Solutions-Based Professional Services

      SKU-000187292_TEXT-5.jpg In-Service Support Supply Arrangement

      SKU-000187292_TEXT-5.jpg Learning Services

      SKU-000187292_TEXT-5.jpg Professional Audit Support Services

      SKU-000187292_TEXT-5.jpg Translation Bureau

      SKU-000187292_TEXT-5.jpg Technical, Engineering and Maintenance Services

      Supply Arrangement

      • Seminars on doing business with the government

      • Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business:

      Set-asides

      6. Preparing a Winning Proposal

      • The more proposals you write, the easier it becomes

      • Tips for bidders

      7. Marketing Yourself

      • The importance of having an Internet presence

      • Do your research first

      • Cold-call key government contacts

      • Market yourself even after you’ve been awarded a standing offer

      • Subcontract with other companies

      • Take advantage of other federal programs

      • Some final tips

      8. Getting Government Security Clearance

      • No clearance? No sweat

      • The value of a secret clearance

      9. Getting Work with Other Governments

      • Tapping into other public sector markets in Canada and globally

      10. Important Web Links

      Appendix A

      • Firms under the Temporary Help Services On-Line System (National Capital Region)

      Chapter 1

      Introduction

      Since 2005, the Government of Canada mantra has been, Deliver services smarter, faster and at a reduced cost. Accomplishing this means increasing the volume of business that government does with small and medium-sized business owners. The federal government already contracts considerable professional services to supplement the work being done by employees. It will likely do more of that as greater numbers of baby boomers retire from public service.

      Industry Canada defines a small business as one with fewer than 100 employees, and a medium-sized business as one with less than 500 staff members.

      Micro-businesses—those with only one to four employees—make up a huge proportion of all Canadian businesses. While about 98 per cent of the more than 2.3 million business establishments in Canada can be labelled as either a small or medium-sized firm, a full 57 per cent are micro-businesses.

      This handbook is for the little guy. Specifically, for sole proprietors and other micro-businesses offering professional services that could assist the Government of Canada: informatics experts, auditors, business consultants, trainers, writers, editors, translators and others. Micro-businesses are tasked with doing everything to keep their companies afloat, including finding new clients and writing proposals. Yet they have no sales staff and little free time to research a mystifying government procurement process, a process that the Government of Canada vowed in its 2008 Speech from the Throne to make a top priority to fix.

      I, too, was once baffled as to how to get contract work with the Canadian government, despite having lived in Ottawa for decades. But after scouring government Web sites and publications, attending business seminars and responding to government tenders, I finally won standing offer awards for English editing and writing services with four federal government departments/agencies. The majority of information in this handbook is publicly available from government Web sites and reports. Hopefully this handbook will save you some legwork as you head down the path toward federal government work.

      I welcome all feedback and suggestions for improvements. Please send your comments to info@meseditingandwriting.com.

      Marion Soublière

      M.E.S. Editing and Writing Services

      www.meseditingandwriting.com

      Tip

      Need contact info for a federal employee? Search the Government Electronic Directory Services (sage-geds.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca).

      Chapter 2

      How the Federal Government Shops

      A $20-billion annual market

      Each year, the Canadian government spends about $20 billion on goods and services.

      That’s for everything from paper clips to tanks to professional services. This last category applies to all kinds of professionals: project managers, auditors, human resources consultants, programmer and systems analysts, application developers, writers, editors, architects, engineers, scientists, translators, researchers, technical support staff, benefits consultants, financial analysts, instructors, change management specialists, and many, many others.

      It’s the role of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) to shop on behalf of the Government of Canada, and in fact it does about 85 per cent of all the shopping—especially for goods. PWGSC buys on behalf of more than 100 departments and agencies, spending about $14 billion yearly on roughly 60,000 transactions. According to PWGSC’s 2010-2011 Report on Plans and Priorities, PWGSC spending reached a peak of about $18 billion in 2008-2009, with major military purchases spurring the bulk of the increase.

      The majority of high-dollar federal contracts emanate from the National Capital Region. PWGSC also lends departments and agencies its spending savvy and expertise when they do their own shopping. Many departments and agencies buy services directly. PWGSC buys only about 18 per cent of the services required by its client departments and agencies.

      In 2005, the federal budget introduced fundamental changes to help the Canadian government deliver its services smarter, faster and at a reduced cost, while showing improved accountability. It would spend taxpayers’ money more efficiently by increasing the volume of business done with small and medium-sized companies. The Government of Canada has to consider other factors as well when settling on a purchase, including government legislation and rules, internal and international trade agreements, environmental responsibility, socio-economic benefits, and accessibility for Aboriginal companies.

      Tip

      A key Web site not to be missed is Contracts Canada’s site (www.contractscanada.gc.ca), completely revamped as of April 2010.

      Delivering services smarter, faster and at a reduced cost hinged on leaving behind the fractured department-by-department habit of buying, and adopting a government-wide procurement approach that consolidates the purchasing requirements of departments. An ambitious PWGSC procurement transformation strategy emphasized ever-greater use of electronic

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1