4.10.30. Professional Services Sourcing Tools

Professional services sourcing tools that may help client departments with their requirements are provided below.

1. Temporary Help Services
   
   1. THS are traditionally used:
      
      1. when a public servant is absent for a temporary period of time;
      2. when there is a requirement for additional staff during a temporary workload increase and there is an insufficient number of public servants available to meet the requirement; or
      3. a position is vacant and staffing action is being completed.
   2. THS is a tool to assist federal departments in the National Capital Region in their procurement of THS with a value below the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) threshold, including all subsequent amendments and Goods and Services Taxes. Some of the sources are:
      
      1. Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) issues Regional Master Standing Offers (RMSOs) to provide for qualified personnel for temporary assignments.
      2. RMSOs for temporary help services are requested and authorized by the regional offices of PWGSC. Contracting officers must keep client departments informed of contracting processes, procedures and definitions of categories of service with respect to THS.
      3. There is a temporary help contracting officers' network, which has been working with functional guidance from the Professional Services Procurement Directorate, Services and Technology Acquisition Management Sector.
   3. For additional information, consult the contact person identified on the Temporary Help Services (On-Line System) Web site.
2. ProServices is a professional services mandatory method of supply for requirements below the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) threshold and is available through the Centralized Professional Services ePortal.
3. SELECT is a database of approved firms, providing construction, architectural and engineering services, as well as related maintenance and consulting services. It is used by PWGSC to invite suppliers to bid on real property consulting services below the NAFTA threshold, and for construction services below the AIT threshold.
4. In-Service Support Supply Arrangement (ISS SA) is currently limited to a supply arrangement for the professional services related to Human Resources Management, Organizational Management and Project Management.