Agile procurement

Goal

Simplify and modernize procurement processes while obtaining the best information technology solutions for the government.

Description

Through pilots launched in 2017, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is experimenting with an approach better suited to today's fast-moving digital environment: challenged-based and agile procurement.

For challenge-based procurement, industry is solicited to respond to government's challenges. This approach involves an open, fair and transparent competitive process that doesn't rely on long, complicated specifications. It allows companies to provide alternative solutions that could serve government better. These changes may also result in contracts being awarded in a more timely and efficient manner. Businesses benefit from being able to propose their best solutions while departments get access to the best information technology solution that meets their specific need.

Agile procurement is a new collaborative approach that focuses on outcomes. It brings together government and industry to design procurements in an iterative manner to achieve results. This includes multi-phased procurement processes that enable Canada to award multiple contracts to invite industry to build, customize and configure their solutions to meet the short-term and long-term requirements. This process enables Canada to test and course correct through shorter project delivery timeframes and to identify quickly the challenges and successes in order to achieve best value for Canadians.

Status

In progress. PSPC is managing challenged-based and agile procurement projects in collaboration with industry and suppliers while making adjustments and refining its approaches.