ScaleUp

What is ScaleUp?

ScaleUp, an initiative led by Shared Services Canada and in collaboration with TECHNATION, is a contracting framework for expedited SSC procurements of IT related goods, services and/or solutions requirements valued under $238,000.00 with Canadian micro and small businesses which also identify as Indigenous businesses and businesses owned or led by under-represented groups (women, visible minorities and persons with disabilities). By leveraging the trade agreements set-asides,

Why should you chose this process?

It’s a win-win-win situation. It is easier and quicker for clients, buyers and bidders.

Not only do you partake in the effort to increase the diversity of bidders in federal contracts, but both you and your client save time and effort! It is a fast, simple and open process that allows buyers to issue contract within 2 weeks, with simplified and fillable solicitation documents.

How does it work?

First things first, let's determine if ScaleUp is suitable for the requirement.

Is the requirement IT related goods, services and solutions requirements valued under $238,000.00?

Are the clauses in the ScaleUp bid solicitation documents covering the complexity of the requirement?

Are there potential bidders? In order to answer this, you must conduct a quick search on Canada’s digital marketplace and as a minimum select the following filters: Canadian businesses, Micro or Small businesses, Indigenous Businesses and Under-represented groups (URG). Don’t forget to save your search for a later step.

Is your client interested? Here is an email template that you can customize and send to your client.

Secondly, you have to draft the solicitation documents. We’ve made it pretty easy for you.

We developed a two-in-one Bid Solicitation Form. It’s new, but quite simple.

You have to fill the cover page, which will generate the rest of the form to be completed by the suppliers. You customize the Financial Bid form to be sent to the suppliers alongside the Bid Solicitation Form.

You can draft the resulting contract clauses part directly in the Contract Builder, which you will be able to complete at Contract Award, in a fast and efficient way.

The Standard Instructions and General Conditions are already incorporated in reference, but if you need to add supplemental conditions, you can do so in the Contract Builder.

Thirdly, you have to issue the bid solicitation directly to the suppliers of your choice.

Remember that initial search you conducted earlier in the process? Now it is time to select the suppliers to whom you will send the solicitation.

As for the solicitation period, we suggest you give the bidders enough time to prepare and submit their bids. Keep in mind that it is a lot faster for them to submit via ScaleUp, but it still takes a minimum time and effort.

In your solicitation email, you will attach the following documents: Bid solicitation form, Financial bid form, Contract (draft), and any Annexes as applicable.

Publishing on BuyandSell is not mandatory as there is an on-going notice for all of ScaleUp requirements and therefore is at your entire discretion.

Fourthly, you will have to conduct the evaluation.

Here is something new again, following the evaluation of mandatory criteria (if any), you can conduct what we call Interactive Sessions. Interactive sessions consist of an individual session with each bidder to go over their response and see …..

The financial evaluation and contractor selection process stays the same, so you know the drill. As usual, don’t forget to send regret letters and conduct debriefings, if you chose to do so.

Fifthly, it’s time for contract award and management. We’re almost done here, we promise.

Once you completed the Contract using the Contract Builder and both parties have signed it, there are a few last steps to undertake.
Here at CoEAIP, we love feedback! We would really appreciate it if you could fill out this survey to let us know what you thought of the process, so we can keep improving it.

Solicitation Documents

Bid Solicitation Form

Financial Bid Form

Standard Instructions

Contract Builder

Psssst. The PDF forms work better using ADOBE.

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For further information, contact the Center of Expertise in Agile and Innovative Procurement