RESTRICTED
GENERAL AGREEMENT GPA/IC/W/7/Add.8
5December 1994
ONTARIFFS AND TRADE
(94-2660)
Original: English Interim Committee onGovernment Procurement
QUESTIONNAIRE ONINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INGOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Response byCanada
Theattached communication contains thereplies from thedelegation ofCanada tothe
questionnaire onInformation Technology inGovernment Procurement contained in
document GPA/IC/W/4/Rev.1, dated 16September 1994.GPA/IC/W/7/Add.8
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INGOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Replies received from Canada
1. Could delegations giveabriefdescription ofanystepstaken orplanned tointroduce information
technology (electronic commerce) intopublic procurement? Ifso,doesthiscover contracts which
arecovered under theAgreement presently inforce, orunder thenewly-signed Agreement? Atall
levels ofgovernment? Intheevent thatdelegations arenotconsidering introducing information
technology intopublic procurement, could theyexplain thereasons?
TheCanadian Government hasintroduced theOpen Bidding Service (OBS), aninternationally
accessible electronic database, which listsprocurement opportunities forgovernment goods andservice
contracts valued atmore than$25,000 andconstruction andmaintenance opportunities valued atmore
than$60,000.ThisincludesopportunitiessubjecttotheGATTProcurementCode,whicharespecifically
identified asaGATT requirement.
2. What function(s) would information technology serve insuchsystems andwhowillbetheusers?
TheOBShasbeeninoperation since 1992 andthere areover23,000 registered users ofthe
service. On-line subscribers canorder documents directly while linked tothedatabase. Suppliers
thatdonotusetheon-line feature oftheOBS, forexample users oftheGBO publication orsubscribers
totheOBSbidmatching service, cancalltheBidRequest Line(phone orfax)toorder biddocuments.
TheOBSoffers several options forthedelivery ofbiddocuments (fax,mailorcourier). Inthenear
future, subscribers willbeabletodownload biddocuments totheirmodem. OBSservices areoffered
inbothFrench andEnglish.
Within theOBSmatching service, suppliers provide toOBSadescription ofthegoods and
services theysell.Using thisinformation, OBSscans itsdatabase andautomatically faxestosubscribers
those opportunities thatmight beofinterest. Suppliers canthenorder thebiddocuments from the
BidRequest Line. TheOBSalsolistsanumber ofinternational procurement opportunities fromother
countries which areopentoCanadian suppliers. TheOBSsystem alsocontains news, information
andadvice ondoing business withthegovernment, export information from Foreign Affairs and
International Trade andonPublic Works andGovernment Services Canada 'sStandard Acquisition
Clauses andConditions manual.
3. Could delegations describe thetechnical aspects ofthesystems inuseorplanned? Inparticular
asregards infrastructure/hardware-software anditsoptions/standards?
Thesystemisaccessiblebyanymicrocomputerandmodem.Communicationssoftwareprovided
bytheOBSforIBMs orcompatible. Thebasic technical requirement forOBScommunications can
bemetwitha286computer andmodem. Telecommunications software isincluded withtheOBSon-line
subscription. Theservice isavailable seven daysaweek, 24hours aday. Easy-to-use menus and
keyword search capability available inbothFrench andEnglish.GPA/IC/W/7/Add.8
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4. Could delegations describe anylimitations affecting access toinformation available inasystem?
How wideispotential access tointerested suppliers? What aretheaccess possibilities forsuppliers
ofother signatory countries? What possible obstacles toaccess might arise forsuppliers inother
signatory countries?
Access tothedatabase isopentobothdomestic andinternational suppliers. Using theon-line
service, firms haveimmediate access toopportunity notices themorning theyarepublished. Bid
documents canbeordered andbeontheirwaywithin fourhours. Subscribers haveachoice ofdelivery
method: fax,courier ormail. Tosubscribe totheOBS, call: (613) 7373374.
5. Hasanythought beengiven tothequestion ofinteraction between electronic tendering and
theobligations concerning publication andtime-limits imposed bytheAgreement?
Electronic tendering reduces thetimerequirement forsuppliers torespond toabid.Time-limits
should bere-examined onceasystem hasbeenestablished andagreed tobyCode members.
6. Forthose delegations whouseadatabase which listsgovernment procurement opportunities:
(i) What isthename ofthisdatabase?
TheOpen Bidding System.
(ii) Howlonghasthedatabase beenoperational andhowmany suppliers usethedatabase?
Thedatabase hasbeeninoperation since June1992 andcurrently hasmore
than23,000 subscribers.
(iii) Isafeecharged tosuppliers using thissystem? Ifso,howmuch, andwhatisincluded
inthefee?
OBSsubscribers costs areasfollows:
- On-line subscription $130/year
or
- BidRequest Line $37/year
or
- BidMatching including theBidRequest Line $395/year
or
- BidMatching including theOn-line subscription $488/year
or
- BidMatching including theBidRequest Linefor
Construction, Architecture andEngineering $195/year
Anadditional pre-payment deposit account of$100 which isdrawn down to
cover thecostonOn-line time($0.42/minute or$25/hour) andbiddocuments ordered
(average $6.20/document).GPA/IC/W/7/Add.8
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(iv) Cansuppliers obtain tender documentation electronically? Ifso,how?
Inthenearfuture, subscribers willbeabletodownload biddocuments totheir
modem.
(v) How isinformation onthedatabase organized?
Suppliers canbrowse through thelistings ordoaquick search using keywords
tofindopportunities thatareofinterest.
(vi) Does thedatabase offer anyother features?
TheOBSoffers abidmatching service. On-line suppliers canalsofindout
which other companies haveordered biddocuments. TheOBSalsolistsanumber
ofinternational procurement opportunities from other countries which areopen to
Canadian suppliers. TheOBSsystem contains news, information andadvice ondoing
businesswiththegovernment,exportinformationfromForeignAffairsandInternational
Trade andonPublic Works andGovernment Services Canada 'sStandard Acquisition
Clauses andConditions manual.
(vii) What istheapproximate number ofprocurement opportunities listed onthedatabase
annually?
Intotalthere are15,000 to20,000 bidopportunities listed annually.
(viii) Isthesystem managed bythegovernment oraprivate company?
Thegovernment contracts thisservice toaprivate firm, Information Systems
Management (ISM) Publishing.