Federal contracts (Sept. 27 – Oct. 1)

OBJ Staff
Ottawa Business Journal

Zylog Systems (Ottawa) Ltd.
1545 Carling Ave.
Description: Informatics professional services
Buyer: DND
$5,077,728.45

Nisha Technologies Inc.
2150 Thurston Dr.
Description: Informatics professional services
Buyer: DND
$3,376,821.11 

Calian Ltd.
340 Legget Dr.
Description: Informatics professional services
Buyer: DND
$2,994,540.14

Thales Canada
1 Chrysalis Way
Description: Underwater sound equipment
Buyer: PWGSC
$2,438,144

Ifathom Corp.
900 Morrison Dr.
Description: Informatics professional services
Buyer: DND
$999,485 

Leroux,Chauhan,Ouimet & Associes Inc.
124 O’Connor St.
Description: Other architectural and engineering services – real property
Buyer: PWGSC
$989,612.25 

Prestige Design and Construction (Ottawa) Ltd.
50 Camelot Dr.
Description: Paving contractor services (except mud jacking)
Buyer: PWGSC
$692,678.70 

TPG Technology Consulting Ltd.
887 Richmond Rd.
Description: Informatics professional services
Buyer: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
$594,945

IBM Canada Ltd.
340 Albert St.
Description: ADP software
Buyer: HRSDC
$479,298.90

Statel Capital Technology Partners Inc.
275 Slater St.
Description: Task-based informatics professional services (TBIPS) requirement
Buyer: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
$449,960.02

Dalian Enterprises Inc.
151 Slater St.
Description: ADP input-output and storage devices
Buyer: Statistics Canada
$419,727.25

Bolton Electric
5411 Canotek Rd.
Description: Humidification systems upgrades
Buyer: National Gallery of Canada
$371,350

Jolimot Inc.
460 Gréber Blvd.
Description: Translation services
Buyer: PWGSC
$277,121.25 

Senstar-Stellar Corp.
119 John Cavanaugh Rd.
Description: Alarm, signal, and security detection systems, miscellaneous
Buyer: Correctional Service of Canada
$254,565.68

Veritaaq Technology House Inc.
2327 St. Laurent Blvd.
Description: Informatics professional services
Buyer: PWGSC
$236,17 0

Rohde & Schwarz Canada Inc.
750 Palladium Dr.
Description: Electrical and electronic properties measuring and testing instruments
Buyer: Canadian Space Agency
$194,754.13

Serge F. Constant
850 Wilfrid-Lavigne Blvd.
Description: Translation services
Buyer: PWGSC
$172,500 

Version Plus
4038 Eady Crt.
Description: Translation services
Buyer: PWGSC
$161,920 

Motorola Canada Ltd.
360 Albert St.
Description: Radio navigation equipment except airborne, electrical and electronic components and spares
Buyer: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
$153,596.30

Les entreprises Marcel Rocheleau Inc.
154 rue Hillcrest
Description: Translation services
Buyer: PWGSC
$138,621

Calian Ltd.
340 Legget Dr.
Description: Informatics professional services
Buyer: PWGSC
$112,954.80

CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants Inc.
275 Slater St.
Description: $105,282.10
Buyer: Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions
$105,282.10

Rohde & Schwarz Canada Inc.
750 Palladium Dr.
Description: Chemical analysis instruments
Buyer: DND
$102,057.65

Pavage Inter Cite
485 Rue de Vernon
Description: Asphalt and joint sealing services
Buyer: National Capital Commission
$101,445

http://www.obj.ca/Local/For-the-Record/2010-10-13/article-1844801/Federal-contracts-%28Sept.-27—Oct.-1%29/1

Federal contracts (Aug. 30-Sept. 3)

Federal standing offers, supply arrangements and contracts recently awarded to local companies.

Thales Canada Inc.

1 Chrysalis Way

Description: Radio navigation equipment, except airborne

Buyer: DND

$7,239,212.79

Entrust Ltd.

1000 Innovation Dr.

Description: Security printing passes/cards

Buyer: DND

$764,119.62

TRM Technologies

151 Slater St.

Description: Consulting services

Buyer: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

$500,000

DEW Engineering and Development ULC

3429 Hawthorne Rd.

Description: Food, cooking, baking and serving equipment

Buyer: DND

$435,393

Valcom Consulting Group Inc.

85 Albert St.

Description: Engineering and technical services – weapon systems related

Buyer: DND

$358,596

Donna Cona Inc.

106 Colonnade Rd.

Description: Informatics professional services

Buyer: PWGSC

$311,608.80

Valcom Consulting Group Inc.

85 Albert St.

Description: Engineering and technical services – weapon systems related

Buyer: DND

$224,146.80

Ernst & Young LLP

100 Queen St.

Description: Internal and external audits (supply arrangement PASS)

Buyer: PWGSC

$203,595

Promaxis Systems Inc.

2385 St Laurent Blvd.

Description: Engineering and technical services – weapon systems related

Buyer: DND

$200,025

AK Global Construction & Development Inc.

680 Eagleson Rd.

Description: Refit of the Victoria Building

Buyer: PWGSC

$177,975

VCI Controls Inc.

38 Antares Dr.

Description: BACS – building automation control systems

Buyer: PWGSC

$168,452.81

IBM Canada Ltd.

340 Albert St.

Description: ADP input-output and storage devices – maintenance

Buyer: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

$144,622.30

IBM Canada Ltd.

340 Albert St.

Description: ADP input-output and storage devices – maintenance

Buyer: Statistics Canada

$129,858.62

http://www.obj.ca/Local/For-the-Record/2010-09-17/article-1770543/Federal-contracts-%28Aug.-30-Sept.-3%29/1

Understanding the Government of Canada contracting game…

Often in ones professional career, an individual may need some event to take place that pushes them to start or try something they have always thought about. Tough economic times will offer some of those people the opportunity to branch out and try something they have probably thought about doing for a while.

I have spoken to several individuals lately who through their own actions or their employers actions, have found themselves in a position to start their own professional ventures (mostly starting their own consulting practice). While this is an exciting step in the careers for many professionals, it can also be a difficult and frightful one.

Since the Ottawa market is obviously in a bit of uncertainty these days, many of these new ‘consulting professionals’ are looking to break into the Government world as the Government is obviously the most stable and biggest spending organization Ottawa has to offer during this time. However if you have never contracted into the Government there are a few things you should try to do before you tackle that market space.

The first step is to obtain a security clearance. These days it is almost impossible to get a contract with the Canadian Government without a security clearance. They run from Level 1 to Level 3. Level 2 and Level 3 require more personal information and can take 8 months (or more) to be processed so starting early is not a bad thing. I would recommend that candidates obtain a level 2 (also known as ‘secret’ level) clearance as some of the major departments (DFAIT, DND, Health Canada, etc) often require this level of clearance. Level 3 clearance is almost never required unless working on top secret projects for organizations such as CSIS or DND. Candidates can obtain a clearance via the following URL:

http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/tbsf-fsct/330-60-eng.asp

 Secondly, candidates should wrap their head around the whole procurement process that exists in Government contracting. Candidates should be aware that contracts valued under $25000 can be directed to an individual without going to a competitive process. Anything valued over this amount, must go to a competitive process and will likely require the assistance of a staffing firm who has procurement vehicles into the Government. Unfortunately, candidates can not simply walk into a Government department and get hired on as a contractor (as can be done in the private sector).

Thirdly, candidates should be prepared to tailor their resume for each position they apply for, as well as be prepared to complete a skills grid. As mentioned in an earlier blog post, the Government values metrics and the ability to justify why they chose candidate ‘x” over candidate ‘y’, which is where this resume work comes into play. Candidates should be submitting resumes that reflect the requirements for each position they are applying for. This resume along with the skills grid will increase your chances of landing your desired contract.

As more people look to Government contracting over the next while, understanding how the process works and how to achieve the success you are looking for is crucial for any successful consultant.