The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) invites firms to submit a Proposal for the following: The WCB requires multiple IT and innovation professional services providers to supply individual resources with different skillsets for assignment to the WCB's internal projects on an "as-needed" basis, for varying terms with the possibility of extension(s).
Project Background
In order to provide more timely services to its internal customers, the WCB intends to create standing contractual arrangements with multiple Contractors from whom it can retain external IT and innovation professional service resources when there is insufficient internal resources available to fill a project's need. The standing contractual arrangements will permit the WCB to retain such resources on an "as needed" basis without the lead time experienced in publicly tendering and negotiating separate contracts for each resource engagement.
The WCB anticipates this RFP will result in Agreements with multiple Contractors who are able to provide the individual resources on an "as-needed" basis by responding to the WCB's Request for Services (RFS). An RFS will be issued to all Contractors who have an Agreement with the WCB to supply the required resource role classification. The WCB anticipates each RFS will typically require a response from Contractors within a short time frame, such as five (5) Business Days, but this will be subject to the WCB's sole discretion and will be indicated in the respective RFS. The WCB reserves the right to amend the RFS form as it determines necessary in order to effectively request resources throughout the term of the Agreements.
Each RFS shall be posted to MERX. The resource specified in the RFS shall be evaluated based on information in the respective Contractor's Agreement, information submitted in response to the RFS, and information obtained via an in-person interview, if requested.
The WCB's selection of the most suitable resource from each RFS will be documented in writing via a subsequent statement of work (the "SOW"), prior to a resource commencing work on the respective project.
The WCB cannot guarantee any amount of work to a Contractor who agrees to provide the Services on an "as needed" basis and the WCB may select whichever Contractor it determines has the best suited resource that is most available and offers the best value for the particular project.
WCB IT Environment
The WCB practices Object Oriented Analysis, Design, and Development techniques.
The WCB follows a system development process based on traditional methods, such as Waterfall, and more modern methods, such as Agile, Scrum, and Kanban.
The WCB currently uses the Spring Tool Suite based on Eclipse for software development, Java, Microsoft SQL Server, Crystal Reports, and Cisco Tidal Enterprise Scheduler.
The WCB's current Java environment is based upon Spring Framework Projects, Maven, Jenkins, JFrog Artifactory, and Bootstrap (RWD). However, there are some legacy Java applications that are based upon a custom framework. The WCB uses IBM WebSphere Application Server to run Java Web Applications.
WCB BI Environment
The WCB's Business Intelligence (BI) department currently uses Microsoft SQL Server, SSIS, SSAS, SSRS, and Power BI Reports.
Description of Services
The WCB anticipates it will require different external resources working alongside WCB staff, for varying terms of engagement, to fill the thirty (30) role classifications:
- Senior Systems Analyst
- Systems Analyst
- Senior Software Developer
- Software Developer
- Application Solution Architect
- Senior Quality Assurance Specialist
- Quality Assurance Specialist
- Senior Database Administrator
- Database Administrator
- Senior Business Analyst
- Business Analyst
- Enterprise Architect
- Solution Architect
- Cloud Architect
- Data Architect
- Business Architect
- Integrations Architect
- Technical Architect
- Security Architect
- DevSecOps Engineer
- FinOps Engineer
- Integrations Specialist
- Full Stack Java Developer
- Website Designer/Developer
- Mobile App Developer
- Delphi Technical Consultant
- Project Manager
- Senior Project Manager
- Business Intelligence DBA
- Project Analyst
The WCB will normally require the Contractor to supply a resource on a full-time basis [thirty-six and a quarter (36.25) hours per week]. If different hours are required for a resource the RFS shall indicate same.
The Services shall normally be performed during Business Hours. However, the WCB may request some of the Services to be performed outside Business Hours from time to time, as deemed necessary, in the unfettered discretion of the WCB.
The Contractor will not be required to have and maintain workers compensation coverage for its workers who will be providing the Services, unless required pursuant to The Workers Compensation Act.
Resources with prior knowledge and experience of the WCB's internal operations or possessing the preferred skills listed in this RFP may be considered an asset.
The WCB expects the Contractors to provide the highest quality candidates to the WCB for the best value. The resources for the role classification requested in the RFS must possess the minimum experience and minimum required skills listed in this RFP.
The WCB shall have the right to terminate an Agreement and any subsequent SOW if the respective Contractor consistently proposes inadequately qualified resource candidates, has resource candidates which are unable/unwilling to complete agreed upon terms of service, fails to respond to RFSs in a timely fashion, fails to execute SOWs in a timely fashion, or such other reasons in the opinion of the WCB, acting reasonably, causes undue delay to the WCB's projects.
It is expected the Services will be provided on an "as-needed" basis during an initial term of three (3) years, commencing August 1, 2023 and continuing up to and including July 31, 2026. The WCB shall have an irrevocable option to extend an Agreement with any Contractor (but is not required to extend with all Contractors) for a further period up to twenty-four (24) months (up to July 31, 2028) if an RFS indicates the WCB may require the resource for a period beyond the original expiry date of the Agreement. The WCB will not extend a Contractor's Agreement past December 31, 2026 if that Contractor failed to provide a rate for 2027 or past December 31, 2027 if that Contractor failed to provide a rate for 2028 in accordance with the Fee Schedule.
The Services shall be provided onsite at the WCB's facilities and/or from the Contractor's facilities located in Canada, as applicable, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Final selection of a resource may be subject to an in-person interview by the WCB before the Respondent (meaning any sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation who submits a non-binding submission in response to an RFS, and in accordance with the RFS) is invited to enter into an SOW.
The RFS will be posted on MERX for the Contractors who have an Agreement with the WCB pursuant to this RFP. The RFS will provide the following:
a) Role classification description;
b) Preferred start date;
c) Duration of initial assignment and irrevocable option to extend (if applicable); and
d) Blank skills matrix.
Contractors will be expected to provide the following in response to the RFS for each proposed resource:
a) Resource's name and identify any subcontractor relationship (i.e. individual resource is not an employee of the Contractor);
b) Completed skills matrix;
c) Ability to start on WCB's preferred start date or later date of availability; and
d) Resume of resource.
The Services expressed in SOWs remain subject to the terms and conditions, including the hourly rates, agreed to in the respective Contractor's Agreement with the WCB.
