RFI PaaS & SaaS - Request for Information - Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

DESCRIPTION

The 2024 Application Hosting Strategy is intended to deliver an updated vision and framework for application hosting in the Government of Canada (GC) that is holistic, future-oriented, and considers all digital infrastructure options; including all types of cloud computing services.

- Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS): hardware that provides access to the most basic technology resources such as computing resources, storage, and networking.
- Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS): a set of managed services where the cloud provider manages some of the operational aspects for the consumer including databases, machine learning, and security monitoring.
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS): an entire business solution is outsourced to a third party, such as a business application.

To realize the full potential of cloud technology, the way GC procures cloud services must also evolve.

PLATFORM-AS-A-SERVICE (PaaS) and SOFTWARE-AS-A-SERVICE (SaaS) -

The emergence of commercially available cloud services promises to provide GC with greater speed and flexibility when deploying applications used to deliver programs and services to Canadians.

Currently, Shared Services Canada (SSC), Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and various other departments have established various procurement vehicles to procure Platform-as-a-Service and Software-as-a-Service products. There is an opportunity to streamline, simplify and harmonize the way GC procures and the way the industry delivers these solutions.

RFI SUPPORTING THE EVOLUTION OF SAAS AND PAAS PROCUREMENT ECOSYSTEMS

SSC and PSPC are working together to launch a 360-degree Request for Information to obtain insights from the industry, as well as GC internal stakeholders.

SSC and PSPC need to understand the procurement landscape for PaaS and SaaS offerings to help us design the next generation of procurement vehicle(s) that will enable the GC to support the Application Hosting Strategy.

GC is looking at opportunities to reduce acquisition and overhead costs while avoiding solution sprawl by exploring enterprise solutions, where possible, with procurement vehicles that offers a faster and effective way to procure.

The findings of the planned RFI will inform the design of the next generation of PaaS-SaaS procurement vehicle aiming to be developed in 2025-26. It is envisioned that there will be a single door to acquire PaaS and SaaS.

WHO DO WE WANT TO TALK TO?

- Are you a vendor in the PaaS or SaaS market?
- Are your service offerings related to PaaS or SaaS?
- Do you have innovative cloud-based solutions to offer to the Government of Canada?
If so, we want to hear from you!

TIMELINE

We will be scheduling our first Industry Webinar in fall 2024. This will be followed by further activities so that the GC can interact with the industry. Stay tuned!

NEXT STEP

The invitation for the RFI - webinar will be posted on this notice in November 2024 or sooner. The date is to be confirmed. Stay tuned!