1. INTRODUCTION
In an effort to modernize its current recruitment solution, the Public Service Commission (PSC) on behalf of the Government of Canada (GC) is conducting a discovery exercise aimed at informing a solution that will support the GC’s recruitment needs of Canadians, hiring managers and HR professionals today and in the future. The goal of this iterative initiative, called the GC Jobs Transformation, is to establish a modern, accessible and user-centric GC recruitment solution.
2. INTENT OF THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
The intent of this Request for Information (RFI) is to explore what currently exists in the private sector in terms of recruitment solutions. This RFI provides companies in the recruitment industry with the opportunity to demonstrate how their solutions work. It will also inform the PSC with crucial insight from industry on new recruitment trends and potential challenges it may encounter, on which respondents are encouraged to provide preliminary information.
Information gathered through this RFI will assist in testing and further refining the requirements for the future iterations of GC Jobs. The PSC anticipates that the GC Jobs Transformation initiative may ultimately require one or more Request(s) for Proposal (RFPs). The final procurement method will be refined using an agile approach, based on responses to this RFI and other internal factors.
Important Note 1: This RFI is distinct and separate from the Next Generation HR and Pay solicitation and targets. It focusses solely on the recruiting mandate of the PSC. However, any information or capability opportunities identified through this RFI will be shared and discussed with key partners, including Next Generation HR and Pay initiative.
Important Note 2: This is not a bid solicitation. This RFI will not result in the award of any contract. It is not to be considered a commitment by the GC or as authority from the GC to undertake any work that could be charged to Canada. This RFI will also not result in the creation of any source list. Potential suppliers will not be precluded from participating in any potential future procurement should they choose not to respond to this RFI.
3. BACKGROUND
The PSC is a federal agency that promotes and safeguards a non-partisan, merit-based and representative public service that serves all Canadians. A key role of the PSC is to facilitate the recruitment of talented Canadians from across the country on behalf of departments and agencies.
The Public Service Recruitment System (PSRS) is the principal tool by which the PSC manages staffing and associated activities under the
Public Service Employment Act
(PSEA) which gives the PSC the mandate to appoint, or provide for the appointment of, persons to or from within the public service. The PSC uses data collected in PSRS to fulfil its reporting obligations to Parliament including its obligations to collect and analyze public service workforce information in accordance with the
Employment Equity Regulations . The PSRS was built twenty years ago, to support external recruitment. Following a June 2011 Order in Council, the PSC received the mandate to administer the PSRS for internal as well as external staffing.
The PSC continually strives to renew its recruitment services to provide the Canadians and the GC with a flexible, innovative, inclusive and user-centric recruitment solution that attracts talent and meets the needs of job seekers, hiring managers and human resource professionals. The vision of the PSC is
Building tomorrow’s public service today . 4
In 2016, under the New Direction in Staffing (NDS) initiative ,
the PSC released a renewed Appointment Policy and oversight framework designed to simplify staffing across the public service, within the spirit of the PSEA. NDS provided departments and agencies with greater ability to customize their approaches to staffing, based on their own day-to-day realities. This established a new foundation for fundamentally changing existing staffing behaviors and practices to ensure that departments and agencies are able to attract talented people, with modern skills, in a timely fashion (further details in ANNEX 1).
The PSC, as the product owner for the current and future recruitment solution, is responsible for the recruitment component of an end-to-end HR and pay solution and works in partnership with Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada (TBS), which is the lead for the Next Generation HR and Pay initiative. The GC will ensure process alignment and interoperability with the common goal of a seamless end-to-end solution that puts users front and centre. Because the recruitment solution is part of an overall HR continuum and the existing and future systems must work with one another; the PSC will work in partnership with the Next Generation HR and Pay initiative to ensure alignment.
The PSC will also ensure the TBS digital standards for GC Digital Government are incorporated and maintained accordingly in any work that modernizes GC Jobs. The solution will put our clients first, effectively and securely manage Canadians’ and the government’s information and data, while making sure of open standards and technologies.
4. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU – HERE IS HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS RFI
Building on fundamental work such as NDS (including user focused testing) and in alignment with Next Generation HR and Pay, Digital Government and other innovative initiatives, the PSC has an opportunity to leverage new digital technology to transform how it attracts and recruits talent with an enterprise solution that is inclusive, intuitive and accessible.
A critical and major step towards achieving this vision is to put in place an up-to-date GC recruitment solution that potentially builds on the solutions developed in the private sector. During a one-on-one session, the PSC is offering the opportunity to vendors to
TALK to US
about their solution and
SHOW US
through live demonstrations how their solutions meet the PSC’s requirements and vision.
Do you believe you have the right solution for the PSC?
Refer to ANNEX 2 on how to proceed with this opportunity and request a one-on-one session with the PSC team. During a 90-minute one-on-one session, you will have the opportunity to present your solution(s) and engage in a follow-up discussion with our team. You will also find in Annex 2 the details about how the one-on-one session will unfold.
To help your company to prepare, refer to ANNEX 3 for a list of questions to which the project team is seeking responses and ANNEX 4 for the list of mandatory and preferable business and non-functional requirements.
5. ENQUIRIES
All enquiries and other communications related to this RFI and associated industry engagement activities shall be directed exclusively to the PSC Contracting Authority. Enquiries must be received no less than four (4) calendar days prior to the RFI closing time to allow sufficient time to provide a response. Enquiries received after that time may not be answered. The respondents with questions regarding this RFI may direct their enquiries to:
Carla Favereau
Spécialiste des marchés
Public Service Commission
Administration Division 5
Phone: (819) 420-7070
E-Mail: carla.favereau@Canada.ca
Backup:
Guillaume Gagnon
E-mail: Guillaume.gagnon2@Canada.ca
Phone : 819-420-7074
To ensure consistency and quality of information provided to responders, the RFI Contact will post on the Buyandsell.gc.ca site, any information with respect to enquiries received and the replies to such enquiries without revealing the sources of the enquiries.
6. PSC WEBINAR
The PSC will hold a webinar via a Webex session where vendors will be able to ask their questions anonymously. Details will be provided via an update to this RFI.
7. RESPONSE COSTS
The PSC will not reimburse the Respondent (organization) for any expenses incurred by responding to this RFI, including, but not limited to, expenses incurred for participating in the additional engagement activities. This RFI does not obligate PSC or the Government of Canada to pay for any costs, of any kind whatsoever, that may be incurred by a Respondent or any third parties, in connection with the Response.
8. CONTENT OF THE RFI
The information contained in this RFI remains a work in progress and new requirements and/or detailed information will be added to any bid solicitation that is ultimately published by Canada (PSC). Some of the requirements or information may also be deleted or revised. Comments regarding any aspect of the draft documents are welcomed. This RFI also contains specific questions addressed to the industry.
