A year (or more?) in the making, the Government of Canada has posted on Merx a Draft Standing Offer for Communications Services and is requesting industry feedback by March 12th.

Once in place, all Government of Canada departments and agencies will be able (and encouraged) to access the Standing Offer to procure services in three categories:

1. Strategic Communications and Public Relations
2. Communications Project Management
3. English and French Writing Services

As someone that has responded to countless Federal Government RFPs and RFSOs over the years, this is a very welcome opportunity to provide input into the procurement process.

Also, one master Standing Offer will hopefully eliminate the need to regularly respond to RFPs and RFSOs from all the various departments and agencies.

Download the document from Merx and provide your comments to PWGSC by March 12th.

We (Thornley Fallis) have thoroughly reviewed the document and will be providing a number of comments.

The Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society, of which my colleague and Capital PR co-author Stephen Heckbert is President, will also be submitting comments.  A meeting for CPRS Ottawa members to provide input into this submission will be held the week of March 5^th to 9^th (date, time, location – to be confirmed).