ARCHIVED - Public Health Agency of Canada

Department

Points to Address

Organization’s Input

1.   Role played by procurement and contracting in delivering programs

Procurement and contracting are integral to program delivery and support at the Agency. They are essential in terms of providing goods and services to the department by contracting for services and procuring goods, particularly in the scientific and research disciplines. Collaboration, sharing of expertise and related information as well as providing operational support are key to ongoing policy and program delivery.

2.   Overview of how the department manages its contracting function

The Materiel Management Directorate of Health Canada provides procurement and contracting services as part of the Memorandum of Understanding between Health Canada and the Agency for the provision of shared corporate services. Senior contract specialists from Health Canada have been co-located within the Agency to promote procurement planning and develop procurement strategies with the cooperation of program managers.

As of July 1, 2005, the Agency used the Health Canada Contract Requisition and Reporting System (CRRS) as the official system of record for contracts and departmental call-ups valued at $10,000 or more.

The Agency also uses the same model as Health Canada for its Contract and Requisition Control Committee (CRCC) which reviews and approves most agreements including all service contracts and call-ups of more than $10,000.

3.   Progress and new initiatives enabling effective and efficient procurement practices

Effective July 1, 2005, the Contract Requisition and Reporting System (CRRS) was implemented as a contract tracking, workflow and approval system. It provides improved capacity to report on contract activity, respond to Access to Information (ATI) and ministerial enquiries and incorporates a review and approval workflow for long form contracts and call-ups against standing offers. This system continues to be expanded and will eventually capture other types of agreements along with enhanced reporting capabilities.

The Agency continued to strengthen its Contract and Requisition Control Committee (CRCC) function through continuous improvement of its review and documentation processes.

Health Canada procurement resources were deployed to the Agency to develop procurement strategies for program managers and liaise with all parties regarding the processing and administration of contracts.