Career Transition Services

Introduction

Deloitte LLP was engaged on January 29, 2020 as a fairness monitor (FM) to observe the competitive procurement process for Career Transition Services (CTS) for eligible Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, veterans, spouses or common-law partners and survivors. This procurement process is being undertaken by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) on behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) as a result of solicitation 51019-220175.

Deloitte LLP is an independent third party with respect to this activity.

We reviewed all of the information provided and observed all relevant activities conducted to date.

We hereby submit the final report covering the activities of the FM, commencing with a review of the letter of interest (LOI) dated July 7, 2021 (published on July 8, 2021), continuing through responses to industry questions, the request for proposal (RFP) published on January 17, 2022 (51019-220175/B), the subsequent 5 amendments to the RFP (that included answers to questions from interested parties), the RFP that closed on March 3, 2022, and concluding with an evaluation kickoff meeting, evaluation consensus meetings and review of technical and financial evaluation scoring on May 18, 2022.

This report includes:

• our attestation of assurance related to the procurement to date
• a summary of the scope and objectives of our assignment
• relevant observations from the activities undertaken

Attestation of assurance

The FM hereby provides the unqualified assurance statement below concerning the competitive procurement process to date of CTS.

It is our professional opinion that the competitive procurement process we observed or monitored was carried out in a fair, open and transparent manner.

Original signed by:

Project requirement

Overview of the project

VAC exists to repay the nation's debt of gratitude to veterans and their families, and to recognize the contributions they have made to our growth as a nation. The minister of VAC is responsible for the care, treatment or re-establishment in civil life of veterans, as well as the care of their dependents or survivors.

VAC is mandated to deliver CTS to eligible CAF members, veterans, spouses or common-law partners and survivors. CTS aims to provide support to various populations of CAF members, veterans, and their families to empower them in navigating the labour market. CAF members need access to services such as basic on-line instruction modules and labour market information (for example, to understand how to find, explore, understand labour market information in a specific region of Canada) to be able to make an evidence-informed decision about post-service career options. CTS also provides early engagement and needs-based access to employment services for CAF members who have decided to release, to improve the likelihood that they are informed and that they have the knowledge, tools and abilities to transition smoothly to the civilian workforce. CAF veterans may also access CTS post-release, to address ongoing support in career transition. Employment services aimed at advancing the careers of eligible spouses or common-law partners and survivors, whose career opportunities may have been impacted by their partner’s military career, are also available under CTS.

VAC is also mandated to deliver the education and training benefit to eligible veterans to help them achieve their education and post-military transition goals, including employment, if applicable. Most veterans who qualify for this benefit are also eligible for CTS.

Requirement

On behalf of VAC , PWGSC has a requirement for the provision of CTS to eligible CAF members, veterans, spouses or common-law partners and survivors. VAC seeks a contractor for the delivery of this program, who will assist these client groups on how to successfully plan, prepare for and obtain suitable civilian employment upon leaving the military. Eligible veterans and survivors have lifetime access to this benefit. These services must be delivered via the best possible tools and mechanisms to ensure that the needs of the clients are met, regardless of location in Canada, and that services take into consideration varying labour market challenges and regional differences.

Objectives of the fairness monitoring assignment and methodology

The Fairness Monitoring Program of PWGSC required the services of a FM to monitor VAC ’s CTS procurement process. The overall objective of the assignment is to provide an independent observation of the process and to provide fairness-related comments to the contracting authority (CA), as early as possible, so that appropriate action could be taken before fairness was impacted.

To accomplish the objective, we undertook the following activities and, where applicable, provided fairness-related comments to the CA:

• familiarized ourselves with the project governance structure and relevant background information
• reviewed the:
  • LOI documents
  • responses to industry questions
  • draft RFP
  • RFP’s 5 amendments that included answers to questions from industry
  • plans for evaluation of RFP responses
  • evaluation guidance for evaluators
  • technical and financial evaluation documentation
• observed the:
  • instructions provided to RFP evaluators during an evaluation kickoff meeting
  • evaluation team consensus meetings

Fairness monitoring engagement and observations

Deloitte LLP was engaged as an FM to observe the competitive procurement process for VAC ’s CTS, and to attest to the fairness, openness and transparency of this monitored activity.

In accordance with the terms of our engagement, we:

• familiarized ourselves with the relevant documents
• reviewed LOI documents and reviewed responses to industry questions
• reviewed RFP documents and amendments and answers to questions from interested parties
• attended the evaluation kickoff meeting
• attended evaluation consensus meetings
• reviewed technical and financial evaluation documentation
• identified fairness-related matters to the contracting and technical authorities
• ensured that responses and actions were reasonable and appropriate

The following describes the FM activities undertaken during the course of the engagement related to the RFP phase and our related observations.

Letter of interest release

From January 13, 2021 to July 7, 2021, we reviewed the LOI documents and provided fairness-related comments to the CA as required. Appropriate action was taken by the CA and no fairness deficiencies were identified.

The LOI was posted on July 8, 2021 and closed on August 9, 2021.

Letter of interest amendments and question and answers process

From July 8, 2021 to January 17, 2022, we reviewed the 1 LOI amendment, feedback from interested parties, as well as responses to questions from interested parties, and provided fairness-related comments to the CA as required. Appropriate action was taken by the CA and no fairness deficiencies were identified.

Request for proposal release

From September 14, 2021 to January 14, 2022, we reviewed the RFP documents. The RFP was published on January 17, 2022.

Request for proposal amendments and question and answers process

From January 17, 2022 to March 3, 2022 we reviewed the RFP’s 5 amendments that included answers to questions from interested parties, and provided fairness-related comments to the CA as required. Appropriate action was taken by the CA and no fairness deficiencies were identified.

Evaluation process

On March 7, 2022 we reviewed evaluation guidance for evaluators and no fairness deficiencies were identified.

On March 8, 2022 we attended the evaluation kickoff meeting and no fairness deficiencies were identified.

On March 31, 2022 and April 1, 2022 we attended evaluation consensus meetings and no fairness deficiencies were identified.

On May 11 to 18, 2022 we reviewed technical and financial evaluation documentation and no fairness deficiencies were identified.

Reference documents

Documents related to the LOI 51019-220175/A are available on CanadaBuys or through the project office.

Documents related to RFP 51019-220175/B are available on CanadaBuys or through the project office.

Addendum to the final report

September 21, 2022

This addendum is related to the final report dated June 24, 2022 for the competitive procurement process for CTS for eligible Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, spouses or common-law partners and survivors.

This addendum to the final report covers the period following the conclusion of the evaluation phase including contract award and debriefings.

On May 26, 2022 we reviewed the draft CTS contract. No fairness deficiencies were identified.

On May 30, 2022 we reviewed the contract award letter and regret letters to the unsuccessful bidders. No fairness deficiencies were identified.

On June 7, 2022 PWGSC awarded the contract to the successful bidder.

On June 11 and 19, 2022 and August 22, 2022 we attended 3 debriefing meetings requested by the 1 successful and 2 unsuccessful bidders. No fairness deficiencies were identified.

Attestation of assurance

The FM hereby provides the unqualified assurance statement below concerning the procurement of CTS.

It is our professional opinion that the competitive procurement process we observed or monitored was carried out in a fair, open and transparent manner.

Original signed by: