Report on Government Relations

IDC is at the Advisory Council Meetings and the Procurement & Sub-committee Meetings. This is primarily for exposure and inclusion in decision-making of policy by PWGSC. IDC sits at the table with the RAIC (Architects) and the ACEC (Engineers). All Associations participate at the National level.

Updates from recent meetings include:

1.2 Translation costs as a disbursement or reimbursable expense and NOT as part of professional architectural fees

1.5 Specialized consultants regarding existing conditions (geotechnical, surveyors, environmental) engaged separately and not sub-consultants to architects

1.6 SNC Lavalin -Profac RFPs- better description of scope of work and understanding of evaluation criteria for awarding contracts

PWGSC QBS POLICY: PWGSC supports the concept that the selection of a professional consultant should be heavily weighted on the experience and skill of the firms and not solely on price; however, incorporating price as a small component of the evaluation assures PWGSC that they are respecting Government of Canada policies and international trade agreements while demonstrating that we have a qualified firm for a reasonable fee.

NMS ADVISORY COUNCIL: IDC now sits as a member of the NMS Advisory Council along with members of the ACEC, RAIC and PWGSC. The Members of the NMS Advisory Council include the National Associations represented at the PWGSC Advisory Council plus some additional Government Departments.

IDC had our East Coast Representative, Heather Robertson Corrigan, FIDC, IDNS, BID, from Hallifax, NS, join the NMS group. The NMS Regional Specification Writers's Workshop was to be held Wednesday the 28th of May, 2008 at the Marriott Halifax Harbour front Hotel, in conjunction with the Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) Annual Conference and General Meeting, 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st, 2008. The NMS Workshop was held with their 6 PWGSC Regions and DND present.

This is all very much developmental work that’s being done by the NMS Board. Numerous new issues are coming out of new specifications of new materials, procedures and sustainability.

Even as mere observers at this workshop it will help the membership get a better understanding of changes occurring. Simply sitting in and watching, listening and taking some notes would be good for IDC representation and understanding but also for a local member to bring back to their membership about our involvement and the impact our ongoing representation can have at the national level.

Mr. Gerry Deneault, Director General of Industrial Security Sector, was invited to the last Advisory Council Meeting and he made a presentation on industrial security. The Associations wrote to the Minister of Security and received a letter acknowledging our concerns with regard to the numerous levels of Security required by all the different Government departments and our need and concern for unified Reciprocity of Security Clearances. IDC is a major stakeholder in these discussions and negotiations.