CFOB Newsletters
January 2020 Edition
Mark Perlman Introduces ESDC’s Programme Management Framework
Change is challenging! Especially big changes that transform our services and how we operate.
Programme Management is all about change—it’s a framework to deliver multi-project change initiatives.
Check out the video of Mark Perlman, our Chief Financial Officer and Senior Designated Official, introducing the Programme Management Framework for ESDC!
Prepare yourself for the new decade and the change it will bring—learn how our ability to deliver transformational change is being strengthened with programme management.
Message from Real Property Asset Management (RPAM)
The Chief Financial Officer Branch (CFOB), Real Property and Asset Management (RPAM) has published the new furniture purchase roadmap for ESDC on iService. The new guide articulates a clear process to apply when requiring furniture and provides links to useful reference tools.
CFOB RPAM is required to review and approve all furniture requests prior to purchasing to ensure adherence to the Interior Design Standards (IDS), accessibility standards and codes, use of mandatory furniture Supply Arrangements (SA) and Standing Offers (SO), stewardship of assets and compliance with persons with disabilities.
Clients are now required to submit all furniture requirements Duty to Accommodate (DTA) or Non-DTA, prior to the purchase following their regional process available in the Initiation Phase of the Roadmap.
CFOB-RPAM Regions will assess, determine options, and give final approval to proceed with furniture purchases. The appropriate method of procurement must be applied when making all purchases and any questions should be directed to Procurement.
CFOB RPAM will continue to approve furniture request within our 9 business day service standard.
Visit iService for more information.
Learning Session on Acquisition Cards
The Acquisition Card team is hosting an awareness session on splitting requirements or purchases with the an acquisition card. The presentation will review splitting purchases and what cardholders should be aware of concerning repeated transactions on their cards. The virtual sessions will be held on Tuesday, February 18.
Here is how you can register:
| Language | Date | Time | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | 2020-02-18 | 12:30pm EDT | Registration Saba Class #0000098233 |
| English | 2020-02-18 | 2:00pm EDT | Registration Saba Class #0000098229 |
Can’t attend our these awareness sessions? Our team of purchasing experts can be reached through the NC-PURCHASING_PORTAL-PORTAIL_D'ACHATS-GD, and for more information, consult the Acquisition Card Program page.
Changes with Blanket Travel Authorities (BTAs) usage at ESDC
Do you travel less than four times in a fiscal year for the same reason and type of travel? If so, a BTA is not required.
As per the Departmental procedures related to Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures (THCEE) Policy, it is expected that the use of BTAs is kept to a minimum and only issued in situations where there is a compelling argument for administrative efficiency (i.e. frequent and repetitive travel of the same reason and type).
In order to generate department-wide administrative savings while fostering better controls, 2020-21 BTAs should only be issued to individuals who anticipate travelling more than three times throughout the fiscal year for the same reason and type of travel.
As of April 2020, where a traveler has no prior travel history, National Accounting Operations may limit BTA usage to align with the THCEE Policy. The BTA Request Form was updated in January 2020 and is now available on the Departmental procedures related to THCEE page.
If you have any further questions about this topic, please contact the Travel Helpline at 1-855-684-7827, Option #1.
An Update from the Enterprise Project Management Office
Please follow the link for updates related to the TBS Policy Suite reset, the Project Management Competency Development Program and the PMIS Phase IV project, check out the EPMO Outreach Newsletter or contact us at NC-BGPE-EPMO-GD.
CFOB’s Service Standards
The Change Management and Continuous Improvement Team of CFOB presents the results for the third quarter of 2019-2020.
A few interesting highlights from this quarter includes that there was a 45% increase from last quarter in the number of Procurement Team Requests where the purchase value of services (all taxes included) was less than or equal to $40,000. Despite the increased volume, a contract was issued within 14 calendar days of receipt of all required documentation and approvals for 87% of the Q3 requests.
The cumulative volume of myEMS Service Desk requests received at Q3 has decreased by approximately 48% since Q3 of FY 18-19. All incidents continue to be responded to within 1 business day.
Between Q3 of this fiscal year compared to last fiscal, there has been approximately double the number of budget transfers approved by authorized senior management that required CFOB processing within 2 business days. This was achieved while maintaining a 99% service standard.
From Q2 to Q3, there was a 59% increase in the number of PMIS general requests sent to the EPMO Mailbox requiring Tier 2 support and 98% were responded to within 5 business days.
There was a 41% increase in the number of general inquiries through the iService catalogue since Q2 (excluding ATIP requests or a parliamentary question that comes with specific deadline). All inquiries were assigned to a CFOB staff member within 2 business days of receipt.
As we review and post results for each quarter, our goal is to continuously improve our services.