Canadian Government wants industry input on how it buys PR services

• • No Tags

Have you ever worked late into the night preparing a proposal for a large assignment and thought to yourself, “There must be a better way to do this?”

Canada WordMarkWell, Canada’s largest purchaser of public relations services, the Federal Government has just invited industry comment on a new standard Draft Request for Standing Offer that would be used to select firms to provide PR services to departments and agencies.

The Standing Offer system allows the government to pre-qualify firms as suppliers through a competitive process. Firms then may be contracted for specific services by the departments and agencies for which they have been pre-qualified.

Parliament of CanadaI’ve been told that the Federal Government purchases between $5 million and $7 million in public relations services each year. That’s a big target that entices many companies to compete for assignments.

We all benefit from a fair and effective selection process for work. The current Request for Industry Comment provides us with an all-too-rare opportunity to suggest improvements to this process.

If you have bid for government work in the past or if you have been discouraged from doing so because of the bidding process, don’t miss this opportunity to comment on the government’s proposed new selection process. Download the Draft Request for Standing Offer and submit your comments before February 26, 2007.

Third Tuesday social media meetup will explore Wikinomics with Anthony Williams

• • No Tags

Anthony WilliamsWikinomics is a great read for anyone interested in social media, communities and collaboration. And Toronto’s Third Tuesday social media meetup group will have a chance on February 20 to discuss Wikinomics with Anthony Williams, who co-authored the book with Don Tapscott.

If you haven’t read Wikinomics yet, here are a few samples of what Williams and Tapscott have written:

“Twenty years from now we will look back at this period of the early twenty-first century as a critical turning point in economic and social history. We will understand that we entered a new age, one based on new principles, worldviews, and business models where the nature of the game was changed.”

“…profound changes in the nature of technology, demographics, and the global economy are giving rise to powerful new models of production based on community, collaboration, and self-organization rather than on hierarchy and control.”

“… four principles – openness, peering, sharing, and acting globally – increasingly define how twenty-first-century corporations compete.”

“… firms that cultivate nimble, trust-based relationships with external collaborators are positioned to form vibrant business ecosystems that create value more effectively than hierarchically organized businesses.”

Third Tuesday“While the old Web was about Web sites, clicks and “eyeballs,” the new Web is about the communities, participation and peering.”

“A power shift is underway, and a tough new business rule is emerging: Harness the new collaboration or perish.”

Wikinomics speaks directly to the collaborative and creative challenges and opportunities that are sweeping through marketing and communications. Lots of great ideas persuasively advanced.

If you plan to be in or near Toronto on February 20, don’t miss this event. Register on meetup.com to attend the Third Tuesday session with Anthony Williams.

Third Monday catches a great speaker, Paul Wells

• • No Tags

Paul WellsWe have a great speaker lined up for the February Third Monday, Paul Wells of Maclean’s Magazine.

Paul’s Inkless Wells blog is an agenda setter in Canada’s capital. He posts on events – before they happen, while they are happening and or soon after they conclude – with an immediacy, insight and wit that makes him a must-read for other political bloggers, journalists and politicians. For many people, it’s Paul’s blog that sustains top of mind awareness for Maclean‘s, the weekly news magazine for which he writes a column. And to keep a weekly outlet relevant is a real accomplishment in the post-deadline age.

Third MondayPaul’s first book, Right Side Up, was published in late 2006. I’m only about a quarter way into it. But so far, it’s a pretty interesting, pull-no-punches read.

If you plan to be in or near Canada’s capital on February 19, treat yourself to an interesting evening of discussion with Ottawa’s social media community and a journalist who’s straddling social media and main stream media. Sign up to attend at the Third Monday social media meetup site.