Solicitation types
What is a standing offer?
A standing offer is a Government of Canada procurement instrument in which a supplier offers to provide goods or services at pre-arranged prices and terms for a set period. It is not a contract — a binding contract forms only when a federal organization issues a "call-up" against the standing offer.
Last updated: 2026-06-12
How standing offers work
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) or another federal organization runs a competitive process — typically a Request for Standing Offer (RFSO) — and qualifies one or more suppliers at fixed pricing. Departments then place call-ups directly against the standing offer as needs arise, without running a new competition each time.
Each call-up is its own small contract at the pre-agreed terms, usually capped at a per-call-up dollar limit. The government commits to nothing until a call-up is issued: holding a standing offer guarantees eligibility, not revenue.
Types of standing offers
Standing offers are scoped by who can use them and where: National Master Standing Offers (NMSO) serve all federal departments Canada-wide, Regional Master Standing Offers (RMSO) serve all departments in one region, and Individual Standing Offers (NISO/RISO) serve a single department nationally or regionally.
They suit repetitive, well-defined purchases — office supplies, temporary help, routine maintenance, standard equipment — where pricing can be fixed up front and demand arrives in many small orders.
Standing offer vs supply arrangement
Canada also uses supply arrangements (SAs), which qualify a pool of suppliers but leave pricing to be competed among them at the time of each requirement. A standing offer locks the price in advance; a supply arrangement locks in the supplier pool and competes price per requirement.
The closest US federal analogue to these vehicles is the IDIQ contract and the GSA Schedule, which similarly pre-qualify suppliers for repeated orders.
| Standing offer | Supply arrangement | Contract | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Fixed in advance | Competed per requirement | Fixed at award |
| Binding? | Only when a call-up is issued | Only when a resulting contract is awarded | Yes, immediately |
| Best for | Repetitive, standardized purchases | Recurring needs with variable scope | One defined requirement |
Frequently asked questions
- Does winning a standing offer guarantee work?
- No. A standing offer guarantees you are eligible to receive call-ups at your offered prices, but the government has no obligation to order anything. Revenue depends on departments actually issuing call-ups.
- How do I find standing offer opportunities?
- Requests for Standing Offers (RFSOs) are published on CanadaBuys alongside regular tenders. Filtering for the standing offer notice type, or for the GSIN/UNSPSC codes you serve, surfaces them.
- Can multiple suppliers hold the same standing offer?
- Yes. Many standing offers are awarded to several suppliers, with call-ups allocated by ranking, rotation, or right-of-first-refusal rules defined in the standing offer itself.
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Related answers
This article explains government procurement concepts in general terms and is not legal advice. Rely on the specific solicitation documents for any opportunity you pursue.