Important Notice to Web Collaboration Clients
Supply Chain Ontario (SCO), MGCS, has been made aware that clients which have acquired web collaboration software through vendors which were qualified on now-expired Vendor of Record (VOR) arrangements, may be receiving Renewal Notices for their software licenses from vendors who are not currently qualified as vendors of record under the current MGCS Enterprise VOR arrangement, Web Collaboration Solutions 2018.
Clients which receive these Renewal Notices are reminded of the requirement of the Ontario Public Service Procurement Directive, at Article 4.3 – Supply Source, that clients making acquisitions use Enterprise Vendor of Record arrangements where available.
The Web Collaboration Solutions acquired through this VOR arrangement will provide clients with the ability to collaborate in real-time, with anyone, regardless of location and will facilitate web-based audio and video conferencing in support of E-training and large event conferencing.
Web conferencing offers advantages over traditional room-based videoconferencing because applications such as collaborative Web browsing, file transfer and application sharing are easily supported over the Internet. Web conferencing also allows users to schedule and hold meetings through several media:
- Audio conferences (i.e. teleconferences)
- Web-based conferences (i.e. sharing computer screens)
- Video conferences (via webcam or video terminals)
The intention of this VOR is to reduce costs through volume acquisitions, reduce the duplication of effort required when Clients have a need to acquire similar technologies and to reduce travel costs. The VOR arrangement does not provide for any web collaboration hardware products and/or consulting services.