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The company that set up the problem-plagued Phoenix payroll system did not bid on the contract to create a new payroll system, according the the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.
Treasury Board President Jane Philpott was asked directly on Monday if IBMs involvement with the troubled pay system would prevent the company from working on the replacement.
"At this point Im not going to say whos going to be in and whos going to be out. Were going to make sure that we pick the very best company," Philpott said.
Canadas Chief Information Officer Alex Benay, who is leading the search for a replacement system, responded similarly on Monday when asked if IBMs association with Phoenix ruled them out of contention.
"The answer to that is no," Benay said. "Whoever is left in it will be treated the same way, because at this point what matters more is that we pay people."
But on Tuesday a spokesperson from the Treasury Board emailed CBC stating that IBM had not submitted a bid to replace Phoenix.
"Canada did not receive a bid from IBM in response to this solicitation," the email read.
In 2011, IBM was hired to implement, operate and maintain Phoenix, the federal public service pay system. Phoenix was launched in 2016 and has been plagued with glitches ever since, causing thousands of public servants to be improperly paid.
IBM itself did not say whether they had bid on the contract or not. An email from an IBM spokesperson sent Monday stated that they do not comment on contract bids.
Recommendations coming in spring
The 2018 federal budget included $16 million over two years to fund the search for a payroll system to replace Phoenix.
Government officials have been talking to companies interested in landing the contract to design a new payroll and human resources system for federal employees since the process was launched in August of last year.
Five companies still remain in contention for the contract, whittled down from seven initial bids, according to the Treasury Board email.
Benay said Monday they are comfortable with the remaining bids but said they are focused on ensuring they make the best choice.
"The key is not whos there as the vendors. Its how we will chose to interact with those vendors to ensure we dont repeat some of our mistakes." |
