Understanding Bids, Tenders & Procurement
What is Procurement?
Procurement is the process by which governments purchase goods, services and construction. This includes everything from office supplies to major infrastructure projects. It’s governed by strict rules to ensure fairness, transparency and value for taxpayer money.
Bids and Tenders
Bid: A proposal submitted by a supplier in response to a formal request.
Tender: The process used to invite bids — typically through an open, competitive format.
Preferred / Approved Vendor Status
Governments often use Standing Offers, Supply Arrangements, or Vendor of Record (VOR) lists. These are pre-qualified pools of vendors who can be called upon for contracts without going through the full tender process each time.
How to Get There:
- Monitor for pre-qualification notices.
- Submit detailed capability and compliance documents.
- Maintain good performance metrics once approved.
- Ensure all licenses, insurance, security clearance and references are current and robust.
Federal Government Procurement (Canada)
Key Platform:
Buyandsell.gc.ca — This is the official site for federal procurement. It includes:
- Open tender opportunities
- Awarded contracts
- Tools and templates
- Supplier registration info
Becoming a Supplier:
- Get a Procurement Business Number (PBN) from CRA.
- Register in the Supplier Registration Information (SRI) system.
- Monitor and respond to tender notices.
- Depending on the industry, you may need:
- Security clearance through Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
- To pre-qualify on Standing Offers or Supply Arrangements
Provincial Procurement (Ontario)
Key Platform:
This is the eTendering portal for the Ontario government procurement.
Becoming a Vendor:
- Register on the OTP platform (free).
- Set up notifications for relevant opportunities.
- Bid on opportunities across ministries, agencies, school boards, hospitals, etc.
- Explore opportunities across the Broader Public Sector (BPS)
Once registered on the Ontario Tenders Portal (OTP), you’ll have access to procurement opportunities not only from provincial ministries but also from broader public sector (BPS) entities like school boards, hospitals, municipalities, and other public institutions.
Many of these organizations use the same platform for their procurement, allowing vendors to centralize their bidding efforts.
County of Simcoe Procurement
Key Platform:
Simcoe County Bids and Tenders Portal
Features: View and respond to bid opportunities posted by the County of Simcoe. To access bid documents and receive notifications, create a vendor account on the portal. Detailed instructions and support are available on the site.
City of Barrie Procurement
Key Platform:
City of Barrie Bid Opportunities Website
Features: Access to the city's procurement opportunities, including open bids, tenders, and requests for proposals. Regularly reviewing this portal will help you stay informed about upcoming opportunities and understand the requirements for various tenders.