Code Of Conduct for Procurement

The new Code of Conduct for Procurement was announced on September 19, 2007. More >

The new Code of Conduct for Procurement applies to public servants and suppliers. More >

The Code defines responsibilities of suppliers when participating in the procurement system. More >

Future contracts with the Crown will include integrity provisions that are contractual obligations. More >

Vendor may complain to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal or the Procurement Ombudsman. More >

Scope and Coverage of Public Procurement in Canada

Public procurement is gaining increased public attention.
In 2003, the federal government purchased approximately CDN$12.6 billion worth of goods and services on behalf of a variety of government clients. More >

The top ten federal government departments and agencies for whom PWGSC acted as the government's central purchasing agency in 2003 included... More >

PWGSC has promulgated a comprehensive set of supply policies that advise suppliers how the federal government manages its procurement process, and provide guidelines to government supply specialists regarding the processes they are to follow. More >
The most common reasons why suppliers take formal protest action include... More >
There are a number of common pitfalls for government suppliers... More >

Increasingly, Courts are articulating the concept that public procurements are not simply commercial transactions that are governed by contractual principles. More >
Good faith in the performance of contractual obligations should be imposed on all contracts. More >
Competitions are required to be fair and open with all the terms and conditions transparent More >

There are government procurement obligations under NAFTA.
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The WTO Agreement on Government Procurement also applies to certain government procurements. More >
The Agreement on Internal Trade also applies in certain government procurement contexts. More >

Approximately eighty bid protests a year are now being filed with the CITT by suppliers and potential suppliers. More >
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is the tribunal established to review federal Contract Awards. More >
The CITT has jurisdiction to hear complaints against federal government entities. More >
The CITT process is complaints-driven. More >
The CITT is an independent administrative tribunal, and not a government department populated with public servants.
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The legislative framework within which the CITT operates in procurement matters is primarily contained in sections 30.11 to 30.19 of the CITT Act. More >
A complaint must be made within ten working days after the supplier knows or reasonably ought to have known the grounds of complaint. More >
The CITT has very broad investigative powers in relation to procurement complaints. More >
The CITT's hearings are mostly in writing. More >
The CITT has wide powers to formulate and recommend any remedy it considers appropriate upon consideration of all the circumstances of the case. More >
The CITT is to consider all of the circumstances relevant to the procurement in recommending an appropriate remedy, including... More >
The Types of Cases that End Up Before the CITT… More >
The CITT is an efficient, independent and effective alternative to court for resolving procurement complaints. More >

Determinations made by the CITT on procurement complaints are subject to judicial review by the Federal Court of Appeal under section 28 of the Federal Court Act. More >