In effect since April, the Buy Ontario Procurement Directive and Municipal Buy Ontario Procurement Directive establish requirements for provincial ministries and agencies, designated broader public-sector organizations, and municipal-sector entities to prioritize Ontario and Canadian goods and services in capital infrastructure projects, while maintaining value for money and timely delivery.

The current directives do not include specific procurement requirements related to planning and design work, such as that performed by Architects. The government is now looking to ensure that this kind of work also maximizes opportunities for the use of domestic goods and services, where feasible.

Stemming out of a recent meeting that included OAA Vice President Susan Speigel, the Province wants input on the potential impacts, benefits, costs, and implementation considerations associated with proposed changes. They include prohibiting restrictive specifications or design choices that are deemed to unnecessarily create barriers to the use of domestic goods and services. It would also mean ensuring these requirements are incorporated (including through contractual provisions) when procuring design services directly or through project delivery models where design services are provided by a design-builder or consortium.

The OAA is currently reviewing the proposal and exploring whether it will respond on its own or via a broader industry collective of stakeholders. OAA members are also encouraged to consider whether they would want to offer feedback as individuals. The consultation is open until November 22. Click here to participate.

To learn more about Buy Ontario, read this article on the OAA Website.