UPDATE – Deadline extended: Community members invited to help shape proposed procurement bylaw

UPDATE (Friday, Jul. 8, 2022):
The City of Kingston is extending the deadline for community members to participate in the survey on proposed updates to the purchasing bylaw.

Originally scheduled to close today, Friday, Jul. 8, 2022, interested residents now have until 4 p.m. on Friday, July 22 to submit their feedback, the City said in a media release.

“We are extending the deadline to provide community members with more time to learn about the proposed bylaw—and why staff and leading experts are recommending updates—and to provide their feedback,” said Brent Funnell, Supervisor of Procurement Operations at the City.

According to the release, the Ontario Municipal Act, 2001 requires that a municipality adopt a bylaw that will direct how goods and services are being purchased. The proposed bylaw will continue to support open, transparent, fair, and competitive procurement practices, address the ever-expanding trade treaty requirements, and support innovative approaches to purchasing goods and services.

More details, and the survey, can be found on the City of Kingston website: https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/proposed-procurement-bylaw

Original article:

The City of Kingston is looking for community input on proposed amendments to the purchasing bylaw, which outlines how the municipality purchases goods and services.

According to the City, recent changes to legislation, as well as increased levels of procurement, and changes in business practice, have resulted in a need to develop and adopt an updated by-law that will govern the City’s procurement operations.

“A substantive review and revisions have not been made to the City’s Purchasing Bylaw since 2006,” reads the Get Involved Kingston page. “The proposed bylaw will continue to support open, transparent, fair, and competitive procurement practices, enable the ability to leverage technology, provide more flexibility in pursuing innovative approaches in procurement and address the ever-expanding trade treaty requirements.”

According to a release from the City, the proposed changes have been developed by leading experts and would modernize the City’s current bylaw to ensure its compliance with trade treaties, to provide more flexibility in approaches to procurement, and to incorporate principles that will support the inclusion of sustainable and environmental considerations in the evaluation of supplier proposals.   

The City invites residents to ‘Get Involved’ by 4 p.m. on Friday, Jul. 8, 2022:

• Complete a brief survey online or by calling 613-546-0000. People who call in can complete the survey by phone, or request a mailed copy (postage-paid envelope, included).
• Learn more about the City’s purchasing bylaw, review our FAQ section, and offer your ideas as to how the City might promote its procurement opportunities.
• Attend a virtual Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, Jul. 5, 2022. RSVP now.

Feedback collected through this engagement will be compiled in a report and presented to the City’s Administrative Policies Committee in the fall, according to the release.