Bid Opportunities

All significant purchasing for the City is done by the City's Supply Management Services.

When looking to sell your product or service to the City, make your first call here. All potential suppliers are encouraged to register their firms with the City's bid and tender platform Bonfire. See the "Bid Opportunity" link above to create an account.

 

We purchase materials, supplies, equipment, rentals and services, when required, by the various City departments, as economically as possible with due regard for price, availability, quality and service, so as to provide the best value. This is accomplished by standardization and competitive bidding on the basis of adequate specifications whenever possible.

Tenders, Request for Proposals, and Request for Offers covering City contracts are advertised on the City's website as per City Purchasing Policy. When they are, look for them on our website above under Bid Opportunities.

Interested suppliers should:

• be sure your tender/proposal/offer is submitted to the Supply Management office before the stated closing time, or it will be returned unopened.
• be sure to read the documents thoroughly and comply with all the instructions and conditions. We do not want to be in a position of having to reject your offer for non-compliance.
• contractors will be asked to submit Insurance and WorkSafe BC Requirements prior to commencement of any work for the City.

Approved Product Information

The City of Victoria is committed to ensuring that the citizens of Victoria are supplied with goods and materials which adhere to the highest standards, as well as ensuring long-term value. In order to accomplish these goals, the Engineering & Public Works Department has developed, and maintains, an Approved Products List (APL) and a set of guidelines for suppliers wishing to submit products for evaluation by the City of Victoria in the following specific areas:

• Sanitary Sewer, Storm Drain and Watermain Construction products
• Road Construction products
• Traffic Control Systems products
• Street Lighting products
• Approved Product List 
• Product Approval Guidelines
• Product Approval Process
• Product Approval Application

The City of Victoria is committed to leading and supporting socially responsible procurement that grows a strong, inclusive economy in ways that are practical, achievable, transparent and measurable.

The City considers the environmental, social and economic value of the goods and services being purchased with the intent to shift spending away from those that negatively impact the environment and society, towards products and services that are more environmentally sound and socially beneficial.

Recognizing its role as a major purchaser of goods and services, the City seeks opportunities to encourage and influence markets for environmentally and socially preferable products through employee education; supporting pilot testing of potential new products; and adopting innovative product standards, specifications and contracts.

Social Procurement

Purchases should be leveraged to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the community.

• Social Enterprise Development – strengthen and grow businesses already doing business with community benefit in mind and grow the social enterprise sector.
• Leading Economic Change – make the mainstream economy more inclusive to ensure there is always an opportunity for everyone to prosper.

Values

Our overarching goal is the removal of barriers so all current and future members of our community can participate in society and prosper, and is based on the following values:

• Social Justice (removes systemic barriers)
• Intersectionality (reflects multiple lived experiences)
• Quality of Life (health, happiness and satisfaction)
• Resilience and Prosperous Community (inclusion and access)

The City's RFPs ask proponents to describe their internal efforts that align with the City’s social value and sustainability commitments such as:

• Advanced health and safety practices
• Employee training and apprenticeship programs
• Diverse employment policies
• Fair or living wages
• Advanced environmental and sustainability practices

A strong RFP response will include details on a proponent's program or objective, business practices or activities to support social procurement.

If you are considering doing business with the City of Victoria please review the following links.

• Purchasing Policy 
• Prime Contractor, Appendices A to D
• Insurance and Worksafe BC Requirements
• Payment Information Form

The City is committed to our vendors and is encouraging Electronic Transactions. The City encourages vendors not yet being paid electronically to take this opportunity to enroll in our eCommerce Direct Deposit Payments program.

To set up a Bonfire account, you must launch Bonfire. Select the option to Log In / Register (top right) and select new vendor registration and fill in the blanks. You will receive confirmation email, which once confirmed, you will be able to continue your vendor profile.