CFTA Compliance Checklist: 7 Must-Know Rules for Canadian Public Sector Procurement

The Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) mandates that all government entities – from federal departments to small municipalities – follow standardized procurement practices to ensure fair national competition. However, a 2024 Auditor General report found that 1 in 3 Ontario public agencies still struggle with non-compliance, risking costly disputes and delayed projects.

Critical Compliance Requirements

1. Threshold Awareness: For 2024-25, CFTA’s competitive bidding threshold is **$121,800\ast \ast forgoodsand$304,100 for construction (higher in Nunavut/Yukon).
2. Documentation Standards: All bids over thresholds require:
   • Public posting on MERX or equivalent
   • Clear evaluation criteria published in advance
   • Detailed debriefs for unsuccessful suppliers
3. Indigenous Exemptions: Procurements from Indigenous businesses are exempt from CFTA rules – but require proper certification tracking.

How Technology Simplifies Compliance
AIG Pro’s public sector clients automate CFTA adherence through:

• Smart Bid Templates with built-in evaluation matrices
• Automated Audit Trails documenting every decision point
• Supplier Diversity Trackers for Indigenous/VE spend reporting
  The City of Edmonton reduced bid protests by 75% after implementing these tools while cutting procurement cycle times by 40%.