Goodmans LLP invites you to join us for an engaging discussion of recent developments and trends in procurement law. The Canadian Free Trade Agreement (and other trade agreements) are tightening the public sector procurement rules and are creating new opportunities to challenge awards. Fairness principles would appear to mandate greater formality (including the use of a tender bid process), while the procurement of technology solutions demands the use of a more rapid and flexible process. How best to proceed in the face of these conflicting pressures?
To address this question our panel of experts will discuss the various aspects of procurement, including:
An overview of changes under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement and other trade agreements;
The grounds and processes by which procurements may be challenged;
Fairness principles and the importance of effective scoring metrics; and
The use of a modular, negotiated RFP process to accelerate the procurement of technology solutions.
The panel will then discuss the similarities and differences, and risks and benefits, of different procurement models (tender bid versus negotiated RFP process) and take questions from the floor.
Panellists: Ira Berg, Partner, Goodmans LLP Julie Rosenthal, Partner, Goodmans LLP Rick Wilson, Associate, BDO Canada LLP
