Competitive Bidding

All RFx's (RFI, RFQ, RFP, RFSQ) will be posted on MERX (approved Ontario Government electronic site) and listed by RFx name and number on the Ryerson website.

Note: These documents are non-binding.

Types of Competitions

Request for Information (RFI) - The purpose of an RFI is to obtain a list of potential suppliers with qualifications, services or products needed to create a formal RFQ or RFP. An RFI cannot be used to make a contract award. 

Request for Quotation (RFQ) - is used when the list of items or services is well defined and the spend is below $100K. Usually the supplier is requested to quote pricing based on the list and specifications provided. Price is the main critera used in determining the successful supplier.

Request for Proposal (RFP) - is used when the requirements and /or the spend is expected to exceed $100K.  The award is made based on pre-defined selection criteria which may include qualifications, task understanding of project, proposed strategies, ability to meet timelines, staffing and pricing.

Request for Supplier Qualification (RFSQ) - is used as a first step to pre-qualify suppliers.  Using pre-defined selection criteria, suppliers are selected from a list of respondents to participate as vendors of a record (VOR) under a master services agreement (MSA) for future scope of work projects.   

Confidentiality

The University's Purchasing staff strives to ensure all competitive bids are done in a open, fair and transparent manner, while information about supplier products, pricing and ideas is held in the strictest confidence. In turn, the University requests the same courtesy in regard to our competitive bid and projects.

Notification, Debriefing,  and Bid Disputes

Notification

All successful and unsuccessful suppliers who have responded to a RFx will be notified by formal letter from Purchasing Services.

Debriefing

Unsuccessful suppliers are entitled to request a debriefing of the process in writing to the Ryerson contact. Debriefings are permitted within thirty (30) days of Ryerson posting the successful supplier on the Ryerson site and MERX.

Bid Disputes 

Purchasing maintains competitve bid processes that are fair and equitable to all parties. If after the debriefing, the supplier still wishes to dispute, the process they are invited to submit concerns in writing to the Director, Purchasing & Payment Services within five (5) business days of the debriefing. 

Facsimile Policy

Submissions of proposals by facsimile are not acceptable.