Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act (BOBIA)

Updates to the Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act (BOBIA), O.Reg. 422/23, will impact procurement requirements for purchases under the Open Competitive procurement threshold starting April 1, 2024. BOBIA applies to Laurentian University as a Broader Public Sector institution, and its purpose is to give Ontario Businesses preference when conducting procurement processes. The university will be required to demonstrate compliance with our BOBIA obligations by submitting a report on its procurement activity via Procurement Services.

BOBIA does not override the university’s requirement to engage in Competitive Procurement (ex: receiving competing quotations or engaging in Open Competitive procurement where required by the Procurement Policy).

The University will follow the Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act (BOBIA) for procurement under $121,200.

An Ontario business is defined under BOBIA as “any supplier, manufacturer, or distributor that conducts its activities on a permanent basis in Ontario; and, at the time of procurement, has its headquarters (or a location with at least 250 employees) in Ontario.”

Preference is given to Ontario businesses as follows:

• For procurement processes under $3,000 (excluding taxes), departments should give preference to Ontario businesses for their purchases, where feasible.
  
  These purchases can be made via a Purchasing Card up to $3000 including taxes. If the vendor will not accept a Purchasing Card, a requisition is required. If a purchase is made via requisition, please submit the single written quotation along with the requisition number to purchasing@laurentian.ca.
   
• For procurement processes between $3,000 and $9,999 (excluding taxes), departments should give preference to Ontario businesses in purchases where feasible.
  
  Departments will obtain a single written quotation and submit it along with the requisition number to purchasing@laurentian.ca.
   

• For procurement processes between $10,000 and $121,199 (excluding taxes), preference will be given to Ontario businesses in purchases.
  
  Procurements at this value must be undertaken by Procurement & Contracts ONLY. Please advise Procurement & Contracts of your requirements via email at purchasing@laurentian.ca.

  Click here for guidance on How to Buy.

Exceptions to the BOBIA

Exceptions to the requirement to give preference to Ontario Businesses are only valid for the procurement of:

1. Goods or services included in a Standing Offer, Vendor of Record agreement, or Qualified Supplier List,
2. Services provided by treasury operations, lawyers, paralegals, notary publics, or expert witnesses,
3. Goods or services required for an emergency,
4. Goods or services procured for commercial sale or resale, or
5. Goods or services which are not available from an Ontario Business.

If you believe that an exemption applies to your procurement,  please contact purchasing@laurentian.ca and demonstrate the exemption. Please note, BOBIA exemptions are separate considerations from the Limited Tendering Exceptions associated with Competitive Procurement.