Doing Business with Us
Procurement at the University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a large, decentralized institution with diverse purchasing needs, ranging from everyday goods and services to complex research equipment and large-scale construction projects. Our procurement process ensures that all purchasing is fair, transparent, competitive, and aligned with public-sector obligations.
Guiding Principles
Fairness and Transparency
Suppliers are evaluated through open and competitive processes that ensure equal opportunity.
Best Value
Decisions are based on overall value, not just lowest price. Factors such as quality, service, risk, sustainability, and total cost of ownership are considered.
Compliance
As a publicly funded institution, U of T follows applicable trade agreements, policies, and legislation governing public procurement.
Sustainability
We seek to work with suppliers whose supply chain activities promote social, environmental and financial sustainability.
Contracting Authorities Across the University
We are a multi-campus institution with distinct academic divisions and major administrative portfolios. While procurement is guided by a common set of principles and policies, the authority to enter into contracts is delegated differently depending on the type of purchase and the portfolio involved.
Low-value Purchases
These purchases do not require an open competitive procurement process may be made directly by departments and various individuals across the university using purchasing cards (PCards), Approved Suppliers or uSOURCE catalogues, or the Invitation-to-Quote (ITQ) process.
Open Competitive Procurement Bidding Opportunities
Purchases greater than $100,000 involve requests for quotes (RFQs), proposals (RFPs), or tenders (RFTs), etc. These opportunities are run by the local procurement team responsible for the specified scope.
The local procurement teams use different platforms to post open competitive procurements:
- University of Toronto St. George Procurement Services (UTSG) on MERX
- University of Toronto Mississauga Procurement (UTM) on MERX
- University of Toronto Scarborough Finance (UTSC) on MERX
- Facilities and Services (St. George) on MERX
- University Planning, Design and Construction (UPDC, St. George) on Biddingo
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MERX
University of Toronto bidding opportunities posted on MERX. Biddingo
University of Toronto bidding opportunities posted on Biddingo. |
Please note: while solicitation documents for open opportunities are posted on MERX or Biddingo, submissions are received through Bonfire. Follow the instructions included in the opportunity.
Group Purchasing Organizations
As a Broader Public Sector (BPS) organization, the University benefits from collaborative purchasing arrangements through:
- Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace (OECM)
- Supply Ontario (SO)
- KineticGPO
- Canoe Procurement Group of Canada
These group purchasing organizations (GPOs) bring together suppliers and public institutions across Ontario and Canada, creating competitive, transparent opportunities to serve multiple customers through a single or vendor of record agreement.
Suppliers interested in doing business with the University of Toronto are strongly encouraged to explore opportunities with these organizations. By participating in collaborative arrangements, suppliers gain visibility and access to a wide network of institutions. When a product or service is not available from an existing Approved Supplier, our departments and procurement professionals look first to a GPO agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register to become an Approved Supplier?
No. Suppliers that are successful in a competitive procurement opportunity are selected by the community to deliver low-dollar value goods or services, or those selected from a Vendor of Record arrangement with a Group Purchasing Organization will be added to the Approved Supplier Directory or registered as a vendor in our systems at that time.
For more information, see Prospective Suppliers.
Do I need to offer the lowest price to win a bid?
Not necessarily. Successful bids may be based on a variety of factors which will be outlined in the procurement opportunity (Open Competitive Procurement, Invitation to Quote etc.)
How do I promote my goods or services?
See our Prospective Suppliers page for information on how to promote your goods or services.
How can my company register as a Diverse Supplier?
To register as a Diverse Supplier with the University of Toronto, visit the Diverse Supplier Portal.
