Publicly release multi-year capital plans aligned with government budget cycles
Public Sector Procurement
A Roadmap for Public Sector Owners Committed to Building Better
This roadmap is here to help public sector owners deliver construction projects that truly work; for people, for communities, and for the future of BC. It’s not about reinventing the wheel; it’s about leaning into what already works. By aligning with trusted Canadian standards and resources, such as CCDC, CAMF, CCA, and trade agreements, public owners can build with confidence, transparency, and fairness.
Grounded in the BCCA’s core advocacy principles of open, competitive procurement and transparent and fair processes across the full project lifecycle, this resource is a practical tool for building a strong construction culture rooted in trust and accountability.
Success doesn’t happen in isolation. That’s why it’s vital to consider the full construction supply chain, from design consultants and suppliers to trade contractors and builders. These best practices help foster a healthier, more resilient industry by supporting consistent, respectful engagement at every stage.
By applying the guidance and resources in the following sections, public sector owners can reduce risk, strengthen industry confidence, and ensure that every public dollar spent delivers real, lasting value to British Columbians.
1. Construction Planning
- Engage in fair market sounding practices for stakeholder consultation and early engagement
- Ensure budgets are realistic and sufficient to deliver the intended scope
- Conduct regular budget updates to reflect market conditions before procurement
Available Resources
- Ministry of Finance Capital Asset Management Framework: 4. Planning
- Need to purchase a document? Contact your Regional Construction Association
2. DELIVERY METHOD SELECTION
- Select the delivery method that best suits the project’s scope, risk profile, and market conditions
- Ensure the chosen method is applied properly, with clear roles, responsibilities, and that contract selection aligns with the selected delivery model
Available Resources
- CCDC 10 – 2018 A Guide to Construction Project Delivery Methods
- CCDC Guides to various delivery methods and their contracts, including construction management, design-build, and IPD
- Need to purchase a document? Contact your Regional Construction Association
- To see all CCDC Contract forms and Guides: click here
3. Contract
- Allocate risk appropriately: misplaced risk drives up costs and reduces participation down the supply chain
- Use standard form contracts such as CCDC, BCDC, AIBC, RAIC with minimal supplementary conditions to maintain fairness and clarity
Available Resources
- CCDC Guide Documents for various contracts
- Master Specification for Division 01 – 2020 General Requirements
- Ministry of Finance: Resources to Support the Use of Contracts
- CCDC 24 – 2022 A Guide to Model Forms and Support Documents
- CCDC 20 – 2024 Guide to Construction Contract Administration
- BCDC 2-2024 Standard Documents and Guide – BC Documents Committee (BCDC) documents are endorsed by AIBC, BCCA, and ACEC-BC, with participation from the Ministry of Citizens’ Services, including made-in-BC supplementary conditions for CCDC 2-2020 for use by the BC public sector
- The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s (RAIC) Digital Contracts
- Architectural Institute of British Columbia’s (AIBC) Contracts
- Ministry of Finance Capital Asset Management Framework Guidelines
- Need to purchase a document? Contact your Regional Construction Association
- To see all CCDC Contract forms and Guides: click here
4. Procurement
- Open, fair, and transparent procurement practices
- High quality design documents and reports, coordinated and complete
- Use of clear, complete procurement documents
- Avoid broad privilege clauses and other procurement processes that undermine open, competitive procurement
- Proactive and timely release of procurement information, especially after the submission close
Available Resources
- CCDC 23 – 2018 A Guide to Calling Bids and Awarding Contracts
- BCDC 2-2024 Standard Documents and Guide – BC Documents Committee (BCDC) documents are endorsed by AIBC, BCCA, and ACEC-BC, with participation from the Ministry of Citizens’ Services, including made-in-BC Division 00 Procurement and Contracting Requirements for use by the BC public sector
- CCDC Division 00 Master Specification for Division 00 – 2018: Procurement and Contracting Requirements
- CCDC 11 – 2019 Contractor’s Qualification Statement
- Ministry of Finance Guidance For The Release Of Information Or Documents Related To Competitive Procurement Opportunities
- New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA)
- NWPTA Guidelines to the Procurement Obligations of Domestic and International Trade Agreements
- BCCA’s Guide to BC Trade Definitions
- Need to purchase a document? Contact your Regional Construction Association
- To see all CCDC Contract forms and Guides: click here
5. Project Management
- Recognize that project success depends on capable, proactive people
- Read and understand your contract, as the owner
- Establish clear and fair processes for change management and change orders
- Implement structured project closeout and deficiency management procedures
- Maintain prompt payment processes to support cash flow through the supply chain
- Foster clear, consistent communication protocols, beyond just technology platforms
Available Resources
- CCDC 20 – 2024 Guide to Construction Contract Administration
- CCDC 24 – 2022 A Guide to Model Forms and Support Documents
- CCDC 16 – 2024 Guide to Changes in the Contract
- BCCA’s Guide to the Closeout of Construction Contracts & Projects
- CCDC 40 – 2018 Rules for Mediation and Arbitration of Construction Disputes
- Need to purchase a document? Contact your Regional Construction Association
- To see all CCDC Contract forms and Guides: click here
6. Payment
- Align with prompt payment principles through clear, timely processes that reflect contract terms and support trust across the project team and the supply chain
- Establish consistent procedures across the entire organization for payment certification and lien holdback release
- Prepare internal systems and contract language to support future prompt payment legislation
Available Resources
- CCDC 20 – 2024 Guide to Construction Contract Administration
- CCDC 24 – 2022 A Guide to Model Forms and Support Documents
- BCCA’s Builders Lien Act Guide
- Need to purchase a document? Contact your Regional Construction Association
- To see all CCDC Contract forms and Guides: click here