Procurement Services Transitioning To Accepting Only Online Bid Submissions

 The City of Brandon Procurement Services is transitioning to accepting only online bid submissions effective Tuesday, June 1, 2021. 

Built in-house by the City of Brandon Innovation, Technology & Communications Department, purchasing.brandon.ca has been customized so bidders can easily submit online bids to the City of Brandon. The new online solution has been in place since July 2020 and has been the preferred option for bidders. 

Bidders will find the new system easy to use, secure, and available 24/7. No longer will bidders have to be concerned with not submitting their bids on time to due to traffic, inclement weather, or expensive courier delivery fees. Another advantage with the online system is that bidders are only required to include one copy with their submission. Previously, up to six copies were required depending on the project. 

Purchasing.brandon.ca also provides functionality for bidders to easily download bid opportunity documents. The online bid submission process, along with the addition of the email subscription service, aligns with the City of Brandon’s philosophy of integrating green procurement practices into day-to-day operations, as it reduces the need for physical paper printing, faxing and/or delivery.  

Once a bidder submits their bid successfully, they will receive an email confirmation of delivery. A video showcasing the new solution can be found here or on the City of Brandon’s YouTube channel. This video includes a step-by-step tutorial on the submission and subscription processes.  

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of modernizing the bid submission process,” noted Procurement Manager Lindsay Loree. “In the first month of being in use, more than 90% of the bids received were via the online portal. With the tremendous response and positive feedback from bidders on ease of use, it made the decision easy to transition to online only.”  

The function of Procurement Services is to obtain goods, services, and construction in the most cost-effective manner possible and to control the issue, usage, and disposal of these items on behalf of the City Council of Brandon, in the best interests of the citizens of Brandon. Bid documents are distributed online via the City of Brandon Purchasing & Tenders website. 

General information about conducting business with City of Brandon Procurement Services can be found at Conducting Business with Procurement Services.