The objective of the bidding process is to choose a suitable partner, on the best possible terms-a partner with the skills, experience and resources necessary to secure the desired services in the most efficient way possible. Experience suggests that the best way of finding a suitable partner at a reasonable cost is to hold a competition among prospective bidders.
In general, the more competitive and transparent the process for choosing a contractual partner, the greater the likelihood that the best possible deal will be achieved and that the deal will be politically sustainable. It is therefore required that provincial line ministries, provincial government agencies and broader public-sector partners-municipalities, hospitals, school boards, colleges and universities- implement a competitive bidding process when choosing a partner.