CAN-ASC-4.1 Accessible Procurement
9. Definitions
Information
Table of contents
Technical committee members
- Andrea Zervos (Chairperson), Manager, Public Services and Procurement Canada
- Gilles LeVasseur(Vice Chair), President, Federal Court Challenge Program
- Cheryl Stacey, retired, former public servant
- Harry Lew, Manager of Research and Development, Neil Squire Society
- Martin Chénier, Président, Procurement Alliance of Canada
- Brytani McLeod, NorQuest College - ACT! Consulting, Incluion & Accessibility Consultant, Career Coach
- Katya Pereyaslavska, Associate Librarian, Western University
- Hilton Schwartz, National Board Member, Alliance for Equality for Blind Canadians
- Elizabeth (Liz) Laidlaw, Director, Accessibility Office, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Ontario
- Sarah Anne Hrycenko, Procurement Advisor, Procurement Assistance Canada: Public Service and Procurement Canada
- Diane Morrell, Accessibility Coordinator, City of Sault Ste. Marie
- Jeffrey Panasuik, Executive Director S5 Dynamic Learning Initiative
- Audrey, Beauchamp, Directrice générale, Services linguistiques CB
- Cynthia Benoit, Présidente, Eversa
- Amy Ross, Accessibility Advocate, City of Waterloo
9.1 Definitions
The following definitions apply to this Standard:
Accessible format — includes other formats of communicating information including, but not limited to, audio formats, braille, large print, plain language, and sign language.
Bid — a proposal, quotation or tender submitted in response to a solicitation.
Bidder — a legal entity, person, joint venture or company that has submitted a bid in response to a solicitation.
Binding agreement — an agreement between a procuring entity and a supplier that establishes the terms and conditions for the provision of goods or services. This agreement obligates both parties to fulfill their respective commitments as specified within the contract.
Client — a client is an individual or an organization who is responsible for the business or program area for which the procurement is required.
Communication supports — supports that persons with disabilities may need to access information, including, but not limited to:
- Sign language interpretation
- Writing, e-mail, or texting
- Captioning
- Audio description
- Assistive listening systems
- Augmentative and alternative communication devices including:
- Letter, word, or picture boards
- Devices that convert text to speech
- Reading aloud
- Rephrasing in clear language
Source: Adapted from the definition in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Integrated Accessibility Standards
Competitive contract — a contract that is entered into by soliciting more than one bid.
Contract — a binding agreement entered into by a contracting authority and a contractor to procure a good, service or construction.
Evaluation criteria — in the context of procurement, a benchmark, standard or yardstick against which the accomplishment, conformance, performance and suitability of a person, alternative, activity, product or plan is measured to select the best supplier. Criteria may be qualitative or quantitative in nature.
Goods — items delivered or to be delivered under a contract.
Joint Venture — describes any arrangement whereby two or more persons agree to contribute goods, services, or capital to a common commercial enterprise. It is generally regarded as a temporary relationship that is more informal than a partnership.
Non-competitive contract — a contract that is entered into without soliciting bids.
Person — includes an individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, unincorporated association, unincorporated syndicate, unincorporated organization, trust, body corporate, and an individual in his or her capacity as trustee, executor, administrator or other legal representative.
Source: Adapted from Business Names Act of Ontario
Plain language — a communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information.
Procurement — the process of obtaining goods, services or construction from the planning and the completion of the procurement life cycle.
Procurement life cycle — the continuum of effective and efficient management of procurement phases including:
- planning;
- acquisition and execution;
- use and maintenance; and
- disposal and closeout.
Procurement professional — a procurement professional is anyone responsible for facilitating the procurement function within an organization and has the responsibility to enter into a contract or contractual agreement to purchase goods, services, and construction on behalf of a business owner.
Purchasing — the buying process within the procurement cycle.
Service — a service is obtained through formal arrangements such as contracts, memoranda of understanding, and letters of agreement, to support the realization of specific outcomes.
Solicitation — an invitation, verbal or written, to suppliers to submit a bid, quotation or offer.
Standing offer — a standing offer is an offer from a potential supplier to provide goods, services, or a combination of both at a pre-arranged price, under set terms and conditions, when and if required. It is not a contract until the government issues a “call-up” against the standing offer.
Subject matter expert in accessibility — means a person who has knowledge of a specified field such as the built environment, information and communication technology, and human resources based on a combination of the following factors, which may be weighted differently depending on the circumstances:
- Lived experience relating to accessibility.
- Relevant industry work experience.
- Formal education or training.
- Professional practice within the subject area.
Supplier — a person or legal entity that provides or could provide goods, services or construction.
Supply Arrangement — a Supply Arrangement is a method of supply used by departments to procure goods and services. Many supply arrangements include ceiling prices that allow client departments to negotiate the price downward based on the specific requirement.
Tender — a proposal, bid or offer that is submitted in response to an Invitation to Tender, Request for Proposal, or Request for Quotation from a contracting authority.