Ontario Government Issues New Guidelines For Consulting Contracts

The Ontario government has released new guidelines for hiring consultants. All consulting contracts will now be subject to a competitive hiring process and consultants may no longer bill the government for hospitality, food expenses or incidental costs.

The new guidelines apply broadly and affect all consultants, all contracts regardless of dollar value, and all Ontario ministries and agencies.

Under the old rules, contracts valued under $25,000 were not subject to a competitive hiring process. Now, contracts valued at less than $100,000 must use either an invitational competitive process with a minimum of three qualified vendors or an open competitive process. Contracts valued over $100,000 must all use an open competitive process.