Office of the Procurement Ombud (OPO)

The Office of the Procurement Ombud is the neutral and independent organization of the Government of Canada that helps resolve contracting disputes between businesses and the federal government — a free avenue for suppliers who believe a federal contract was awarded unfairly or is being administered badly.

What it is

Per the Office of the Procurement Ombud (opo-boa.gc.ca), OPO investigates complaints and provides dispute resolution services for federal contracting. Suppliers can complain about the award of a contract valued below $34,700 for goods or $139,000 for services, or about the administration of a federal contract, regardless of dollar value. The office operates under the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act, and the grounds and timelines for complaints are set out in the Procurement Ombudsman Regulations (SOR/2008-143).

Who can file

Per OPO's published criteria, a supplier must have a place of business in Canada, file the complaint in writing within the regulated timelines, and — for complaints about contract administration — be a party to the contract. OPO also offers dispute resolution services for disagreements over the interpretation of terms and conditions in an existing federal contract, which either party to the contract can request.

How a review works

Once a complaint is filed, OPO has 10 working days to decide whether to launch a review. If one is launched, OPO gathers records from both the supplier and the federal organization and completes its review within 120 working days of the complaint being filed. The final report goes to the complainant, the deputy head of the federal organization and the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and is published on OPO's website and referenced in the Procurement Ombud's Annual Report. Reviews are document-based: no interviews or witness statements.

Common questions

How is OPO different from a CITT bid challenge?

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal handles complaints about procurements above the CITT thresholds and can award costs or resolicit; OPO handles low-value award complaints and contract administration issues and makes findings and recommendations. Many suppliers use OPO for small awards and administration disputes that fall outside CITT's scope. See our pages on the CITT challenge process and OPO dispute resolution.

Does filing with OPO cost anything?

No. OPO's services are free, and it publishes a plain-language guide on what complainants and federal organizations can expect. If you are unsure whether to file, OPO publishes a toll-free number and encourages suppliers to call before filing.

Related definitions

Debrief request · Supplier debriefing · Contract administration