Reports in progress

Procurement is the process through which goods and services are bought. In B.C., government organizations are accountable for complying with laws and regulations related to procurement.

There are various inter-provincial and international trade agreements that spell out general obligations for government organizations to meet when procuring goods or services. The province’s Core Policies and Procedures Manual also includes procurement principles that government organizations should follow.

Inadequate procurement policies and practices can undermine trade agreement obligations or the principles of transparency, value for money, or fair, open and non-discriminatory processes. Procurement policies are also essential to reducing the risk of fraud.

In that context, we plan to routinely audit government procurement policies and procedures. We are starting with three audits – to be included in one upcoming report – of the procurement policies of School District 34 (Abbotsford), School District 43 (Coquitlam), and School District 63 (Saanich).

School districts develop their own procurement and contract management policies and practices. They are also expected to follow the spirit and intent of the Core Policies and Procedures Manual.

Procurement policies that support procurement principles (e.g., value for money) help ensure school districts meet their operational and educational objectives.

Our work will determine whether the three school districts in our audit established comprehensive procurement frameworks that follow the spirit and intent of the Core Policies and Procedures Manual.

We plan to release our report in the spring of 2026.