Q: What is the ministry's definition of a contract?
A: A contract is a legal agreement between a ministry and a person or company whereby the ministry agrees to pay for services. A professional service contract involves professional or management consulting services where the primary output is the provision of advice, management feasibility studies, concept preparations, operational reviews or design (e.g., consultants could be experts in the fields of engineering, management, or finance).

Q: How does a service provider go about getting a contract with the ministry?
A: The ministry posts new contract opportunities on the BC Bid website. Service providers are encouraged to visit this site regularly.

Q: What is a continuing service agreement?
A: A continuing service agreement an agreement between a ministry(ies) and a contractor for the delivery of Applicable Community Health and Social Services over a period of not less than three years.

Q: What is a grant?
A: A grant is a payment made in accordance with established eligibility criteria for which the government does not directly receive goods or services, and for which no contractual requirements or achievement of performance conditions exist that the recipient must meet.

Q: What is an ITQ?
A: An Invitation to Quote (ITQ) is used when the requirement is adequately defined to permit the evaluation of quotes against clearly stated criteria and quotations. The focus of this solicitation document is on price, targeting the lowest qualified bid.

Q: What is a notice of intent?
A: A notice of intent is the method by which a ministry declares that it intends to negotiate a contract directly with a specified contractor, without a competitive process. It provides an opportunity for other potential proponents to object to the direct award.

Q: What is procurement?
A: Procurement is the acquisition of goods, services or construction through purchase, rental, lease or conditional sale.

Q: What is an RFI?
A: A Request for Information (RFI) is a procurement procedure where vendors are provided with a general or preliminary description of a problem or need, and are requested to provide information or advice about how to better define the problem or need, or alternative solutions. It may be used to assist in preparing a solicitation document. No contract awards are made directly from a request for information.

Q: What is an RFP?
A: An Request for Proposal (RFP) is a request to vendors to submit proposals on how, and at what price, they would provide a good or service in response to an identified problem, requirement, or objective. Vendors are requested to submit detailed proposals in accordance with pre-defined criteria. The selection of the successful proposal is based on evaluation criteria including the effectiveness, value and price of the proposed solution. The ministry posts its RFPs on BC Bid.

Q: What is an RFQ?
A: A Request for Qualification (RFQ) is a procurement document used to invite vendors, if they meet the required qualification criteria, to register on a permanent source list or on a particular source list intended for a specific competition.