When do Alberta public buyers have to post a tender?
The New West Partnership thresholds that decide which Alberta municipal, school, health and provincial contracts are posted openly, and what happens below them.
Short answer
Under the New West Partnership, Alberta municipalities, school boards, health and post-secondary buyers must openly post goods and services from $75,000 and construction from $200,000. Provincial ministries post goods from $10,000, services from $75,000 and construction from $100,000. Below those amounts each buyer's own policy decides, often invited quotes.
The reason you see a $300,000 janitorial contract on Alberta Purchasing Connection but never the $15,000 jobs is the trade agreements. Above set dollar amounts, Alberta's public buyers have to open work to any qualified supplier. Below them, they follow their own purchasing policy.
What are the thresholds in Alberta?
Alberta municipalities and other public bodies must follow both the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA), Alberta Municipalities says. The NWPTA, between Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, has the lower thresholds, so it usually decides whether a contract is posted:
| Buyer | Goods | Services | Construction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipalities, school boards, health and public post-secondary (MASH) | $75,000 | $75,000 | $200,000 |
| Provincial ministries, agencies, boards and commissions | $10,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
| Provincial Crown corporations | $25,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
The City of Leduc's own trade agreement page shows how this plays out: it must advertise goods and services over $75,000 and construction over $200,000 on APC, open to all suppliers with no local preference.
The CFTA covers every province with higher thresholds that are adjusted every two years. Both agreements list exceptions, such as unforeseeable urgency. Alberta Municipalities notes a sole-source award has to fit an exception in both agreements.
Where are posted tenders published?
On Alberta Purchasing Connection, which Alberta calls its official electronic tendering site. Many buyers keep the documents on their own portal, but the notice goes on APC. Under the CFTA, successful bidder information is also posted there, which is useful for seeing who wins what. See how to register on APC.
What happens below the thresholds?
Each buyer's purchasing policy or bylaw decides. Commonly:
- Small purchases go straight to a known supplier or to informal quotes.
- Mid-sized jobs get a request for quotes, sent to invited suppliers or posted anyway. Leduc, for example, runs a procurement process for work over $10,000 and says it often posts jobs under $75,000 on APC and bids&tenders.
- Prequalified or multi-use lists cover repeat work. The City of Red Deer lets suppliers apply to its lists at any time.
How do I get invited to quote on smaller jobs?
- Ask to be added to supplier or prequalified lists at the municipalities, school divisions and counties near you.
- Introduce yourself to operations and facilities staff, who often ask for the quotes. A one-page profile with your trade, area, WCB-Alberta account and insurance is enough.
- Bid on posted work in your trade. Losing bids still put you in the buyer's records.
- Follow the buyers you want on CrewBid so you hear about every notice they post.
Why this matters when you choose what to bid
Posted work is bigger and open to everyone, so expect more competition and more paperwork. Invited work is smaller but less contested. Most crews new to Alberta win some local invited work first, then use those references on posted contracts.
Where to go next
Why Alberta is open to BC crews explains the New West Partnership in more depth, and how Alberta municipalities buy covers who the municipal buyers are.
What to do next
Sources
Rules and forms change. Check the official page before you rely on a detail here.