Registry, Appraisal and Qualification System (RAQS)

Documents listed in the ministry’s tenders under the Schedule of Provisions, Contract Plans, Standard Drawings, Specifications and General Conditions are available from the following link. 

https://www.library.mto.gov.on.ca/SydneyPLUS/TechPubs/Portal/tp/TechnicalPublications.aspx

Please email contracttendering@ontario.ca should you require any additional information.

Advanced Issues Resolution, One- Day Refresher (T-131A) and Two

Day Course (T-131) 

**Please note change to dates and delivery method.**

MTO recently made changes to its General Conditions of Contract (GCs) related to the contractors requests and dispute resolution.  These changes were done, in part, to comply with Construction Act changes related to adjudication and took affect on all construction contracts advertised after October 1, 2019

Due to the significance of the changes, MTO has developed a One-day advanced issue resolution refresher course for Contract Administration staff that have previously successfully completed the T-131 training.  The refresher course will be offered via WebEx.  Attending and completing this course by December 31, 2020 is mandatory to maintain previously obtained qualification to act as a Project Manager or Contract Administrator on ministry Capital Construction Contracts.  The cost to take this course will be $160.00.

MTO has also updated the Two-Day T-131 course by incorporating the recent changes to the GCs. It will be offered this Fall (date to be determined) to appropriately experienced Contract Administration staff who have not successfully completed T-131 and who desire to be qualified to act as a Project Manager or Contract Administrator on ministry Capital Construction Contracts.  The cost to take this course will be $320.00.

Please see the attached course outlines and registration forms for additional information.

Many MTO staff are currently working remotely to stop the spread of COVID-19. We continue to tender, award and administer contracts using modified approaches where necessary. Thank you for your patience, cooperation and continued support during this period.

For pre-qualification support please email:                  qualificationcontrol@ontario.ca

For general contract tendering support please email:   contracttendering@ontario.ca

Attention: Engineering Service Providers (ESP) Prequalified with the Ministry

As announced in previous communications, the new Registry, Appraisal and Qualification System for Engineering Services Providers (RAQS ESP) is being implemented in a phased module approach to ensure continuity of the bidding process.

The Registration, Solicitation and Qualification Modules have been fully implemented. Registered ESP firms are now able to view and bid electronically on contract opportunities advertised on the RAQS ESP e-tendering bulletin board and submit prequalification applications.

On March 2^nd 2020, the next phase of the new system, the Vendor Performance Module, will be available for ESP Firms. The new module allows performance appraisals to be administered through RAQS ESP, including the acceptance and appeals process.

Throughout February 2020 MTO will be migrating the scores from all appraisal issued and approved in legacy RAQS between January 1^st  2017 to March 1^st  2020 to enable the quarterly CPR calculations.  Please note that vendors may receive automatic notifications in RAQS ESP as the migration is done, however no action is required.

Training on the new Vendor Performance Module will be offered to all ESP firms registered in RAQS ESP. Details on the upcoming training will be communicated to the users through MERX.

To register on the new RAQS ESP portal, please go to https://www.raqsesp.merx.com/

Should you have any questions regarding registration please contact the MERX customer service team at 1-800-964-6379 or by email at raqs@merx.com, Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time.

Sincerely,

Douglas V. Pateman, P.Eng.

Manager, Contract Management Office

The Ontario Government has automated the mandatory Tax Compliance Verification (TCV) process for businesses bidding on provincial contracts valued at $25,000 or above.

Effective September 14, 2018, service providers registered with the Ministry of Transportation’s Registry, Appraisal and Qualification System (RAQS) are required to confirm compliance with provincial tax obligations, including those federally administered for Ontario, using a new self-serve portal. The TCV portal replaces the existing Tax Compliance Declaration Form and allows service providers to check their compliance status at any time online, and obtain a TCV number to provide to procuring ministries.

Service providers in RAQS are required to complete a TCV at the time of registration and on an annual basis.  Tax compliance verification is required to be eligible to bid on MTO contracts.

Getting a Tax Compliance Verification (TCV) Number

Before you can verify your tax compliance status, your business will need to have a One-key ID. Visit One-key Account Registration to set up an account.

1. To get your TCV number: Register for E-Services
2. Select e-Services from My Services
3. Select or Add a Business on the e-services page
4. Select TCV (you will be redirected to the portal)
5. In the portal, select Request TCV Number on the TCV page
6. If necessary, attach the  Filing and Balance Confirmation (FBC) Letter (if required) and select Next
7. Select View Summary to review compliance summary
8. Download TCV Certificate (optional)
9. Provide your email to receive alerts about your account status

After completing the steps above, service providers can submit their TCV number and a copy of their FBC letter to MTO Qualification Control as part of their RAQS initial registration or annual renewal. 

For more information about the TCV program visit the Supply Chain Ontario website. 

For MTO specific inquiries, contact MTO Qualification Control by email at QualificationControl@ontario.ca, or by phone at (905) 704-2144

Contractors who are successful bidders on MTO contracts with a Total Tender Price of $500,000 or more are required to provide the ministry with the Labour & Material Payment Bond and Performance Bond as per requirements of the Construction Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.C.30, as amended. Each bond shall provide a coverage limit of at least 50% of the Total Tender Price and must be issued on the prescribed form that can be found at https://www.raqs.merx.com/public/main/guideAndProcedures.jsf

The bonds shall name Her Majesty the Queen in right of the Province of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Transportation as an obligee and must be issued by a surety company that is an insurer licensed under the Insurance Act to write surety and fidelity insurance.