What's New in RAQS

The Starter Corporate Performance Ratings (CPRs) for the most recent calculation date, October 1, 2021, are as follows:

• Construction Administration:  4.28
• Engineering:  4.00
• Engineering Material Testing:  3.84
• Planning:  3.90
• Small Value Assignment:  3.00

A Starter CPR is made available to RAQS-registered Engineering Service Providers with no performance appraisals approved in the last three years. The CPR is calculated on a quarterly basis, at the beginning of the first business day of January, April, July and October.  

The Ministry of Transportation is pleased to announce the launch of the new MTO Technical Consultation Portal.

The portal will make it easier and more efficient for you and others to share feedback using a one-window approach. Features of the portal that will benefit users include the ability to:

·         customize preferences​;

·         search for information​;

·         access frequently visited topics to make reviewing new information faster; and​

·         set up notifications on specific areas of interest.

The portal will also house information on committees, committee minutes, policies and procedure documents, links to construction and engineering contracts, links to information on training and education seminars and links to finalized standards, specifications and policies.

The ministry appreciates all of the input from our stakeholders through all of the phases of the portal development. The round table discussions surveys and comments provided on the working prototypes were invaluable.

This new consultation portal is based on the Environmental Registry of Ontario model. Its specifications will meet the needs of stakeholders and committee members who will access the new website to provide comments on Ontario’s road building and maintenance processes and standards.

The MTO Technical Consultation Portal will be used going forward to seek input into the development of technical design standards and specifications.

The Portal is intended to supplement existing processes and MTO will also continue consulting with stakeholders through the established committee process. However, you will be asked to begin providing comments through the MTO Technical Consultation Portal.

If there are any questions, please contact the MTO Technical Consultation Portal’s Project Manager, Paula Berketo at Paula.Berketo@ontario.ca or 905-601-2590. 

o   Contract Administrators

o   Inspectors

o   Contract Services Inspectors

o   Contract Services Administrators

o   Quality Assurance Engineers

o   Quality Assurance Officers

o   Area Contract Engineers

o   Structural section staff as well as any Engineering Intern or Transportation Technician acting in the above positions. 

Effective May 5, 2021, the name of “Rock Slope Hazard” Specialty in the Foundations Engineering Category has been changed to “Rock Engineering”. All Service Providers who were registered in RAQS for Rock Slope Hazard (Low, Medium and High complexities) will remain registered for Rock Engineering (Low, Medium and High complexities) respectively.

“Rockfall Engineering” is a new Category, not included in the “Foundations Engineering Category”.

The qualification requirements for all Specialties within Foundations Engineering Category, including Rock Engineering Specialty, are provided in the “Qualification Procedures for Engineering Service Providers (Policy and Guideline), as amended.”  

Contractors are reminded of their responsibility to update their work-on-hand prior to submission of a Tender Registration Form (TRF) for any Qualified ministry contract. Updating work-on-hand prior to submitting the TRF is an important step to ensure that the TRF is not rejected and referred to the Qualification Committee.

Please refer to section 30 of the Qualification Procedures for Contractors for more information on work on hand reporting and the qualification process. This document can be found in the ministry’s Technical Publications website under “Qualification” tab.

Please see below the list of RAQS ESP Retainer Assignment Awards (since December 1, 2020).

Please see attached letters to industry - 2021