C-65.1 - Act respecting contracting by public bodies

Updated to 1 June 2012

This document has official status.

chapter C-65.1

Act respecting contracting by public bodies

CHAPTER I PURPOSE AND SCOPE

1. The purpose of this Act is to determine the conditions that are to govern the contracts that a public body may enter into with a contractor who is a for-profit legal person established for a private interest, a general, limited or undeclared partnership, a natural person who operates a sole proprietorship or an enterprise most of whose employees are handicapped persons.

The purpose of this Act is also to determine certain conditions that are to govern the contracts that a body described in section 7 may enter into with such a contractor.

Moreover, this Act determines certain conditions that are to govern subcontracts related to a contract described in the first or second paragraph.

2006, c. 29, s. 1; 2011, c. 17, s. 48.

2. In compliance with all applicable intergovernmental agreements, the conditions determined by this Act aim to promote

(1)  transparency in contracting processes;

(2)  the honest and fair treatment of tenderers;

(3)  the opportunity for qualified tenderers to compete in calls for tenders made by public bodies;

(4)  the use of effective and efficient contracting procedures, including careful, thorough evaluation of procurement requirements that reflects the Government’s sustainable development and environmental policies;

(5)  the implementation of quality assurance systems for the goods, services or construction work required by public bodies; and

(6)  accountability reporting by the chief executive officers of public bodies to verify the proper use of public funds.

For the purposes of this Act, “intergovernmental agreement” means a public procurement liberalization agreement between Québec and another jurisdiction.

2006, c. 29, s. 2.

3. The following public procurement contracts are subject to this Act when they involve public expenditure:

(1)  supply contracts, including contracts for the purchase, lease or rental of movable property, which may include the cost of installing, operating and maintaining the property;

(2)  construction contracts to which the Building Act (chapter B-1.1) applies and for which the contractor must hold the licence required under Chapter IV of that Act; and

(3)  service contracts other than contracts to integrate the arts with the architecture and environment of government buildings and sites.

The following contracts are also subject to this Act whether or not they involve public expenditure:

(1)  public-private partnership contracts entered into for the purposes of a public infrastructure project carried out under a public-private partnership within the meaning of the Act respecting Infrastructure Québec (chapter I-8.2); and

(2)  any other contract determined by government regulation.

Contracts of affreightment, contracts of carriage other than those subject to the Education Act (chapter I-13.3), damage insurance contracts and contracts of enterprise other than construction contracts are considered to be service contracts.

2006, c. 29, s. 3; 2009, c. 53, s. 49.

4. For the purposes of this Act, public bodies include

(1)  government departments;

(2)  bodies all or part of whose expenditures are provided for in the budgetary estimates tabled in the National Assembly otherwise than under a transferred appropriation;

(3)  bodies whose personnel is appointed in accordance with the Public Service Act (chapter F-3.1.1);

(4)  bodies a majority of whose members or directors are appointed by the Government or by a minister and at least half of whose expenditures are borne directly or indirectly by the Consolidated Revenue Fund;

(5)  school boards, the Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l’île de Montréal, general and vocational colleges, and university institutions referred to in paragraphs 1 to 11 of section 1 of the Act respecting educational institutions at the university level (chapter E-14.1); and

(6)  health and social services agencies and public institutions referred to in the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2), legal persons and joint procurement groups referred to in section 383 of that Act, the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay established under the Act respecting health services and social services for Cree Native persons (chapter S-5) and health communication centres within the meaning of the Act respecting pre-hospital emergency services (chapter S-6.2).

A person appointed or designated by the Government or a minister, together with the personnel directed by the person, in the exercise of the functions assigned to the person by law, the Government or a minister, is considered to be a body.

2006, c. 29, s. 4; 2011, c. 16, s. 182.

5. The National Assembly, any person appointed or designated by the National Assembly to exercise functions under its authority, the personnel directed by that person, and the Commission de la représentation are subject to this Act only to the extent determined by an Act.

2006, c. 29, s. 5.

6. The Conseil de la magistrature, the committee on the remuneration of the judges of the Court of Québec and the municipal courts and the committee on the remuneration of criminal and penal prosecuting attorneys are not subject to this Act.

2006, c. 29, s. 6; 2011, c. 31, s. 17.

7. Bodies other than those referred to in sections 4 to 6 and at least half of whose members or directors are appointed or elected by the Government or by a minister must adopt a contracting policy and make it public not later than 30 days after its adoption.

The policy referred to in the first paragraph must be consistent with any applicable intergovernmental agreement and reflect the principles set out in sections 2 and 14.

2006, c. 29, s. 7.

7.1. Despite section 176.0.3 of the Act respecting occupational health and safety (chapter S-2.1), the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail is deemed to be a body described in section 7 for the purposes of

(1)  Chapter V.1 and the regulations made under section 23 for the purposes of that chapter; and

(2)  the regulations made under section 23.1.

2011, c. 18, s. 49.

8. The deputy minister of a government department or, in the case of a public body referred to in subparagraphs 2 to 4 and 6 of the first paragraph of section 4, the person responsible for its administrative management, is to exercise the functions this Act confers on the chief executive officer of a public body.

The chief executive officer, in the case of a body referred to in subparagraph 5 of the first paragraph of section 4, is the board of directors and, in the case of a school board, the council of commissioners. The board of directors or the council of commissioners may, by regulation, delegate all or part of the functions conferred on the chief executive officer to the executive committee, the director general or, in the case of a university institution, a member of the senior administrative personnel within the meaning of the Act respecting educational institutions at the university level (chapter E-14.1).

2006, c. 29, s. 8.

9. With regard to public procurement contracts and public-private partnership contracts, this Act prevails over any contrary prior or subsequent general or special Act unless the general or special Act expressly states that it applies despite this Act.

2006, c. 29, s. 9.

CHAPTER II CONTRACT AWARD

DIVISION I PUBLIC CALLS FOR TENDERS

10. A public body must make a public call for tenders

(1)  for any supply, service or construction contract involving an expenditure equal to or above the lowest threshold specified in an intergovernmental agreement applicable to the contract and the public body;

(2)  for any public-private partnership contract; and

(3)  for any other contract determined by government regulation.

For the purposes of subparagraph 1 of the first paragraph, the threshold applicable to a contract not subject to an intergovernmental agreement is the threshold for supply, service or construction contracts, as appropriate.

A public body must consider making a regionalized public call for tenders for any contract not subject to an intergovernmental agreement.

2006, c. 29, s. 10.

11. A public call for tenders is made by publishing a notice on the electronic tendering system approved by the Government.

2006, c. 29, s. 11.

12. No public body may split or segment its procurement requirements or amend a contract for the purpose of avoiding the obligation to make a public call for tenders or any other obligation under this Act.

2006, c. 29, s. 12.

DIVISION II CONTRACTS BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT

13. A contract involving an expenditure above the public tender threshold specified in section 10 may be entered into by mutual agreement

(1)  if there is an emergency that threatens human safety or property;

(2)  if there is only one possible contractor because of the existence of a guarantee, an ownership right or an exclusive right such as a copyright or a right based on an exclusive licence or patent, or because of the artistic, heritage or museological value of the required property or service;

(3)  if the contract involves confidential or protected information whose disclosure in a public call for tenders could compromise its confidential nature or otherwise hinder the public interest;

(4)  if the public body considers that it will be able to prove, in accordance with the principles set out in section 2, that a public call for tenders would not serve the public interest given the object of the contract concerned; or

(5)  in any other case determined by government regulation.

In the cases described in subparagraphs 3 and 4 of the first paragraph, the contract must be authorized by the chief executive officer of the public body, who must inform the minister responsible on an annual basis.

2006, c. 29, s. 13.

DIVISION III CONTRACTS INVOLVING AN EXPENDITURE BELOW THE PUBLIC TENDER THRESHOLD

14. Public bodies must award contracts involving an expenditure below the public tender threshold in accordance with the principles set out in this Act. To ensure the sound management of such contracts, public bodies must, among other means, consider whether they should

(1)  make a public call for tenders or issue an invitation to tender;

(2)  introduce measures to favour the procurement of goods, services or construction work from tenderers or contractors in the region concerned, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement;

(3)  use a rotation system among the tenderers or contractors they deal with, or seek new tenderers or contractors;

(4)  include provisions to control the amount of such contracts and of any related additional expenditure, especially in the case of contracts by mutual agreement; or

(5)  set up a monitoring mechanism to ensure that the contracting process is effective and efficient.

2006, c. 29, s. 14.

CHAPTER III JOINT CALLS FOR TENDERS BY PUBLIC BODIES

15. Two or more public bodies may make a joint call for tenders.

A public body may also be party to a joint call for tenders with a legal person established in the public interest whose contracting conditions are different from those determined by this Act. In such a case, the conditions for the joint call for tenders are those to which the public body or the legal person established in the public interest is subject.

2006, c. 29, s. 15.

16. No public body may make a joint call for tenders under section 15 without taking into account its impact on the regional economy.

2006, c. 29, s. 16.

CHAPTER IV CONTRACT AMENDMENTS

17. A contract may be amended if the amendment is accessory and does not change the nature of the contract.

However, if the contract involves an expenditure above the public tender threshold, an amendment that entails an additional expenditure must moreover be authorized by the chief executive officer of the public body. The chief executive officer may delegate, in writing and to the extent specified, the power to authorize such an amendment. Additional expenditures authorized under a given delegation may not total more than 10% of the initial amount of the contract.

Despite the second paragraph, an amendment does not require authorization if it is due to a variation in the amount to which a predetermined percentage is to be applied or, subject to section 12, to a variation in a quantity for which a unit price has been agreed.

2006, c. 29, s. 17.

CHAPTER V PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CONTRACTS

18. Public-private partnership contracts are to be entered into in accordance with this chapter and the principles set out in section 2 of this Act.

2006, c. 29, s. 18; 2009, c. 53, s. 50.

19. A public call for tenders for a public-private partnership contract may involve different stages according to the complexity of the project and the number of potentially interested tenderers. The stages of the call for tenders must be defined in the tender documents. However, a stage may be adapted with the consent of the majority of the tenderers having a stake in the subsequent stages.

2006, c. 29, s. 19.

20. The tender documents must include

(1)  the criteria and conditions against which the public body will evaluate the tenderers and their proposals;

(2)  provisions allowing the public body to ensure compliance at all times with the rules applicable to it, particularly as regards access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information, and to meet accountability reporting requirements; and

(3)  conflict of interest rules.

2006, c. 29, s. 20.

21. Subject to the conditions specified in the call for tenders and in accordance with its express provisions concerning how it may be amended, the public body may,

(1)  after the first stage of the selection process and at any subsequent stage, undertake discussions with each of the selected tenderers to further define the technical, financial or contractual aspects of the project and give each of them the opportunity to submit a proposal based on the outcome of those discussions; and

(2)  at the end of the selection process, negotiate, with the selected contractor, the provisions needed to finalize the contract while preserving the basic elements of the tender documents and the proposal.

2006, c. 29, s. 21.

CHAPTER V.1 INELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC CONTRACTS

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

DIVISION I CRITERIA FOR INELIGIBILITY AND OVERSIGHT MEASURES

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

21.1. A contractor described in section 1 who is convicted, by a final judgment, of any offence determined by regulation is ineligible for public contracts as of the recording of the conviction in the register provided for in section 21.6. The conviction must be recorded in the register within 30 days after the date on which the judgment becomes final.

2011, c. 17, s. 49; 2011, c. 35, s. 46.

21.2. If an associate of a contractor described in section 1 is convicted, by a final judgment, of any offence referred to in section 21.1, the contractor is ineligible for public contracts as of the recording of the situation in the register provided for in section 21.6. The situation must be recorded in the register within 30 days after the date on which the judgment becomes final.

For the purposes of this Act, “associate” means, in the case of a legal person, a director or any other officer of the legal person or a person holding shares carrying more than 50% of the voting rights attached to the shares of the capital stock of the legal person that may be exercised under any circumstances and, in the case of a general, limited or undeclared partnership, a partner or any other officer of the partnership.

For the purposes of this section, an offence committed by an associate other than a shareholder described in the second paragraph must have been committed in exercising functions for the contractor.

2011, c. 17, s. 49; 2011, c. 35, s. 47.

21.2.1. Despite section 21.1 and the first paragraph of section 21.2, the Government may, in the cases, on the conditions and in the manner determined by regulation, prescribe that a contractor or an associate of a contractor must be convicted, by final judgments, of a minimum number of offences referred to in section 21.1. In such cases, the contractor becomes ineligible for public contracts once all the relevant convictions have been recorded in the register.

For the purposes of this section, if the offence is an offence under the regulatory provisions determined by regulation whose administration and enforcement is the responsibility of the Minister of Revenue under section 24.2, section 573.3.1.1 of the Cities and Towns Act (chapter C-19), article 938.1.1 of the Municipal Code of Québec (chapter C-27.1), section 113.1 of the Act respecting the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (chapter C-37.01), section 106.1 of the Act respecting the Communauté métropolitaine de Québec (chapter C-37.02) or section 103.1 of the Act respecting public transit authorities (chapter S-30.01), the Minister of Revenue may, on a request made by the contractor within 30 days after the date on which the judgment becomes final, disregard a conviction in computing the minimum number of convictions if it is warranted in the public interest or there are extenuating circumstances.

For the purposes of the second paragraph, if the conviction involves an associate of the contractor, the Minister of Revenue must so inform the contractor.

2011, c. 35, s. 48.

21.3. The performance of a contract described in section 3 entered into with a public body or a body described in section 7 must cease if the contractor becomes ineligible for public contracts while the contract is in process and the body fails to apply to the Conseil du trésor, within 20 days after becoming ineligible, for authorization for continued performance of the contract or the Conseil du trésor does not grant the authorization within 10 days after it is applied for.

The Conseil du trésor may subject its authorization to certain conditions, including that the contractor agree to the implementation, at the contractor’s own expense, of oversight and monitoring measures determined by regulation.

This section does not apply when section 65.2.1 of the Building Act (chapter B-1.1) is applicable.

2011, c. 17, s. 49; 2011, c. 35, s. 49.

21.3.1. A contractor that cannot continue to perform a public contract pursuant to the first paragraph of section 21.3 or the first paragraph of section 65.2.1 of the Building Act (chapter B-1.1) is deemed to have defaulted on performance of the contract.

2011, c. 35, s. 50.

21.4. A contractor who is convicted, by a final judgment, of an offence under section 21.14 after having been convicted, by a final judgment, of the same offence in the preceding two years is ineligible for public contracts for a period of two years after the recording of that fact in the register provided for in section 21.6.

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

21.4.1. A contractor who is ineligible for public contracts may not, for the time determined by regulation for the offence or group of offences committed, which may not exceed five years, submit a bid to obtain a contract described in section 3 with a public body or a body described in section 7, enter into such a contract by mutual agreement or enter into a subcontract that is directly related to such a contract.

2011, c. 35, s. 51.

21.5. Despite section 21.4.1, a public body or a body described in section 7 may, with the authorization of the minister responsible, enter into a contract with a contractor who is ineligible for public contracts under section 21.1, 21.2, 21.2.1 or 21.4 if the public body or body finds itself in one of the situations described in subparagraphs 2 to 4 of the first paragraph of section 13, provided the contractor agrees to the implementation, at the contractor’s expense, of oversight and monitoring measures determined by regulation.

As well, if a public body or a body described in section 7 finds itself in a situation described in subparagraph 1 of the first paragraph of section 13, it may enter into a contract with a contractor who is ineligible for public contracts under section 21.1, 21.2, 21.2.1 or 21.4, provided it obtains the authorization of the chief executive officer of the public body or body, who must inform the minister responsible within 30 days after granting the authorization.

2011, c. 17, s. 49; 2011, c. 35, s. 52.

Until their repeal comes into force, sections 21.3 and 21.5 are respectively replaced by sections 21.19 and 21.20 of that Act, with the necessary modifications. (S.Q. 2012, c. 25, s. 93)

DIVISION II ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND EFFECTS OF REGISTER

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

21.6. The Chair of the Conseil du trésor keeps a register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts.

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

21.7. The register must contain the following information concerning each contractor referred to in section 21.1, 21.2, 21.2.1 or 21.4:

(1)  in the case of a natural person who operates a sole proprietorship, his or her name, the name of the proprietorship, the address of its principal establishment in Québec and, if it is registered, its Québec business number;

(2)  in the case of a legal person or a general, limited or undeclared partnership, its name, the address of its principal establishment in Québec and, if it is registered, its Québec business number;

(3)  the offence or offences of which the contractor was convicted or the offence or offences of which an associate of the contractor was convicted, resulting in the contractor being named in the register and, in the latter case, the name of the associate and the municipality in whose territory the associate resides;

(4)  the date of the end of the period of ineligibility for public contracts; and

(5)  any other information determined by regulation.

2011, c. 17, s. 49; 2011, c. 35, s. 53.

21.8. Every public body and every body described in section 7 that is designated in a regulation must provide the information referred to in section 21.7 to the Chair of the Conseil du trésor, in the cases, on the conditions and in the manner determined by regulation.

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

21.9. The Chair of the Conseil du trésor may, in accordance with the applicable legislative provisions, enter into an agreement with a government other than the Gouvernement du Québec or a department or body of such a government to provide for the recording of information referred to in section 21.7 in the register.

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

21.10. The information contained in the register is public information and must be made available by the Chair of the Conseil du trésor, including by posting it on the Conseil du trésor website.

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

21.11. Before entering into a contract described in section 3, public bodies and bodies described in section 7 must make sure the bidders, or the successful bidder, are not named in the register or, if they are named in the register, that their period of ineligibility for public contracts has ended or that the conditions prescribed in section 21.5 have been met.

Similarly, a contractor who has entered into a contract described in section 3 with a public body or a body described in section 7 must, before entering into any subcontract required for the performance of the contract, make sure the subcontractors are not named in the register or, if they are named in the register, that their period of ineligibility for public contracts has ended.

2011, c. 17, s. 49; 2011, c. 35, s. 54.

DIVISION III INFORMATION AND RECTIFICATION

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

21.12. When a contractor is named in the register, the Chair of the Conseil du trésor informs the contractor in writing without delay, specifying the grounds for the registration and the contractor’s period of ineligibility for public contracts.

The contractor must provide in writing to the Chair of the Conseil du trésor, within the time determined by the Chair, the name of every public body and of every body described in section 7 with which a contract described in section 3 is in process as well as the name and, if applicable, Québec business number, of every legal person of which the contractor holds shares carrying more than 50% of the voting rights attached to the shares of the capital stock of the legal person that may be exercised under any circumstances.

A contractor who fails to provide the information required under the second paragraph commits an offence and is liable, for each day the offence continues, to a fine of $100 to $200 in the case of an individual and $200 to $400 in the case of a legal person for each of the first five days of delay, and to a fine of $200 to $400 in the case of an individual and $400 to $800 in the case of a legal person for each additional day of delay.

2011, c. 17, s. 49; 2011, c. 35, s. 55.

21.13. A contractor who has entered into a contract described in section 3 with a public body or a body described in section 7 must provide a list to the body, before performance of the contract begins, indicating the following information for each subcontract, if any, that the contractor has entered into:

(1)  the name and address of the principal establishment of the subcontractor;

(2)  the amount and date of the subcontract.

A contractor who, while a contract entered into with a public body or a body described in section 7 is in process, enters into a subcontract must notify the public body of such fact by providing it with a modified list before performance of the subcontract begins.

A contractor who fails to provide the information required under this section commits an offence and is liable, for each day the offence continues, to a fine of $100 to $200 in the case of an individual and $200 to $400 in the case of a legal person for each of the first five days of delay, and to a fine of $200 to $400 in the case of an individual and $400 to $800 in the case of a legal person for each additional day of delay.

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

21.14. A contractor who, in the context of performing a contract with a public body or a body described in section 7, enters into a subcontract with an ineligible contractor commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $1,000 to $10,000 in the case of an individual and $2,000 to $20,000 in the case of a legal person.

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

21.15. A contractor who may have been mistakenly named in the register or in respect of whom inaccurate information is recorded in the register may ask the Chair of the Conseil du trésor to make the necessary rectifications in the register.

The Chair verifies the accuracy of the entry in the register by contacting the body that provided the information, and takes any appropriate action.

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

21.16. The Chair of the Conseil du trésor may, on the Chair’s own initiative or following a request, remove any unlawful entry from the register.

2011, c. 17, s. 49.

CHAPTER VI ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING

2011, c. 17, s. 50.

DIVISION I INFORMATION TO BE PUBLISHED

2011, c. 17, s. 50.

22. A public body must, in the cases, on the conditions and in the manner determined by government regulation, publish information on the contracts it has entered into which involve an expenditure over $25,000.

2006, c. 29, s. 22.

DIVISION II REPORT BY THE CHAIR OF THE CONSEIL DU TRÉSOR

2011, c. 17, s. 51.

22.1. The Chair of the Conseil du trésor must submit a report to the Government on the carrying out of this Act, at the latest on 13 June 2014 and every five years thereafter.

The Minister of Health and Social Services and the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports provide to the Chair of the Conseil du trésor, at the time determined by the Conseil du trésor, the accountability reporting information considered necessary for the production of that report.

The report is tabled in the National Assembly within 30 days after it is submitted to the Government or, if the Assembly is not sitting, within 30 days of resumption.

2011, c. 17, s. 51.

CHAPTER VII REGULATORY POWERS

23. The Government may, by regulation, after consulting the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports and the Minister of Health and Social Services and on the recommendation of the Conseil du trésor,

(1)  determine conditions other than those determined in this Act for contracts referred to in the first paragraph of section 3 or subparagraph 1 of the second paragraph of that section, and that are awarded to public bodies, including contract management rules or procedures;

(2)  determine contracts to which this Act applies other than those referred to in the first paragraph of section 3 or subparagraph 1 of the second paragraph of that section and determine conditions for those other contracts which may, subject to existing legislative provisions, be different from those otherwise applicable under this Act;

(3)  determine bid solicitation procedures and the rules for awarding contracts to public bodies that are applicable to them;

(4)  determine cases in which a public call for tenders must be made other than those set out in subparagraphs 1 and 2 of the first paragraph of section 10;

(5)  determine cases in which a contract involving an expenditure above the public tender threshold may be entered into by mutual agreement other than those set out in subparagraphs 1 to 4 of the first paragraph of section 13;

(6)  determine the cases, conditions and manner in or on which a public body must publish information on the contracts it has entered into which involve an expenditure over $25,000;

(7)  determine cases in which contracts are subject to authorization by the Government, the Conseil du trésor, the minister responsible, the chief executive officer of a public body, a health and social services agency or a person designated by regulation other than those set out in this Act;

(8)  determine the offences under a federal or a Québec law or under a regulation under such a law in respect of which a conviction is considered for the purposes of ineligibility for public contracts;

(8.1)  determine the cases and conditions in which and the procedure by which a contractor or an associate of the contractor must have been convicted, by a final judgment, of a minimum number of offences determined pursuant to subparagraph 8 and set the minimum number of offences;

(8.2)  determine the offences under regulatory provisions in respect of which a conviction may be disregarded by the Minister of Revenue pursuant to the second paragraph of section 21.2.1;

(9)  determine, for each offence or group of offences, the period of ineligibility for public contracts;

(10)  designate the public bodies and the bodies described in section 7 that must provide the information referred to in section 21.7 to the Chair of the Conseil du trésor and determine the cases, conditions and manner in which the information must be communicated;

(11)  determine the other information that must be recorded in the register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts;

(12)  establish oversight and monitoring measures for contractors to be applied by the persons accredited by the Chair of the Conseil du trésor and determine the cases, other than those specified in this Act, conditions, period and manner – including the sanctions for non-compliance – in which these measures apply to a contractor, who must in all cases assume the expenses;

(13)  establish the procedure and conditions for the issue of accreditation to persons responsible for the application of the oversight and monitoring measures under subparagraph 12, and fix the conditions for the renewal, suspension or cancellation of accreditation and the related fees;

(14)  determine the documents relating to compliance with certain Acts and regulations that a contractor referred to in the first paragraph of section 1 who is interested in entering into a contract with a public body or into a subcontract related to such a contract must hold, and the cases, conditions and manner in or on which they are to be obtained, held and filed; and

(15)  determine the regulatory provisions made under this section the violation of which constitutes an offence.

For the purposes of this Act, “minister responsible” means

(1)  the Conseil du trésor in the case of contracts by public bodies referred to in subparagraphs 1 to 4 of the first paragraph of section 4 or by bodies described in section 7;

(2)  the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports in the case of contracts by public bodies referred to in subparagraph 5 of the first paragraph of section 4; and

(3)  the Minister of Health and Social Services in the case of contracts by public bodies referred to in subparagraph 6 of the first paragraph of section 4.

2006, c. 29, s. 23; 2011, c. 17, s. 52; 2011, c. 18, s. 50; 2011, c. 35, s. 56.

23.1. The Government may, if of the opinion that the public interest requires it and on the recommendation of the Conseil du trésor, enact a regulation relating to any of the objects set out in subparagraphs 1, 3, 14 and 15 of the first paragraph of section 23 when the objects relate to a contract of a body described in section 7.

2011, c. 18, s. 51.

24. The conditions for contracts and the cases in which contracts are subject to authorization under the first paragraph of section 23 may vary in respect of all contracts, certain categories of contracts or certain contracts entered into by a public body or by a category of public bodies designated by regulation.

2006, c. 29, s. 24; 2011, c. 18, s. 52.

24.1. Every person who contravenes a regulatory provision the violation of which constitutes an offence under subparagraph 15 of the first paragraph of section 23 or under section 23.1 is liable to a fine of $500 to $5,000.

For a subsequent offence, the minimum and maximum fines are doubled.

2011, c. 18, s. 53.

24.2. The Minister of Revenue is responsible for the administration and carrying out of the regulatory provisions made under subparagraphs 14 and 15 of the first paragraph of section 23 and of section 23.1 if so provided in the regulation.

To that end, the Tax Administration Act (chapter A-6.002) applies with the necessary modifications.

An employee of the Commission de la construction du Québec, the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail or the Régie du bâtiment du Québec authorized by the Minister of Revenue may exercise the functions and powers of the Minister relating to the administration and carrying out of the regulatory provisions referred to in the first paragraph.

2011, c. 18, s. 53.

CHAPTER VIII POWERS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE

25. The Government may, on the recommendation of the Conseil du trésor, authorize a public body or a body described in section 7 to enter into a contract on conditions different from those applicable to it under this Act, and determine the conditions for such a contract.

The minister responsible for a public body or a body described in section 7 may authorize the body to enter into a contract on conditions different from those applicable to it under a regulation under this Act, and determine the conditions for such a contract.

2006, c. 29, s. 25; 2011, c. 17, s. 53.

26. A minister responsible may establish policies for the management of the supply, service and construction contracts of the public bodies under the minister’s authority. The minister responsible sees to the implementation of the policies and to their application by those public bodies.

The policies established under the first paragraph may also apply to contracts entered into with a non-profit legal person established for a private interest, a natural person other than the operator of a sole proprietorship or any other entity not referred to in section 1.

2006, c. 29, s. 26.

27. A minister responsible, after consulting the public bodies concerned, may prescribe model contract forms or other standard documents to be used by them.

In such a case, the minister responsible must ensure that such model contract forms and other standard documents are consistent with those, if any, prescribed by the other ministers responsible.

2006, c. 29, s. 27.

CHAPTER VIII.1 AUDITS

2011, c. 17, s. 54.

27.1. The Chair of the Conseil du trésor is competent to conduct an audit to determine if the awarding of contracts by a body within the meaning of this Act and its enforcement of the management policies relating to those contracts are consistent with the rules prescribed under this Act.

The Chair of the Conseil du trésor may designate a person in writing to conduct the audit.

2011, c. 17, s. 54.

27.2. The audit referred to in section 27.1 consists, to the extent considered appropriate by the Chair of the Conseil du trésor, in assessing compliance of the body’s contractual activities with applicable laws, regulations, policies and directives.

2011, c. 17, s. 54.

27.3. At the request of the Chair of the Conseil du trésor, a body being audited under this chapter must send or otherwise make available to the Chair all documents and information the Chair considers necessary to conduct the audit.

2011, c. 17, s. 54.

27.4. The Chair of the Conseil du trésor provides an opinion on the audit and makes any appropriate recommendations to the Conseil du trésor.

2011, c. 17, s. 54.

CHAPTER IX AMENDING PROVISIONS

28. (Omitted).

2006, c. 29, s. 28.

29. (Amendment integrated into c. A-6.01, s. 77).

2006, c. 29, s. 29.

30. (Amendment integrated into c. A-29.011, s. 115.14).

2006, c. 29, s. 30.

31. (Amendment integrated into c. B-1.1, s. 65.4).

2006, c. 29, s. 31.

32. (Amendment integrated into c. C-29, s. 18.0.1).

2006, c. 29, s. 32.

33. (Omitted).

2006, c. 29, s. 33.

34. (Amendment integrated into c. D-8.1, s. 3).

2006, c. 29, s. 34.

35. (Amendment integrated into c. E-3.3, s. 488.2).

2006, c. 29, s. 35.

36. (Amendment integrated into c. I-13.3, s. 266).

2006, c. 29, s. 36.

37. (Amendment integrated into c. I-13.3, s. 452).

2006, c. 29, s. 37.

38. (Amendment integrated into c. M-19, s. 11.1).

2006, c. 29, s. 38.

39. (Amendment integrated into c. P-32, s. 35.1).

2006, c. 29, s. 39.

40. (Amendment integrated into c. S-2.1, ss. 167.1 and 167.2).

2006, c. 29, s. 40.

41. (Amendment integrated into c. S-2.1, s. 176.0.3).

2006, c. 29, s. 41.

42. (Amendment integrated into c. S-4.2, s. 264).

2006, c. 29, s. 42.

43. (Amendment integrated into c. S-4.2, s. 385.9).

2006, c. 29, s. 43.

44. (Amendment integrated into c. S-4.2, s. 485).

2006, c. 29, s. 44.

45. (Amendment integrated into c. S-4.2, s. 487).

2006, c. 29, s. 45.

46. (Amendment integrated into c. S-5, s. 173.1).

2006, c. 29, s. 46.

47. (Amendment integrated into c. S-11.011, s. 23.0.14).

2006, c. 29, s. 47.

48. (Amendment integrated into c. S-11.011, s. 23.0.15).

2006, c. 29, s. 48.

49. (Amendment integrated into c. S-17.1, s. 34).

2006, c. 29, s. 49.

50. (Amendment integrated into c. V-5.01, s. 67).

2006, c. 29, s. 50.

51. (Omitted).

2006, c. 29, s. 51.

52. References to the Public Administration Act (chapter A-6.01) are replaced by references to the Act respecting contracting by public bodies (chapter C-65.1) wherever they occur in the following provisions:

(1)  (amendment integrated into c. C-11.5, s. 43 of Schedule C);

(2)  (amendment integrated into c. C-19, ss. 29.9.2 and 573.3.2);

(3)  (amendment integrated into c. C-27.1, aa. 14.7.2 and 938.2);

(4)  (amendment integrated into c. C-37.01, s. 114);

(5)  (amendment integrated into c. C-37.02, s. 107);

(6)  (amendment integrated into c. M-28, s. 11.5);

(7)  (amendment integrated into c. P-9.001, s. 2);

(8)  (paragraph repealed);

(9)  (amendment integrated into c. V-6.1, ss. 207.1 and 358.5).

2006, c. 29, s. 52; 2007, c. 23, s. 16.

53. Unless the context indicates otherwise, a reference in a regulation, order or other document to Chapter V of the Public Administration Act (chapter A-6.01) or to a regulation under that Act regarding the management of contracts is, where applicable, a reference to the corresponding provision of this Act.

2006, c. 29, s. 53.

CHAPTER X TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

54. The following regulations and by-laws are deemed to have been made under section 23:

(1)  a regulation made or deemed made under the Public Administration Act (chapter A-6.01) regarding contract management;

(2)  the By-law respecting special rules governing supply contracts, construction contracts, and services contracts of the Société immobilière du Québec, approved by Order in Council 76-96 (1996, G.O. 2, 1035);

(3)  the By-law concerning special rules respecting certain contracts entered into by the Société québécoise d’assainissement des eaux, approved by Order in Council 1229-94 (1994, G.O. 2, 3815); and

(4)  a regulation under the General and Vocational Colleges Act (chapter C-29), the Education Act (chapter I-13.3), the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2) and the Act respecting health services and social services for Cree Native persons (chapter S-5) regarding procurement contracts, construction contracts or service contracts;

(5)  (paragraph repealed).

Those regulations and by-laws continue to apply, with the necessary modifications, until replaced or repealed by a regulation under this Act.

2006, c. 29, s. 54; 2011, c. 16, s. 183.

See the Regulation revoking various regulatory provisions regarding contracts of public bodies. (Order in Council 535-2008 dated 28 May 2008;(2008) 140 G.O. 2, 2109).

55. The Règles sur les frais de déplacement des personnes engagées à honoraires, enacted by decision of the Conseil du trésor C.T. 170100 dated 14 March 1989 and amended by decisions of the Conseil du trésor C.T. 170875 dated 23 May 1989, C.T. 171025 dated 6 June 1989, C.T. 177747 dated 3 July 1991, C.T. 178690 dated 12 November 1991, C.T. 182100 dated 13 January 1993, C.T. 198916 dated 15 October 2002, C.T. 199969 dated 25 June 2003, C.T. 200484 dated 9 December 2003, C.T. 201797 dated 7 December 2004 and C.T. 202701 dated 2 August 2005, remain in force until replaced by provisions to the same effect made under this Act.

2006, c. 29, s. 55.

56. The electronic tendering system commonly called SEAO, operated by the service provider selected by the Secrétariat du Conseil du trésor and referred to in Order in Council 493-2004 (2004, G.O. 2, 2701, in French only) is deemed to have been approved by the Government for the purposes of this Act.

2006, c. 29, s. 56.

57. Contract award procedures begun before 1 October 2008 are continued in accordance with the provisions in force on the date of the beginning of the procedures.

2006, c. 29, s. 57.

58. Any contract in progress on 1 October 2008 is continued in accordance with this Act. If a provision of this Act is incompatible with a provision of the contract, the latter provision prevails.

2006, c. 29, s. 58.

59. The minister who is the Chair of the Conseil du trésor is responsible for the administration of this Act, except the second and third paragraphs of section 21.2.1, the administration of which falls under the responsibility of the Minister of Revenue.

2006, c. 29, s. 59; 2011, c. 35, s. 57.

60. (Omitted).

2006, c. 29, s. 60.

REPEAL SCHEDULE

In accordance with section 9 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes and regulations (chapter R-3), chapter 29 of the statutes of 2006, in force on 1 August 2009, is repealed, except section 60, effective from the coming into force of chapter C-65.1 of the Revised Statutes.