What is the BSDQ?
The BSDQ is a private, non-profit organization created nearly 60 years ago by construction contractors. Its purpose is to oversee the submission process for large-scale projects in order to promote a healthy competitive environment.
The BSDQ acts as an intermediary between general contractors and specialized contractors during the bidding process, whether for public or private projects. While the procedure between general contractors and project owners is already regulated by the call for tenders itself, there was a need to establish similar oversight for the next level. The goal is to ensure transparency and security for companies submitting bids. Moreover, since the majority of large-scale projects in Quebec fall under the public sector, it is in the taxpayers' interest to have such an organisation overseeing a process that involves many stakeholders and a significant portion of the provincial budget. Over the years, the BSDQ has been repeatedly recognized by the courts as an organisation serving the public interest.
Thanks to the BSDQ, contractors who choose to follow its framework commit to respecting fair and equitable rules that define how to submit or retrieve bids from other contractors, right up until contracts are awarded. This entire process is carried out exclusively through an electronic platform called TES.
Below, you’ll find all the benefits and advantages offered by the BSDQ.
Shared advantages
The use of the BSDQ is a concrete action aimed at ensuring the establishment and maintenance of harmonious relationships between contractors, in order to counter unfair practices within the bidding process.
Facilitator in the bidding process
The BSDQ offers several user-friendly tools, including a platform for the preparation and electronic submission of tenders, known as TES. Say goodbye to paper tenders!
Fair treatment
By preventing a series of offers and counteroffers between contractors, and without the possibility of price negotiation, everyone is guaranteed fair and equitable treatment.
Effective oversight in the tender transmission process.
By overseeing the tender transmission process between specialized and general contractors, the BSDQ promotes greater efficiency.
The BSDQ always remains neutral and transparent.
The organisation aims to remain impartial under all circumstances, promoting transparency, a key aspect of its vision.
Comparable tenders
Through the strict framework of the Tendering Code, the preparation of tenders must be carried out with a focus on comparability.
A booster for competition
The BSDQ system helps increase competition among contractors, leading to the attainment of better prices aligned with market realities.
The ripple effect that contributes to the success of the BSDQ's mission.
The more contractors, industry professionals, and project owners embrace and consider the BSDQ, the closer its mission comes to fulfillment. Each BSDQ user plays a significant role in the success of its mission.
A free platform offering visibility for project postings.
The Bulletin Board tool, along with the geolocator, allows any interested party to view projects registered with the BSDQ, providing them with greater visibility. This, in turn, can lead to increased competition for each project.
Public interest of the BSDQ
The courts recognize the public nature of the Tendering Code as a « collective contract promoting honesty and maintaining healthy competition in the construction sector. »
Benefits for specialized contractors
Facilitated access to the market
The BSDQ's proven system provides contractors of all sizes with facilitated access to the market. Everyone can try their luck within a fair and equitable framework.
Catalyst for growth for passionate entrepreneurs.
The BSDQ helps the emergence of the most motivated specialized entrepreneurs, enabling them to grow faster.
Tool for evaluating competition
The BSDQ produces tabulation reports, providing a transparent overview of the competition, which are available to project bidders. This makes it easy to compare and adjust for future projects.
Predefined and equitable procedures
Preparing and submitting a bid in the TES is done through clear and predefined steps, each step aiming for fairness among all.
Advocate thoroughness
Due to its rules, the BSDQ encourages contractors to demonstrate rigor in order to prepare their bids with peace of mind.
Flexibility and freedom of action
Bidders decide which entrepreneurs they want to send their bids to. They can also provide different prices, at their discretion, for the same bid from one entrepreneur to another.
Inexpensive
Membership in the BSDQ involves certain fees. For details, see the Pricing page under the To Commit menu.
Benefits for general contractors
Helps to receive more bids
The 'interest in bidding' option in the TES provides a showcase for general contractors, allowing them, on a voluntary basis, to receive more bids.
Obtaining lower and fairer prices
The BSDQ framework encourages specialized contractors to offer the best possible price from the outset, according to the current market conditions. These prices remain valid for a predefined period.
Ensure the development of complete bids
The rules of the Tendering Code require specialized contractors to create detailed, complete bids that leave no room for interpretation.
Increased credibility of bidders
The guarantee requirement for bids of $100,000 and above provides general contractors with reliable and highly credible bids. This increases the assurance of solvency and the seriousness of the bidders.
Facilitated bid management
The BSDQ system offers a simple, efficient, and uniform framework. Each user knows the guidelines and steps to follow in advance. For example, the validity periods of prices are defined in advance, which facilitates project management upstream.
Enriches your contact database for future projects
The 'Geolocator' tool provides access to the directory of all contractors involved with BSDQ, by specialty, thereby increasing contacts. The tabulation report is also a good tool to enrich one's contact database.
Flexibility and freedom of action
Any general contractor can decide to carry out the work in a specialty themselves, accept or reject received bids, and request a recall of offers, according to certain criteria defined by the Tendering Code.
Minimal fees
The only usage fee for the BSDQ for a general contractor is the annual membership fee. For details, see the Pricing page under the Commitment menu.
Benefits for awarding authorities and professionals
No commitment, no cost
Accessing the benefits of the BSDQ is simple and free for awarding authorities and professionals. To obtain TES access, simply request it and complete the usage protocol.
Lower-cost projects
By increasing healthy competition as targeted by the BSDQ, the market effect results in better, fairer, and more reliable prices, according to market realities.
More transparency - a better overview of your projects
It is possible to request copies of all bids submitted to the BSDQ by specialized contractors for your project. This also allows for a better overview of the entire market.
Powers of awarding authorities and professionals
Awarding authorities and professionals maintain control of their project with the BSDQ. They can even require the application of the Code's rules, determine restricted lists of invited contractors, and set the closing date themselves at the BSDQ.
Reference for the design of plans and specifications
The tools of the BSDQ help to better understand the 'customs and practices' of various specialties, thus enabling the design of clearer and more complete plans and specifications.
TES
The TES is an online platform developed to send and receive bids, accessible directly on the BSDQ website.
A proven technological tool, easy to use and secure
Exclusively used since 2013, the TES is a technological tool created for the BSDQ that has a security level comparable to that of banking institutions.
Simple access - No software purchase required
No need to purchase any software. As soon as a company completes its registration, it will promptly receive a user code and password to access the TES.
Available at all times - Accessible via the Internet
No matter where you are, the TES remains available to you at all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It only requires Internet access.
Support available from expert agents
For any questions regarding the TES, the BSDQ offers exceptional support to its users via email or phone, Monday to Friday between 8 AM and 4 PM.
Specific TES options for awarding authorities and professionals
It is possible for awarding authorities and professionals to directly consult the copies of bids submitted to the BSDQ in the TES, allowing them to make a better budget analysis of their projects.
Tool for indicating interest in receiving bids for a project
The tool in the TES not only serves to increase the visibility of a general contractor but also offers more opportunities for specialized contractors to obtain contracts, allowing them to send their bids to a larger number of generals.
Important database, accessible at all times
No data is deleted from the TES. Quickly and easily find your bids, the projects you have submitted or requested bids for, the contractors associated with them, etc.
Simplifies the process while requiring less effort
The TES is a user-friendly tool that saves time by avoiding the need for multiple actions to prepare and send a bid.