August 1, 2012

PWGSC adds to list of offences to bar firms

Newly imposed measures will help the federal government strengthen accountability and crack down on firms convicted of certain criminal charges that seek to do business with Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), it was recently announced.

PWGSC is extending the list of offences that render companies and individuals ineligible to bid on contracts to include: money laundering; participation in activities of criminal organizations; income and excise tax evasion; bribing a foreign public official; and drug trafficking.

The new offences will be added to the existing list for solicitations: frauds against the government under the Criminal Code of Canada; frauds under the Financial Administration Act; corruption, collusion, bid-rigging or any other anti-competitive activity under the Competition Act in the procurement process; and payment of a contingency fee to a person to whom the Lobbying Act applies.

The new and existing lists of offences will now apply to PWGSC real property transactions, such as leasing agreements, letting of space, and acquisition and disposal of Crown-owned properties.

The new measures are effective immediately and will be applied to all future PWGSC solicitations and real property transactions. These measures will also allow the department to terminate future contracts and leases with companies or individuals that are convicted before the end of their contract or lease.

>For further information on the implementation of the new measures for PWGSC contracts, visit the Public Works and Government Services Canada website.

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