WHEREAS Section 270 of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c. 25, states a municipality shall adopt policies with respect to its procurement of goods and services; and,
WHEREAS the Council for the Corporation of the Township of Wilmot adopted By-law 2021-43 known as the Procurement By-law on September 27, 2021 which provides for the procurement of goods and services; and,
WHEREAS the Council for the Corporation of the Township of Wilmot has deemed it desirable to have a by-law to provide for fair, transparent and accountable purchasing and tendering procedures and thereby to protect Council, vendors and staff involved in the process by providing clear direction and accountabilities; and,
WHEREAS the Corporation of the Township of Wilmot is committed to fiscal responsibility, transparency, and community economic development; and,
WHEREAS the procurement process for Request for Proposals (RFPs) is a critical tool to ensure best value and service quality; and,
WHEREAS all proposal documents issued by the Township of Wilmot are issued in a standardized format and include clearly outlined evaluation criteria; and,
WHEREAS many municipalities have adopted vendor evaluation tools such as scorecards that include weighted criteria for factors beyond price, including proximity and demonstrated support of the local economy.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
THAT Council directs Staff to report back to the October 6th, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting with potential amendments to the Procurement By-law to expand the vendor evaluation criteria to include points for local vendors, where permitted under applicable trade agreements and procurement legislation; and further,
THAT Council directs Staff that the report back to Council includes information on potential benefits, legal considerations, and how such a tool could support broader Township objectives related to local economic resilience, environmental sustainability (reduced shipping/travel), and community development of implementing this local vendor initiative.