The Government of Ontario’s Procurement Restriction Policy, which came into effect on March 4, 2025, introduces new limitations on the participation of U.S.-based businesses in procurement activities across the public sector. The policy, implemented in response to U.S. government tariffs on Canadian goods, applies to all public sector entities, including government entities and designated Broader Public Sector (BPS) organizations.
As the trusted not-for-profit group purchasing partner for Ontario’s BPS, OECM is fully aligned with the policy’s objectives and has taken swift and thorough action to ensure compliance across our operations—without compromising service continuity or value for our customers.
All Current OECM Agreements Are Compliant
OECM is pleased to confirm that all OECM agreements currently available through our Marketplace are fully compliant with the Procurement Restriction Policy. Importantly, the policy does not impact our legacy agreements, such as existing OECM arrangements available before March 4, 2025, meaning our customers can continue confidently procuring through OECM without interruption to existing procurement activities.
With nearly 90 agreements and over 500 suppliers, our Marketplace offers a wide range of competitively sourced, compliant options to meet the diverse needs of our BPS customers across sectors, including education, healthcare, municipal services, and beyond.
Strong Foundations for Future Compliance
To maintain this high standard of compliance moving forward, OECM has implemented robust measures across our Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) processes, including:
- Updated Procurement Templates: All RFx templates now include the policy’s definition of a U.S.-based business and explicitly state that proposals from ineligible suppliers will be considered non-compliant.
- Enhanced Pre-Posting Risk Assessments: For procurements not yet posted, OECM is conducting detailed due diligence during the planning and market research stages to ensure that ineligible U.S.-based suppliers are identified early.
These changes help ensure that all new and future OECM procurements align with the policy while providing BPS customers with compliant, cost-effective, and high-quality sourcing solutions.
Ongoing Supplier Validation and Transparency
As part of our commitment to transparency and responsible procurement, OECM conducted an early review of our awarded supplier base. The analysis confirmed that approximately 98% of our 516 suppliers are Canadian-based businesses.
As this information continues to evolve, our SRM team remains engaged in ongoing validation efforts to ensure accurate and up-to-date supplier classification. This helps minimize disruption for our customers and enables us to make informed decisions in alignment with provincial directives.
Committed to Customer Continuity and Confidence
OECM understands that this policy represents a significant shift in the procurement landscape. That’s why our focus remains firmly on supporting our customers in maintaining compliance—with no compromise to service, quality, or procurement continuity.
Our commitment includes:
- Ensuring all Marketplace agreements remain compliant and accessible.
- Offering sourcing strategies that minimize risk and disruption.
- Communicating proactively with customers about changes and impacts.
- Clarifying if/when exemptions may apply and how to pursue them.
- Maintaining exceptional service levels during this period of policy transition.
OECM’s dedicated Customer Support team is available to assist with questions related to this policy, your procurement planning, or our Marketplace agreements. We are here to help you navigate this policy change with confidence and continue to deliver value across your organization.
Email: customersupport@oecm.ca
Phone: 1-844-OECM-900 (1-844-632-6900)
Additional information: Procurement Restriction Policy | ontario.ca
