What CIMS-GB Means for OECM Customers Procuring Janitorial Services
Supporting Standards-based Janitorial Procurement through OECM’s Awarded Supplier Partners
When organizations procure janitorial services, they are not simply sourcing routine cleaning. They are selecting service providers that support healthy, safe, and well-maintained environments for staff, students, patients, residents, and visitors. They are also looking for service delivery that is consistent, accountable, and aligned with operational and sustainability priorities.
That is where standards can add value. Through OECM’s Janitorial and Cleaning Services agreement, customers have access to a comprehensive range of routine and deep cleaning solutions delivered by qualified supplier partners.
OECM is proud that all supplier partners under its Janitorial and Cleaning agreement are Cleaning Industry Management Standard – Green Building (CIMS-GB) certified, reinforcing a shared commitment to quality service, accountability, sustainability, and industry-recognized best practices.
What is CIMS-GB?
CIMS-GB is part of the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS), a comprehensive certification program developed by ISSA Canada, a division of the ISSA, the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. At its foundation, CIMS provides a structured management framework designed to support quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction across cleaning operations. The standard applies to both building service contractors and in-house service providers and is intended to help organizations operate with stronger systems, clearer processes, and more consistent service delivery.
CIMS-GB builds on that core framework. The Green Building (GB) designation is an added layer within the certification, meaning organizations certified to CIMS-GB have met the core CIMS requirements as well as the additional GB criteria. In practical terms, that means the certification reflects both operational discipline and an added emphasis on environmentally preferable cleaning practices.
“CIMS-GB certification reflects a service provider’s commitment to strong management systems, consistent service delivery, and environmentally preferable cleaning practices. It gives customers added confidence that the organization has met a recognized industry standard for both operational performance and Green Building requirements,” said Shane Ferris of ISSA Canada.”
Why CIMS-GB Matters in Procurement
CIMS-GB matters because it gives customers a clearer understanding of the value behind the certification. It does not refer only to green cleaning. It reflects that a supplier partner has met the core CIMS framework and gone further by satisfying the additional GB requirements.
For customers evaluating janitorial services, that distinction is meaningful. It signals that a supplier brings more than a basic certification label. CIMS-GB certification points to structured management systems, service quality, accountability, and added environmental considerations within one recognized framework. That can be especially valuable in procurement, where customers may want to assess not only scope and price, but also whether a supplier can demonstrate documented service practices, quality assurance, and environmental responsibility.
Because it includes the core CIMS framework plus additional GB requirements, CIMS-GB gives customers a stronger basis for evaluating supplier partners based on both operational performance and sustainability practices. That can be especially helpful during second-stage selection, where confidence, consistency, and alignment with organizational values all matter.
“From a procurement perspective, CIMS-GB helps OECM customers look beyond price alone by supporting clearer service expectations, measurable performance standards, quality assurance and corrective action processes, workforce readiness, risk management, and sustainability-focused practices,” says Justin Sin, Director of Supplier Relationship Management at OECM.
How CIMS-GB Supports Service Expectations and Contract Performance
CIMS-GB supports more than certification alone. It also helps reinforce a more structured approach to service expectations and contract performance that includes:
- clearer service levels
- measurable performance indicators
- quality assurance and quality control processes
- corrective action protocols
- workforce training and compliance requirements
- risk management practices
- sustainability-focused reporting
For customers, that matters because it helps move janitorial procurement beyond a basic scope-of-work discussion.
“CIMS-GB alignment supports more than service delivery alone. It helps establish a stronger performance framework through clear service expectations, measurable outcomes, quality assurance and control processes, workforce compliance, risk management, and sustainability-focused practices,” said Shane Ferris.
ISSA Canada’s CIMS-GB Card System
In Canada’s commercial cleaning and facilities sector, procurement requirements can be complex. ISSA Canada’s CIMS-GB Card System is designed to help confirm an independent contractor’s legitimacy, corporate governance, and workforce eligibility in accordance with Canadian employment laws. It also responds to the legal and compliance requirements many customers must consider in their procurement processes.
The card system functions as an official independent contractor checklist that goes beyond the requirements of the CIMS-GB Standard and is intended specifically for organizations operating within Canada. It is also designed to align with relevant procurement and accountability requirements, including Ontario’s broader public sector context.
The process is facilitated by a CIMS-GB sponsor, which may include a CIMS-GB-certified contractor, an ISSA CIMS-GB assessor, a CIMS-GB verification expert, or a CIMS-GB expert. From there, the card system progresses through staged levels of verification, validation, and compliance.
The White Verification Card is the first step. At this stage, the independent contractor completes a checklist, provides the required information to the sponsor, and affirms the details submitted. ISSA Canada then logs the information, identifies any deficiencies if needed, and issues a unique company verification number once the process is complete.
The Blue Compliance Card confirms Service Level Agreement compliance within the CIMS-GB framework. It reflects accountability, transparency, and a more detailed, data-driven confirmation that services are being delivered in line with contract requirements and procurement expectations.
The Teal Validation Card reflects service delivery that is in keeping with the site-specific Service Level Agreement aligned to the CIMS-GB Standard. At this stage, the sponsor works with the independent contractor to provide validation evidence, address any service gaps, and support continuous improvement in line with the agreed service requirements.
The card system is also designed as an ongoing quality control process. Verification is renewed annually to help ensure documentation remains current and that the independent contractor continues to align with the process over time. CIMS/CIMS-GB certification follows a separate renewal cycle, with ISSA requiring organizations to complete re-certification every two years.
For customers, the value of the CIMS-GB Card System is that it provides a structured approach to third-party due diligence. It helps procurement teams determine the level of verification, validation, and compliance appropriate for a given site, while supporting greater confidence in engaging contractors that meet professional and compliance standards within the cleaning industry.
Why CIMS-GB Matters to OECM
CIMS-GB certification directly aligns with OECM’s Environmental, Social, Governance, and Indigenous commitment. We integrate ESGI into our procurement strategies to support customers and supplier partners while helping advance sustainable and responsible public procurement.
For OECM, awarding supplier partners with CIMS-GB certification reflects more than operational quality. It supports our commitment to responsible sourcing and sustainability-focused procurement. It also reinforces the supplier partner standards we value and the collective outcomes we want to help our customers achieve.
OECM Awarded Supplier Partners are CIMS-GB Certified
All awarded supplier partners on our Janitorial and Cleaning Services agreement are CIMS-GB certified, providing customers with access to supplier partners that meet recognized industry standards for quality service delivery, sustainability and green cleaning practices.
Our supplier partners provide reliable cleaning support across classrooms, offices, hallways, washrooms, study areas, residence units, common areas, meeting rooms, public corridors, and specialized or sterile environments.
Services include:
- routine daily cleaning
- disinfecting
- supply replenishment
- detailed surface cleaning
- residence housekeeping
- deep cleans
- turnover preparation
- complete floor and carpet care
- and more
These offerings are further supported by:
- certified green cleaning practices
- CIMS-GB-aligned service delivery
- specialized and on-demand cleaning capabilities
- quality assurance processes
- environmental and social sustainability commitments
- robust administrative and reporting support
Whether your organization is seeking day-to-day cleaning, specialized services, or a more standards-based approach to janitorial procurement, our agreement connects you with supplier partners that can help meet your operational and sustainability objectives.
