Procurement in Action: From Tendering to Construction

Uga Barone — Fri, 29 May 2026 15:46:54 +0000

The first quarter of 2026 builds on the strong momentum established at the end of 2025 for procurement activities supporting the MSP. Following an intense period of market engagement and the publication of numerous calls for tender, the first three months of the year marks a significant transition, from planning to execution.

MOHP Hotel Blackout Dates: What They Are and What They Mean for You

Donya Najjar Lessani — Fri, 29 May 2026 15:42:08 +0000

If you’ve ever tried to book a hotel in Montréal during a major event and found that preferred rates were suddenly unavailable, you’ve likely encountered a blackout date. Within the Montreal Hotel Program (MOHP), blackout dates are a standard part of how hotel agreements operate—and understanding them can help you avoid confusion and plan more effectively.

What Are Blackout Dates?

91ɬ�� aims to maintain its STARS Platinum sustainability rating: Implications for Sustainable Procurement

donya.najjarlessani@mcgill.ca — Fri, 29 May 2026 15:34:55 +0000

91ɬ�� is preparing for its next reporting round under the AASHE STARS sustainability rating system for higher education institutions. 91ɬ�� currently holds a Platinum STARS rating, the highest level awarded under STARS, with its current rating valid through March 2027. As a sustainability leadership framework, AASHE STARS continues to evolve, with increasingly ambitious expectations for institutions, especially for those seeking to achieve or maintain their Gold and Platinum ratings.

Booking Travel at 91ɬ��: A Thoughtful Approach to Safety, Value, and Support

Donya Najjar Lessani — Fri, 29 May 2026 15:23:07 +0000

At 91ɬ��, travel is an essential part of academic life, whether for research, conferences, fieldwork, or collaboration. While administrative travel is required to be booked through the University’s Travel Management Company (TMC), a majority of research and academic trips are arranged independently.

This flexibility is important. At the same time, trip planning should offer an opportunity to reflect on how we approach air and ground travel bookings, particularly when it comes to safety, support, and overall value.

Looking Beyond the “Lowest Fare”

Better Together: Strengthening Value Through Smarter Procurement

Adrienne Piggott, Patrick William — Fri, 29 May 2026 14:47:19 +0000

Simplifying procurement to better serve our community

The 91ɬ�� Sustainability Park Project

Uga Barone — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:30:19 +0000

As we look back on the final quarter of 2025, we conclude what has been one of the busiest periods for Procurement related to the Sustainability Park. With significant preparation, coordination, and outreach efforts underway, procurement activities continue to play a central role in the development of the project. As mentioned in our previous edition, “Procurement is at the heart of each milestone,” the past months have fully reinforced that message.

We currently have 15 calls for tender out for bids on système électronique d’appel d’offres

When an Acquisition Doesn’t Go as Planned: Practical Steps to Take

Adrienne Piggott — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:28:22 +0000

Most transactions progress smoothly through the University’s standard acquisition processes. On occasion, however, a transaction may require follow-up or adjustment. When that happens, knowing what steps to take, and when to take them, can make all the difference. The guidance below is designed to help you address common situations efficiently and keep things moving forward.

Sustainable Procurement in 2025: A Year of Leadership and Collective Action

Donya Najjar Lessani — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:55:49 +0000

Inter-university collaborations, province-wide contracts, and concerns for deep-sea mining

In 2025, 91ɬ��’s Procurement Services team continued to strengthen its commitment to integrating social and environmental considerations into everyday operations. Last year brought several important developments, both within Quebec and on the international stage, that highlight 91ɬ��’s leadership in sustainable procurement.

How to Book Hotels Under the MOHP for Corporate Travel

Donya Najjar Lessani — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:06:19 +0000

Before booking any Montreal hotel for University travel, please review the MOHP Preferred Hotels List . Each hotel includes a dedicated 91ɬ�� account representative with their email and phone number. Always use these designated contacts and complete your booking directly through them whenever possible. 

Signing Authority Matters

Donya Najjar Lessani — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:20:01 +0000

When booking an event, catering, or engaging any supplier, you may be asked to sign a document such as a contract, agreement, or confirmation. Not everyone is authorized to sign Contracts on behalf of the University. 

91ɬ��’s 2025 Report under the Fighting against forced labour and child labour in supply chains act: Part of our commitment to Ethical Supply Chains

Donya Najjar Lessani — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:22:15 +0000

91ɬ�� has released its 2025 Annual Report in compliance with the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, reaffirming the institution’s ongoing commitment to protecting human rights across its purchasing activities. This report outlines some of the concrete steps 91ɬ�� takes to identify, prevent, and minimize the risk of forced labour or child labour in its supply chain.

The 91ɬ�� Sustainability Park – Advancing on Multiple Fronts

Donya Najjar Lessani, Uga Barone — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:51:17 +0000

The 91ɬ�� Sustainability Park formerly known as the New Vic Project– Excavation (Breaking Ground for Pavilion N)

A major milestone has been reached for the 91ɬ�� Sustainability Park: excavation and the drilling of geothermal wells of Pavilion N, including civil works, is now underway!

Supporting meaningful transformation: Procurement Services and the Upper Main Road Reconstruction

Donya Najjar Lessani — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:26:10 +0000

At the heart of 91ɬ��’s downtown campus, the Upper Main Road Reconstruction project now stands as more than just a physical transformation, it contributes to a welcoming, sustainable, and accessible environment for students, staff, and visitors. This initiative, which extends from Tsi Non:we Onkwatonhnhets – “The Place Where Our Life Force Emerges from the Earth” – a meeting place at the location of the former Y-Intersection – to the forecourt of the Arts Building, is not only a much-needed infrastructure upgrade but also a reflection of 91ɬ��’s evolving values and priorities.

Why Competitive Tendering Works and Why It Matters for 91ɬ��

Donya Najjar Lessani — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:25:41 +0000

Why Competitive Tendering Works: Evidence from 91ɬ��

As a public research institution, 91ɬ�� must demonstrate judicious use of all funds—whether public, private donations, or self-funded initiatives. Accordingly, the Sustainable Procurement Policy states that every acquisition needs to align with the University’s triple bottom line—social, environmental, and economic—while complying with relevant policies and regulations. Our goal is simple: to help you meet your teaching, research, and administrative needs under the fairest terms for all parties.

Impact of US Tariffs and Canadian Counter Tariffs on University Purchases

donya.najjarlessani@mcgill.ca — Mon, 26 May 2025 17:49:49 +0000

Nature and Scope of the Tariffs

The Tariffs have been adopted under an order United States Surtax Order (2025-1) of the Government of Canada. A first wave of tariffs affecting approximately 1,100 types of goods (estimated $30B CAD of imports) came into force on March 4, 2025. While the dates have moved several times, the schedules listing the types of goods affected by the first wave and the upcoming second wave are exhaustive and have remained stable.

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