The Procurement Ombud’s 2024-25 annual report stresses the need for foundational change
News release
Ottawa, Ontario – October 20, 2025 - Federal Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic released his Annual Report for 2024-25, which was tabled in Parliament by the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, the Honourable Joël Lightbound on October 7, 2025.
The theme of this year’s report, Time for Solutions, highlights the Office of the Procurement Ombud’s activities from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, while emphasizing the urgent need for foundational change in federal procurement to address longstanding procurement challenges to make the system more user-friendly and produce better outcomes for taxpayers.
The 5 foundational changes proposed by the Ombud are:
- The establishment of a federal Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) to ensure effective oversight
- The creation of a government-wide vendor performance management (VPM) system to enhance supplier accountability
- The development of one universally applicable set of federal procurement rules to simplify the overly complex federal procurement landscape
- The use of artificial intelligence (AI) advancements to modernize federal procurement tools and systems
- The establishment of a framework for procurement data collection to increase the transparency of federal procurements
While significant changes are necessary, progress has been made in some key areas, highlighting the vital role the Office of the Procurement Ombud has played in federal procurement.
Through its rigorous Follow-up Reviews, the Office has documented numerous instances where federal departments have implemented the Ombud’s recommendations to address concerns such as “unfair, overly restrictive, or biased” evaluation criteria, demonstrating the clear benefits of sustained oversight. As a result of these changes, the Office has observed a tangible shift in stakeholder feedback on procurement issues. There remains a long way to go, and significant changes are required, but some progress is being made.
Quotes
“My Office is uniquely positioned to lead meaningful change. It is essential that we focus on foundational solutions to overcome longstanding challenges in federal procurement and make meaningful change. I am steadfast in my commitment to making the system more user-friendly and delivering better outcomes for taxpayers. Band-aid solutions are no longer acceptable; the time for solutions is now.”
-Alexander Jeglic
Procurement Ombud
Quick facts
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In 2024-25:
- The total number of procurement-related cases was 670, compared to 582 in 2023-24.
- OPO received 136 written complaints and launched 42 reviews of formal complaints from Canadian suppliers about the award and administration of federal contracts. 40 reviews were completed within the fiscal year, and 4 will be completed in 2025-26. Note: 2 of the completed reviews of complaint were from the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
- OPO launched 2 Procurement Practice Reviews and worked on 11 Procurement Practice Follow-up Reviews.
- OPO received 16 requests for Alternative Dispute Resolution services.
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The Office of the Procurement Ombud (OPO) is a neutral and independent organization of the Government of Canada that helps resolve contracting disputes between Canadian businesses and the federal government. OPO investigates complaints and provides dispute resolution services to help parties get back to business when issues arise. OPO also reviews widespread federal contracting issues and provides recommendations on how to improve them.
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