Calendar of Events - Ontario Public Buyers Association

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on February 7th, February 14th, February 21st and February 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Friday, February 27 at 9:00am - 12:00pm ET​. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within your course.

This course gives a detailed examination of the tendering & request for proposal processes. It includes concepts, issues and the resolution of issues relating to preparing and issuing the procurement documents as well as the ultimate receiving, opening and checking of bids. Participants will be given an overview of the various components comprising tenders and request for proposals documents and the differences of each.

Instructor: Michelle Rasiulis, CSCMP, CPPB, NIGP-CPP

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Define competitive bidding and its basic elements
• Describe the many procurement document formats and their use
• Explain a variety of bidder candidacy restrictions
• Outline the aspects associated with the development of a bid document
• Explain the purpose of pre-bid meetings; along with when to use them effectively and pitfalls to watch for
• Outline the alternatives to competitive bidding

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 8.5 contact hours 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Registration closes January 23, 2026

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions after registration closes on September 24. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on February 7th, February 14th, February 21st and February 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Friday, February 27 at 12:00pm - 3:00pm ET​. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within your course.

This course gives a detailed examination of the tendering & request for proposal processes. It includes concepts, issues and the resolution of issues relating to preparing and issuing the procurement documents as well as the ultimate receiving, opening and checking of bids. Participants will be given an overview of the various components comprising tenders and request for proposals documents and the differences of each.

Instructor: Victoria Mirlocca, Q.Arb, CPPB, C.Mgr., C.I.M., NIGP-CPP, CPSD

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Define competitive bidding and its basic elements
• Describe the many procurement document formats and their use
• Explain a variety of bidder candidacy restrictions
• Outline the aspects associated with the development of a bid document
• Explain the purpose of pre-bid meetings; along with when to use them effectively and pitfalls to watch for
• Outline the alternatives to competitive bidding

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 8.5 contact hours 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Registration closes January 23, 2026

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions after registration closes on January 23. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on February 7th, February 14th, February 21st and February 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Thursday, February 26 | 5:30pm - 8:30pm ET. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be available within the course.

In this course the mysteries of the law and the relationship of the procurement agent to it are unraveled in a concise and easy to understand format. Candidates are given an overview of the issues and responsibilities related to entering into a legal contract as well as determining what comprises a contract. Other topics discussed are the Law of Agency, Contract Law, Laws of Competitive Bidding, comments on various Acts, bonding and alternatives to bonding.

Instructor: Michelle Trudel, NIGP-CPP, CPPB

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Explain the Law of Agency and the duties of the three parties involved in an agency relationship
• Describe the six essential elements to create a binding, valid contract
• Give a detailed description of when Contracts A and B are formed and their importance to Procurement Law
• Describe the duty of full disclosure and the duty of fairness and good faith
• Outline the key provisions of several significant cases, major Acts and Trade Agreements affecting public purchasing

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 9 contact hours. 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Registration closes January 23, 2026.

Join Paul Conrod and Faren Bogach for a discussion of the 2026 amendments to Ontario’s Construction Act. Learn how the new annual holdback release, changes to prompt payment and proper invoice requirements, and updates to adjudication and compliance obligations affect procurement, contract administration, and risk management. We will highlight practical implications for public owners and outline steps you can take to align policies, contracts, and project practices with the new rules.

Presenter: 
Paul Conrod | Lawyer
Construct Legal 


Registration Fees 

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds.

February 21 + 22, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET
Virtual Learning

Registration closes Friday, February 13, 2026

DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered via the Zoom delivery method, happening in two (2) three 3-hour sessions.

The Principles Certificate exam prep course is designed to get you ready for the exam - the next exam session is March 1st - 7th. The topics covered in the course are what will be on the exam. 

Instructor: Michelle Rasiulis, CSCMP, CPPB, NIGP-CPP

DATE AND TIME

This six (6) hour Zoom virtual learning course has two (2) online sessions:

Saturday, February 21 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm ET

AND

Sunday, February 22 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm ET

The Zoom meeting link and login information will be distributed before the first session, after registration deadline February 13.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

REFUNDS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. In writing only, up to ten (10) business days before the event, after which we regret that we cannot refund your registration fee. Course fees are nontransferable to other courses.

Registration Fees:

Registration closes February 13, 2026

What does procurement excellence really look like—and how can you measure it?

This webinar provides a practical overview of the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® (AEP) Award and how it can be used to assess procurement maturity, strengthen governance, and demonstrate the strategic value of procurement.

Designed for public and non-profit procurement professionals, the session will outline the AEP criteria, what the application process involves, and how organizations of all sizes can use the framework as a benchmark for continuous improvement—even if they are not yet ready to apply.

Whether you’re new to the AEP Award or considering applying in the future, this session will help you understand what excellence looks like in public procurement and how to work toward it.

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

March 1 - 7, 2026
Virtual
OPBA online platform

Registration closes Friday, February 20, 2026

Welcome to OPBA's Principles of Effective Public Procurement Certificate exam registration page. If you have not done so already, click the link below to complete the Principles exam application, and wait to receive confirmation you are eligible to write the exam. It is important to note you will not be permitted to write the exam without applying first.

Principles of Effective Public Procurement Exam Application

Once your eligibility is confirmed, you will receive an email notifying you of next steps to get access to the exam writing platform and all pertinent details. The exam will be available to you to write at anytime between: March 1st at 12:01am EST to March 7th at 11:59pm EST. If you have any questions, contact us at members@opba.ca 

OPBA is now offering a Principles Certificate Exam prep course, please click here to find more information and to register.

For any cancellations, adjustments, or requests to join this exam session after the deadline, there will be an admin fee of $25.

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on March 7th, March 14th, March 21st and March 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Monday, March 30 at 12:00pm - 3:30pm ET​. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within the course.

This course examines the various issues with managing risk when purchasing goods and services in the public sector. Candidates are given an overview of common risk issues, including those of ownership and copyright, the right to privacy, competitive bidding irregularities, occupational health and safety, environmental responsibilities and accountability in terms of personal and corporate liability.

Instructor: Michelle Rasiulis, CSCMP, CPPB, NIGP-CPP

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Define risk management
• Describe eight major risk management issues of importance for public procurement professionals
• Outline three basic risk management techniques: avoiding, managing and transferring risk
• Explain the types of insurance and bonds a public agency will require or may request from a vendor
• Describe the six components to corporate risk management
• Better understand all of the roles involved in managing risk in your organization

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course registration fees are non-transferable to other courses.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 9 contact hours

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Registration closes February 20, 2026.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on March 7th, March 14th, March 21st and March 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Tuesday, March 31 at 12:00pm - 3:00pm ET. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within your course.

This course gives an overview of the cooperative purchasing process in the public sector, describing the types, benefits, structure, legal considerations and challenges cooperative purchasing groups face. Attendees will be shown and discuss examples of constitutions, strategic plans, business plan reports, commodity listings and standard terms and conditions for public tenders issued by cooperative groups.

Instructor: Scott Agnello, CPPO, CPPB

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Define cooperative purchasing
• Describe a variety of methods and group purchasing models associated with cooperative purchasing
• Outline the benefits and challenges associated with cooperative purchasing, along with ways to measure savings
• Explain several rules, statutes and treaties related to cooperative purchasing
• Describe the characteristics and traits of a successful cooperative
• Outline the business components of a cooperative group

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course registration fees are non-transferable to other courses.
 

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 7 contact hours 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 
 

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Registration closes February 20, 2026

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform. 

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on March 7th, March 14th, March 21st and March 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Monday, March 30 at 5:30pm - 9:00pm ET. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within your course.

This course builds on the foundations of the Competitive Bidding – General course and focuses more on complex competitive bid solicitations, including both RFTs and RFPs. Candidates will discuss evaluated bid submissions, how to develop evaluation criteria, work with evaluators and evaluation groups, explore different costing calculations, as well as the two-envelope approach for the receipt of both proposals and tenders.

Instructor: Carl Bonitto, CPPO, CPPB

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Explain the phases associated with the RFP process
• Describe the considerations involved in the evaluation, award and debrief of a bidding competition
• Explain the purpose and benefits of an evaluation team
• Outline the preferred approach to conducting a vendor debrief and practice for increased confidence
• Describe the differences between protests and disputes and some considerations for handling each effectively

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course registration fees are non-transferable to other courses.
 

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 10 contact hours. 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Registration closes February 20, 2026

Everyone is talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI), but how does it actually help you get your work done?  How can it help you meet pressing deadlines?

In this practical, 'in-the-trenches' session, we move beyond the hype to explore how public procurement professionals can leverage AI to manage increasing workloads, combat burnout, and drive strategic value. Presented by peers who use these tools daily in support of their work, this session is designed for the working buyer, no computer science degree required.

We will demystify the difference between 'Predictive' and 'Generative' AI and walk through live-fire examples of how to use common AI solutions to draft specifications, conduct instant market research, and analyze solicitations, bias, or restrictive specifications. Crucially, we will ground these innovations in safety and governance, discussing how to align AI adoption with principles from Ontario’s Trustworthy AI Framework to ensure transparency and data privacy. Join us to learn how to shift your role from 'document generator' to 'strategic architect' while keeping the human firmly in the loop.

Registration Fees 

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds. 

Clear, well-structured vendor debriefings are a vital part of fair, transparent, and defensible public procurement. Yet many practitioners still struggle with how to prepare, what to share, and how to manage conversations when suppliers are disappointed—or when the evaluation process was particularly complex.
In this practical and conversational webinar, procurement expert Lynda Allair, CPPO will walk participants through the essential elements of effective vendor debriefings. You’ll learn how to prepare internally, structure your discussion, deliver consistent and appropriate messaging, and manage difficult or unexpected questions. Lynda will also explore common pitfalls, best practices that support fairness and transparency, and ways to strengthen supplier relationships through better communication.
Whether you're newer to debriefings or looking to refine your approach, this session will provide actionable tools and insights you can apply immediately.

PRESENTER: 
Lynda Allair, Public Sector Supply Chain Professional, CPPO

Registration Fees 

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds. 

March 16, 2026
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
Virtual Learning

Registration closes Monday, March 9. 2026

DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered via the Zoom delivery method, happening in one (1) three 3-hour session.

Contractor/Supplier/Consultant (Suppliers) Performance Program (the Program) sets out the guidelines for managing the performance of Suppliers. The program is administered in accordance with the agency’s procurement policy. The project manager is responsible for administering the program in accordance with the policy.
 
The purpose of this training is to provide support with supplier performance trends that will be assessed over both the short and long term to provide suppliers with feedback and to facilitate continuous improvement, where required. Feedback from the project manager to the supplier will be provided through written evaluation as described below.
 
The objectives of this program are to:

• Ensure consistent compliance with the program through the completion of required documentation;
• Establish clear expectations and benchmarks that encourage responsibility and accountability that benefit both the supplier and the agency;
• Monitor and evaluate a supplier’s performance against the contractual requirements and deliverables;
• Address shortfalls in supplier performance; and
• Encourage continuous improvement through appropriate corrective action as necessary.

Instructor: Marie Kavanagh, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP

DATE AND TIME

This three (3) hour Zoom virtual learning seminar has one (1) online session:

Monday, March 16 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm ET

The Zoom meeting link and login information will be distributed before the first session, after the March 9th registration deadline.

ATTENDANCE AND CREDIT

Students are advised that they must attend the session in full to receive course credit. A student that arrives late to a course or has been found to be away or inactive for a duration of the session may not receive their credit. The decision to not grant credit shall be at the discretion of the the facilitator to the session and the Director of Professional Development.

PRE-WORK

Please note, there is no pre-work for this course.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course registration fees are non-transferable to other courses.

FORMAT

Learn more about the Zoom platform and its system requirements here. Remember to use a wired internet connection (as opposed to wi-fi, if possible) for the best viewing experience.

OPBA seminars are designed for student participation. In order to get the most out of the session and ensure two-way discussion, students are encouraged to fully participate by having camera and microphone on during the virtual session, or to actively participate in chat where access to a A/V equipment is not possible.

Students are also encouraged to maintain a respectful learning environment by minimizing multi-tasking distractions, and background noise. Please ensure mobile phones and computer notifications are off or muted, and place yourself on mute until you want to, or are called upon, to speak.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: Three (3) CE hours. Students must attend the full session to receive course credit.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Registration closes March 9, 2026

Accessibility is more than compliance, it’s a cornerstone of fair, inclusive, and effective procurement. In this Ignite session, AccessibilityConsulting.ca will equip public procurement professionals with the language, confidence, and practical strategies to embed accessibility throughout the procurement lifecycle. 

From drafting clear requirements to evaluating vendor submissions, participants will learn how to move beyond checklists and toward meaningful outcomes that ensure products and services meet accessibility standards and legislation. 

Key takeaways: 

• How to integrate accessibility requirements into RFPs and tender documents. 

• What to look for when assessing vendor accessibility claims and documentation. 

• Common gaps and risks in accessibility-related procurement. 

• Practical tips to support accessibility without creating unnecessary barriers for suppliers. 

Designed for professionals involved in planning, sourcing, and evaluating goods and services, this session delivers actionable insights you can apply immediately to strengthen accessibility in your procurement processes. 

PRESENTERS: 
Jennifer Curry Jahnke, M.Ed., IAAP CPACC

Registration Fees 

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds. 

Melissa Jackson and Jamie Cook will share practical insights on how Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) can be used—alongside traditional procurement approaches—to support capital planning, budget development, project financing, and delivery across municipal and broader public sector environments.
The session will be grounded in real-life procurement experience, drawing on Melissa’s former role in a publicly funded hospital, where she was responsible for long-term capital planning and working directly with internal stakeholders to deliver capital and infrastructure projects within strict funding timelines and governance requirements. This practitioner perspective will be used to illustrate how procurement teams assess options, manage risk, and make policy-compliant decisions in complex public sector settings.
Topics will include:

• How public agencies align capital plans, funding approvals, and procurement strategies
• ​Practical considerations for deciding when to use traditional competitive processes versus existing collaborative purchasing arrangements, including GPOs
• Using market intelligence and budgetary pricing to support business cases and approvals by councils, boards, or senior leadership
• Managing cost certainty, scope changes, and delivery risks through pre-established pricing frameworks while maintaining transparency and accountability
• How different project delivery models interact with procurement strategy and funding constraints

This session is intended to provide an objective, experience-based perspective to help public procurement professionals understand how GPOs may fit within their organization’s policies and governance frameworks, using real-world examples rather than theory.

Registration Fees 

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on April 7th, April 14th, April 21st and April 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 12:00pm - 3:00pm ET. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within the course.

This course is the pre-requisite for the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, giving an introduction to policy and procedures, authority and agency, the public purchasing cycle and other aspects of the function of purchasing. Candidates will be given an overview of legal considerations purchasing staff need to know when developing and handling bid documents, deciding the best procurement option (tender and RFP processes), as well as discuss centralized versus decentralized procurement systems.

Instructor: Shelly Ann Henry, CSCMP

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Describe the roles and responsibilities of public procurement, and the differences from the private sector
• Explain the importance of developing clear purchasing policies and procedures
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a centralized and decentralized purchasing organization structure
• Outline the seven ’R’s of public purchasing and the steps associated with the public purchasing cycle
• Describe the legalities associated with public purchasing

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course registration fees are non-transferable to other courses.
 

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 7 contact hours

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Registration closes March 25, 2026.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is delivered through OPBA’s Public Procurement Learning Lab (PPLL) using the Brightspace learning platform.

If this is your first course with PPLL, you’ll receive an email with login instructions. If you’ve already taken a course through PPLL, you’ll use your existing login credentials to access the platform.

This is a blended learning experience, combining self-directed online learning with a live instructor-led session. You’ll work through readings, quizzes, and assignments at your own pace throughout the month. The deadlines you will need to meet will fall on April 7th, April 14th, April 21st and April 28th.

A mandatory live Zoom session will take place on Tuesday, April 28 at 12:00pm - 3:30pm ET. Attendance is required to complete the course and earn your certificate.

Zoom link will be provided within the course.

This course examines the various issues with managing risk when purchasing goods and services in the public sector. Candidates are given an overview of common risk issues, including those of ownership and copyright, the right to privacy, competitive bidding irregularities, occupational health and safety, environmental responsibilities and accountability in terms of personal and corporate liability.

Instructor: Sarah Denomy, CPPB

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Define risk management
• Describe eight major risk management issues of importance for public procurement professionals
• Outline three basic risk management techniques: avoiding, managing and transferring risk
• Explain the types of insurance and bonds a public agency will require or may request from a vendor
• Describe the six components to corporate risk management
• Better understand all of the roles involved in managing risk in your organization

COURSE LEARNING MATERIALS

You do not need any course materials in advance, everything required to support your learning with this course will be accessed in the learning platform.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Course registration fees are non-transferable to other courses.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: 9.5 contact hours

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this course toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must enroll in the program within nine (9) months of completing this course.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds.

Registration closes March 25, 2026.

April 13 + 14, 2026
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT
Virtual Learning

Registration closes April 7, 2026 

DESCRIPTION

The Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) is a recognized certification designed for procurement professionals performing essential functions within the procurement cycle. Upon meeting the eligibility criteria, learners must also complete the CPPB exam as the final step in earning their CPPB certification.

Please note, any queries around exam eligibility can only be answered by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) as they manage the CPPB certification. 

Preparation is important and the CPPB BoK-C (Body of Knowledge and Competencies) is your best resource. The CPPB BoK-C will guide your preparation efforts as it provides a comprehensive listing of the content that you will find on the exam, as well as the number of questions that will be presented from each of the content domains that comprise the BoK-C for CPPB. 

As a recognized training partner of the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC), the Ontario Public Buyers Association (OPBA) has developed this examination preparation course based on the BoK-C. Led by a qualified instructor, the course will cover the six (6) domain areas which comprise the BoK-C for CPPB exam. The course will help learners understand their strengths and the areas that require additional focus.  

This course has been designed to be one of the tools in a learner’s study toolbox, and participation in this class does not guarantee success on the examination.  

Instructor: Melissa Mordue, CPPO, CPPB 

DATE & TIME

Monday, April 13 at 9am - 5pm EDT

and 

Tuesday, April 14 at 9am - 5pm EDT

The Zoom meeting link and login information will be distributed before the first session in early April. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES
 
By the end of this course, participants will: 

1. Describe the structure and setup of the CPPB exam, including question types and scoring methods.
2. Evaluate personal strengths and areas for improvement through assessment exercises.
3. Identify common pitfalls and develop strategies for maximizing test performance.
4. Analyze test questions by applying public procurement principles and best practices.

PRE-WORK

This course does not have any pre-work assignments. 

FORMAT

Learn more about the Zoom platform and its system requirements here. Remember to use a wired internet connection (as opposed to wi-fi, if possible) for the best viewing experience. In order to get the most out of the session and ensure two-way discussion, students are encouraged to fully participate by having camera and microphone on during the virtual session, or to actively participate in chat where access to a A/V equipment is not possible. Students are also encouraged to maintain a respectful learning environment by minimizing multi-tasking distractions, and background noise. Please ensure mobile phones and computer notifications are off or muted, and place yourself on mute until you want to, or are called upon, to speak.

UPPCC CERTIFICATION 

This course is to prepare for the exam that completes the Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) certification program offered by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC). As this certification is managed and offered by the UPPCC, any questions related to exam eligibility or program requirements can only be answered by the UPPCC team.

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: this course has a minimum of 10 learners and a maximum of 20. Register early to avoid disappointment. Registration will be open until April 7, 2026. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

PAYMENT/REFUND INFORMATION 

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancellations and/or refunds. Cancellation/refund requests must be submitted in writing (by email) only, up to ten (10) business days before the event, after which we regret that we cannot refund your registration fee. Course fees are nontransferable to other courses.

REGISTRATION FEES

 
Registration closes April 7, 2026