The Government of Yukon uses its trade agreement exceptions to promote regional economic development. Under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Government of Yukon can:
- select 10 projects;
- worth up to $1,000,000 each;
- that support small enterprises or employment opportunities; and
- invite only Yukon businesses to bid.
Public notice
When exceptions are used, public notice has to be given as follows.
Notification
Notification is hereby given of the Government of Yukon’s intent to use the procurement exceptions in CFTA Schedule of Yukon – Procurement Exceptions and CETA Annex 19.
Conformity
The following procurements conform to the requirements of the exceptions noted. Each procurement has a total value below $1 million and supports small enterprises or employment opportunities.
Justification
The following procurements, that are within the Government of Yukon's jurisdiction and made by the government, promote regional economic development by supporting small enterprises such as those based in Yukon and increasing employment opportunities for local residents in non-urban areas.
The procurement process for the projects listed below is by invitation only. Only those who have been formally invited in writing by the Government of Yukon to submit bids or proposals will have their bids or proposals accepted. Bids or proposals received from people other than those formally invited in writing will not be accepted and returned to the bidder or proponent unopened.
2026-27 exceptions
Procurement exception for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2026, and ending March 31, 2027.
Carried forward from 2025-26
1. Government of Yukon-owned landfill groundwater monitoring program, for all communities.
2. Consolidated contract for services in Carcross 2026-27*.
Posted June 3, 2026
3. Petroleum hydrocarbon soil remediation at the Discovery Creek mine site.
4. Concrete bridge deck repairs at Takhini River bridge, kilometer 195.5 Klondike Highway #2.
5. Concrete bridge deck repairs at various locations, south Alaska Highway #2.
*Please note:
Project 2 was previously called tourism-related services in Carcross.
2025-26 exceptions
Procurement exception for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2025, and ending March 31, 2026.
Carried forward from 2024-25
1. Septic system replacement at Nelnah Bessie John School in Beaver Creek.
Posted April 14, 2025
2. Contractor services for abatement and structural assessment of the airport terminal building in Watson Lake.
Posted June 9, 2025
3. Embankment rehabilitation works at Rose River bridge #1, km 104.8 of the Canol Road, near Johnson's Crossing and Ross River.
Posted August 26, 2025
4. Government of Yukon-owned landfill groundwater monitoring program, for all communities.*
Posted December 29, 2025
5. Public address, phone and clock system upgrades at École Émilie Tremblay in Whitehorse.
Posted January 22, 2026
6. Lewes Bridge roadway lighting construction in Whitehorse.
7. Tourism-related services in Carcross.
*Please note:
- project 4, Government of Yukon-owned landfill groundwater monitoring program, for all communities, and project 7, tourism-related services in Carcross 2026-27, count against the 2026-27 procurement exceptions.
2024-25 exceptions
Procurement exceptions for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2024, and ending March 31, 2025.
Posted April 12, 2024
1. Rancheria Falls recreation site trail upgrades, near Teslin.
2. Swift River living complex demolition.*
3. Access road construction for the Murray Agriculture Subdivision, phase 2, in Ibex Valley.
Posted June 18, 2024
4. Boat launch upgrades in Teslin.
5. Culvert replacement at kilometre 23.2 of the Silver Trail, highway 11.
6. Local food procurement project in Whitehorse.
Posted November 6, 2024
7. Seismic and structural upgrade at Nelnah Bessie John School in Beaver Creek.
Posted January 20, 2025
8. Septic system replacement at Nelnah Bessie John School in Beaver Creek.*
*Please note:
- project 2, Swift River living complex demolition, has been removed from the regional economic development exemption list.
- project 8, septic system replacement at Nelnah Bessie John School in Beaver Creek, counts against the 2025-26 procurement exceptions.
2025 Canada Free Trade Agreement exception bid sheets
2023-24 exceptions
Procurement exceptions for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2023, and ending March 31, 2024.
Posted May 3, 2023
1. Northern region digital message sign realignment.
Posted October 19, 2023
2. Supply and delivery of drop link repeaters to increase the service area for emergency communications throughout the Yukon.
3. Abatement work at the Ghùch Tlâ Community School in Carcross.
Posted December 13, 2023
4. Sidewalk and landscaping upgrades at Selkirk Elementary School.
5. PA system project at Hidden Valley Elementary School.*
Posted February 14, 2024
6. Survey services for the Nisutlin Bay Bridge Project in Teslin.
Posted February 27, 2024
7. Painting corridors and lounge areas at Yukon University residence in Whitehorse
*Please note: project 5, PA system project at Hidden Valley Elementary School, counts against the 2024-25 procurement exceptions.
2024 Canada Free Trade Agreement exception bid sheets
2022-23 exceptions
Procurement exceptions for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2022, and ending March 31, 2023.
Posted April 8, 2022
1. Community scale composting program design & installation in Deep Creek, Marsh Lake, Tagish, and Carcross.
Posted July 15, 2022
2. HVAC controls system replacement at the Village of Mayo community centre.
Posted July 25, 2022
3. Carmacks infill residential development.*
Posted September 26, 2022
4. Ross River health centre re-roofing project.
Posted November 4, 2022
5. The Ghùch Tlâ Community School public address, phone & clock upgrades project in Carcross.
Posted December 22, 2022
6. Monitoring groundwater at solid waste facilities in the Yukon.
7. Upgrading the firewall at the Andrew A. Philipsen Law Centre in Whitehorse.
Posted March 1, 2023
8. Upgrades to dynamic message signs in Whitehorse, Teslin, Haines Junction, Carcross and Tagish.
9. Door upgrades at the Ghùch Tlâ Community School in Carcross.
*Please note: project 3, Carmacks infill residential development, counts against the 2023-24 procurement exceptions.
2023 Canada Free Trade Agreement exception bid sheets
2021-22 exceptions
Procurement exceptions for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2021, and ending March 31, 2022.
Regional economic development exceptions project selection criteria for 2021-22
Posted February 1, 2021
1. Access road bridge replacement (number 4) at the Ketza River Mine.
2. HVAC system and paint booth ventilation system replacement at the Parks building in Whitehorse.
3. Fuel tank replacement and boilers at the Field Operations Building in Whitehorse.
4. Surface works and underground utilities for the Logan residential lots in Whitehorse.
Posted August 27, 2021
5. Tanana Road construction in Burwash Landing.
Posted September 21, 2021
6. Hidden Valley School prefabricated modular building placement and connections in Whitehorse.
Posted December 14, 2021
7. DC fast chargers in Yukon communities (phase 3) in Ross River, Faro, Burwash Landing, Beaver Creek and Whitehorse.
8. Asphalt paving and landscaping in Whistle Bend Subdivision (green streets phase 4) in Whitehorse.
Please note: project 7, DC fast chargers in Yukon communities, counts against the 2022-23 procurement exceptions.
2022 Canada Free Trade Agreement exception bid sheets
2020–21 exceptions
Procurement exceptions for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2020, and ending March 31, 2021.
Regional economic development exceptions project selection criteria for 2020-21
Posted February 24, 2020
1. Vegetation control (eastern Yukon)
2. Vegetation control (western Yukon)
3. Variable message board and traffic classifiers (various locations)
Posted April 8, 2020
4. Water Treatment Plant upgrades (Carcross)
Posted May 5, 2020
5. Yukon Archives security update (Whitehorse)
6. Renewable energy feasibility studies (Whitehorse)
Posted May 19, 2020
7. Hamilton Boulevard road upgrades (Whitehorse)
Posted August 26, 2020
8. Mary Lake shaded fuelbreak trail reinforcement (Whitehorse)
Posted December 18, 2020
9. Local food (various locations)
10. Solar energy feasibility study (Whitehorse)
2021 Canada Free Trade Agreement exception bid sheets
2019–20 exceptions
Procurement exceptions for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2019, and ending March 31, 2020.
Regional economic development exceptions project selection criteria for 2019–20
Posted June 19, 2019
1. Exterior energy and ventilation upgrades 10 Yukon Housing Corporation units on Hanson Street – Construction (Whitehorse)
2. Culvert replacement kilometre 1600 Alaska Highway (Carmacks area)
3. Aerodrome – Construction, resurfacing (Ross River)
4. Vanier Catholic Secondary School light fixture and exit replacement (Whitehorse)
5. Selkirk School modular classroom – Construction design build (Whitehorse)
Posted November 6, 2019
6. Landfill compliance monitoring – Consulting (Southern Yukon)
7. Landfill compliance monitoring – Consulting (Central Yukon)
Posted December 10, 2019
8. Vacation planner – Graphic design (Whitehorse)
9. Surface and ground water monitoring program (Ketza River Mine site)
Posted February 13, 2020
10. Concrete barrier manufacturing (Teslin, Watson Lake, Whitehorse)
2020 Canada Free Trade Agreement exception bid sheets
2018–19 exceptions
Procurement exceptions for the fiscal year (April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019).
Regional economic development exceptions – project selection criteria for 2018–19
- Public address system replacements for Porter Creek Secondary School and Vanier Catholic School: construction (Whitehorse)
- French First Language Secondary School owner’s design team: consultant services (Whitehorse).
- Modular classroom for Golden Horn: design build (Whitehorse)
- Concrete road side barriers: supply and deliver (Whitehorse)
- Bridge construction: Lee Creek and Dominion Creek (Dawson)
- Concrete road side barriers : supply and delivery (various locations)
- Concrete barriers: site preparation and placement (various locations)
- Craig Street hydraulic tower replacement: construction (Dawson)
- Andrew A. Philipsen Law Centre holding cell improvements: construction (Whitehorse)
- Elijah Smith Elementary School lighting: construction (Whitehorse)
2019 Canada Free Trade Agreement exceptions bid sheets
2017–18 exceptions
Procurement exceptions for the fiscal year (April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018).
- Campbell Highway: slope and drainage improvements. Heavy civil earthworks on a remote highway (Campbell Highway)
- Whitehorse airport: maintenance garage ventilation upgrade. Heating and ventilation at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, YXY (Whitehorse)
- Fraser water line and treatment replacement: underground utilities and water treatment system installation at a remote highway maintenance camp (Fraser, Klondike Highway)
- Cleaning services: Whitehorse air terminal. Cleaning services in a high security area of Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, YXY (Whitehorse)
- Cleaning services: Whitehorse buildings. Cleaning services in offices (Whitehorse)
- Roof replacement: Carcross School. Replace school roof in remote community (Carcross)
- Roof Replacement: Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board Building. Replace roof on office building (Whitehorse)
- Stand-by-generator: Combined Services Building. Generator replacement at office building (Whitehorse)
- Boiler replacement: Watson Lake Elementary School. Boiler system replacement for school heating system in a remote community (Watson Lake)
- Generator: Porter Creek Secondary School. Generator replacement at a school (Whitehorse)
Effective September 1, the Government of Yukon has increased the dollar limits for purchases that can be made without a competitive tender.
In some cases, the Government of Yukon can buy goods, services or construction directly from a business instead of issuing a public tender. This is called a direct award.
The government updated these thresholds to:
- Better reflect today’s costs;
- Reduce administrative requirement for lower-value purchases; and
- Make government procurement more efficient.
Dollar limits
The dollar limits for direct award contracts will be:
- Goods: $18,000 (up from $10,000)
- Services: $75,000 (up from $50,000)
- Construction: $100,000 (up from $50,000)
Adjusting for inflation
The Government of Yukon now adjusts these dollar limits every two years to account for inflation.
The first of these inflation increases will take effect January 1, 2028. This will coincide with the automatic adjustments made to open tendering thresholds in the Canada Free Trade Agreement.
Related tasks
Find out what policies and processes influence government contracts | Yukon.ca
If you have further questions about direct award thresholds, email [email protected] or phone 867-667-5385.