Attestations and authorizations to bid in Quebec

1. Two families of requirements

Eligibility conditions concern the company: permits, licences, attestations, establishment in Quebec. Compliance conditions concern the bid: missing document, missing signature, late submission. Both can lead to rejection, but they are not checked at the same time or in the same registry. Start with eligibility: it can make writing pointless.

2. The Revenu Québec attestation

For public supply, service or construction contracts of $25,000 or more, a Revenu Québec attestation is required. It confirms that tax returns have been filed and that there is no outstanding balance, or that a payment agreement is being respected. In the municipal sector, it is valid until the end of the third month following its issuance, up to four months, and must not have been issued after the bid submission deadline.

Exemptions exist, notably for a company without a permanent establishment in Quebec or in an emergency. Do not assume them: check what the notice provides.

3. The AMP authorization to contract

The Autorité des marchés publics issues an authorization to contract to companies seeking public contracts or subcontracts at the set thresholds: $5M or more in construction or PPP, $1M or more in services. For a call for tenders, the authorization must be held on the bid submission date. Since April 2, 2026, it is valid indefinitely, provided the company meets its LCOP obligations, including the annual update. Its status can be checked in the registry of authorized companies (REA).

4. The RBQ licence

For construction work, a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec is generally required. It has no expiry date: its validity is checked in the licence holder registry. Also check that it is not a restricted licence that would bar the type of work concerned.

5. CNESST: validation, not the end-of-contract attestation

The CNESST offers several distinct services. The compliance validation, used before a contract, lets the contractor obtain immediate proof that their premium file is compliant and attach it to the bid. The compliance attestation is issued at the end of the contract to release the public buyer. They are two different documents: do not confuse the one requested at submission with the one issued after the work is completed.

6. Other common requirements

• Registration in the ineligible enterprises registry (RENA): check that the company is not listed.
• clicSÉQUR access for government online services.
• OQLF francization attestation or certificate for companies with 25 or more employees, where required.
• Equal access program, depending on the organization and contract.
• Lobbying declaration, where applicable.
• Integrity declaration under the LCOP, unless the company is authorized by the AMP.

7. How to read the notice without missing one

1. Open the eligibility conditions section and the documents-to-submit section.
2. For each requirement, note the exact document, the issuing body and the validity date.
3. Distinguish what is required at submission from what is required after award.
4. Assign an owner and an internal deadline to each document.
5. Check the thresholds: a requirement may apply only above a certain amount.

8. The validity date trap

An attestation valid on the day you receive it may be expired on submission day. The date that matters is the bid submission deadline, not the date of preparation. Request third-party documents early and record their expiry date in the checklist.

9. Pre-submission checklist

• Revenu Québec attestation obtained and valid on the deadline.
• AMP authorization to contract, if the threshold is met.
• Valid, non-restricted RBQ licence for construction work.
• CNESST compliance validation, if requested at submission.
• RENA check and, where applicable, OQLF.
• Signed integrity and lobbying declarations.
• Each document named in the required format and attached in the right place.

10. Do not confuse the registries

The AMP's REA, the RENA, the RBQ licence holder registry and the Quebec enterprise register do not answer the same question. A company can be registered in the enterprise register and absent from the REA, or hold an RBQ licence while being subject to a restriction. Check each registry separately, at the source.

This guide is informative. It does not replace reading the tender documents, legal advice, or direct verification with the organizations.