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Hello!

I'm happy to introduce myself. I'm a proud Brazilian, I'm 37 years old, happily married, and part of a big family. Most importantly, I'm a joyful black woman who loves my culture and heritage. Life has been exciting, with lots of different experiences, and I'm eager to share some of my story with you. I'm thankful for my Brazilian background and my family's love, which have made me who I am today. Let's go on this journey together, where we can learn and enjoy the beauty of diversity, culture, and shared experiences.

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The subject matter for this week centered around public agencies, which are government-controlled organizations responsible for delivering essential services to the nation's citizens. These agencies operate at various government levels, including federal, provincial, and municipal. They offer a wide range of services, such as healthcare, education, and transportation, and often play crucial roles in regulatory functions. Despite their government oversight, they maintain operational independence, remaining accountable to both the government and the citizens while securing funding from diverse sources.

Prominent examples of such agencies include provincial health authorities, school boards, and municipal transit commissions, all of which play pivotal roles in providing essential services and ensuring the well-being of Canadians.

I look forward to our future sessions and further expanding my understanding of this fascinating subject matter.

Warm regards,

Veronica Silva

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I learned that the Broader Public Sector Procurement Directive, issued by the government, sets rules for buying things in public organizations like hospitals, schools, and local governments. It's all about making sure things are fair, clear, and competitive when using public money to buy stuff.

The Broader Public Sector includes lots of different public groups like hospitals, schools, and cities. The rules change depending on where you are.

I also found out that trade agreements are special deals between countries to make it easier to trade things across borders. These deals cover many parts of trade, like goods, services, money, and ideas, and they help countries work together and grow their economies.

In public buying, trade agreements help by letting suppliers from partner countries join the market, making sure everyone gets a fair chance, reducing costs, making sure everyone follows the same rules, and having a way to solve problems. This helps create a fair and competitive space that helps public organizations and the economies of the countries involved.

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In our class, I've gained a comprehensive understanding of public procurement, covering topics such as identifying various risks in the field, including financial, legal, operational, reputational, and strategic risks, and learning how to differentiate and manage them effectively. We also explored diverse risk management strategies, including avoidance, transfer, acceptance, and reduction, as well as the implementation of measures like insurance and contingency plans to mitigate these risks. Practical learning was a significant part of the course, allowing us to apply our knowledge to real or simulated procurement cases, where we identified and managed risks using the strategies we'd learned. Additionally, our class discussions focused on the analysis of procurement cases, emphasizing risk prioritization and the profound impact of selecting the right risk mitigation strategy. In summary, this course has equipped me with valuable skills and knowledge to confidently navigate the world of public procurement, understanding risks, and managing them effectively.

We also discussed the case. But it was only a $1,000 job! That helped us understand that regardless of the value of the work, insurance is essential to insure us against possible losses

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In our class, we learned about a legal case, "The Queen (Ontario) vs. Ron Engineering Construction (Eastern) Ltd. (1981)." In this case, Ron Engineering initially submitted the lowest bid for a construction project but later discovered a significant mistake in their bid, amounting to $750,000. What made it crucial was that Ontario had clearly stated that bids were final, and withdrawing a bid meant losing a $150,000 bid deposit.

After Ron Engineering won the bid, they chose not to sign the contract. Consequently, Ontario gave the contract to the next lowest bidder and held onto Ron Engineering's bid deposit, citing a breach of the tender terms. This resulted in legal proceedings that reached the Supreme Court of Canada.

In our class discussions, we learned that the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the decision to retain Ron Engineering's bid deposit. The court emphasized the importance of maintaining the fairness of the bidding process and confirmed that irrevocable bids, as mentioned in the tender invitation, must be honored. Additionally, this case introduced the idea of two contracts, "Contract A" and "Contract B." It highlighted that Ron Engineering had legally forfeited their bid deposit by not fulfilling their commitment to enter into "Contract B" according to the bid conditions.

This case provided us with valuable insights into the legal aspects of bidding and contracting in the context of public procurement, underlining the significance of following bid rules and preserving the fairness of the bidding process.

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On Module 6, we learned how public agencies purchase goods and services, going through the procurement process, like when a city decides to buy new buses for public transportation. We also studied when competitive bidding is necessary for fairness, such as in the construction of a new school.

We explored the importance of competitive bidding, aligning with values like accountability and cost-effectiveness. Different tools and methods for competitive bidding, such as sealed bids and requests for proposals, were discussed to understand their pros and cons and when to use them effectively.

Lastly, we examined real-life situations where specific competitive bidding tools are required, considering factors like complexity, competition, and flexibility. This learning equipped us with a strong understanding of how public agencies acquire what they need and the significance of competitive bidding in public procurement, along with practical strategies for its implementation.

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We had an important in-class session for our group case analysis. After submitting our individual analyses, we gathered in groups to finalize our Executive Summaries. Attendance was mandatory because our professor provided guidance and insights to improve our group projects.

Working closely with our group members, we brought our individual analyses, research, and materials. This collaborative effort helped us create a comprehensive and well-crafted Executive Summary.

Our case analysis was a significant part of our overall assessment, and our dedication during that class ensured our group's success. Together, we made our project the best it could be.

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In our second competitive bidding module, we immersed ourselves in the fascinating realm of specification development for goods and services. This immersive experience was marked by collaboration, where students took on dual roles, serving as both customers and procurement professionals. Together, we honed our skills in the intricate craft of specification preparation.

During this module, we achieved the following key objectives:

1. Mastery of needs identification for public agencies, a process akin to unearthing hidden treasures. We became adept at comprehending and effectively addressing the requirements at hand.

2. Engaging in enriching discussions, we delved into the intricate role of procurement. We recognized that it entails more than just purchasing; it involves acquiring the right goods and services in the most effective manner.

3. Proficiency in critically assessing specifications, an essential skill comparable to meticulously proofreading a manuscript to ensure completeness and clarity.

In essence, this module was designed to equip us with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the multifaceted world of public procurement. It empowered us to adeptly identify needs, appreciate the crucial role of procurement, and master the art of creating precise specifications.

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in Module 14, we finished our learning journey by reviewing the main points of public procurement. We talked about the importance of acting ethically in procurement, focusing on being fair, open, and transparent in purchasing. This module marked the end of our study, and I'm happy to have a good understanding of public procurement and ethical practices.

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In week 9, despite missing the class, I was able to glean valuable insights from the provided PowerPoint materials about government procurement methods.

Evaluation Methods: I discovered that various evaluation models like Cost-Effectiveness, Best Value, and Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) are utilized in public procurement. Each method comes with its distinct criteria for assessment, focusing on quality, cost, delivery, and vendor capabilities.

Procurement's Role: Learning from the presentations, I understood the critical role of procurement in the evaluation process. It involves establishing fair guidelines aligned with the specific needs and objectives of the procurement process.

Competitive Bidding Documents: The PowerPoint materials shed light on the importance of competitive bidding documents used by public agencies. These documents ensure fairness and compliance in the bidding process, covering aspects like payments, delivery schedules, and other critical rules.

After delving into these materials, I realized the significance of understanding evaluation methods, procurement's role, and competitive bidding documents for effective participation in government procurement processes.

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Module 10 - Working in our group project 

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Module 10 - Working in our group project 

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In Module 10, our group couldn't make it to class, but the professor gave us instructions. This module was meant for working in class, meeting with the professor, and concentrating on our SILEx presentation as a group. The main things to do were getting feedback on our draft report and either starting the presentation or making final changes to our report. After our feedback, we needed to start our project from the beginning.

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The class was cancelled. However, after red the ppt for our 13th module, we learned about contracts—what they are and why we use them. We explored how contracts are given to the right people or companies. We also discovered the importance of managing and keeping good relationships with our suppliers. This module helped us understand the basics of contracts and how they play a role in working with others.

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Unfortunately, I'm not sure what happened during the presentation. I believe I put a lot of pressure on myself. I never expected this process to make me feel sad or uncomfortable. However, it has been challenging for me. Managing a full-time job, dealing with language barriers, living far from my family, and handling numerous assignments sometimes make me feel incapable of learning or improving my skills. As this process is nearing its end, I hope to feel better and more confident.