Why We Advocate
Fair fees and quality-based procurement support health, safety, sustainability, and long-term value. When teams are selected for quality, qualifications and compensated appropriately for scope and risk, projects achieve better performance, community outcomes, and cost certainty across the life cycle.
We advocate for:
- Quality-based selection: Choose teams on qualifications, competence, and relevant experience with transparent criteria.
- Scope-aligned fees: Match fees to defined scope, deliverables, risk, and schedule, with change mechanisms when conditions shift.
- Clarity and accountability: Use clear contracts, fair terms, and measurable deliverables that align incentives and reduce disputes.
Current Initiatives
The RAIC is advancing fair, transparent, and quality-based procurement practices across Canada through research, advocacy, education, and practical tools that support both architects and clients. The Fees and Procurement Working Group (FPWG) contributes to this work by providing subject-matter expertise, testing new resources, and informing policy positions.
Community surveys: Collecting cross-Canada data on fee structures, procurement methods, and project delivery challenges to inform RAIC advocacy and tool development.
Architectural Practices Benchmark report: Consolidating survey findings, interviews, and case data to establish national baselines on architectural fees, scopes, and procurement models.
Conference sessions: Facilitating sessions at the RAIC Conference and other forums to identify barriers and share real-world solutions.
Publications and position papers: Advancing national conversation through RAIC Journal and other industry publications, RAIC bulletins, and policy submissions on fee fairness and procurement reform.
Embedding in national policy work: Integrating procurement and fee fairness into RAIC submissions and consultations, such as the RAIC’s response to the CUSMA regulatory cooperation review and other government policy processes.
Sector collaboration: Engaging with public agencies, and allied associations to align procurement reform with broader goals of design excellence, climate action, and fair competition.
Our Leadership
Get Involved
- Join the working group: Contribute expertise to tools, templates, and outreach.
- Submit a policy idea or case: Share procurement challenges and solutions.
Tools and Resources
Coming in Spring 2026!
A new initiative offering reviews of public-sector Requests for Proposals (RFPs) will provide educational feedback highlighting alignment with RAIC’s principles of quality-based selection, fair terms, and realistic scope and deliverables.