The BSDQ (Bureau des soumissions déposées du Québec, the Quebec bid depository) is a private non-profit body that frames bids between specialized and general contractors through its electronic platform, the TES. To file a bid there, you need an RBQ contractor licence and an engagement with the BSDQ. Its bidding code (Code de soumission) then applies under set conditions.
This guide summarizes what the BSDQ publishes on its website as of October 1, 2026. For any bidding decision, the Code de soumission (opens in a new tab) and the BSDQ itself are the authority. The BSDQ site and its Code are published in French.
What the BSDQ is
The BSDQ is a private, non-profit organization, separate from the RBQ and from government. It receives and forwards bids from specialized contractors working in Quebec. It acts under a mandate from three signatory parties: the Association de la construction du Québec (ACQ), the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec (CMEQ) and the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec (CMMTQ).
It sits between general contractors and specialized contractors in a public or private tender. The call for tenders itself already governs the level between the project owner and the general contractor. The BSDQ frames the next level down: filing and retrieving subcontractor prices. The organization has had its current form since 1967.
Since February 2013, the TES (transmission électronique des soumissions, electronic bid transmission) has been the only tool used to receive and transmit bids.
Two clarifications:
- The "code" here is the Code de soumission, a set of conduct rules on filing, withdrawing and awarding bids. It is not the Construction Code.
- A general contractor bidding directly to a project owner does not file that bid with the BSDQ. The BSDQ covers bids addressed to a recipient contractor (entrepreneur destinataire). See the glossary for a short definition.
When a bid goes through the BSDQ
The BSDQ distinguishes two situations.
1. The project owner requires it. If the bid documents require the BSDQ, you must always file the bid there (Code de soumission, art. B-1).
2. The project owner does not require it. The Code still applies (art. B-2) to a bid for a covered specialty (spécialité assujettie) addressed to a contractor, if all four of these conditions are met:
- the work is done in Quebec;
- more than one contractor is invited to give a price;
- the bid documents allow comparable bids;
- the bid price for the specialty reaches $20,000 before taxes (Code threshold, 2026 fee level checked on October 1, 2026).
The threshold counts all the specialty’s work required in the bid documents. You cannot split a bid to stay under it.
Which specialties are covered?
A covered specialty is one subject to BSDQ rules, and the list can differ from one region to another (Annexe I of the Code). The BSDQ’s Boussole (compass) tool shows covered specialties by region. The BSDQ also states that engagement is mandatory for plumbing-heating and electrical contractors under the laws that govern them.
Who decides when it is unclear?
The BSDQ says it is not responsible for interpreting the art. B-2 conditions. It does let any bidder who believes the conditions are met file a bid and so open a project. If you are unsure about a specific project, check with the BSDQ user service or a lawyer.
Getting engaged, fees and guarantees
The three engagement steps
To engage with the BSDQ, a contractor must:
- hold a contractor licence issued under the Building Act (Loi sur le bâtiment, RBQ);
- complete the engagement document, which includes the resolution, the TES use protocol and, where applicable, the disciplinary reference;
- pay the annual fee.
There are two types of engagement. The bidder (soumissionnaire: a specialized, or general and specialized, contractor) can file and retrieve bids. The recipient (destinataire: a general contractor only) can only retrieve them. For a bid to travel through the BSDQ, both parties must be engaged. To check the licence you hold or need, see the pages on general contractors and specialized contractors.
Fees published by the BSDQ
| Fee | Amount (2026 fee, before taxes) | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee (cotisation annuelle) | $100 (2026 fee) | Engaged contractor |
| Electronic deposit (dépôt électronique) | $5 per bid filed (2026 fee) | Bidder |
| Bid withdrawal (retrait) | 1% of the bid, maximum $5,000 (2026 fee) | Bidder who uses the withdrawal right |
| Service contribution (contribution de service) | 0.25% of the bid, capped at $500 (2026 fee) | Bidder who wins the contract |
Taxes are added. The BSDQ states that the cap on the service contribution can change without notice, and that project owners and professionals pay nothing. For a general contractor, the only BSDQ fee is the annual fee.
The bid guarantee
According to the BSDQ, the Code requires a guarantee with any bid of $100,000 or more (2026 fee level). It takes the form of a bid bond (cautionnement de soumission) or a bank transfer worth 10% of the bid. A list of companies authorized to issue a bid bond and a letter of intent is annexed to the Code.
The guarantee also matters for the award: a bid with a guarantee has a right to the contract if it is the lowest compliant bid. If no bid has a guarantee, the recipient contractor can award the contract to any contractor who filed a compliant bid in the TES.
The Code de soumission and BSDQ training
Where to read the Code
The BSDQ publishes the Code on its site, with a PDF version. The Code has chapters A to L (from definitions to complaints) and annexes, including the list of covered specialties, the list of surety companies and the filing guides. The Code has been amended several times since October 29, 1996, so read the current version on the BSDQ site. Key terms are defined in the glossary.
Training
BSDQ training is free. It is given live, in monthly webinars, and lasts about 1 h 30 to 2 h. One webinar is for contractors and focuses on the Code’s rules; another is for professionals and project owners. Sessions are in French only. The BSDQ will also come to your office with 10 participants or more.
According to the BSDQ, these trainings are recognized by the RBQ, the CMEQ and the CMMTQ in the mandatory continuing education program. That statement comes from the BSDQ: confirm it with the RBQ before relying on it (see mandatory continuing education).
Link with the RBQ licence and the estimating module
Without a contractor licence issued under the Building Act, you cannot engage with the BSDQ as a contractor. The BSDQ bid guarantee is a separate requirement, attached to each bid.
On the exam side, the qualification regulation (B-1.1, r. 9, s. 23) lists cost estimating and bids among the subjects of the project and site management exam. To prepare a bid from start to finish (documents, prices, subcontractors), see also our construction bid template and example.
FAQ
What is the BSDQ?
The BSDQ, or Bureau des soumissions déposées du Québec, is a private non-profit body that frames bid transmission between specialized and general contractors. It operates under a mandate from the ACQ, the CMEQ and the CMMTQ. Bids go through its electronic platform, the TES.
Is the BSDQ mandatory?
It is when the project owner requires it, or when a covered specialty meets the four conditions of art. B-2 of the Code. In that case, engaged contractors must file their bid through the BSDQ. The BSDQ adds that engagement is mandatory for plumbing-heating and electrical contractors under the laws that govern them.
Do I need an RBQ licence to engage with the BSDQ?
Yes. The BSDQ requires a contractor licence issued under the Building Act, plus the engagement document and the annual fee. Without engagement, you can neither file nor retrieve bids.
How much does the BSDQ cost?
Under the 2026 fees posted by the BSDQ, the annual fee is $100 plus taxes, and each bid filed costs $5 plus taxes. A bid withdrawal costs 1% of the price, up to $5,000 (2026 fee), and the bidder who wins the contract pays a service contribution of 0.25%, capped at $500 (2026 fee). Project owners and professionals pay nothing.
Is BSDQ training free?
Yes, BSDQ training is free. It runs as monthly webinars of about 1 h 30 to 2 h, in French only. In-person training is possible for 10 participants or more.
If you bid and are preparing for the project management exam, the Project and Site Management course on RBQexam reviews bid preparation. RBQexam is not affiliated with the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.
Information current as of October 1, 2026, from the BSDQ’s public pages. Fees are the 2026 fees and can change: confirm them on bsdq.org.