The Government of Canada purchases between $15-$20 billion of goods and services each year. There are opportunities for EU countries to provide goods and services. The comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) enables EU countries to take part in the procurement process. All Federal Government procurement opportunities are posted at: https://canadabuys.canada.ca/en as other tiers of government post opportunities too.
The topic was presented by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and Procurement Assistance Canada (PAC), which are the main procurement arm of the federal government. It is important that all procurement activities be conducted in an open, fair and transparent manner, and that all suppliers have an equal chance at doing business. Federal laws and regulations as well as Treasury Board of Canada policies guide the Government of Canada’s procurement process. Please see below the notes from the webinar held on December 7, 2022. The full presentation will be published on the EUCCAN website (@euccan.com) when available.
Presenter: Menelaos (Manny) Argiropoulos Chief, SME Stakeholder Engagement, Office of Small and Medium Enterprises, Public Services and Procurement Canada – Ontario Region / Government of Canada.
1: First Step to access Procurement Opportunities from the Canadian Government:
· Register at CanadaBuys.Canada.ca. Registration is FREE. Note: Product codes are migrating to the United Nations Product codes.
· Here, you can search for government tenders and contract history and register in the electronic procurement solution
2: Second Step: Building networks
· Connect with departments and agencies to understand the appropriate programs and support that is available.
· Promote your business, and share information regarding your capabilities and areas of delivery.
· Ensure that your website contains information on what goods/services you provide and where you can provide them.
3: Know your business and know your clients. Note that this will be highly competitive – you will be competing against a minimum of 2-3 up to 100’s of other similar suppliers.
· What does your research tell you about your end user’s needs?
· Who are the appropriate points of contact outside and/or inside government?
· Do you want to be the prime or subcontractor?
4: Finding key government contacts:
GEDS
· Provides a directory of most federal public servants across Canada (except for the Department of National Defence, RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service)
PSPC Regional Offices
· Can provide information about opportunities in your area
Open Procurement Data:
· Canada.ca – Open Government Portal
· Past tender notices, Standing Offers, Supply Arrangements, and contract history available on the Open Government Portal
· What buyers have bought in the past, which companies have been successful in selling
· Obtain your own contract history with the Supplier Contract History Letter service
Government contracting data
· Researching contracting data can help you see an individual department or agency’s purchasing history
· This can help you see which departments are buying your commodity so that you can identify potential client groups and connect with them to promote your business
· Information about contracts is available through the Search Government Contracts page on the Open Government portal.
Competitive procurement
· Procurement over $25,000 for goods and $40,000 for services is done through the solicitation of bids and quotes from potential suppliers using a variety of methods
· The most common types are:
o A Request for Proposal (RFP)
o A Request for Standing Offer (RFSO)
o A Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA)
· The tender notice will indicate the method of procurement being used and will outline the solicitation documents
Standing Offers
· Standing Offers are used to meet recurring needs when departments or agencies repeatedly order the same goods or services.
· A Standing Offer is an offer from a potential supplier to provide goods and/or services at pre-arranged prices, under set terms and conditions, when required.
· It is not a contract until the government issues a “call-up” against the standing offer. The government is under no obligation to purchase until that time.
Supply Arrangements
· Supply Arrangements are used when goods or services are bought on a regular basis but when a standing offer is not suitable because of variables in the resulting call-ups.
· Like standing offers, it is not a contract and neither party is legally bound as a result of signing a supply arrangement alone.
· They allow client departments to solicit bids from a pool of prequalified suppliers for specific requirements.
Collaborative procurement
· Provinces, territories and others in the public service can access PSPC standing offers and supply arrangements.
· Benefits for suppliers:
- Selling to multiple levels of government
- Expanding your market
- Easier and faster bid preparation
- Increased potential value and scope for each opportunity
- Reduced supply risks
For more information and to view the list of commodities available, visit Canada.ca/buying-together
PAC Ontario Region – Seminars
· Doing Business with the Government of Canada: 1st Wednesday of the month – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
· Bidding on Opportunities: 2nd Wednesday of the month – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
· Supplying Professional Services to the Government of Canada: 3rd Wednesday of the month – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
· Obtaining Security Clearance: 4th Wednesday of the month – 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
One-on-One sessions (on-line) offered every week for seminars 1-3 for 30 minutes at 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 pm on the topic of the week OR on-demand by calling 1-800-668-5378 or email tpsgc.pasacontario-appacontario.pwgsc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca to book an appointment.
You can see what PSPC have upcoming and register for their events on their calendar page: https://ontario.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/cal/index-eng.cfm
NEXT STEPS
· Visit the Register as a supplier web page on CanadaBuys.Canada.ca and BuyAndSell.gc.ca
· Consult the PAC Service Guide to see how they can help
· Register for your next seminar:
o Finding opportunities on the Government Electronic Tendering Service
o Supplying professional services to the Government of Canada
o Bidding on opportunities
· Request a callback from Canada.ca/PAC
For additional information and assistance:
Mr Simon Pribac, Slovenian Trade Commissioner at the Slovenian Embassy-Ottawa. 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 2200, Ottawa, ON. K2P 1P1., Phone: +1 613-565-5782, E-mail: Simon.Pribac@gov.si