Public Services and Procurement Canada unveils plan to modernize federal procurement

News release

Making buying and selling faster, easier and more accessible

March 5, 2019 – Ottawa, Ontario – Public Services and Procurement Canada

Federal departments and agencies purchase on average $22 billion in goods and services each year to help deliver programs and services to Canadians. Through procurement, the Government of Canada is committed to obtaining the best possible value for all Canadians and advancing important social and economic objectives.

Today, Parliamentary Secretary Steven MacKinnon, on behalf of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, announced a comprehensive plan to make federal procurement processes simpler, more efficient and more accessible for all suppliers and buyers. 

Better Buying is a series of initiatives led by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) designed to improve suppliers’ experience, while supporting accessibility, protecting the environment and creating jobs for hard-working Canadians.

This includes implementing an electronic procurement solution, developing enhanced tools to track and manage vendor performance, simplifying contracts, updating the guide for procurement pricing, establishing an Accessibility Procurement Resource Centre, and increasing participation of under-represented groups and Indigenous-led businesses in federal procurement.

Better Buying was unveiled at the Diversifying the Federal Supply Chain Summit in Ottawa, Ontario. The summit was organized by the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman.

To find out more, visit the Better Buying website.

Quotes

“Our government is creating a world-class, accessible procurement system to deliver better results for Canadians and make it easier for Canadian companies to do business with the government. Better Buying is our plan to enhance our procurement system and leverage federal purchasing power for the greater good.”

Steven MacKinnon
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, and Member of Parliament for Gatineau

Quick facts

  • PSPC manages 73% of the value of the Government of Canada’s annual purchases.

  • Between 2015 and 2018 (from fiscal year 2015–2016 to fiscal year 2017–2018), suppliers located in Canada were awarded 85% of the value of goods and services purchased by the Government of Canada and managed by PSPC.

  • Approximately 88% of the 7,200 suppliers located in Canada that received awards during this period were small and medium enterprises.

Associated links

Contacts

Ashley Michnowski
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough
819-997-5421

Media Relations
Public Services and Procurement Canada
819-420-5501
media@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

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