Doing Business with the Federal Government

Did you know that the Government of Canada spends about $14 billion annually on goods, services, and construction? Ninety percent of all government contracts are worth less than $100,000, and many are awarded locally across the country. Federal contracting is an important market for small- and medium-sized businesses.

The government recognizes that Aboriginal business is under-represented when it comes to bidding for and winning government contracts. We hope to change that by making it easier for the government and Aboriginal firms to do business with each other while still meeting the principles of fairness, openness, and best value for the Canadian public.

The Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business

The federal government launched the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB) to help Aboriginal firms do more contracting with all our departments and agencies. Here's how it works:

Setting aside contracts for Aboriginal firms

We're reserving all contracts that serve a primarily Aboriginal population and that are worth more than $5,000 for competition among qualified Aboriginal businesses.

We're also encouraging federal buyers to set aside other contracts for competition among Aboriginal businesses whenever practical.

Joint venturing

We're encouraging Aboriginal firms to create joint ventures with other Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal firms in bidding for and executing government contracts.

Sub-contracting

Whenever contractors need assistance to fulfil a government requirement, we're encouraging them to sub-contract to Aboriginal businesses, as long as the prime contract is not subject to the North American Free Trade Agreement or the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement.

Getting the word out

The government is making sure that Aboriginal businesses and federal public servants are aware of this strategy. Across the country, we are telling Aboriginal businesses about federal procurement opportunities and contracting procedures. We're also informing federal public servants about the initiative and about Aboriginal suppliers: who they are, where they can be found, and the goods and services they provide.

Eligibility

The PSAB is open to all Aboriginal businesses. A business can include a sole proprietorship, limited company, co-operative, partnership, or not-for-profit organization. To be considered an Aboriginal business, a firm must meet the following criteria:

• at least 51 percent of the firm is owned and controlled by Aboriginal people,
• and at least one third of the firm's employees, if it has six or more full-time staff, must be Aboriginal.

If a firm is starting a joint venture or consortium, it must meet the following criteria:

• at least 51 percent of the joint venture or consortium must be controlled and owned by an Aboriginal business or businesses, as defined above. 

When a firm bids for a contract under the PSAB, it must certify that it meets the above criteria, and it must provide proof of eligibility upon request. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) exercises the right to audit Aboriginal supplier certifications.

Getting Started

Aboriginal businesses should register their firms with Buyandsell.gc.ca   Supplier Registration Inventory info line 1-800-811-1148 or 819-956-3440 (in the National Capital area) and Industry Canada’s, Strategis, Aboriginal Business Directory, info line 1-800-328-6189 or 613-954-5031 (in the National Capital area).

For answers to questions about the Procurement Strategy, please call our toll-free number 1-800-400-7677.

INAC, Alberta Region 
630 Canada Place
9700 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta T5J 4G2
Phone: (780) 495-2773
Fax: (780) 495-4088

INAC, Atlantic Region 
40 Havelock Street
P.O. Box 160
Amherst Nova Scotia B4H 3Z3
Phone: (902) 661-6200
Fax: (902) 661-6237

INAC, BC Region 
1138 Melville Street
Suite 600
Vancouver British Columbia V6E 4S3
Phone: (604) 775-5100
Fax: (604) 775-7149

INAC, Manitoba Region 
365, Hargrave Street, Room 200, 5th Floor
Winnipeg Manitoba R3B 3A3
Phone: (204) 983-1968
Fax: (204) 983-0046

INAC, National Capital Region 
Terrasses de la Chaudière
10 Wellington Street, North Tower
Hull Québec K1A 0H4
Phone: (819) 997-0380
Fax: (819) 953-3017

INAC, Northwest Territories Region 
4914 - 50th Street
P.O. Box 1500
Yellowknife Northwest Territories X1A 2R3
Phone: (867) 669-2500
Fax: (867) 669-2709

INAC, Nunavut Regional Office 
969 Qimugjuk Building
P.O. Box 2200
Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A 0H0
Phone: (867) 975-4500
Fax: (867) 975-4560

INAC, Ontario Region 

Toronto 
25 St. Clair Avenue East, 8th Floor,
Toronto Ontario M4T 1M2
Phone: (416) 973-6234 or (416) 973-5282
Fax: (416) 954-6329

Thunder Bay 
100 Anemki Drive
Suite 101
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7J 1A5
Phone: (807) 623-3534
Fax: (807) 623-7021

Brantford Business Centre 
58 Dalhousie Street, 3rd Floor
P.O. Box 1960
Brantford, Ontario N3T 5W5
Phone: (519) 751-2200
Fax: (519) 751-2666

Sioux Lookout Business Centre 
100 Anemki Drive
Suite 101
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7J 1A5
Phone: (807) 737-2800
Fax: (807) 737-1708

Sudbury Business Centre 
Time Square
1760 Regent Street South
Sudbury, Ontario
P3E 3Z8
Phone: (705)522-5100
Fax: (705) 677-7976

INAC, Québec Region 
Place Jacques-Cartier Complex
320 St-Joseph Street East
Suite 400
Québec, Québec G1K 9J2
Phone: 1-800-567-9604
Toll Free: (800) 263-5592
Fax: (418) 648-2266

INAC, Saskatchewan Region

Regional Office 
2221 Cornwall Street
Suite 301
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 4M2
Phone: (306) 780-5945
Fax: (306) 780-5733

North Central District 
3601 - 5th Avenue East
P.O. Box 5500
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan S6V 7V6
Phone: (306) 953-8522
Fax: (306) 953-8648

South Budget Centre 
740 Sioux Avenue, 2nd Floor
Room 210
P.O. Box 760
Treaty Four Governance Centre
Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan S0G 1S0
Phone: (306) 332-8500
Fax: (306) 332-6019

INAC, Yukon Region 
345, 300 Main Street
Whitehorse Yukon Y1A 2B5
Phone: (867) 667-3100
Toll Free: (800) 661-0451
Fax: (867) 667-3196

Forward Questions/Comments to:

Aboriginal Access to Procurement Coordinator
Phone: (819) 997-0380
Contracting and Material Management Division
Fax: (819) 953-3017

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Terrasses de la Chaudière
10 Wellington Street
Hull, QC K1A 0H4
E-mail: saea-psab@ainc-inac.gc.ca