Business Access Canada

Summary

Internet

The Business Access Canada Web site provides online information on how to do business with the Government of Canada and how businesses can keep track of opportunities to bid on federal government purchases.

Seminars

Seminars are held regularly on a variety of topics to assist companies and suppliers who want to do business with the federal government. These seminars are held across Canada. Topics include:

• Selling to the Government of Canada - The Basics: provides information which is fundamental to selling to the federal government;
• Contracting for Services: focuses on how the government buys services and gives information on the trade agreements that affect government procurement;
• Writing an Effective Proposal: provides advice and guidance in preparing a winning proposal.

For a schedule of upcoming seminars, visit the Business Access Canada Web site.

Publications

Business Access Canada produces a number of publications and fact sheets about federal government procurement policies and practices.

• Your Guide to Doing Business with PWGSC: a booklet for new suppliers providing them with basic information on doing business with Public Works and Government Services Canada - the major provider of central and common services to the Government of Canada.
• Fact Sheets: Business Access Canada has developed a series of fact sheets to provide information to suppliers and federal departments on topics relating to government purchasing.
• Customer Manual: a guide for government buyers using PWGSC's procurement and related services.
• List of Departmental Material Managers: an Internet-based directory of contacts in the federal government. Materiel managers are usually responsible for overseeing the tendering and contracting services for their departments.

Supplier Registration

Suppliers wanting to do business with the federal govenment should register in Business Access Canada's Web site. The SRI database is accessible to all federal government buyers who may use it to identify potential suppliers for purchases not subject to any of the trade agreements.  

An important feature of SRI is the Procurement Business Number (PBN) created using a company's Canada Revenue Agency Business number - BN to uniquely identify a branch, division, or office of the company. Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) has adopted the PBN for its purchasing and payment systems as a supplier identifier code. Other federal government departments will gradually be adopting the PBN as part of their purchasing activities.

Ontario Contact(s):
Ms. Patricia Darling
Regional Coordinator
Ontario Region CADC
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Room 480
33 City Centre Drive
Mississauga, Ontario  L5B 2N5
Telephone: (905) 615-2033
Fax: (905) 615-2113
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-5378 (in Ontario)
E-mail: patti.darling@pwgsc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca