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Registering as a Supplier
As a supplier, you have two ways to find out about opportunities to do business with the Federal Government. You can keep track of opportunities that are posted on the electronic tendering service, MERX. You can also register with government databases that buyers use to identify sources of supply for the products and services they buy. For the most part, federal government buyers use MERX for higher dollar value requirements and purchases that are subject to any of the trade agreements (see Trade Agreements). For low-dollar value buys they use telephone and trade directories as well as databases developed by their departments. However, in September 1999, Business Access Canada launched a new database of registered suppliers that can be used by all federal government buyers.
The new database, the Supplier Registration Information (SRI) service is a directory of vendors who want to do business with the federal government. Prior to the introduction of the SRI service, suppliers had to register in a variety of databases maintained by different departments or organizations in the federal government. Registration involved the completion of forms which were faxed or mailed to the responsible organization. With SRI, registration can be done via the Internet without having to contact a Business Access Canada representative. However, if you do not have Internet access, you can still contact Business Access Canada to arrange for registration (see below). SRI is a government-wide database accessible to all federal government buyers and administrative officers so you only have to register once for buyers to be able to access your information.
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), the federal government's largest purchasing organization, is now using SRI as the link to its own databases. When you register in SRI, the information becomes available to the various databases that are used by the department depending on the type of products and services you sell:
PWGSC regional offices use these databases the most for low-dollar value requirements while the department's headquarters purchasing organizations are using them less and less. Instead, these groups are depending more on MERX.
Business Access Canada will be working with other departments and agencies to link information in SRI to lists and databases they have. In the meantime, their buyers can use SRI as an alternative or supplement to their existing systems.
There are several things you should be aware of when registering as a supplier with the federal government:
For more InformationFor more information about source lists, databases and SRI, contact:Business Access Canada Public Works and Government Services Canada 6C1, Portage III Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0S5 E-mail:
ncr.contractscanada@pwgsc.gc.ca or your local PWGSC office. |
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