The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises

The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises (OSME) is a new initiative supporting the Government of Canada's commitments to ensure that government procurement is

• Accountable: OSME supports the Federal Accountability Action Plan (see www.faa-lfi.gc.ca for more details) ensuring that procurement is open, transparent and fair;
• Cost effective: OSME is also working to make government-wide procurement more strategic, efficient and less costly to administer; and,
• Responsive: OSME is working to mitigate suppliers' concerns about procurement reform (see consultation reports).

OSME Objectives

OSME provides two types of support for those SMEs wishing to do business with the government. The Office assists SMEs as they navigate the government procurement system and is working within the government to ensure the procurement system treats SMEs fairly.

OSME will continue to strengthen access to government business for SMEs through collaboration with industry associations and individual businesses on training, information, development of support tools, and through participation in procurement policy changes. OSME will also work with SME organizations to share information on forming joint venture consortia to access major government contracts.

The Office will follow the Industry Canada SME definition in pursuing its work. Given the considerable overlap between this definition, the Office will also consider government procurement from two other groups: Aboriginal businesses and the regional profile of the government's supplier base.

OSME Activities

The Office performs five activities in support of smaller suppliers:

1. provides information, counseling and training services to SMEs that want to do business with the government;
2. helps reduce competition barriers and simplify the government contracting process;
3. identifies and pursues opportunities that encourage the introduction of innovative new products and services;
4. collaborates to improve procurement policies and best practices; and
5. works closely with the SME community to ensure their concerns and views are brought forward and heard.

OSME Action to Date

The OSME and PWGSC have taken action in many other areas, including:

• the creation of six regional OSME offices across the country in support of the proposed Federal Accountability Act;
• work to remove barriers to competition and ensure open, fair and transparent competition such as:
  1. the removal of possible access barriers to joint ventures
  2. simplifying the language in bid solicitations and contracts, and
  3. the elimination the fees on MERX to access documents on all Federal opportunities
• an ongoing series of consultations with the supplier community;
• the creation of Business Access Canada (BAC) to train and assist individual suppliers trying to navigate the procurement system;
• the introduction of the Professional Service Online (PSO) supply tool nationally to provide increased access for SMEs providing professional services;
• the re-competition (January 2006) of the regional master standing offers (RMSOs) for office supplies, to allow SMEs across the country an opportunity to qualify; and,
• the creation of a SME supplier web portal to reduce the complexity of dealing with various government departments by providing a single point of contact for SMEs.