The views and recommendations contained on this page are those of the participants at the OSME consultations. These opinions are not necessarily those of the Government of Canada.
| Theme |
Concern |
Suggestion |
| 1. Socio-economic impact |
A. Negative impact of the procurement reforms on regional development |
i. Assess the impact of the reforms on the regions
ii. Ensure equitable distribution among the regions
iii. Promote regional economic development
|
| B. Major negative impact on distributors |
iv. Put in place mechanisms to specifically address issues with respect to distributors
|
| C. Government procurement does not encourage innovation |
v. Simplify contractual requirements
vi. Include contractual clauses encouraging innovation
|
| D. Government procurement should be greener |
vii. Ensure green content is permitted
viii. Encourage green procurement
|
| E. Lack of information on the role of government procurement in the regions |
ix. Clarify and communicate the strategic objectives
|
| 2. Communication |
F. Lack of communication throughout the bidding process |
x. Improve interaction with buyers
xi. Allow bidders to track the status of bids using information technologies
|
| G. Mixed messages from the various partners |
xii. Improve consistency of communications (Client departments, PWGSC, etc.)
|
| 3. Training |
H. Buyers poorly understand the realities facing SMEs |
xiii. Educate buyers
|
| I. Poor understanding of Government of Canada procurement |
xiv. Train SME salespeople and executives
xv. E learning system
xvi. Put in place regional training seminars
|
| 4. Mechanisms |
J. Complexity of procurement system demands considerable effort from SMEs |
xvii. Simplify the RFP process
xviii. Standardize mechanisms
xix. Complexity should be proportional to the value of the contract
|
| K. The $25,000 threshold is not ideal for SMEs |
xx. Raise threshold from $25,000 to $89,000
|
| L. RFPs favour overly complex and "targeted" requirementsL. RFPs favour overly complex and "targeted" requirements |
xxi. Reduce the number of requirements
xxii. Standardize RFPs
|
| M. Standing offers are complex |
xxiii. Simplify standing offer mechanisms
xxiv. Keep standing offers regional
|
| N. MERX is complex |
xxv. Improve the interface
xxvi. Personalize the interface
xxvii. E learning system
|
| O. The process is very long |
xxviii. Expedite the process
xxix. Simplify the process to allow for faster processing
|
| P. Limited protection of ideas/knowledge in RFPs |
xxx. Implement mechanisms that protect consultants
xxxi. Introduce explicit contractual clauses for consultants
|
| 5. Intellectual property and security |
Q. The security requirements favour complexity and put SMEs at a disadvantage |
xxxii. Communicate the security requirements involved in carrying out the contract from the outset
|
| R. Buyers have a negative impression of Aboriginal SMEs. |
xxxiii. Educate buyers with respect to the realities facing Aboriginal peoples
xxxiv. Improve buyers' image of these SMEs
|
| 6. Realities facing Aboriginal businesses |
S. Non compliance with set asides |
xxxv. Monitor compliance with commitments in this area.
|
| T. Awareness |
xxxvi. Proactive approach to inform Aboriginal firms
|
| U. Access |
xxxvii. Aboriginal firms need to be better informed of the procurement process
|
