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. Access |
A. Procurement decisions are opaque |
i. More feedback about supplier performance
ii. Non-compliant decisions should be documented
iii. Ensure a fairness code guides procurement system
|
| B. Information not always equally available to SMEs |
iv. Post information only once
v. Make MERX more user-friendly
vi. Publish all contracts in the same location
vii. Use Chambers of Commerce to facilitate the distribution of information about procurement policy changes
|
| C. TWF changes were announced after the fact |
viii. Announce policy changes and allow for preparation to occur before enforcement
|
| D. Criteria in RFPs are not meaningful |
ix. Rated and mandatory criteria must be meaningful and limited; allow for competition do not design an outcome
|
| E. Scale of contracts is too large |
x. Maintain Regional Standing Offers
|
| F. PWGSC tools get between suppliers and clients |
xi. Ensure that SOs and other tools do not increase the cost of doing business
xii. Ensure SOs are actually used to justify the expense of getting one
xiii. Require a minimum use for each firm on a SO
xiv. Keep SOs relatively small and accessible so that SMEs can compete
|
| G. SMEs find it difficult to navigate the procurement system |
xv. Do more supplier promotion, perhaps through trade commissioners
xvi. Ensure easy access to security clearance for suppliers
xvii. Raise sole source contract limits from $25,000 to $45,000 with another $45,000 allowable amendment
|
| 2. Regional |
H. Decision-making is too centralised |
xviii. Put more responsibility and authority in the hands of the regional operations
xix. Regional structure of PWGSC should match the reality
|
| I. Procurement process favours central Canadian firms |
xx. Put more responsibility and authority in the hands of the regional operations
xxi. Allow bids to be submitted in local time zone
|
| 3. Complexity |
J. Procurement process results in high cost of bidding |
xxii. Simplify RFPs and other mechanisms
xxiii. Standardise these simplified mechanisms
|
| K. Non-standard goods are squeezed out by consolidation and risk aversion |
xxiv. Ensure that consolidation only occurs where it makes sense
|
| L. Complexity of the procurement system results in various interpretations |
xxv. Ensure simple rules
xxvi. Use incentives as well as rules
xxvii. Work more closely with client departments
|
| 4. Risk aversion |
M. Procurement processes are designed to minimise risk, not get the best value |
xxviii. Introduce functional specifications
xxix. Work to minimise "march madness" spending spree at fiscal year end
|
| 5. Socio-economic benefits |
N. SMEs must be supported through procurement |
xxx. Ensure the definition of "SME" is appropriate (e.g., size, revenue, ownership)
xxxi. Support a Canadian content requirement
xxxii. Targets or other means should be established to ensure Canadian firms a certain portion of the contracts
|
| O. Aboriginal businesses must have access to procurement |
xxxiii. Preserve the PSAB
xxxiv. Ensure the PSAB is well understood by PWGSC, procurement officers, and mainstream suppliers
xxxv. Do not permit "shell companies"
|
| P. Procurement should be "green" |
xxxvi. Sustainability should be a criteria across the board in all procurement
xxxvii. Use lifecycle cost to guide procurement decision, not just price
|
