Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business

The government launched the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB) to help Aboriginal firms do more contracting with all the federal departments and agencies.  

Eligibility Criteria

The Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB) is open to all Aboriginal businesses. A business can include:

• a sole proprietorship;
• a limited company;
• a cooperative;
• a partnership; or
• a non-profit organization.

What are the criteria for eligibility?

To be considered an Aboriginal business, a firm must meet the following criteria:

• at least 51% of the firm is owned and controlled by Aboriginal people, and
• at least one third of the firm's employees, if it has six or more full-time staff, must be Aboriginal.

If a firm is starting a joint venture or consortium, it must meet the following criteria:

• at least 51% of the joint venture or consortium must be controlled and owned by an Aboriginal business or businesses, as defined above.

When a firm bids for a contract under the PSAB, it must certify that it meets the above criteria, and it must provide proof of eligibility upon request. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada  (INAC) exercises the right to audit Aboriginal supplier certifications.

Summary

How does it work?

• Setting aside contracts for Aboriginal firms: reserving all contracts that serve a primarily Aboriginal population and that are worth more than $5 000 for competition among qualified Aboriginal businesses. Federal buyers are encouraged to set aside other contracts for competition among Aboriginal businesses whenever practical.
• Joint venturing: encouraging Aboriginal firms to create joint ventures with other Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal firms in bidding for and executing government contracts.
• Sub-contracting: whenever contractors need assistance to fulfill a government requirement, the government is encouraging them to sub-contract to Aboriginal businesses, as long as the prime contract is not subject to the North American Free Trade Agreement or the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement.
• Getting the word out: the government is making sure that Aboriginal businesses and federal public servants are aware of this strategy. Across the country, Aboriginal businesses are being told about federal procurement opportunities and contracting procedures. Federal public servants are being informed about the initiative and about Aboriginal suppliers: who they are, where they can be found, and the goods and services they provide.

How do you get started?

Aboriginal businesses should register their firms with:

• Contracts Canada's Supplier Registration Information info line 1-800-811-1148 or 819-956-3440 (in the National Capital area) or visit the Web site   
• Industry Canada's, Strategis, Aboriginal Business Directory (ABD) , info line 1-800-328-6189 or 613-954-5031 (in the National Capital area) or visit the Web site

For answers to questions about the Procurement Strategy, please call the toll-free number 1-800-400-7677.

*Note: "non-profit" also known as nonprofit organizations, non profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations, voluntary organizations and volunteer organizations.

Alberta Contact(s):
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Room 630
Canada Place
9700 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 4G2
Telephone: 780-495-2773
Fax: 780-495-4088

British Columbia Contact(s):
BC Region
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Suite 600
1138 Melville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia  V6E 4S3
Telephone: 604-775-5100
Fax: 604-775-7149
Web site: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/index-eng.asp

Manitoba Contact(s):
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Room 200, 5th Floor
365 Hargrave Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3B 3A3
Telephone: 204-983-1968
Fax: 204-983-0046

New Brunswick Contact(s):
Atlantic Region
Indian and Inuit Affairs
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
40 Havelock Street
P.O. Box 160
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 3Z3
Telephone: 902-661-6200
Fax: 902-661-6237
Toll-free (information): 1-800-299-8750

Newfoundland and Labrador Contact(s):
Atlantic Region
Indian and Inuit Affairs
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
40 Havelock Street
P.O. Box 160
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 3Z3
Telephone: 902-661-6200
Fax: 902-661-6237
Toll-free (information): 1-800-299-8750

Northwest Territories Contact(s):
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
P.O. Box 1500
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories  X1A 2R3
Telephone: 867-669-2627
Fax: 867-669-2711
Toll-free (information): 1-888-669-2620

Nova Scotia Contact(s):
Atlantic Region
Indian and Inuit Affairs
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
40 Havelock Street
P.O. Box 160
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 3Z3
Telephone: 902-661-6200
Fax: 902-661-6237
Toll-free (information): 1-800-299-8750

Nunavut Contact(s):
INAC Nunavut Regional Office
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
969 Qimugjuk Building
P.O. Box 2200
Iqaluit, Nunavut  X0A 0H0
Telephone: 867-975-4500
Fax: 867-975-4560

Ontario Contact(s):
Enterprise Brant
Unit 10
330 West Street
P.O. Box 1960
Brantford, Ontario  N3T 5W5
Telephone: 519-752-4636
Fax: 519-759-0098

Ontario Region
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Sudbury Business Centre
1760 Region Street South
Sudbury, Ontario  P3E 3Z8
Telephone: 705-522-5100
Fax: 705-677-7976

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Suite 101
100 Anemki Drive
Thunder Bay, Ontario  P7J 1A5
Telephone: 807-623-3534
Fax: 807-623-7021

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
8th Floor
25 St. Clair Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario  M4T 1M2
Telephone: 416-973-6234
Fax: 416-954-6329

Sioux Lookout Business Centre
Suite 101
100 Anemki Drive
Thunder Bay, Ontario  P7J 1A5
Telephone: 807-737-2800
Fax: 807-737-1708

Prince Edward Island Contact(s):
Atlantic Region
Indian and Inuit Affairs
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
40 Havelock Street
P.O. Box 160
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 3Z3
Telephone: 902-661-6200
Fax: 902-661-6237
Toll-free (information): 1-800-299-8750

Quebec Contact(s):
Access to Federal Procurement
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Room 400
Place Jacques-Cartier Complex
320 St. Joseph Street East
Québec, Quebec  G1K 9J2
Telephone: 418-648-7551
Fax: 418-648-2266
Toll-free (information): 1-800-263-5592
E-mail: gingrasja@inac.gc.ca

Saskatchewan Contact(s):
North Central District
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
3601-5th Avenue East
P.O. Box 5500
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan  S6V 7V6
Telephone: 306-953-8522
Fax: 306-953-8648

Saskatchewan Region
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Room 200
1 First Nations Way
Regina, Saskatchewan  S4S 7K5
Telephone: 306-780-5945
Fax: 306-780-5733

South Budget Centre
Treaty Four Governance Centre
Room 210
740 Sioux Avenue
P.O. Box 760
Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan  S0G 1S0
Telephone: 306-332-8500
Fax: 306-332-6019

Yukon Contact(s):
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Room 345
300 Main Street
Whitehorse, Yukon  Y1A 2B5
Telephone: 867-667-3100
Fax: 867-667-3196
Toll-free (information): 1-800-661-0451

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National Contact(s):
Aboriginal Access to Procurement Coordinator
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Terrasses de la Chaudière
10 Wellington Street
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0H4
Telephone: 819-997-0380
Fax: 819-953-3017
E-mail: saea-psab@ainc-inac.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/index-eng.asp