Procurement Assistance Canada (PAC)

Procurement Assistance Canada (PAC) is a program within Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) that helps smaller and diverse businesses take part in the federal procurement process. It provides information, guidance and assistance so that these businesses can find, understand and bid on Government of Canada contracting opportunities. PSPC describes it on its procurement support for businesses page, and CanadaBuys lists it as a useful resource for procurement.

PAC is a support and advocacy function. It is not a contract type, a clause that a supplier must accept, a security requirement or a certification. Its job is to make the federal marketplace easier to enter and to reduce the barriers that discourage smaller and diverse businesses from submitting bids.

From the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises to PAC

PAC was formerly called the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises (OSME). Its mandate was broadened and the organization was renamed to reflect its work supporting both small businesses and supplier diversity in federal procurement. PSPC's page on helping small and medium enterprises in federal procurement and the department's 2021 minister transition book both record this history.

Suppliers who still see references to OSME in older documents or guidance are looking at the earlier name of the same function.

What PAC does for businesses and for buyers

PAC works on two sides of the procurement relationship. For businesses, it offers education and assistance on federal procurement processes, tools and resources. This includes seminars, guidance and personalized assistance covering how to understand federal procurement, find opportunities and bid on them. The get assistance with procurement page sets out how to reach the team, and a short video introducing PAC explains the service.

For government, PAC identifies the barriers that prevent smaller and diverse businesses from submitting bids. It then advises PSPC buyers and policy-makers on those concerns, including procurement strategies, supplier engagement and ways to reduce barriers.

• Helping businesses understand and navigate the federal procurement system
• Identifying barriers that discourage smaller and diverse businesses from bidding
• Advising federal buyers and policy-makers on how to reduce those barriers
• Supporting outreach to under-represented supplier communities

Supplier diversity and partner outreach

PAC supports supplier-diversity outreach and works with partner organizations that serve under-represented supplier communities. PSPC's 2023 to 2024 departmental plan points to procurement initiatives involving equity-deserving businesses, including Indigenous businesses and businesses owned or led by women, persons with disabilities and visible minorities.

This outreach is part of why the program was renamed. Its scope now covers diverse suppliers as well as small ones.

What PAC means for a supplier bidding on federal contracts

A supplier has no separate PAC obligation. PAC does not add conditions to a solicitation, and the solicitation itself sets the binding requirements. What PAC offers is help in meeting them.

A bid team new to federal work can use PAC's seminars and personalized assistance to learn how to find opportunities, register and prepare a compliant bid. The bidding on opportunities seminar notes are a practical starting point. Smaller and diverse suppliers who run into a barrier in a solicitation can also raise it with PAC, since the program passes those concerns on to federal buyers and policy-makers.