Supplier Registration Information (SRI)

Supplier Registration Information (SRI) is a Government of Canada database of companies that want to sell goods and services to the federal government. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) describes it as a directory of registered suppliers, and federal departments and agencies use it to identify potential sources of supply. PSPC's reference sheet on registering in SRI sets out the basics.

SRI has historically been tied to Public Works and Government Services Canada, now PSPC. It is separate from Canada's electronic procurement solution, although the two connect through the Procurement Business Number (PBN) that SRI issues. Federal buyers and administrative authorities can access it, as CanadaBuys guidance on Procurement Assistance Canada explains.

What the SRI database does for federal buyers

SRI works as a supplier directory. A federal buyer who needs to find companies able to supply a good or service can search registered suppliers instead of relying only on suppliers who respond to a public notice.

CanadaBuys lists SRI as one of the tools buyers may use to identify and select potential offerors, alongside tender notices and trade directories. You can see this in the CanadaBuys sourcing strategy guidance. Government procurement guidance also identifies SRI as a source for finding potential suppliers for purchases that are not subject to applicable trade agreements.

How SRI relates to the Procurement Business Number

Current PSPC guidance states that suppliers register in SRI to obtain a Procurement Business Number. The PBN is currently required for bids that are not processed through SAP Ariba. PSPC explains this on its electronic procurement transition page.

A supplier therefore uses SRI as the entry point for the PBN. Bids handled outside SAP Ariba depend on that number.

Where SRI registration is required or expected

• PSPC contracts: Registration has historically been mandatory when doing business with PWGSC, now PSPC. It was recommended for suppliers dealing with other federal departments.
• Shared Services Canada: SSC states that vendors must first register in SRI and obtain a PBN before doing business with it. See the SSC invoicing page.
• Professional services: Supplier information in the Centralized Professional Services System must correspond with the supplier's SRI profile and with information held by the Contract Security Program. The supplier easy steps guide covers this requirement.

Other PSPC systems that SRI supports

SRI also supports registration in certain other PSPC supplier systems, including ProServices and the Translation Bureau registration databases. A supplier that keeps one accurate SRI profile can therefore use it across several PSPC registration points.

What SRI means for a supplier bidding on Canadian public contracts

Register in SRI before you plan to bid on federal work. The registration gives you a PBN, and that number is needed for bids not processed through SAP Ariba. It is also a precondition for doing business with Shared Services Canada.

Keep your profile current. Federal buyers can find you through the directory, and your information must match your SRI profile in systems such as the Centralized Professional Services System. A mismatch between records can create avoidable problems at the bid stage. Treat your SRI profile as a core part of your bid readiness file, alongside your other federal registrations.