Supplier Registration Number (SRN)

If you want to bid on federal contracts in Canada, you need a Supplier Registration Number. This identifier—better known as your Procurement Business Number (PBN)—comes from registering in the Supplier Registration Information (SRI) system and serves as your gateway to doing business with the Government of Canada. No PBN, no payment from PSPC.

How It Works

The registration process starts with your Business Number (BN) from the Canada Revenue Agency. You'll use your 9-digit BN from your GST account to register in the SRI system, where you'll provide mandatory information including your registrant name, contact details, type and country of ownership, business size, sector, official language preference, and whether you're an Aboriginal supplier. Once registered, you receive a PBN that looks like this: 123456789 PG0001.

Here's the thing: the PBN requirement depends on how the procurement is processed. According to PSPC's reference materials updated in January 2026, you need your PBN for bids that aren't processed through SAP Ariba. More significantly, it's required to receive any payments from PSPC regardless of the procurement platform. The Supply Manual establishes the policy framework, though the detailed registration procedures live in PSPC's operational guidance.

By registering in SRI, you're doing more than just getting an identifier—you're making your company's name and supply capabilities visible to federal departments and agencies across government. Think of it as your vendor profile in the federal procurement ecosystem. Departments use this information to identify potential suppliers for their requirements, which means keeping it current directly affects whether you'll be found for opportunities.

Key Considerations

• Get registered early. Don't wait until you've found an opportunity to bid. The registration process takes time, and you can't submit a compliant bid or get paid without your PBN.

• Keep your information current. Your SRI profile includes contact details and capability information that procurement officers rely on. Outdated information means missed opportunities. You can modify existing contacts or create new ones through the supplier module functions.

• The terminology can be confusing. The formal term is Supplier Registration Number, but everyone calls it your PBN. It replaced an earlier system, so you might still see references to the old Procurement Business Number in older documents—they're talking about the same thing.

• One registration covers all federal departments. You don't need separate registrations for DND, SSC, or other departments. Your SRI registration and PBN work across the entire federal government.

Related Terms

Supplier Registration Information (SRI), Business Number (BN), SAP Ariba, CanadaBuys

Sources

• Registering in the Supplier Registration Information system [PDF] - Public Services and Procurement Canada

• Registering in the Supplier Registration Information system - Canada.ca

• Supply Manual - Government of Canada

In practice, treat your SRI registration as the foundation of your federal procurement strategy. No registration means no business with the federal government—it's that simple.