Help for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)

The Government of Canada is committed to giving small and medium enterprises (SME) access to compete for government business.

The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises (OSME) in Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) advocates on behalf of SMEs and encourages their participation in federal government procurement.

How does OSME assist SMEs?

OSME assists SMEs in better understanding how the government buys goods and services by raising awareness of opportunities and by providing the following information services:

• Buyandsell.gc.ca, which provides access to federal procurement information and open data including bid opportunities (tenders), standing offers and supply arrangements, and contract history;
• free seminars and webinars and one-on-one sessions to assist suppliers in understanding federal procurement;
• a 1-800 InfoLine for suppliers who have questions about the procurement process and related tools.

OSME works with SMEs to address their key challenges and constraints by:

• understanding and reducing the barriers that prevent SMEs from participating in federal procurement;
• advising government buyers and policy makers on SME concerns;
• recommending improvements to procurement tools and processes to encourage SME participation in federal procurement.

OSME also manages the Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP), which assists Canadian businesses in testing their innovative goods and services before they are commercialized. For more information on BCIP, visit Buyandsell.gc.ca/innovation.

OSME assists the government in bridging the gap between supply and demand by bringing forward the concerns and challenges of SMEs in the federal procurement process.

How can I contact OSME?

OSME has a network of six regional offices across Canada. Contact the OSME regional office nearest you or call the InfoLine at 1-800-811-1148.