GATINEAU, QC — Canada has launched a new coaching service designed to help bidders from diverse socio-economic groups that have had limited success bidding on federal procurement opportunities address bidding challenges.
Delivered by PSPC’s Procurement Assistance Canada, the coaching service will give businesses from diverse socio-economic priority groups (women, Indigenous peoples, Black and racialized Canadians, persons with disabilities and LGBTQ2+ Canadians) access to one introductory meeting and at least three personalized coaching sessions with a procurement specialist from procurement assistance Canada’s regional offices.
These sessions will help the businesses explore the areas of the bidding journey where they may require assistance.
“Smaller businesses owned or led by members of underrepresented groups have historically participated less in federal procurement and have less experience in bidding on tender opportunities,” said Filomena Tassi, the minister of public services and procurement. “With the coaching service, we are taking an important step towards making federal procurement more inclusive for all Canadians.”
The launch of the coaching service is a step towards enhancing economic and social opportunities for underrepresented groups and follows a pilot project launched last year, the government said.