For immediate release
HALIFAX, April 18, 2006 – The Honourable Michael M Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) today announced the establishment of six new regional Offices of Small and Medium Enterprises (OSME) to help small and medium business suppliers compete for government business.
"As part of our recently tabled Federal Accountability Act, this government pledges to clean up the procurement of government contracts, and make the system easier for SMEs to understand," said PWGSC Minister Michael M Fortier. "We are opening up these regional offices in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver to train and assist SMEs so they can all have a fair opportunity to compete for government contracts."
Expanding OSME will help fulfill the government's commitment to reform procurement. Other measures to strengthen the integrity of government contracting include:
a legislated commitment to fairness, openness, and transparency in the procurement process;
require contracts to include integrity provisions that require action be taken to preclude corruption, collusion, and the payment of contingency fees in the procurement process;
promote fairness, openness and transparency in the bidding process through a new Policy on Managing Procurement, which will be independently reviewed before it is finalized;
a proposed Procurement Auditor to review procurement practices on an ongoing basis;
introduction of a Code of Conduct for Procurement; and
provide accreditation and training for procurement officers.
Recent consultations with SMEs across Canada have resulted in PWGSC introducing measures including:
Simplifying the language in bid solicitations and contracts;
Re-competing the regional master standing offers for office supplies;
Establishing the Professional Services Online marketplace supply system to provide small businesses with a new avenue to bid on professional services opportunities;
Establishing a 1-800 helpline and Web site to respond to enquiries.
For more information, contact the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises at 1-800-811-1148 , by e-mail at osme@pwgsc.gc.ca, or visit www.pwgsc.gc.ca/sme.
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Ce texte est également disponible en français.
For further information, please contact:
Nicole Babin
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Fortier
(819) 997-5421
Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
(819) 956-2315
PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site at www.pwgsc.gc.ca/text/generic/media-e.html
