Partnerships in Procurement

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Partnerships in Procurement: Supporting Indigenous Business Growth through Improving Federal Secondary Procurement from Corporate Canada

Published: June 7, 2021

This report builds on existing CCAB research and campaigns advocating for increased Indigenous procurement in federal and corporate supply chains. After publication of CCAB’s Industry and Inclusion: An Analysis of Indigenous Potential in Federal Supply Chains report, in 2019 the Government of Canada accepted CCAB’s recommendation to create more opportunities for Indigenous businesses to succeed and grow by creating a new target to have at least 5% of federal contracts awarded to businesses managed and led by Indigenous peoples.

Increasing federal procurement from Indigenous businesses is a complex challenge that will require a multifaceted and phased-in solution. Therefore, this report aims to provide clear recommendations on one component of procurement policy; how Corporate Canada, through its large-scale federal procurement contracts, can increase its subcontracting (“secondary procurement”) from Indigenous businesses to support efforts to meet the Government of Canada’s minimum 5% procurement target. The summary of policy recommendations for the Government of Canada are as follows:

1. Create adequate commercial viability in Indigenous subcontracting at the federal level
2. Communicate and coordinate procurement opportunities
3. Ensure compliance and accountability
4. Build capacity within Indigenous businesses to respond to subcontracting