Aboriginal Procurement Initiative (API)

The objective of the Aboriginal Procurement Initiative (API) to increase the participation of Aboriginal peoples and suppliers in providing goods and services to the Manitoba Government.

Summary

Key Benefits

Key benefits anticipated through this initiative:

• Engaging Aboriginal suppliers in the tender process;
• Better understanding of the tender process by suppliers;
• Increased competitiveness;
• Increased procurement from Aboriginal business in other ways such as sub-contracting and/or joint ventures;
• Aboriginal business development;
• Creation of new employment opportunities;
• Relationship building between Aboriginal suppliers and government buyers; and
• Better knowledge of Aboriginal supplier base by government buyers. 

Benchmarking Other Aboriginal Procurement Programs

An Aboriginal Procurement Work Group with representation from across government has canvassed jurisdictions in Canada and the United States, including organizations such as Manitoba Hydro, to review their strategies for best practices. The Federal Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB) is the most comprehensive existing model and Manitoba Hydro's Northern Procurement Policy is the best local model. Both have helped shape Manitoba's API framework.

Input from Key Stakeholders

The Work Group has also consulted with various Aboriginal groups. Continued consultations with Aboriginal organizations and business are anticipated. Such contributions are essential to an effective Initiative and will inform and help share the developing API.

Elements of the API

1. Business Development

• Aboriginal Business Directory

Procurement Services provides a corporate electronic tool to identify Aboriginal businesses as a resource for government buyers.  Data will effectively link business names with key information such as location and the goods or services provided.

• Educational Workshops for Aboriginal Businesses

Workshops are offered by Procurement Services to Aboriginal businesses on how to do business with the government.

2. Procurement Tools

Several purchasing tool guidelines may be considered to increase government buyers' flexibility and opportunities for Aboriginal businesses. Guideline examples include the following:

• Aboriginal Business Sourcing:  A process that would inform an Aboriginal business of a tender opportunity that may be of interest to them. A profile of the goods and services the business provides, as indicated in the Aboriginal Business Directory, is matched to tender opportunities advertised by the Manitoba government.

• Aboriginal Content:  Is a condition of a contract where the Manitoba government encourages that a portion of the work be provided by Aboriginal business. This condition may be net by the use of Aboriginal businesses as either the main contractor or as sub-contractors to provide goods, services, construction, equipment, labour, or any combination of these.

• Set - Asides: Is a procurement for Goods and Services that has been reserved for competition among Aboriginal vendors.

• Scoping: Involves breaking down a contract into smaller or specialized work packages to better suit the capability of Aboriginal businesses.

Regardless of which purchasing tool is used, quality, cost, and timeliness of goods and services remain primary criteria in making purchasing decisions.

3. Measuring Success

The API will include a mechanism to measure the achievements of the Initiative across government.

 

Manitoba Contact(s):
Mr. Mark Freedman
Procurement Services Branch
Infrastructure and Transportation
2nd Floor
270 Osborne Street N.
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 1V7
Telephone: 204-945-0826
Fax: 204-945-1455
E-mail: Mark.Freedman@gov.mb.ca
Web site: http://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/psb/api/ab_proc.html