How to do business with the government
Ready to work with Supply Ontario? Learn who can do business with the government, how to get started and what steps to follow to access public procurement opportunities.
Curious about the benefits of selling to the public sector? Learn why it’s a great opportunity for your business.
Who can do business with the public sector?
Any business—from local to international, or small to large—can offer goods and services to the public sector through Supply Ontario.
Supply Ontario welcomes vendors of all sizes and levels of maturity. Whether you’re a small business exploring public procurement for the first time or an established supplier looking to expand your reach, this guide will help you navigate the process and access opportunities to offer goods and services to Ontario’s public sector.
How can vendors work with Supply Ontario?
Vendors can work with Supply Ontario through several procurement pathways. These include competitive bidding processes that streamline access to public sector contracts.
How to work with us
Step 1: Register as a vendor
To participate in Supply Ontario or Ministry procurement opportunities, vendors must register on the Ontario Tenders Portal (OTP). Registration is free and gives you access to bid on public contracts.
Registration typically takes 10–15 minutes. Before you begin, make sure you have a few key details ready:
In addition to your business name and contact information, you’ll need your 9-digit Canada Revenue Agency Business Number (BN).
You’ll also be asked to identify your organization’s client type and the categories of goods and/or services you offer by selecting all applicable United Nations Standard Products and Services Codes (UNSPSC).
These details help ensure your registration is complete and accurate. Choosing applicable UNSPSC codes will enable alert emails to be sent if procurement opportunities are posted for those categories.
Step 2: Monitor opportunities
Stay informed about upcoming and active procurement opportunities:
Ontario Tenders Portal (OTP) – for open competitive procurements
CanadaBuys – for opportunities across federal, provincial and territorial government
Three Year Outlook – for advance notice of upcoming Supply Ontario Vendor of Record (VOR) arrangements
Step 3: Submit a bid
When bidding on procurement opportunities on the OTP:
Carefully review the tender documents and be aware of any site visits or meeting requests
Ensure your bid meets all requirements and deadlines
Be prepared to demonstrate compliance with evaluation criteria
Only contact the procurement representative identified in the opportunity listing—reaching out to any other contact may disqualify your bid
What happens after submitting your bid?
Once your bid is submitted, it undergoes an evaluation process as outlined in the procurement opportunity. Bids are reviewed against the criteria outlined in the tender documents, which may include technical capabilities, pricing, experience and alignment with government priorities. Vendors are notified of the results through the OTP.
Not every bid results in a contract award, but each submission you participate in is a valuable opportunity to engage with public procurement.
Whether your bid is successful or unsuccessful, you will be offered a debrief to understand how it was evaluated, highlighting strengths in the case of success, and identifying areas for improvement if not selected.
Supply Ontario encourages vendors to stay engaged. Procurement needs evolve, and new opportunities arise regularly. Use the Three Year Outlook to plan for future opportunities.
Step 4: Become a qualified vendor
If successful, you’ll become a qualified vendor, This means: you’ve signed an agreement. You are available for clients to acquire the goods and services you bid on.
Step 5: Get support
If you have questions or need help at any stage, Supply Ontario is here to support you.
For general inquiries about becoming a vendor, contact doingbusiness@supplyontario.ca. For inquiries about a specific procurement opportunity, reach out to the designated procurement contact identified in the opportunity listing.
Watch: How to Become a Vendor
Watch the following video to learn more about how to become a vendor for the public sector and where to find upcoming opportunities: How to Become a Vendor