Procuring An Edge: Indigenous Businesses And Federal Set-asides

Canada has made Indigenous procurement a significant part of its federal strategy, but recent scrutiny of the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB) shows the rules are under pressure from two directions: the government must demonstrate that Indigenous businesses are receiving meaningful economic opportunities, and businesses must demonstrate that their Indigenous ownership, control, and participation are real in practice.

The rules operate at more than one level. The federal buyer must select the correct procurement route, including whether a PSIB set-aside is mandatory and whether Modern Treaty obligations apply. The bidder must establish eligibility, maintain meaningful Indigenous ownership and control, and satisfy the Indigenous-content requirements in the resulting contract.