EIGHT REASONS WHY YOU NEED OUR PROCUREMENT GUIDE The Government of Canada purchases over $16 billion a year in goods and services. In this Guide, we explain how Public Service and Procurement Canada or PSPC (formally Public Works Government Services Canada) plus over 175 government organizations purchase and contract for goods and services. The Guide explains over 24 different methods for contracting offered by PSPC. Step-by-step, we walk you through the process to apply for a standing offer (SO) or a supply arrangement (SA), essential elements to getting government contracts. This practical all-you-need-to-know procurement guide captures all the must-have procurement related websites and links. We have sifted through thousands of websites and links, and have developed check­lists, templates and references to help you prepare a winning submission. We identify and explain the crucial role that retired public servants -- the 'New-Old Workforce' -- play in the procurement process: how their subject-matter knowledge and experience can best be employed to help you secure government contracts. We show you how to maneuver through the complicated registration/ application system and how to qualify for government lists of suppliers which will allow you to bid on contracts. We walk you through the process of how to identify government opportunities and the contract methods that are used. We show how to be informed of important elements such as RFP amendments, contract values, bid extension delays and the identities of successful bidders. We show you how to properly read a Request for Proposal (RFP) and to prepare a bid for a government contract. We also show you how to avoid one negative consequence of a bid -- the infamous 'regret letter'. We describe the few options available when challenging a rejected proposal. We also point out the risks, costs and potential consequences that could impact your business