Procurement of goods, services, and facilities

What this priority area is about

Procurement is a process organizations use to identify and buy the goods, services, and facilities they use. 

Under the Accessible Canada Act this priority area focuses on making every step of procurement accessible. This means identifying requirements to make sure the buying process is accessible and that the goods, services, or facilities also consider accessibility. It includes:

• accessibility criteria
• inclusive supplier engagement
• consultation with end users including people with disabilities
• barrier‑free procurement process.

Why it matters

Including accessibility from the start promotes supplier diversity and results in goods, services, and facilities that benefit everyone.

Accessible procurement includes people with disabilities throughout the process, whether by providing input on the process itself or identifying accessibility criteria for goods and services. It also ensures everyone can use and benefit from the goods and services that are delivered. 

This approach helps organizations meet accessibility best practices and support economic inclusion by opening doors for businesses and individuals who might otherwise face barriers.

Key work in this area

Explore our databases to find expert-developed resources to help you design procurement processes with inclusion in mind. These databases connect you with standards, technical guides and evidence-based research to guide your work.