Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS)
The official Government of Canada electronic tendering service required by trade agreements for publishing federal procurement notices. Since 2022 the GETS is delivered through CanadaBuys.
Definition
The Government Electronic Tendering Service, abbreviated GETS, is the single official system through which the Government of Canada publishes federal procurement opportunities and award notices subject to trade agreements. Operating a single electronic tendering service is an obligation under agreements such as the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, and the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement. Since 2022, the GETS function has been delivered through CanadaBuys, which replaced the earlier Buyandsell.gc.ca platform.
How it works in Canadian procurement
Because the GETS is the mandated point of publication, federal departments must post trade-agreement-covered tenders there so that all potential suppliers have equal access. Vendors use the GETS, now CanadaBuys, to search for opportunities, set up email alerts by NAICS and GSIN code, download bid documents, and view historical award notices. The GETS is free for suppliers to use. For cleaning vendors, the practical takeaway is that any federal cleaning requirement large enough to be covered by a trade agreement will appear on CanadaBuys as the GETS, which makes it the single most important monitoring source for federal opportunities.
Common confusions
GETS is a function, not a brand name, so vendors sometimes look for a website literally called GETS and do not find one: the service is delivered through CanadaBuys today and through Buyandsell.gc.ca historically. A second confusion: the GETS covers federal trade-agreement-covered procurement, not provincial or municipal tenders, which are published on their own portals. Finally, not every federal purchase appears on the GETS; low-dollar buys and standing-offer call-ups can occur without a GETS notice.
Frequently asked questions
No. GETS is the official electronic tendering service function. Today it is delivered through CanadaBuys; before 2022 it ran on Buyandsell.gc.ca.
Trade agreements including the CFTA, CETA, and the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement require a single official electronic system so all suppliers have equal access to covered tenders.
No. The GETS covers federal trade-agreement-covered procurement. Provincial and municipal tenders are published on their own portals such as MERX and Biddingo.
Related terms
- CanadaBuys: The Government of Canada's central electronic tendering service for federal goods and services procurement across all categories, from IT and consulting to construction, facilities, and cleaning.
- Goods and Services Identification Number (GSIN): A federal Canadian procurement classification code that identifies the category of goods or services being procured, used alongside NAICS to route tender notifications.
- North American Industry Classification System (NAICS): A standardized industry classification system used across Canada, the United States, and Mexico to categorize businesses and procurement by sector.
- Request for Proposal (RFP): A formal procurement notice used by Canadian government buyers to solicit competitive bids for goods or services of every kind, from professional services and construction to IT, facilities, and cleaning contracts.
See Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS) terms in real Canadian government contracts
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