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Indigenous procurement guide

Buying office furniture under PSIB: a guide for government buyers

The federal government has committed to awarding at least 5% of the total value of its contracts to Indigenous businesses each year. Office furniture is one of the simplest places to act on that commitment: the need comes up again and again, the scope is easy to define, and certified Indigenous suppliers like IHS can deliver everything from one chair to a full floor. This guide explains how the pieces fit together.

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What PSIB is

The Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB) is the federal program that helps Indigenous businesses compete for and win federal contracts. It works alongside the mandatory minimum 5% Indigenous procurement target that applies to federal departments and agencies. Indigenous Services Canada publishes the policy and each department's results, and your departmental procurement team applies them.

Three ways to buy office furniture from an Indigenous business

  • Set-aside procurements. A requirement can be set aside so that only eligible Indigenous businesses may bid. Some set-asides are mandatory, for example when the people served are primarily Indigenous; others are voluntary, at the department's discretion. The PSIB policy text and your procurement team set the exact conditions.
  • Open competitions. Indigenous businesses can bid alongside everyone else. If an eligible Indigenous business wins, the contract value counts toward the target.
  • Smaller direct purchases. A few chairs or a single office, bought within your delegated authority by purchase order. Check with your departmental Indigenous procurement contact how these purchases are recorded for the 5% target.

How to verify an Indigenous supplier

Ask for evidence before you award. For federal purposes, eligibility is usually confirmed through the Government of Canada's Indigenous Business Directory. Third-party certification, such as certification by the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB), is also widely used by provincial, municipal and corporate buyers.

IHS is CCIB-certified, PSIB-eligible and listed in the federal Indigenous Business Directory. You can verify both directly: our Indigenous Business Directory listing and our CCIB certification.

What to put in your requirement

  • Headcount, and the number of workstations, private offices and meeting rooms.
  • Any existing furniture that needs to be removed.
  • A floor plan or room dimensions.
  • Accessibility and ergonomic requirements.
  • Delivery address, building access rules and the installation window.
  • The paperwork you need back: itemized quote, Indigenous spend confirmation, delivery sign-off.

What IHS provides to government buyers

  • Capability statement, CCIB certification verification and PSIB eligibility confirmation.
  • Itemized quotes for one product or a full fit-out.
  • Payment by card, or by purchase order with an approved PO account.
  • Space planning led by IHS with manufacturer design teams.
  • Delivery and installation managed by IHS, anywhere in Canada.
  • Documentation your team can use for Indigenous procurement reporting.

Provincial, municipal and First Nations buyers

PSIB is a federal program, but many provincial ministries, municipalities, health organizations and school boards have their own Indigenous or social procurement goals, and First Nations governments often prefer Indigenous suppliers. The same steps apply: define the need, verify the supplier, use the buying route your policy allows, and keep the documentation.

FAQ

Questions buyers ask

Is IHS PSIB-eligible?

Yes. IHS is a CCIB-certified Indigenous business and eligible under the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business, so federal contracts awarded to us can count toward the 5% Indigenous procurement target. We can send our capability statement, CCIB verification and eligibility details for your procurement file before you award anything.

Can a small purchase count toward the 5% target?

Contract value awarded to an eligible Indigenous business counts toward the target, but how low-dollar purchases are captured depends on your department's recording process. Ask your departmental Indigenous procurement contact how purchase orders and smaller buys are reported, and we will provide whatever supplier details they need on the quote and invoice.

Does IHS hold a federal standing offer?

Ask us for our current capability statement. It lists the procurement vehicles through which IHS can be engaged today. If you are planning a set-aside or a competitive requirement, we can also share the information you need to confirm our eligibility before the solicitation goes out.

Do you deliver outside Ontario?

Yes, anywhere in Canada. Online orders ship to Canadian addresses only, and projects outside our home region are planned remotely from your floor plans and installed through vetted partner crews. Tell us the delivery address and building access details when you send the requirement, so the quote reflects the real delivery cost.

Ready to put your furniture spend toward the 5% target?

Request our capability statement, or send us a requirement and we will come back with an itemized quote.

Request our capability statement Send a requirement