Accessible Procurement Research

Adaptability Canada was awarded a grant from the Government of Canada (under the auspices of Accessibility Standards Canada) to undertake research in the area of procurement. The project was a collaboration between Adaptability Canada, Carleton University/Accessibility Institute, and Inclusive Work and Supply Council of Canada (IWSCC).

The research focused on two main areas:

  1. Understanding the effectiveness of diverse supplier programs specific to disabled-owned businesses.

  2. Understanding barriers in the procurement process that impact disabled-owned businesses as well as people with disabilities interacting with procurement processes.

The goal was to help inform Accessibility Standards Canada in the setting of standards and be an improvement template for federal government agencies and federally regulated public and private entities.

The Accessible Procurement Research Project was broken into 3 phases including:

  • Phase 1 - A broad review of global literature and online sources to understand the current state of procurement, emerging best practices, supplier diversity trends, and regional/industry-specific insights across key sectors and geographic areas.
  • Phase 2 - Interviews with key stakeholders, including procurement professionals, internal buyers, disabled-owned companies, third-party technology suppliers, Tier 1 suppliers and Master Service Agreement holders
  • Phase 3 - Case study development to apply the research findings in a real-world environment, culminating in a Final Report that will demonstrably influence accessibility standards and approaches in relation to the administration of procurement within federally regulated employers and beyond.

Our public report is available now. Click here to get access.

Research Partners and Contributors

Adaptability Canada is proud to be working with top national and regional partners and associate organizations to further this research project.

Primary Research Partners

The Accessibility Institute at Carleton University is a multidisciplinary centre of excellence focused on accessibility for persons with disabilities. It also serves as the National Office for the Canadian Accessibility Network (CAN), a cross-sectoral community of 35 organizations across Canada committed to advancing accessibility through research, design & innovation, education & training, policy, employment, and community engagement.

Inclusive Work and Supply Council of Canada (IWSCC) is a registered Canadian non-profit created to support people with disabilities who own businesses. IWSCC provides certification so that these businesses can be officially recognized as diverse suppliers and work with corporate partners to increase access to procurement opportunities.  IWSCC also supports the organizational shift within the workplace and supply chains from cultures of accommodation to a culture of inclusion.

Research Contributors

  • Canada Post
  • Export Development Canada
  • Ernst and Young Canada
Get In Touch