This article is written by Karen Gomez who has worked at all levels of government in Canada and recently led the development of the Municipal Innovation Exchange at the City of Guelph.

Public servants everywhere have been working around the clock to manage the direct and indirect impact of Covid-19.

But I don’t think many of us think about the procurement departments who are moving heaven and earth to ensure there are enough supplies — with the added pressure of being in competition with all other governments around the world, that are doing the same, at the same time.

For the better part of the last two years, I’ve worked on innovation procurement in government, which to some can sound like an oxymoron. In my view, it is just a misunderstood tool, but if you follow the ethos of procurement of being open, fair and transparent, there is a lot you can do.

Healthcare in Canada is a Provincial responsibility, but as Prime Minister Trudeau put it, “Covid-19 is a rapidly evolving global challenge”. This is unlike other challenges previously experienced and requires a collaborative effort across different levels of government in all areas, particularly to ensure that there are sufficient supplies for provinces, territories, and federal needs.

Procurement vs pandemic

What Covid-19 shows us is that procurement is an agile and powerful tool for innovation.

In Canada, less than ten days after Covid-19 was named a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation and nine days after outlining their response to Covid-19, Canada’s Procurement Minister, Anita Anand, announced that the Canadian government had secured 11.3 million N-95 masks. A number that was far higher than what the needs were across the country at the time, which is all the more impressive amid competitive sourcing and some countries stopping their exports.

The Government of Canada continues these efforts through Buyandsell.gc.ca, but whereas a regular procurement process can take months from start to finish, this process is taking a small fraction of that. As well, provincial and territorial counterparts are using their own channels to ask for supplies, in coordination with the federal effort, and challenging innovators to help find innovative solutions to the local and global needs emerging from Covid-19.

Innovation is often thought about as thinking outside the box. But so often, innovation is more about recognising just how big that box is and finding novel ways to go right to the edge

As part of these efforts, the Government of Canada has also implemented a procurement strategy to help domestically source products needed to fight Covid-19 using its Strategic Innovation Fund. The Strategic Innovation Fund “allocates repayable and non-repayable contributions to firms of all sizes across all of Canada's industrial and technology sectors”, but will now help companies retool their manufacturing facilities to create vital supplies like ventilators.

Thinking inside the box

Reports across the world have shown shortages on items that are vital to the fight against Covid-19, and businesses of all sizes have responded in inspiring ways.

Many large and small alcohol distilleries made changes to their equipment to produce hand sanitiser. Initially, businesses were looking for ways to help and giving proceeds to charity, but now some have channelled their full manufacturing capacity to this effort.

On its best day, the power of procurement is providing a path for government and businesses to work in a symbiotic manner; this strategy will compensate businesses for their efforts and put resources where they are most needed.

What Covid-19 shows us is that procurement is an agile and powerful tool for innovation

Innovation is often thought about as thinking outside the box. But so often, innovation is more about recognising just how big that box is and finding novel ways to go right to the edge. The edges, as it may pain the innovation community to admit, are often there for a good reason, and without them we’d have to wave goodbye to other important values such as the rule of law and due diligence. Public procurement is not perfect, but the ethos of open, fair and transparent are vital to maintaining the level of accountability owed to the public.

What the Government of Canada is showing with their response to Covid-19 is how procurement can be agile, innovative, and help address other policy objectives like economic development. Many continue to be concerned with shortages, as I know that there is no precedent for what is being experienced, but I am inspired by the collaborative approach taken by the Government of Canada, and hope it can be a guide for other countries as we aim to put this crisis behind us. — Karen Gomez

(Picture credit: Unsplash)