Kingston, Jamaica – Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are being urged to seize their share of the multibillion-dollar government procurement market.

Andrei Bennett, chief public procurement policy officer at the Ministry of Finance, who was speaking at the Jamaica Business Development Corporation’s (JBDC) Virtual Biz Zone Webinar on Tuesday, said “the government spends close to US$5 billion annually on procurement, and we want MSMEs to take their part of the pie.”

With the government spending approximately 30 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually on goods, works, and services, the public procurement commission (PPC) is calling on MSMEs to register and compete for these lucrative contracts. Public procurement refers to the process by which governments and public sector organisations acquire goods, services, and works using public funds.

Bennett added that “earning a government contract is within your reach.”

The webinar, held under the theme “Get SET for Doing Business with the Government,” sought to provide MSMEs with actionable steps to submit competitive bids for government contracts.

“Look in the Tuesday Observer, the Saturday Gleaner, or on the GOJEP platform. Most public procurement notices are placed on the Government of Jamaica’s Electronic Procurement (GoJEP) website,” he stated.

Government contracts offer MSMEs a reliable source of income, opportunities for growth, and a chance to build credibility. With billions spent annually on procurement, small businesses have a significant opportunity to expand their operations and access larger markets.

Bennett explained that solicitation documents, also known as contract documents, are available on the GOJEP system for each opportunity. “These documents contain five main parts,” he said, including “general and specific instructions, the subject matter of the acquisition, evaluation criteria, a draft contract, and required forms.”

He stressed the importance of carefully reviewing these documents to ensure compliance with eligibility and qualification criteria, such as tax compliance and PPC registration. “Government says, okay, we do not award contracts to anyone that does not pay taxes. And I think that’s sensible,” Bennett noted.

Submitting competitive offers requires businesses to prepare a bid that meets all requirements and demonstrates value for money.

Bennett urged MSMEs to “offer the best possible price” while ensuring that their bids are complete and submitted on time. “You’re not going to make them an offer that they can’t refuse,” he said.

“First of all, you need to offer the best possible price. We are not in the business of robbing you. The government understands that the economy works when you calculate the risk of supplying a particular thing. You make a profit, and we love when you get rich,” he added.

MSMEs can register on the GOJEP platform at www.GOJEP.gov.jm.

The registration process involves submitting required documents such as tax compliance certificates, company status letters, and résumés of directors.