Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of the Aboriginal Business Development Program?

The purpose of the program is to develop positive relationships, promote business opportunities and support the capacity building of Aboriginal communities and businesses to provide goods and services to BCTC. Our goal is to have a pool of skilled, qualified and competitive Aboriginal suppliers in the province from which BCTC can draw in the procurement of goods and services.

Who qualifies as an Aboriginal business?

Eligible Aboriginal businesses are those performing the work and meeting the following criteria:

A company with Aboriginal ownership having a substantial amount of the equity (including any common or voting shares), in the discretion of BCTC, directly owned by an Aboriginal person or Aboriginal peoples

A partnership or joint venture having a substantial amount of the ownership rights (including any voting rights), in the discretion of BCTC, of such partnership or joint venture held by an Aboriginal person or Aboriginal peoples

and

A business that employs Aboriginal peoples.

What type of work is BCTC awarding to Aboriginal contractors?

Through the Aboriginal Business Development Program, BCTC offers contract opportunities for Aboriginal businesses and individuals to provide services in:

Vegetation management
Construction,
Transmission line maintenance, and
Stations.

Will BCTC award contracts to Aboriginal businesses even if they aren’t registered with the Aboriginal Business Directory?

Yes but to pre-qualify for special competitive and non-competitive processes used under the Aboriginal Business Development Program such as set-asides, select tenders and direct awards, you must register with the Aboriginal Business Directory.

How can we find out about upcoming tenders?

BCTC advertises all public bid opportunities on BCBid, the BC Government’s e-Procurement service. Go to the BCBid website for more information.

How can we get help if we’re not familiar with BCTC’s procurement process?

First, get more information at Procurement Procedures. BCTC provides general bid preparation training to help you understand BCTC’s terms and conditions and how to submit bids. If you are not familiar with the different BCTC competitive bid documents and would like some assistance, please contact us at procurement@bctc.com or call 1.866.622.2284.

How will my bid be evaluated?

BCTC’s contract award process is generally based on an open tender process. Within the context of the Aboriginal Business Development Program, certain contracts will be awarded using the following competitive and non-competitive processes:

Select tender: a non-public competitive bid request may be distributed to a small number of select potential qualified vendors.
Sole source: where a vendor qualifies under the program and has the capacity to complete a given contract at a competitive price, BCTC may award the contract directly to the vendor. Vendors with a history of delivery excellence with BCTC will be top candidates for this type of award.
Public tender: for certain types of work, BCTC may include evaluation criteria in tender documents for companies to have Aboriginal ownership or Aboriginal staff, or for non-Aboriginal companies to partner with Aboriginal companies or employ Aboriginal employees.

Does BCTC assist Aboriginal businesses with training?

We will provide information about our qualifications and potential funding sources for training. Where there is no other funding available, we will provide partial funding to Aboriginal businesses that are supported by a comprehensive training plan.

Contact Us

For more information about the Aboriginal Business Development Program, contact Claire Marshall, Manager of Aboriginal Relations:

Phone: 604.699.7525

Email: claire.marshall@bctc.com.