Procurement categories (UNSPSC)

Questions about categories

What is a UNSPSC code?

UNSPSC stands for United Nations Standard Products and Services Code. It is a numbered classification the Government of Canada uses to label what a contract is buying, from audit services to aircraft parts.

Why do federal tenders use UNSPSC codes?

Buyers tag each notice with a code so suppliers can subscribe to the categories they actually serve, and so spending can be compared across departments. The code on a notice is chosen by the contracting authority, not by TenderComps.

How do I find the right category for my business?

Search a keyword on the tenders page, open a notice that looks like your work, and follow its category link. That page lists every open tender and past award with the same code, which is usually a better filter than guessing at code numbers.

Can one tender belong to more than one category?

Yes. CanadaBuys notices often carry several codes and a broader procurement category such as Services or Goods. TenderComps indexes the primary code and shows the remaining labels on the notice page.

Are contract awards shown by category too?

Yes. Each category page lists award history for that code, including the vendors who won and the departments that bought, so you can see who already holds this kind of work before you bid.