[ARCHIVED August 7, 2021 – This post is superceded and will no longer be updated.]

The Government of Canada currently uses Goods and Services Identification Number (GSIN) codes to identify products for all its procurement activities. Every federal government procurement is tied to a GSIN code. GSIN codes connect all of the procurement information on the Buyandsell.gc.ca website including Tenders, Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements, and Contract History.

As part of Treasury Board’s Data Standard on Classification of Procurement Items, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is implementing a transition from GSIN codes to United Nations Standard Products and Services codes (UNSPSC). GSIN codes and UNSPSC codes will be used concurrently for a time period, until UNSPSC fully replaces the GSIN in the Government of Canada by April 1, 2017.

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