The data from the recent University of Ottawa study also show that certain types of SMEs are more likely to want to bid on government contracts. These are businesses looking to grow themselves, engage in exporting, and pursue innovation. That said, I would echo the gentleman's comments. It's important to bear in mind that not all businesses are necessarily interested in doing business with the government, depending on their sector.
The aggregated data reveal that less than 10% of SMEs participate in government procurement, but it is more important for some than for others. What we need to do is figure out how to make those contracts more accessible and appealing to these SMEs.