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A federal report on military procurement to be released Tuesday will recommend bidders be required to explicitly outline how they will spur innovation and long-term economic growth in Canada, a source familiar with the file told the National Post.

The source says the report largely hangs on the idea that high-priced bids should include a “value proposition” component — a commitment, laid out in detail, of how the firm will invest in future skills development, technological advancement and Canadian competitiveness on the global stage.

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“The notion that a smart buyer thinks in advance about all of the potential implications of their purchase prior to actually making their purchase is sound public policy and long overdue in government,” the source said.

The report’s author, Tom Jenkins, was appointed special advisor to Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose back in September and was asked to find ways to better ensure the competitiveness of Canada’s defence industry. Ms. Ambrose’s department manages $18-billion in government contracts annually — $7-billion for defence — and is slated to oversee more than $240-billion in military procurements over the next decade.