Canada transfers command of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two

On the same subject

• 

  October 11, 2018 | Local, Aerospace

  Purchase of three spy planes from the U.S. could cost Canada $140 million more than planned

  DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN Canadian companies had wanted to provide the aircraft, but the Canadian military decided it needed the planes quicker than they believed Canadian firms could deliver The cost of three small surveillance aircraft Canada is buying from the U.S. could be $140 million more than the Canadian military had originally estimated. The three Beechcraft King Air planes, to be based at CFB Trenton in Ontario, will be outfitted with sensors and equipment to intercept cell phone and other electronic transmissions. Canadian special forces and, potentially, other government departments will use them for missions overseas and in Canada. On Oct. 1 the Canadian Forces told Postmedia the three outfitted planes and initial in-service support would cost between $100 million and $249 million, as outlined in the Liberal government's defence policy documents. However, on Oct. 4 the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency revealed the final tally, informing Congress that the deal was underway with an estimated cost of US $300 million — around $389 million. Canadian companies had wanted to provide the aircraft and on-board equipment, and several have formed alliances with U.S. firms who supply the Pentagon with the same or similar aircraft. But the Canadian military decided it needed the planes more quickly than they believed Canadian companies could deliver, and that U.S. security regulations governing the on-board sensor equipment might cause delays. As a result, it determined the U.S. government was the only supplier capable of providing the planes. The Canadian Forces says it hopes to get a better deal. The cost the U.S. government agency presented to Congress is not the final tally and the “final cost is anticipated to be much lower,” the Canadian Forces claimed in an email. “Over the coming months, we will work to more clearly define our interests and requirements for the purchase, and negotiate an acceptable price with the U.S.,” the email said. Department of National Defence spokeswoman Ashley Lemire said in an email to Postmedia that the delivery of the first plane would take place sometime between 2020 and 2021. The final delivery of the three aircraft would be wrapped up by 2022. The main contractor is Beechcraft in Wichita, Kan. The Canadian government will run a separate program to allow companies to compete to provide in-service support for the planes. The government expects to ask for bids for that 20-year contract sometime in the spring of 2019, said Lemire. DND declined to provide an estimate of what that long-term support would cost taxpayers. Industry representatives have complained over the years that the Canadian Forces cut domestic firms out of the project and reduced the role they could play. Lemire rejected that claim, saying Canadian firms would have a role in servicing the planes. https://calgaryherald.com/news/purchase-of-three-spy-planes-from-the-u-s-will-cost-canada-140-million-more-than-planned

• 

  November 25, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

  Defence Construction Canada issues Advance Procurement Notice for the Future Fighter Capability Project

  Defence Construction Canada (DCC) has issued an Advance Procurement Notice (APN) for Solicitation No. APN-DC-2527 for construction programs for the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP). If contracts are awarded, the work will occur between 2020 and 2030. SECRET personnel, document safeguarding and facility security clearances will be required for all projects for contractors and consultants. Information management system clearance to the level of SECRET may be required, but will only be approved post-contract award. Potential bidders who do not currently meet these requirements can apply to the Industrial Security Program (ISP) for clearances. DCC is an approved sponsor under the ISP. Requests for security clearances must be received prior to January 7, 2020. Advance Procurement Notice, Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP), Canada (APN-DC-2527) Project Infrastructure is required at the Main Operating Bases in Cold Lake and Bagotville, with potential for work at various Deployed Operating Bases; Forward Operating Locations[1] and Combined Air Operations Centres in support of Future Fighter Capability (FFC). ISP Backgrounder Government of Canada information is subject to data and information protection requirements. The ISP is responsible for granting the necessary security clearances to contractors and their subcontractors for access to Government of Canada information designated as PROTECTED or higher. Key requirements include: individual and facility security clearances must be received in advanceof any access to government information; individual and facility security clearance must match the level of security assigned to the information being accessed; security clearances cannot be extended, transferred or assigned between organizations; site-specific Document Safeguarding Capability (DSC) security clearance is required for organizations that handle government information or assets at their facilities; IT systems that will receive, store and process government information must be approved in advance; foreign-based employees accessing government information at Canadian facilities must obtain a visitor screening approval in advance; foreign-based employees accessing government information from locations outside of Canada require security clearances, as does the facility within which they are working; subcontractors who will receive, process, store or access government information are subject to all of the same assessments and requirements as are the prime contractors (those holding the contract with the Canadian government) and must possess a valid security clearance for each contract; and prime contractors remains solely responsible (and liable) for the subcontractors compliance with the ISP. Compliance with the Industrial Security Program is a material requirement for any government contract having a security requirement. Failure to comply with the ISP can result in suspension or termination of security clearances. The termination of security clearances is considered to be a breach of contract, which entitles the government to terminate the contract for default. The requirements for SECRET clearances are extensive, necessitating advance planning to gather the significant and necessary information that is required. Whether you are currently registered in the ISP or seeking to do so, understanding the requirements of the ISP is critical to your ability to successfully bid for federal government work. To view all formatting for this article (eg, tables, footnotes), please access the original here. https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8a031226-d61b-424e-ac7b-ccc8b7df104b

• 

  September 4, 2018 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR

  No need to ensure purchased military equipment actually works, government officials argue in procurement dispute

  David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen Officials admit they have never tested the latest search and rescue gear to be used by the military and coast guard Canada is under no obligation to ensure the military equipment it purchases can actually do the job, federal officials are arguing, as they admit they have never tested the latest search and rescue gear to be used by the military and coast guard. The admission by staff of Public Services and Procurement Canada is among the evidence in a complaint by two defence firms that argue the government's decision to award a contract to a rival company was unfair. The complaint was filed on July 27 with the Canadian International Trade Tribunal by Kongsberg Geospatial of Ottawa on behalf of Critical Software, a Portuguese firm. The complaint centres on the government decision to name MDA Systems the winner of a $5.6 million contract to provide software to help in search and rescue missions. Critical Software, which teamed with Kongsberg to bid on the project, had originally raised concerns with the government about why the two companies' proposal was thrown out on a technicality. The Critical Software system is used by more than 1,000 organizations, such as coast guards, police and military in more than 30 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. But because Critical Software and Kongsberg didn't provide a percentage figure of how many systems were in use in each region, their bid was disqualified by the government. The two companies questioned that decision and were stunned when federal officials admitted they have never tested the winning system and didn't actually know whether it meets the requirements of the Canadian Forces or the Canadian Coast Guard. Public Service and Procurement Canada officials stated “Canada may, but will have no obligation, to require that the top-ranked Bidder demonstrate any features, functionality and capabilities described in this bid solicitation or in its bid,” according to the federal response provided to Kongsberg/Critical Software and included in its complaint to the trade tribunal. The government noted in its response that such an evaluation would be conducted after the contract was awarded and insisted the acquisition process was fair and open. Full article: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/no-need-to-ensure-military-equipment-purchased-actually-works-government-officials-argue-in-procurement-dispute