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.

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