ADVANCE PROCUREMENT NOTICE REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM (RPAS) – INFRASTRUCTURE, OTTAWA, ONTARIO

Advance Procurement NoticeRemotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) – Infrastructure, Ottawa, Ontario(with Security Requirements)Purpose of this Advance Procurement NoticeThis is not a bid solicitation. This is an advance notice of a potential contract with anticipated security requirements to provide interested consultants/contractors an opportunity to begin the sponsorship request process for potentially obtaining the required security clearance(s) that are anticipated. Note that there is no guarantee that this contract will proceed or that any security clearance(s) will be granted under the sponsorship process in a timely fashion or otherwise.Description of the Project and ServicesThe Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) – Infrastructure project is planning to construct a Ground Control Centre (GCC) at the Uplands site, in the National Capital Region. The GCC is planned to be an approximately 4000m2 building that will serve as the headquarters for this squadron; include training areas; ground control stations; support and other administrative spaces and offices. This building will have various security levels ranging from Operational Zones to High Security Zones. The maximum occupancy is expected to be around 200 people. The project will include a parking lot.It is anticipated that this/these solicitations will be initiated in Winter 2023. This is conditional on the contract receiving approval to proceed by the Department of National Defence (DND).Contract Award and Anticipated Security RequirementsIn order to be eligible for contract award, a consultant/contractor will be required to, among other things, actively hold all required security clearance(s) at the time of closing, as further detailed in the solicitation documents.As of the date of posting of this Advance Procurement Notice, the required security clearance(s) are anticipated to be:Consultants/Contractors will be required to hold a valid FACILITY SECURITY CLEARANCE (FSC) at the level of SECRET, issued by the Contract Security Program (CSP), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).Industrial Security Program (ISP) Sponsorship Defence Construction Canada (DCC) is providing consultants/ contractors early access to the security clearance application process through sponsorship under its Industrial Security Program (ISP). Accordingly, consultants/contractors that are interested in submitting or participating in a proposal for this procurement that fall under this program and that do not actively hold the above identified security clearance(s) should begin the security clearance application process by applying through DCC’s ISP.Under this program, DCC may provide preliminary assistance with the security clearance sponsorship process.To begin the security clearance sponsorship process, please submit a sponsorship request application to DCC by following the steps identified on DCC’s website at: https://www.dcc-cdc.gc.ca/industry/security-requirements.In their sponsorship request application to DCC, consultants/contractors are asked to quote the following information, among other things:Contract number 74124; andLevel of clearance requested to be sponsored for.Sponsorship ProcessUpon receipt, DCC will review the sponsorship request application and will communicate directly with the consultant/ contractor to complete a sponsorship request package. Once DCC has determined that the consultant / contractor has substantially completed the sponsorship request package, DCC will forward the package to the CSP, PWGSC on behalf of the consultant/ contractor based on the following timelines:60 calendar days prior to planned solicitation closing, for FACILITY SECURITY CLEARANCE (FSC) at the level of SECRET.Following receipt of the sponsorship request package, the CSP, PWGSC will communicate directly with the consultant /contractor regarding any further steps or actions to be undertaken or the status of the sponsorship request package processing. At such time, the consultant /contractor will need to cooperate with the CSP, PWGSC in a timely fashion to further the process.QuestionsAny questions pertaining to the sponsoring process through the ISP can be addressed to:Telephone Number: (613) 998-8974; orEmail address: ISP.Sponsorship@dcc-cdc.gc.caAny questions relating to this Advance Procurement Notice can be addressed to:Stephanie TanguayTeam Leader, Contract ServicesDefence Construction Canada613-715-4626Stephanie.tanguay@dcc.cdc.gc.caDisclaimerDCC does not provide any assurances or guarantees that a sponsorship request package or a security clearance application forwarded by DCC to the CSP, PWGSC on behalf of a consultant/ contractor will be successful or result in the granting of the requested security clearance(s) by the CSP, PWGSC, in a timely fashion. At all times, the processing of a sponsorship request package or a security clearance application is subject to the respective terms, conditions, and timelines of DCC’s ISP sponsorship process and the CSP, PWGSC’s security clearance granting process. By applying to either of the aforementioned processes, the consultant/ contractor accepts and agrees to bear any risks associated with: (i) the completeness or accuracy, or lack thereof, of its application or related documents submitted under or in connection with either said processes, and (ii) the timeliness, or lack thereof, of any processing or granting of security clearance(s) under or in connection with either said processes.