APN- COMBATANT TRAINING AND INTEGRATION CENTRE–ATLANTIC (CTIC(A)), HALIFAX, NS

Advance Procurement Notice Combatant Training and Integration Centre – Atlantic (CTIC(A)), CFB Halifax, Nova Scotia (with Security Requirements)

Purpose of this Advance Procurement Notice This is not a bid solicitation. This is an advance notice of a potential contract with anticipated security requirements to provide interested 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 Services The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is in the midst of a fleet and capability revitalization. The new backbone of the fleet will be the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC). The future fleet requires sustainable, scalable, and flexible training and operational support infrastructure that can deliver support to balanced CSC capacity and capabilities.

The RCN requires a digitally enabled Combatant Training and Integration Centre (CTIC) in Halifax that will aggregate operational support and secure training in a single facility, designed for fast technology cycles, agile capability development, and multi-system integration.  The ability to conduct all aspects of secure training development, delivery, operational support in a virtual environment is a critical component of Combatant Training and Integration Centre Atlantic (CTIC-A). The Digital Framework requirements are a significant consideration in the design of CSC infrastructure. All spaces need to be designed with a focus on networking and connectivity. The facility will be designed to maximize its re-configurable nature and prioritize collaboration and laboratory workspaces which will be the basis for the future work environment in a digital age. CTIC-A is envisaged to comprise of four functional areas: a Secure Training Facility, a Maritime Warfare Centre, an Engineering Development Lab and a Data Warfare Centre. CTIC-A facility will be the primary operational support infrastructure for the East Coast. The services associated with the CTIC-A infrastructure may include definition through pre-design and design phases, production of construction drawings and specifications, and construction and commissioning for Combatant Training and Integration Centre – Atlantic (CTIC-A) at the proposed location of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Stadacona, Halifax, Canada. The rough order of magnitude value of the contract is estimated between $120M - $140M. It is anticipated that this solicitation will be initiated February / March 2023.  This is conditional on the contract receiving approval to proceed by the Department of National Defence (DND).

The Government of Canada is committed to reconciliation and meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples. Hence, the Department of National Defence (DND) is committed to supporting Indigenous Businesses and Peoples in the form of meaningful sub-contracting to support the Combatant Training and Integration Centre (CTIC).  To support DND’s commitment, the development of an Indigenous Benefits Plan (IBP) that outlines sub-contracting opportunities for Indigenous Businesses and Peoples will be required in the Modified Design-Build (MDB) contract. The Indigenous communities may anticipate that there may be opportunities for the provision of subcontracts associated with the construction of the CTIC-A.

Contract Award and Anticipated Security Requirements In order to be eligible for contract award, a 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:

for contractors: a valid and active FACILITY SECURITY CLEARANCE (FSC) at the level of SECRET granted or approved by the Contract Security Program (CSP), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC); and

Industrial Security Program (ISP) Sponsorship Defence Construction Canada (DCC) is providing contractors early access to the security clearance application process through sponsorship under its Industrial Security Program (ISP). Accordingly, 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, contractors are asked to quote the following information, among other things:

Contract number IE036391_78807; and Level of clearance requested to be sponsored for.

Sponsorship Process Upon receipt, DCC will review the sponsorship request application and will communicate directly with the contractor to complete a sponsorship request package. Once DCC has determined that the contractor has substantially completed the sponsorship request package, DCC will forward the package to the CSP, PWGSC on behalf of the 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 contractor regarding any further steps or actions to be undertaken or the status of the sponsorship request package processing. At such time, the contractor will need to cooperate with the CSP, PWGSC in a timely fashion to further the process.

Questions Any questions pertaining to the sponsoring process through the ISP can be addressed to: Telephone Number: (613) 998-8974; or Email address: ISP.Sponsorship@dcc-cdc.gc.ca

Any questions relating to this Advance Procurement Notice can be addressed to: Veronica L Mendoza Team Leader, Contract Services Defence Construction Canada Telephone: 902-407-8261 Email: veronica.mendoza@dcc-cdc.gc.ca

Disclaimer DCC 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 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 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.

 Bidding and Documents are available on http://www.merx.com. Fees may apply; See https://www.merx.com/public/pricing for more information.