Advance Procurement Notice
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SNOW AND ICE CONTROL (SNIC) HEAVY EQUIPMENT (HE) FACILITY
(MODIFIED DESIGN-BUILD)
COLD LAKE, ALBERTA
(with Security Requirements)
Purpose of this Advance Procurement Notice
This is not a bid solicitation nor a request for proposals.
In the context of the major investments announced by the Government and to foster a proactive partnership with industry, DCC is issuing this Advance Procurement Notice (APN) to inform Design Builders of an upcoming contract opportunity at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta.
The purpose of this APN is to allow Design Builders to assess their capacity and interest in participating, and to prepare adequately for the potential solicitation process, notably by initiating any necessary steps.
This is a preliminary notice regarding a potential contract, which includes security requirements. The purpose of this APN is to allow interested Design Builders to initiate, if required, the sponsorship process to obtain the necessary clearances or security clearances (if applicable).
Please note that this project may include an Indigenous businesses participation component in accordance with the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB).
Please note that there is no guarantee that this contract will proceed or that security clearances will be granted within the anticipated timelines or at all as part of the sponsorship process.
Description of the Project and Services
The delivery method for this project will be Modified Design-Build (MDB).
The Defence of Canada Fighter Infrastructure (DCFI) project was identified as part of the Continental Defence Memorandum to Cabinet. DCFI intends to modernize, recapitalize, and add new critical infrastructure, including Information Management/Information Technology (IM/IT) upgrades, to enable Canada’s ability to project air power in defence of North America for the coming decades. The purpose of DCFI is to build upon and complement the infrastructure work under the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP).
The Snow and Ice Control (SNIC)/Heavy Equipment (HE) Facility project at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta is a major infrastructure initiative under DCFI. It involves constructing a new, purpose-built facility to consolidate all SNIC and HE operations, storage, and maintenance in one facility with direct airfield access. The facility will support year-round airfield operations for NORAD, search and rescue, and future fighter missions, including the CF-35A.
The scope of work for this project, if it goes ahead, will include but is not limited to:
- The design and construction of a new SNIC/HE facility of approximately 6,166 m² gross building area, including heavy equipment vehicle storage bays, maintenance bay, POL and chemical storage, administrative offices, and support areas;
- Extensive exterior works of approximately 30,190 m², including access roads, parking, security fencing, chemical and POL tank pads, and covered storage;
- Site services including electrical supply (1.5 MVA), auxiliary power, water and storm drainage systems, and IM/IT infrastructure meeting DND standards;
- Compliance with National Defence Security Orders and Directives (NDSOD) Operations Zone (OpsZ) requirements, including controlled airfield access, CCTV, and intrusion detection; and
- Net-zero carbon design per DND’s Standard on Sustainability Requirements for Buildings (SSRB).
The estimated Design-Builder and Construction cost is in the order of $110,000,000 (CAD), consisting of approximately $101M in construction costs plus $9M in design and associated professional services.
It is anticipated that this solicitation will be initiated September 2026. This is conditional on the contract receiving approval to proceed by the Department of National Defence (DND).
Contract Award and Anticipated Security Requirements
To be eligible for contract award, a proponent will be required to, among other things, actively hold or obtain all required security clearance(s) prior to the date of the award, 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:
The Contractor must, at all times during the performance of the Contract, hold a valid Facility Security Clearance at the level of SECRET, issued by the Contract Security Program (CSP), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).
The following security requirements are also anticipated but can only be sought after contract award:
The Contractor must obtain approved Document Safeguarding Capability at the level of SECRET, issued by the Contract Security Program (CSP), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC);
The Contractor personnel requiring access to sensitive site(s) must EACH hold a valid RELIABILITY STATUS, granted or approved by the CSP, PWGSC.
The Contractor personnel requiring access to CLASSIFIED information, assets, or sensitive site(s) must EACH hold a valid personnel security screening at the level of SECRET, granted or approved by the CSP, PWGSC.
The Contractor MUST NOT utilize its facilities to process, produce, or store CLASSIFIED information or assets until the CSP, PWGSC has issued written approval.
The Contractor MUST NOT utilize its Information Technology systems to electronically process, produce, or store any sensitive CLASSIFIED information until the CSP, PWGSC has issued written approval. After approval has been granted, these tasks may be performed at the level of SECRET.
Subcontracts which contain security requirements are NOT to be awarded without the prior written permission of the CSP, PWGSC.
Industrial Security Program Sponsorship
Defence Construction Canada (DCC) is providing Design Builders early access to the security clearance application process through sponsorship under its Industrial Security Program (ISP). Accordingly, Design Builders that intend to submit a proposal for this project and that do not actively hold the above identified security clearance(s) should begin forthwith the security clearance application process by applying through DCC’s ISP.
Under this program, DCC may, at its entire discretion, provide preliminary assistance to all the potential proponents with their respective 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-requireme…
In their sponsorship request application to DCC, consultants or contractors are asked to quote the following information, among other things:
Advance Procurement Notice (APN) number (Project number on the MERX notice);
Contract number 87536; 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 proponents to provide assistance for the completion of the sponsorship request packages.
Once DCC has determined, at its entire discretion, that a consultant or contractor:
has started the sponsorship process prior to the solicitation (Contract number listed on their request for sponsorship) being advertised on MERX,
has met all the material requirements of the sponsorship request package, and
has submitted a proposal or a bid
DCC will send the documents to the Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) Contract Security Program (CSP).
Following receipt of the sponsorship request package, the CSP will communicate directly with the proponent or bidder regarding any further steps or actions to be undertaken or the status of the sponsorship request package processing. At such time, the proponent or bidder will need to promptly cooperate with CSP to ensure that the process is completed as soon as possible.
Questions
Any questions pertaining to the sponsoring process through the ISP can be addressed to:
Telephone Number: (613) 998-8974; or
Email address: I••••••••@•••••••.••.ca
Any questions relating to this Advance Procurement Notice can be addressed to:
Gerry Melake
Coordinator, Contract Services
Defence Construction Canada
780-840-8000 ext. 7058
G••••••••@•••••••.••.ca
Disclaimer
DCC is only providing assistance, at its entire discretion, for the above stated sponsorship process and does not provide any representations or guarantees that a sponsorship request package or a security clearance application forwarded by DCC to the CSP will be successful or result in the granting of the requested security clearance(s) by the CSP. 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 security clearance granting process. By applying to either of the aforementioned processes, the proponent or bidder agrees to bear any fees and 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. Notwithstanding anything else stated above, DCC shall in no event be liable to the bidder or proponent for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive or exemplary damages arising out or in connection with the above stated sponsorship process.
Bidding and Documents are available on http://www.merx.com. Fees may apply; See https://www.merx.com/public/pricing for more information.
