Advance Procurement Notice (APN) Data Center, National Capital Region

Advance Procurement Notice

 

Data Center, (Modify design Built) National Capital Region (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 located within the National Capital Region (Ontario). 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 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. Please note that this project may include Indigenous businesses participation component in accordance with the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB).

Description of the Project and Services

It is anticipated that the following solicitation will proceed as noted in the table below. This is conditional on the contract receiving approval to proceed

Project Number: WA257004 Contract Number: 88262 Title: Data Center NCR Approximate Estimate: 1.5B to 1.85B Anticipated Posting: Winter 2027

Description: To increase its capacity in supporting the mid to long-term objectives related to operations, security, and technology modernization, the Government of Canada is planning to design and construction a data center facility within the National Capital Region. This Data center of 60 MW will enable the onboarding of next-generation capabilities with tailored mechanical and electrical configurations to meet distinct technology requirements throughout the facility. The proposed data centre facility will also include a small office space and a shipping and receiving area.

The estimated cost of the proposed Modified Design-Build (MDB) Contract exceeds $1.5 to 1.85B.

It is anticipated that this solicitation will be initiated in Winter 2027.  This is conditional on receiving approval to proceed by the Government of Canada.

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:

for design-builders: a valid Facility Security Clearance (FSC).

 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-requirements. In their sponsorship request application to DCC, design-builders are asked to quote the following information, among other things:

Advance Procurement Notice (APN) number, as identified in Section 2 of this APN; and

Level of clearance requested to be sponsored, as identified in Section 3 of this APN.

Sponsorship Process

Upon receipt, DCC will review the sponsorship request application and will communicate directly with the design-builders to provide assistance for the completion of the sponsorship request packages. Once DCC has determined, at its entire discretion, that a design-builders

has started the sponsorship process prior to the solicitation being advertised on MERX, has met all the material requirements of the sponsorship request package prior to the closing date indicated in the solicitation, and has submitted a proposal.

 

DCC will send the documents to the Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) Contract Security Program (CSP). Note – Design-Builder that do not submit a proposal will not be able to attain clearance through this sponsorship process.

Following receipt of the sponsorship request package, the CSP will communicate directly with the proponent regarding any further steps or actions to be undertaken or the status of the sponsorship request package processing. At such time, the proponent 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: ISP.Sponsorship@dcc-cdc.gc.ca

 

Any questions relating to this Advance Procurement Notice can be addressed to: Stephanie Tanguay Regional service line leader, Contract services Defence Construction Canada 613-715-4626 stephanie.tanguay@dcc-cdc.gc.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 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 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.