May 13, 2008

Defence Construction Canada urges potential contractors to get security clearance

FRANK ARMSTRONG

correspondent

The Crown corporation that manages national defence construction projects is urging contractors interested in military building work to get security clearances now.

“There’s a definite increase in the demand for security,” said Steve Irwin, vice-president and corporate security officer for Defence Construction Canada.

The organization has sent representatives to meet with construction associations across Canada to explain that more and more defence projects require contractors and consultants to obtain security clearances, Irwin said.

The organization is recommending that contractors pursue security clearances up front so that they don’t end up having to do so after winning a tender for a project. That’s because the process can be slowed by a security clearance application done after the fact.

For example, obtaining even the lowest clearance can take 30 to 60 days and up to one year for a higher clearance.

In rare cases, some companies wouldn’t even be allowed to bid on a project unless they had already been screened, Irwin said.

“If it’s a very high-security requirement we may go as far as to pre-screen contractors or consultants that have the necessary security clearances,” he said.

“That doesn’t happen very often.” Since 911, the government has developed growing concerns not only about terrorism, but also about espionage, he said.

“The security environment has been progressively changing over the years and the department and government are much more attuned to the security environment that we’re in,” he said.

Of course, contracts for projects such as residences, kitchens and mess halls still don’t require security clearances.

Since word got out that the defence department is requiring security clearance for a growing number of projects, more contractors and consultants are applying for them, Irwin said.

It may help that the federal government is sponsoring the costs of the screenings. “We have sponsored hundreds of clearances,” he said. Contractors shouldn’t be surprised that they need security clearances.

“It’s a regular part of doing business with defence in the construction industry,” he said.

Companies and individuals interested in pursuing a security clearance should contact their local Defence Construction Canada office on the country’s military bases.

Their contact details can be found by visiting the organization’s website at “http://www.dcc-cdc.gc.ca”

Public Works and Government Services Canada’s Canadian Industrial Security Division does the security screening while Defence Construction Canada pays for the screening.

“We try to maintain as much competition as we can,” Irwin said.

“If the low bidder is not security cleared in any way, we will sponsor them to public works for the organizational clearance, then the contract can be awarded once they have that.”

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