Department of National Defence - 2025 Freight Forwarding Transportation Source Lists

1. Background

The Department of National Defence (DND) moves materiel domestically and internationally on an as required basis to support operations and exercises. DND accomplishes this task primarily through its own means but also contracts directly with Industry for the movement of cargo by freight forwarding for some multi-modal movements. To contract for transportation requirements that arise, DND maintains multiple Source Lists of pre-qualified service providers and brokers.

2. Source List Renewal

DND’s 2022 Transportation Source Lists expire February 18th, 2025. As such, DND is soliciting industry applications to renew each of these Source Lists.

Freight Forwarding Services
a. Simple
b. Complex

A separate application is required for each Source List. Additionally, Applicants must include details to support which ever sub-grouping they are applying for, whether simple or complex.

3. Validity Period

DND’s 2025 Freight Forwarding Transportation Source Lists will remain valid for a three-year (3) period, beginning February 19th, 2025. During this timeframe any DND transportation requirements that arise will be issued to the members of the appropriate Source List.

4. Application Process

To be included in any one of these 2025 Source Lists, Applicants must address all qualifying criteria in the appropriate Application Form at section 5.

Applications submitted by February 14th, 2025 will be reviewed immediately and successful applicants included in the appropriate Source List effective February 19th, 2025. Applications submitted after February 14th, 2025 will be reviewed by DND as time and resources permit and once approved will be included in the appropriate Source List for the remainder of the validity period.

DND reserves the right to:

(a) seek clarification from the applicant on any or all aspects of the document(s) submitted in response to this solicitation;　
(b) cancel this solicitation at any time; and
(c) reissue this solicitation.

5. Source List Applications:

a. Freight Forwarding (Simple) Services – Annex A
b. Freight Forwarding (Complex) Services – Annex B

Notes:
1. DND is establishing two separate source lists for freight forwarding that are differentiated by the nature of the requirement. These are defined as: Simple & Complex. The scope of each is of these is as follows:
a. Freight Forwarding (Simple) Services: Involves the domestic or international movement of a small number of sea containers, vehicles/trailers, and/or equipment, is routine in nature, can co-mingle with non-military cargo, and can be satisfied through existing shipping routes.
b. Freight Forwarding (Complex) Services: Involves the domestic or international movement of a large number of sea containers, vehicles/trailers, and/or oversized or non-containerized equipment, is not routine in nature, may include restrictions on co-mingling with non-military cargo, may not leverage existing shipping routes, may require part of or an entire vessel, and may include military unique shipping requirements.
2. Be advised that DND may conduct a credit check and/or security check of the Company and its Principals.
3. Be aware that some DND freight forwarding requirements arise on an urgent basis and may require contracted service within a less than 24-hour time frame.
4. Requirements may have security considerations, as well as dangerous goods and controlled good consideration. These considerations will be made on a requirement-by-requirement basis.
5. DND reserves the right to migrate to the new Public Service and Procurement Canada Contract Modernization Initiative templates and may do so throughout the validity period of the source list: Understanding the Contract Modernization Initiative | CanadaBuys

6. Planning Considerations

If a service provider /broker is found to be in breach of Contract, in addition to any other remedy available to the Crown, temporary or permanent removal from the relevant Source List(s) may result.

Transportation services are exempt from the provisions of the:
Canada - Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA);
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP);
Canada - Colombia Free Trade Agreement;
Canada - European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA);
Canada - Honduras Free Trade Agreement;
Canada - Korea Free Trade Agreement;
Canada - Panama Free Trade Agreement;
Canada - Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA);
Canada - Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA);
Canada - United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA); and
World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP).

The Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) applies.

7. Submissions
Service providers and broker wishing to be considered for inclusion in one of these DND Freight Forwarding Transportation Source Lists must forward their application to Derek Shields DSPCOS 7-3-2.

Email: TransportationContracting@forces.gc.ca