NATIONAL SECURITY EXCEPTION

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: 
Attachment: None
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 
Notification to Suppliers
National Security Exception for Email, Network and Data Centre
Systems, Infrastructure and Services
This notification is being published in order to inform
suppliers that Public Works and Government Services Canada
(PWGSC), at the request of Shared Services Canada (SSC), has
invoked the National Security Exception under Canada's domestic
and international trade agreements in connection with
procurements for SSC related to email, network/
telecommunications and data centre systems, infrastructure and
services. This is part of a Government of Canada strategy to
create a secure, centralized communications infrastructure.
As announced by Minister Ambrose on 4 August 2011 when SSC was
created, "Shared Services Canada will have a mandate to
streamline and reduce duplication in the government's IT
services. Taking action will help our Government reduce
duplication, and over time, our government footprint. It will
also strengthen security and the safety of government data to
ensure Canadians are protected." 
Over the past decade, there has been an increasing recognition
of the central role played by email, network/telecommunications
and data centre systems in every aspect of government
operations. However, during the same period, we have learned
that these systems have been the target of  hostile threats
which causes grave concerns about the implications of cyber
threats on Canada's national security.
The government's current aging infrastructure in email,
network/telecommunications and data centre systems, all of which
are interconnected, leaves the government vulnerable to such
cyber threats. The government is also concerned about potential
compromises to security achieved through the supply chain
itself. SSC will treat the government as an enterprise and
strengthen security through consolidation and limiting both
entry and access points, among other things.
This National Security Exception will apply to a variety of
procurements, which may involve different procurement
strategies. However, PWGSC and SSC anticipate that, in some
cases, the procurement strategy may involve the pre-selection of
suppliers who, among other things, meet certain security
clearance criteria at the time of pre-selection. Access to
information about certain SSC procurements (e.g., system
architecture) may also be restricted to suppliers (and
individuals within those suppliers) who hold the appropriate
security clearance. As a result, suppliers (and key individuals
within suppliers) who do not currently hold a security clearance
at the level of Secret should consider seeking to upgrade their
security clearance status, since procurements will not be
delayed in order to provide time for suppliers to obtain
required security clearances.
The Goods and Services Identification Numbers(GSINs) listed
above as part of this NSE invocation notice areincluded solelyas
a matter of convenience in ordertoallow forbroader dissemination
of the notice to suppliers that have registered for this
service/feature andshould not beconstrued in anywayas
limitingNSE invocationonly to the goods or services
associatedwith these GSINs.

Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any
procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.