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Today, the Honourable Judy M. Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced that pre-qualified companies are invited to submit proposals for the design of Canada’s Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) fleet. The Request for Proposal (RFP) for this key deliverable was released by Irving Shipbuilding Inc., the government’s prime contractor for this project.

Quick Facts

1. The CSC project will replace Canada’s aging destroyers and frigates. Up to 15 ships are scheduled to be built after the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships are complete in the early 2020s.
2. The CSC ships will be the major surface component of maritime combat power for Canada. The inherent warfare capability and versatility of the fleet, either independently or as part of a Canadian or coalition task group, will allow it to rapidly deploy worldwide on short notice.
3. The Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy will apply to this project, requiring the successful bidder to invest an amount in Canada equal to the totality of the value of the contract it is awarded. At least 10% of this obligation will involve work with Canadian small and medium-sized companies.
4. The value proposition, containing the bidders’ commitments to invest in Canada, will be evaluated as part of the bid selection process. This will result in meaningful work for Canadian firms on the CSC, opportunities for Canadian suppliers beyond the CSC project, and investments in research, development and advanced manufacturing. It will also generate new export opportunities for Canadian firms.
5. The CSC project, along with the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships project, will create 2,400 direct shipbuilding jobs in Halifax and many more thousands of jobs across the country through sub-contracting.
6. The first CSC ship is anticipated to be delivered in the mid-2020s.