This page outlines the process for obtaining security screening for employees through Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). If you are planning to bid or work on a government contract with security requirements or access to classified information, your employees will need to obtain security screening and comply with contract security requirements.
PSPC’s Contract Security Program (CSP) helps your organization and employees obtain security clearance to participate in government solicitations and contracts. A security clearance from the Government of Canada is the same as one from the United States Department of War (U.S. DoW). Getting a security clearance can be a time-consuming process so planning is key to ensure that you are ready to participate in any U.S. DoW contracts.
Security clearance levels
Here are the different levels of security for sensitive government information and assets, organizations and personnel.| Information and assets | Worksites | Organization screening | Personnel screening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classified Top Secret | High security zone | Facility security clearance (FSC) (Top Secret) | Top Secret |
| Classified Secret | Security zone | FSC (Confidential or Secret) | Secret |
| Classified Confidential | Security zone | FSC (Confidential or Secret) | Secret |
| Protected Protected C | Security zone | Designated organization screening (DOS) | Enhanced reliability status |
| Protected Protected B | Operations zone | Designated organization screening (DOS) | Reliability status |
| Protected Protected A | Operations zone | Designated organization screening (DOS) | Reliability status |
Personnel screening levels
When deciding on the security level screening needed for employees, look at the type of information that they are expected to handle:
- A Reliability Status (Protected) clearance is required for employees working on sensitive government contracts to access information or assets classified as Protected A (which could cause injury to an individual, organization, or government) or Protected B (which could cause serious injury to an individual, organization, or government).
- An Enhanced reliability status (protected) is required by an employee working on a sensitive government contract to access information and assets classified as Protected C (could cause extremely grave injury to an individual, organization or government).
- A Security Clearance (Classified) is required for employees working on sensitive government contracts to access classified information or assets—Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret. Holders of a security clearance may also access protected information. Information or assets classified as Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret could, if compromised, cause injury, serious injury, or exceptionally grave injury, respectively, to the national interest.
Requesting security clearances for employees
Previously, any organization could submit a security clearance request, and it would be processed. Today, PSPC will only initiate the process if a contractual relationship already exists or if the company is being considered for a contract award.
If you are submitting a proposal to the U.S. DoW or planning to participate in a U.S. DoW RFP, you can request CCC to sponsor your security clearance request; however, CCC will only advocate for your application if it determines that the opportunity will materialize in the near term.
Before contacting CCC, please review the security clearance request process, complete the necessary forms.
Processing times and validity duration
Processing times for a security clearance depend on the complexity of the request and the verifications that must be completed. It can take anywhere from 7 to 120 business days to process a properly completed request.
Reliability and secret status are valid for 10 years from the date of issue, unless revoked or terminated. Top secret clearance is valid for 5 years.