Defence Investment Agency
Mandate
In response to current and emerging global security threats, the Defence Investment Agency is committed to reducing delays and red tape to ensure the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian Coast Guard have the capabilities required to better secure Canada’s sovereignty. By exercising expanded contracting authorities and greater autonomy, the Agency will deliver high-priority defence procurements faster, test new procurement approaches, and advance Canadian industrial innovation and partnerships to support operational needs and a resilient defence industrial base.
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Improving defence procurement
The Defence Investment Agency’s goal is to modernize, simplify and make defence procurement more efficient, ensuring faster delivery without compromising accountability.
The Agency will enhance procurement efficiency by:
- reducing red tape and administrative delays
- streamlining contract approvals while ensuring value for money
- delivering timely capabilities to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard
- driving Canadian innovation and industrial growth
- strengthening strategic partnerships with Canadian industry and international allies
These efforts ensure our defence forces remain ready to protect Canadians, strengthen sovereignty and meet international commitments, while supporting innovation and economic resilience.
Guiding principles and values
The FASTER principle in Canadian defence procurement aims to streamline processes, enhance adaptability, and speed up the delivery of capabilities, ensuring the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian Coast Guard can maintain operational superiority and close critical vulnerability gaps. By simplifying requirements, prioritizing ready-made commercial and military solutions, and fostering early and continuous engagement with industry, Canada can more swiftly address emerging needs. FASTER emphasizes collaboration with Canadian industry and allied partners to support innovation and interoperability, ensuring that Canadian Armed Forces capabilities align with Canada’s defence objectives.
- Flexible
- Use a range of procurement options and fit-for-purpose pathways that consider the risks associated with specific capabilities, ensuring value-for-money in solutions that maximize operational impact and align with defence and economic objectives.
- Agile
- Support iterative capability development by working with industry to identify innovative, timely solutions and integrate emerging technologies that ensure the Canadian Armed Forces remain combat-ready.
- Strategic
- Encourage early decision-making that allows Canadian participation in partnerships and international collaborative or joint defence procurement projects with allies.
- Trusted
- Cultivate long-term partnerships with trusted suppliers, partners and allies through ongoing, transparent communication and strategic collaboration to ensure reliable, interoperable procurement outcomes.
- Export-enabling
- Consider export potential from the outset of procurement decisions, evaluating the international market landscape and enabling supports to strengthen Canada's defense industry through global partnerships.
- Resilient
- Strengthen the resilience of Canada’s defence production capacity by prioritizing supply chain redundancy to safeguard against disruptions and ensure strategic sources of supply, including through stockpiling.
Governance and leadership
The Defence Investment Agency operates as a special operating agency within Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). It’s led by the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement).
The Agency’s operations are led by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Doug Guzman. The CEO will be accountable to the Deputy Minister of PSPC for providing short-, medium- and long-term strategic direction, thereby ensuring that the Agency meets its agreed-upon objectives and performance targets, and for reporting on actual versus target performance.
An interdepartmental governance committee, including deputy ministers from key departments, will provide advice on the strategic direction of the Agency.
Projects and partnerships
Canada is advancing a bold defence strategy that strengthens national security and builds sovereign capabilities. By fostering strategic partnerships with Canadian industry and innovation leaders, we’re driving cutting-edge projects that enhance operational readiness, accelerate technological breakthroughs and fuel long-term economic growth.
The Defence Investment Agency will support the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard across air, land, sea and digital domains. All procurements related to defence, security and the Coast Guard may receive input from the Defence Investment Agency, regardless of the stage in the procurement process or the authorities involved. This means that, moving forward, both the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and the Minister of National Defence can rely on the Agency’s expertise for any and all related procurements.
By leading a more integrated and streamlined approach, the Defence Investment Agency will deliver faster, more effective outcomes to strengthen Canada’s long-term defence and security.