Requesting foreign security assurances
Governments need foreign security assurances to confirm that that a foreign organization and/or its personnel meet the security requirements of a solicitation request, contract, subcontract or international program.
Canadian organizations need to request foreign security assurances from the Contract Security Program (CSP) by sending an email: tpsgc.dgsssiprojetintl-dobissintlproject.pwgsc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.
On this page
- Security assurances for Canadian organizations
- Security assurances for foreign organizations
- Security assurances for foreign personnel
- Exchanging protected or classified information
Security assurances for Canadian organizations
The CSP provides security assurances to foreign governments for Canadian organizations bidding on classified foreign contracts.
Requesting foreign security assurances
A foreign security assurance is the confirmation that a foreign organization and/or its personnel meet the security requirements of a solicitation request, contract, subcontract or international program. If the organization and its personnel do not meet the requirements, they will be screened at the appropriate and required level by the NSA or the DSA in their home country.
Canadian organizations need to request foreign security assurances from the CSP by sending an email: tpsgc.dgsssiprojetintl-dobissintlproject.pwgsc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.
Security assurances for foreign organizations
Canadian organizations wanting to subcontract to a foreign organization must contact the CSP to confirm the possibility to subcontract and to request a foreign security assurance, as appropriate.
During the request process, your organization will need to provide a:
- point of contact for the foreign organization along with the:
- email address
- telephone number
- physical address
- country of origin
- government or international organization contract number
- security levels and requirements of the contract (for example, state whether your subcontractor will need access to classified information and assets or access only to a specific secure work site)
If available, you can also provide the organization's business registration number, equivalent to your Canadian Procurement Business Number:
- for subcontractors based in the United States (US), this number is called the Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code
- for subcontractors based in a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) country, this number is called the NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code
Security assurances for foreign personnel
The CSP conducts foreign security assurances for employees who hold personnel security clearances in countries that share bilateral security instruments with Canada.
To request a security assurance for foreign personnel, you must provide the CSP with the following information:
- name, place of residence, place of birth, date of birth and citizenship of the employee
- name and address of their employer
- government-issued identification, such as a social security number in the US or national identity card number in other countries
- government or international organization contract number
Exchanging protected or classified information
Canadian organizations must contact the CSP if they need to exchange or transfer sensitive information or assets during a program, project or contract with a foreign organization, foreign government or an international organization.
The CSP will determine if the foreign organization, foreign government or international organization can receive and safeguard the information or asset.