The Government of Canada has awarded a C$768.6m ($551.08m) contract to PCL Construction Canada for the Regulatory and Security Science (RSS) Main project in Ottawa, marking the transition from early site work to full-scale construction.
This contract was announced by National Defence Minister David McGuinty on behalf of Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement Joël Lightbound.
The RSS Main campus will be located on the grounds of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Ottawa Laboratory and is part of a total project phase valued at approximately C$1bn.
According to a release from the Public Services and Procurement Canada, the RSS Main development consists of six modern science facilities designed to support coordinated research by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Canada Border Services Agency, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The facilities will include laboratories and integrated technologies to bolster food supply protection, border security and emergency response.
Officials said the RSS Main campus aligns with Canada’s commitments under Nato’s defence investment guidelines, projecting that the venture will contribute around C$900m to Canada’s Nato-related security and resilience expenditures over the next decade.
This investment is being delivered through a phased approach, representing approximately half of the planned scope for the RSS Main site.
In addition to its security and scientific aims, the project is expected to support Canadian businesses and workers, with the government highlighting the prioritisation of Canadian expertise and materials where available as part of its Buy Canadian objectives.
The project also features Indigenous Participation Plans, designed in consultation with the Anishinàbe Algonquin Nation and other Indigenous partners to promote meaningful opportunity for Indigenous communities and businesses.
Investment in the RSS Main site is being delivered through Laboratories Canada, a C$3.8bn Government of Canada programme aimed at modernising federal science infrastructure and improving collaboration among science-focused departments and agencies.
Construction on the site commenced in 2024, with completion anticipated by 2031.
Joël Lightbound said: “RSS Main will equip Canada's scientists and researchers with the modern tools they need to tackle emerging challenges, strengthen Canada's resilience, support economic growth, and help keep Canadians safe for years to come.”
