Canada awards $768.6-million contract for Ottawa science infrastructure

The Government of Canada has awarded a $768.6-million construction services contract to PCL Construction Canada Inc. for the Regulatory and Security Science Main (RSS Main) project in Ottawa.

This project involves the delivery of six modern science facilities on the existing Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) site. The RSS Main campus is designed to foster collaboration among researchers from the CFIA, the Canada Border Services Agency, Health Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

As part of Canada’s commitments under NATO’s defence investment framework, the infrastructure aims to strengthen national security, emergency preparedness, and food supply resilience. The project will utilize the Laboratories Canada Repeatable Laboratory Design Framework and targets high standards for sustainability and energy performance, including LEED and Fitwel certifications. The government is also working with the Anishinàbe Algonquin Nation to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into the planning and design.