Designated organization screening (DOS)

A designated organization screening (DOS) is an organization-level security clearance issued through Public Services and Procurement Canada's (PSPC) Contract Security Program (CSP). It is the clearance your company needs to hold Government of Canada contracts at the protected level — work involving protected (not classified) information, assets or work sites.

What it is

Per Canada.ca, a DOS "allows an organization to get security screening for their personnel at the reliability status level," so the screened people can access protected information, assets and work sites; PSPC's Contract Security Manual describes it in Chapter 3 (organization screening), subsection 3.2.1 on types of organization clearances. It sits between the provisional security clearance (short-lived, for bid preparation) and the facility security clearance (FSC), which is required for contracts at the classified level. An organization that also needs document safeguarding capability to store sensitive material at its own sites must hold a DOS or an FSC to obtain it.

How you get one

You cannot self-register. The process on Canada.ca is: get sponsored (typically by the procurement officer on the solicitation or contract), complete the Application for Registration form with details of your organization's structure, ownership and legal status, appoint a company security officer (CSO), sign a legal security agreement committing the organization to the Contract Security Manual, and complete the required personnel screening forms. Canada.ca estimates organization screening for a DOS takes up to 4 months, so build it into your bid timeline rather than starting after you win.

What it means for vendors

A DOS is valid for 2 years. At the end of that period, if your organization is not participating in another solicitation process or executing a contract, subcontract or lease with security requirements, the CSP terminates the clearance — you then need to reactivate it before bidding on protected-level work again. Keep the clearance information current: unreported organizational or personnel changes (for example, a CSO who leaves) are treated as non-compliance and can affect your ability to bid on future solicitations.

Common questions

DOS or FSC — which one does my bid need?

Follow the solicitation's security requirements: DOS for contracts at the protected level, FSC for contracts at the classified level. FSC is the higher clearance, and an FSC holder can be eligible where a DOS requirement was specified.

Is a DOS the same as an industrial security clearance?

A DOS is one type of industrial security clearance — the organization-level screening umbrella the Contract Security Program uses also covers the FSC and the provisional security clearance. See our overview of industrial security clearances.

How early should I start the process?

Before bidding, not after award: with screening estimated at up to 4 months, a protected-level requirement with a short bid window usually means you must already hold a DOS (or be sponsored during a previous process) to compete. Some methods of supply sponsor organizations during the evaluation stage so holders do not need a new application for each call-up.

Related definitions

Industrial security clearance · Joint venture bidding · NPP (Notice of Proposed Procurement) · Supplier eligibility