OTTAWA – 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.
According to a release, this marks a major milestone as the project advances into full construction following earlier site preparation and enabling work.
Public Services and Procurement Canada is delivering six modern science facilities on the existing Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Ottawa Laboratory site.
Together, these facilities will form the RSS Main campus and support greater collaboration among scientists and researchers from the CFIA, the Canada Border Services Agency, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The RSS Main campus will feature modern laboratories, advanced technologies and digital systems that support science and research, the release adds.
The project is being delivered in multiple components, allowing the campus to expand and adapt as science needs evolve. The current phase is valued at approximately $1 billion and represents approximately 50 per cent of the total planned RSS Main scope.
The project is being delivered using Laboratories Canada’s Repeatable Laboratory Design Framework and is targeting high standards for sustainability, accessibility and energy performance, including LEED and Fitwel certification.
Construction began in 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2031.
The Government of Canada is working closely with the Anishinàbe Algonquin Nation and other Indigenous partners to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into the planning and design of RSS Main.
The project is being carried out trough Laboratories Canada, which is a $3.8-billion Government of Canada initiative to modernize federal science infrastructure.
