Work Progresses on Harper Government's Evaluation of Options to Replace Canada's CF-18 Fleet

Government of Canada/Public Works — February 14, 2013

GATINEAU, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Feb. 14, 2013) - The Harper Government is committed to a transparent and rigorous process to replace its CF-18 fleet, while ensuring value for Canadian taxpayers. As part of the Harper Government's Seven-Point Plan, Public Works and Government Services Canada, on behalf of the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat, today issued a Request for Proposal to obtain the services of a firm to conduct an independent review of National Defence's life-cycle cost estimates for the F-35 to be included in the upcoming 2013 Annual Update to Parliament on the Next Generation Fighter Capability.

Work continues through the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat on the evaluation of options to sustain a fighter jet capability. An Independent Review Panel will ensure that all of the work supporting the evaluation of options is both rigorous and impartial. A final report will be made available to Parliament and Canadians.

The evaluation of options to replace Canada's CF-18 fleet is part of the Harper Government's Seven-Point Plan launched in response to Chapter 2, Replacing Canada's Fighter Jets, of the 2012 Spring Report of the Auditor General of Canada. The Seven-Point Plan was put in place to assist the Government in making the best possible decision on replacing Canada's fleet of CF-18 fighter aircraft. Until the Seven-Point Plan is complete, the Government will not make a decision on the replacement for the CF-18 fighter jets.

In December 2012, KPMG presented the Next Generation Fighter Capability: Life Cycle Cost Framework to the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat-a life-cycle cost framework for the F-35 program. The purpose of this new review is to ensure that the framework is appropriately applied by National Defence and that the cost estimates in the upcoming 2013 Annual Update are sound. The National Fighter Procurement Secretariat will manage the work conducted under this independent review. The notice of proposed procurement about the review is posted on the Government of Canada's tendering system hosted on MERX. The contract is expected to be awarded in the coming weeks.

Progress on the Seven-Point Plan is available on the Secretariat's website at http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/stamgp-lamsmp/snac-nfps-eng.html.

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Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315