Defence Capabilities Blueprint

The Defence Capabilities Blueprint (DCB) provides information about defence procurement and contracting opportunities in an online searchable format. It replaced the Defence Acquisition Guide in May 2018.

The DCB update for 2023 includes funding ranges and project timelines for 144 major capital equipment, information technology and infrastructure projects, and significant in-service support contracts funded to advance Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE) priorities, such as NORAD modernization.

The information it contains is intended to help industry plan and compete for defence procurement opportunities. It can also be used to make informed research and development and strategic partnering decisions based on projected needs of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

The DCB features:

• Projects: Capital equipment, information technology, and infrastructure projects over $10 million
• Support Contracts: Upcoming in-service support contracts and professional services contracts over $20 million

Users can carry out quick and advanced searches in the DCB. They can also browse investment opportunities by the following categories:

• Defence Capability Areas (DCAs)

  DCAs are 13 broad component areas, such as Land, Sea, Air, Space and Cyber. These categories are further segmented into smaller constituent components of more than 150 DCIAs.

• Defence Capability Investment Areas (DCIAs)

  Examples of DCIAs are Commercial Pattern Vehicles, Ship Parts and Components, and Avionics. Projects may include more than one DCA and several DCIAs.

• Project sponsors

  Project Sponsors are the service command level or civilian equivalent organizations within Department of National Defence.

• Key Industrial Capabilities (KICs)

  Canada’s KICs represent areas of emerging technology with the potential for rapid growth and significant opportunities, established capabilities where Canada is globally competitive, and areas where domestic capacity is essential to national security.

Project pages also have links to project websites where applicable.

The information in the DCB is accurate as of December 2023.

• Helpful Hints

  1. The federal government’s fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31. In the DCB, you will often see reference to two years, for example: 2019/2020. This represents the fiscal year April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
  2. At the top of each DCB page you will see one or more of these descriptive identifiers:

     In Support Services

     Extends current CAF capabilities or projects

     Extension

     Provides services in support of various capabilities, projects or programs

     New

     Adds a new capability or initiative to the CAF inventory

     Recap

     Involves capital improvements that renew or replace infrastructure components (a new roof or foundation for example) to meet higher standards or accommodate new functions

     Replace

     Replaces existing systems or capabilities