Reliability Status

Reliability Status is a Canadian personnel security status granted after an individual's honesty and reliability have been screened. It permits access to Government of Canada Protected A and Protected B information and assets, subject to the applicable need-to-know and any site or system restrictions.

The status is required before an individual can access Protected A or Protected B information, assets or work sites under a Government of Canada contract or other arrangement. For private-sector suppliers, the screening is administered through the Contract Security Program (CSP) of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). Details are set out on the PSPC Reliability Status request page.

What the Reliability Status screening covers

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat sets the screening standard in its Directive on Security Screening. Reliability Status is the minimum screening level for positions that require unsupervised access to Government of Canada information or assets, unescorted access to certain physical security zones, or user-level access to IT systems categorized as Protected A or Protected B.

The standard screening includes:

• identity verification
• five years of background information
• educational and professional credential checks
• personal and professional references
• a financial inquiry
• a criminal-record check

Applicants complete the Personnel Screening, Consent and Authorization Form, TBS/SCT 330-23. PSPC explains the process in its guidance on completing and submitting personnel security screening forms.

Reliability Status compared with Enhanced Reliability Status and security clearances

Reliability Status is distinct from Enhanced Reliability Status. The enhanced level adds an Internet inquiry, a law-enforcement-records check, and a security questionnaire or interview. PSPC's levels of security guidance associates Protected A and Protected B requirements with Reliability Status, while Protected C requires Enhanced Reliability Status.

It is also distinct from a security clearance at the Confidential, Secret or Top Secret level. NATO classified information requires the corresponding NATO security clearance, and Reliability Status is not a substitute for NATO Secret or NATO Top Secret.

How the Contract Security Program processes requests

The CSP screens the personnel of organizations that bid on or perform government contracts, subcontracts or leases with security requirements. Its personnel security screening overview describes this role.

The supplier's Company Security Officer or Alternate Company Security Officer carries out preliminary verification and identity checks, then submits the screening request to the CSP. Individuals do not apply on their own for contract work.

A Reliability Status is generally valid for 10 years, unless it is revoked or terminated. PSPC also publishes a process for duplicating, transferring or reactivating an existing status.

What Reliability Status means for a supplier bidding on Canadian public contracts

Contract security clauses make the requirement explicit. A CanadaBuys tender notice for a Community Residential Facility states that each contractor employee who needs access to Protected information, assets or sensitive sites must hold a valid Reliability Status granted or approved by the CSP.

The same solicitation shows the facility limits. A contractor may not process, produce or store Protected information or assets at its own facilities until the CSP has issued written approval.

• Check the security requirements in each solicitation before bidding.
• Confirm which staff will need access and whether they already hold a valid status.
• Make sure your Company Security Officer can submit screening requests to the CSP.
• Do not plan to hold Protected material at your premises until written approval is in place.