Security clearance

Government approval for a firm or its staff to access classified or sensitive information. In Canada the Contract Security Program issues organization and personnel clearances; they take months, so start early.

Also called: Facility security clearance, Designated organization screening

Related terms

Mandatory requirement

A pass-or-fail condition a bid must meet to be scored at all, such as a certification, insurance level or minimum years of experience. Missing one means the bid is rejected unread.

Cyber Essentials

A UK government-backed certification showing a firm has basic cyber security controls in place. Many UK government contracts that handle personal data or IT systems require it.