First, we need to look at the national security exception invocation. This is a tool that exists in trade agreements to give Canada the ability, in the case of a crisis, to move quickly outside of the current competition. Each trade agreement allows this.
There was not a one-to-one relationship between the NSE and GC Strategies. Rather, the Public Health Agency, the CBSA and various departments came forward and said that because of the global pandemic, they had a need to move quickly, and they asked us at PSPC for that authority. In consultation with legal counsel and PSPC, national security exemptions were granted. That does not mean or guarantee a sole-source strategy in any procurement process.
I'm going to pause here, because I have an expert in NSEs with me.
Dominic.