Gap Filler Detail

1961 – National Archives of Canada

SECRET

S10-136-80/5 TD 1229 (DCEC)

MEMORANDUM

Sep 7 1961

Minister

CADIN Programme Construction
7 Additional Gap Filler Radar Sites

The attached submission to Treasury Board seeks approval to construct 7 additional Gap Filler Radar sites at an estimated cost of $861,000.00.

The Cabinet at its 9 Dec 58 meeting agreed to cost sharing proposal whereby the RCAF would be responsible for the construction aspects of the Joint USAF/RCAF Air Defence (Ground) Programme, while the USAF would provide the necessary technical equipment.

Implementation and scheduling of this programme has been set forth in a USAF/RCAF approved CADIN Document Issue 2 dated 1 May. This document states a requirement for a total of 45 Gap Filler Radars.

Treasury Board Minute 569202 dated 29 Sep 60 amended previous Gap Filler approvals to include 38 Gap Filler Radar sites at a total estimated cost of $8,076,000.00. The submission requesting this approval indicated that a further submission would be made for the remaining (ie Total 45) sites as soon as engineering studies are completed.

Cost estimate include radar and power buildings, tower foundations, site development, water and sewage, fuel storage, fencing and access road.

Site locations, BOD's and cost estimates are as follows:

Negotiations for land acquisition are being undertaken by DOT. Funds for the property requirements have been provided in Primary 80 (1961-61).

The estimate of $861,000.00 has been checked by the appropriate RCAF authorities and is considered reasonable and accurate.

The Chief of the Air Staff recommends.

I recommend.

(EB Armstrong)
Deputy Minister

SECRET (except as indicated)
S10-136-80/5 TD 1229 (CCE)

Sep 8 1961

TO: THE HONOURABLE
THE TREASURY BOARD

The undersigned has the honour to report that:

1. the Cabinet at its meeting December 9, 1958 agreed to a cost sharing proposal for the Joint United States Air Force/Royal Canadian Air Force Defence Programme (Ground) which requires Canada to pay for all construction costs, and the United States of America to pay for all technical equipment;

2. this programme known as the Continental Air Defence Integration North (CADIN) Programme includes a requirement for 45 Gap Filler Radars;

3. Treasury Board Minute 569202, dated 29 September 1960, amended previous Gap Filler approvals to include 38 Gap Filler Radars at a total estimated cost of $8,076,000.00;

4. the above submission indicated that a further submission seeking approval to construct the remaining seven sites (ie total of 45 Gap Filler Radars) would be forwarded as soon as siting and engineering studies are completed;

5. cost estimates for these seven sites include radar and power buildings, tower foundations, site development, water and sewage, fuel storage, fencing and access road. The buildings will be prefabricated steel, approximately 1,400 square feet for the radar building, and 1,000 square feet for the power building, including emergency living quarters. The radar tower will require construction of the foundation only as the tower itself will be provided by the United States Air Force. Access roads are to be 10 foot gravel with 3 foot shoulders. Site locations and individual cost estimates are given in Appendix "A". Estimated costs for the 7 new sites is $861,000.00;

6. the Continental Air Defence Integration North (CADIN) Programme schedule requires that construction of these sites must reach the stage where electronic installation can commence by the dates shown in Appendix "A";

7. negotiations for the necessary land acquisition and property easements for power line and roads are being conducted by the Department of Transport. Funds for the property requirements have been provided in Primary 80 estimate for 1061-62;

8. due to changing Joint United States Air Force/Royal Canadian Air Force operational requirements, and gap filler siting criteria, during the past two years, it has been necessary to relocate a number of the previously approved sites. Consultant surveys for these sites are now in progress. It is expected that this resiting will not materially affect the total cost estimate for the 45 sites, however the cost of individual sites may be higher or lower depending on site conditions and locations. A summary of the relocations, which involve a change in cost and/or site name, will be forwarded as a separate submission as soon as cost estimates are received from the consultants;

9. these projects when approved will constitute an addition to the 1961/62 Construction Programme under serial numbers as shown in Appendix "A".

UNCLAS

The undersigned therefore recommends that authority be granted:

1. to construct seven Gap Filler Radars at the sites and estimated costs shown in Appendix "A";

2. to transfer funds in the amount of $861,000.00 from Primary 83 (Unallotted) to Primary 81 (Major Construction).

Funds are available from the Defence Services appropriations for the Royal Canadian Air Force for the fiscal year 1961-62.

The undersigned has the honour to submit this proposal for approval under and by the virtue of the Financial Administration Act, Chapter 116 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1952.

Respectfully submitted,

DS Harkness
Minister of National Defence

S/L JG Ultican/sc
CEC2-4 68492

This submission, which was prepared by the Directorate of Construction Engineering Control carries out the desire and intention of this Branch and such facts as are therein recited are correct, complete in substance, relevant and material.

Date: 22 Aug 61

(CEF Underwood) W/C
Acting DCEC

(RB Whiting) A/C
CCE

(JA Easton) A/V/M
AMTS

(IC Cornblat) A/V/M
for CAS

SECRET

APPENDIX "A" to S10-136-80/5 TD 1229 (CCE)

GAP FILLER RADARS

EXTRACT from the minutes of a meeting of the Honourable the Treasury Branch held at Ottawa on September 14, 1961.

TB 586139

NATIONAL DEFENCE

The Board directs that the 1961-62 National Defence Major Construction Programme approved by Treasury Board Letter 573300-2 of December 13, 1960, as amended, be further amended to provide for the construction of seven Gap Filler Radars at the sites and in the amounts shown after the Serial Nos hereinbelow, involving an estimated cost of $861,000.00, and that funds in that amount be transferred from Primary 83 to Primary 81 (RCAF).

GAP FILLER RADARS

Assistant Secretary