Call for Bids

Our Call for Bids process is open and transparent. Our process provides individuals and companies with an opportunity to bid on parcels of Crown land and, if successful, be awarded an exploration licence. Exploration licence owners may subsequently apply to explore for oil and gas, but no activity can take place without our authorization.

Public Input Opportunity

To help us make informed decisions, we seek knowledge from local Indigenous communities and Nova Scotians once Call for Bids lands have been announced. Written comments submitted, and other information gathered, is taken into account in our decision-making process. For more information, check out our Engage section.  

The Call for Bids Process

We administer the Call for Bids process in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area on behalf of the federal and provincial governments. The Call for Bids process takes into account input from across our organization from areas such as geoscience, environment, and lands management.

Lands Nominations

Anyone can nominate lands to be included in a Call for Bids. Nominated lands are fully evaluated from both a geological and environmental perspective before we decide whether they will be included in a Call for Bids. Our team looks at the nominated lands to identify any concerns and will recommend ways to avoid or mitigate any potential impacts. We review these nominations comprehensively, placing a high priority on identifying environmentally sensitive areas and fisheries concerns. We also consider water depth, proximity to infrastructure, possible oil and gas resources located on the nominated lands, and data availability. In doing so, we consult and collaborate with appropriate federal and provincial government agencies to receive public policy input.

To get a copy of our Land Nomination form, click here.

Strategic Environmental Assessments

Call for Bids nominated lands must be evaluated from an environmental perspective by way of a Strategic Environmental Assessment. If an up-to-date Strategic Environmental Assessment is not already in place, such an assessment must be completed. A Strategic Environmental Assessment is a wide-ranging study that looks at the larger environmental setting and marine environment to identify potential environmental effects that may be associated with oil and gas activity, and the associated precautionary measures that would need to be considered.

To learn more about Strategic Environmental Assessments, click here.

Announcement and Closing of a Call for Bids

Once a Call for Bids is announced, individuals and companies may bid for a period of at least 120 days to obtain an exploration licence. Once a Call for Bids has closed, and should we receive any bids, we evaluate them based on the terms and conditions listed in the Call for Bids. The issuance of a Call for Bids and awarding of exploration licences are both subject to a federal and provincial ministerial review and approval process as set out in legislation.

To learn more about our licensing process, click here.

Exploration licences that may be issued as a result of a Call for Bids only grant the holder the right to make an application to explore the lands included within the licence area. Such an application would initiate our authorization review process. See our Activity Authorization page for a list of requirements that must be met in seeking an authorization to conduct activity in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.

Call for Bids Cycle

Our Call for Bids cycle for the issuance of an exploration licence is typically as follows:

December 1 - Last day that nominations can be submitted for lands to be considered in the next Call for Bids.

Mid-April - Call for Bids lands typically announced, subject to a Fundamental Decision made by our Board members and reviewed by the federal Minister of Natural Resources and the provincial Minister of Energy and Mines.

Early November - Typical timeframe a Call for Bids closes, with bids to be received according to the deadline specified in the Call for Bids announcement.

January 15 - Exploration licences are typically issued to successful bidders at this time, subject to our licensing process and Fundamental Decisions made by our Board members and reviewed by the federal Minister of Natural Resources and the provincial Minister of Energy and Mines.

Active and Historic Calls for BidsView our list of active and historic Calls for Bids.

The following table provides a list of our active and historic Calls for Bids. Information includes the exploration licence number, effective date, and the winning bid amount (called a work expenditure bid).

Call For
Bids
Announcement Call
Results
Effective Date Exploration Licence Number Work Expenditure Bid Amount Calls for Bids Coordinates
NS22-1 29/09/2022 05/12/2023 NA NA NA Call for Bids NS22-1

NS21-1

03/05/2021

08/11/2021

N/A

N/A

N/A

Call for Bids NS21-1

NS18-3

10/12/2018

14/05/2019

N/A

N/A

N/A

Call for Bids NS18-3

NS17-1

24/07/2017

18/12/2017

N/A

N/A

N/A

Call for Bids NS17-1

NS16-1

02/05/2016

03/11/2016

N/A

N/A

N/A

Call for Bids NS16-1

NS15-1

28/04/2015

12/11-2015

15/01/2016

2435-2436

$82 Million

Call for Bids NS15-1

NS14-1

05/05/2014

05/11/2014

N/A

N/A

N/A

Call for Bids NS14-1

NS13-1

22/04/2013

13/11/2013

N/A

N/A

N/A

Call for Bids NS13-1

NS12-1

30/04/2012

16/11/2012

15/01/2013

2427-2434

$1.08 Billion

Call for Bids NS12-1

NS11-1

30/06/2011

20/01/2012

01/03/2012

2423-2426

$970 Million

Call for Bids NS11-1

Calls for Bids Archive

Archived Calls for Bids

The following Calls for Bids projects have been archived, for information pertaining to these projects please contact us at info@cnsopb.ns.ca.

Call for Bids

Announcement

Call Results

Effective Date

Exploration Licence

Work Expenditure Bid Amount

Calls for Bids Coordinates

NS09-1 04/12/2009

08/07/2010

N/A N/A N/A

Call for Bids NS09-1

NS08-2

21/11/2008

06/07/2009 14/08/2009 2421-2422 $12.6 Million

Call for Bids NS08-2

NS08-1

25/07/2008

07/11/2008

01/01/2009

2419-2420

$136.9 Million

Call for Bids NS08-1

NS07-1

11/12/2007

10/07/2008

15/09/2008

2417-2418

$216.8 Million

Call for Bids NS07-1

NS03-1

04/06/2003

12/11/2003

01/01/2004

2415-2416

$14.1 Million

Call for Bids NS03-1

NS01-1

06/06/2001

02/11/2001

01/01/2002

2406-2414

$527.2 Million

Call for Bids NS01-1

NS00-1

29/06-2000

02/11/2000

01/01/2001

2398-2405

$192 Million

Call for Bids NS00-1

NS99-1

17/06/1999

05/11/1999

01/01/2000

2387-2397

$61.2 Million

Call for Bids NS99-1

NS98-2

02/12/1998

04/05/1999

01/07/1999

2368-2386

5$92.5 Million

Call for Bids NS98-2

NS98-1

17/06/1998

13/11/1998

01/01/1999

2366-2367

$4.4 Million

 

NS97-3

12/12/1997

05/05/1998

01/07/1998

2364-2365

$4.4 Million

 

NS97-2

12/12/1997

05/05/1998

01/07/1998

2359-2363

$88.6 Million

 

NS97-1

 

13/11/1997

01/01/1998

2358

$1.3 Million

 

NS96-1

 

14/05/1997

01/07/1997

2357

$2.3 Million

 

NS95-1

 

 

01/01/1996

2356

$86.4 Million

 

NS93-1

 

 

01/07/1994

2355

$1.0 Million

 

 

NS90-1

 

 

23/08/1990

2100

$2.6 Million