"The NSPS is being implemented in 5 phases:

- Developing the Strategy: completed and announced in June 2010.
- Selecting the shipyards: completed on October 19, 2011.
- Establishing the relationship with the shipyards: commenced with the signing of overarching Umbrella Agreements with the shipyards in February 2012, and is currently on-going through various shipyard interactions with NSPS governance committees and project teams.
- Preparing the yards and finalizing the designs – currently underway.
- Constructing the ships – OFSV to commence in 2014; AOPS to cut steel in 2015." (Source 1)

"The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, along with the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Regional Minister for Nova Scotia, today announced that two new tasks with a potential value of $53.5 million have been authorized for the construction of the Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). These two tasks are part of the definition contract awarded to Irving Shipbuilding Inc. in March 2013." (Source 2)