The following table provides a list of active and historic Calls for Bids beginning in 1990. Information includes the parcel information, the names of winning bidders and the winning bid amount (called a Work Expenditure Bid).
Call For Bids |
Announcement |
Call Results |
Effective Date |
EL |
$ Million Cdn |
| NS11-1 | June 30, 11 | Jan. 20, 12 | Mar. 01, 12 | 2423-26 | 970 |
| NS09-1 | Dec. 04, 09 | July 08, 10 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| NS08-2 | Nov. 21, 08 | July 06, 09 | Aug. 14, 09 | 2421-22 | 12.6 |
| NS08-1 | Jun.25, 08 | Nov. 07, 08 | Jan. 01, 09 | 2419-20 | 136.9 |
| NS07-1 | Dec. 11, 07 | Sept. 15, 08 |
2417-18 |
216.8 |
|
| NS03-1 | Jun. 04, 03 | Nov. 12, 03 | Jan. 01, 04 | 2415-16 | 14.1 |
| NS01-1 | Jun. 06, 01 | Nov. 02, 01 | Jan. 01, 02 | 2406-2414 | 527.2 |
| NS00-1 | Jun. 29, 00 | Nov. 02, 00 | Jan. 01, 01 | 2398-2405 | 192 |
| NS99-1 | Jun. 17, 99 | Nov. 05, 99 | Jan. 01, 00 | 2387-97 | 61.2 |
| NS98-2 | Dec. 02, 98 | May 04, 99 | Jul. 01, 99 | 2368-86 | 592.5 |
| NS98-1 | Jun. 17, 98 | Nov. 13, 98 | Jan. 01, 99 | 2366-67 | 4.4 |
| NS97-3 | Dec. 12, 97 | May 05, 98 | Jul. 01, 98 | 2364-65 | 4.4 |
| NS97-2 | Dec. 12, 97 | May 05, 98 | Jul. 01, 98 | 2359-63 | 88.6 |
| NS97-1 | Nov. 13, 97 | Jan 1, 98 | 2358 | 1.3 | |
| NS96-1 | May 14, 97 | July 1, 97 | 2357 | 2.3 | |
| NS95-1 | Jan 1, 96 | 2356 | 86.4 | ||
| NS93-1 | July 1, 94 | 2355 | 1.0 | ||
| NS90-1 | Aug 23, 90 | 2100 | 2.6 |
A Call for Bids is a formal announcement by the Board that a licence is available to be awarded through a competitive bidding process. The land in which the licence is available for bidding has been nominated by industry or posted by the Board. The Call for Bids specifies:
Bidding is open for a minimum of 120 days. While the Call for Bids is open, the Board welcomes written submissions from the public on the specific parcels included in the bid. Such submissions are considered by the Board before a licence is issued. The process is open and transparent. Any person or company may bid on a parcel of land and any person or group may comment.
Lands Issuance Cycle
Managing and administering offshore petroleum rights begins with rights issuance. Through an established Call for Bids process that is open and transparent, the CNSOPB issues exploration rights for approved parcels of Crown Reserve Lands in the form of Exploration Licences.
The making of a Call for Bids and the issuance of an Exploration Licence are "fundamental decisions" within the legislation, and as such are subject to review by the Minister of Natural Resources for Canada and the Minister of Energy for Nova Scotia.
Crown Reserve Lands that are nominated, and Crown Reserve Lands that are covered by the proposed forecast for Call for Bids lands, are considered for inclusion in the Call for Bids.
The annual cycle for the issuance of Exploration Licences will normally occur according to the dates noted in the table below:
| December 1st | Close of Land Nominations: December 1st is the last day to submit nominations for lands to be considered in the next Call for Bids. |
Mid-April |
Call for Bids Announcement: Call for Bids opens mid-April, subject to fundamental decision. |
Early November |
Call for Bids Closes: Bids must be received by the bid deadline specified in the Call for Bids, (early-November). Successful Bids will be selected by the Board, and successful and unsuccessful Bidders notified. |
January 15th |
Effective date of Exploration Licences: Issuance of Exploration Licences to successful bidders on January 15th, subject to fundamental decision. |
Forecast for Board-posted Call for Bids Lands
Typical terms and conditions for the next Call for Bids and Resulting Exploration Licence