All Domain Situational Awareness

June 22, 2016 Update

A Request for Information for the ADSA requirement has been posted on the Buy and Sell website. The solicitation number is #W7714-16ADSA/B.

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May 25, 2016 Update

A deck is being provided which contains additional information pertaining to the DRDC ADSA S&T Program. Some of the information may be applicable to the upcoming Call for Proposals.

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This pre-solicitation announcement is developed to support the planning and partner engagement processes for the All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) Science & Technology Program and provides a summary of the strategic context, program outcomes and relevant technologies. A Call for Proposals for ADSA is anticipated in the fall of 2016.

Climate change is making the North more accessible, thereby increasing economic activity and international interest in the Arctic, which is likely to continue to rise in the coming decades. Such increased Arctic activity brings additional responsibilities for the Department of National Defence (DND) and other government departments in search and rescue, emergency response and environmental monitoring. A greater awareness of the potential challenges posed by foreign military and commercial activities in the Arctic region is also essential for Canada.

The Canada First Defence Strategy identifies missions relevant to the Arctic and to delivering excellence at home, including “surveillance of Canadian territory and air and maritime approaches”, assistance to “civil authorities in responding to a wide range of threats” and “search and rescue response capabilities that are able to reach those in distress anywhere in Canada on a 24/7 basis.” Moreover, the Prime Minister has recently directed the Minister of National Defence to “renew Canada’s focus on surveillance and control of Canadian territory and approaches, particularly our Arctic regions”. The current North Warning System (NWS) technology, used for providing situational awareness of Northern approaches to North America, will require replacement potentially as early as 2025. Starting work now to define cost effective solutions that would provide the situational awareness capabilities required into the future is critical for the defence of Canada, and the United States, against continuously evolving potential adversary systems and threats.

Through an investment of up to $133M over five years in All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) S&T, DND will conduct research and analysis to support the development of options for enhanced domain awareness of air, maritime surface and sub-surface approaches to Canada, and in particular those in the Arctic. This research and analysis will be delivered through contractual arrangements with other government departments (OGDs), academia, industry and allies. Surveillance solutions explored will support the Government of Canada’s ability to exercise sovereignty in the North, and will provide a greater whole-of-government awareness of safety and security issues, transportation and commercial activity in Canada’s Arctic.

The Assistant Deputy Minister (Science and Technology) organisation (ADM(S&T)) aims to provide DND with broad evidence-based advice to inform high-level decisions on future investments in surveillance solutions. Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) seeks to apply science and technology to identify, assess and validate technologies in support of situational awareness across air, maritime surface and sub-surface domains, particularly in the North, with a focus on the following areas:

1. Strategic surveillance of airborne traffic and aerospace warning;
2. Awareness of maritime traffic in Canadian approaches and Arctic littoral regions;
3. Awareness of sub-surface activity approaching or in Canada’s North; and
4. Analysis of sensor mixes and information integration and sharing for all domain awareness to enable detection of modern threats beyond the threshold of the current systems.

The objective across the three identified domains (air, maritime surface and sub-surface) is to deliver assessments and advice on the performance and viability of existing and future concepts, technologies and methodologies that could contribute to improved awareness in these domains. The concepts and technology solutions to be considered for the Arctic must be suitable to a remote setting subject to limited power sources, limited access and re-supply, harsh weather, limited communications and vulnerability to capture. In a later phase, the aim is to analyse the sensor mix required for an effective, persistent, resilient, sensitive and cost efficient surveillance system within each and across all of the identified areas and domains of interest to the DND.

To reduce the technological and operational risk associated with proposed concepts and the procurement of future surveillance systems for each of the three domains, DRDC is interested in seeking proposals that include:

• Operational analysis of threats, requirements and gaps;
• Characterization of evolving Northern approaches environment;
• Analyses of technical maturity, operational performance and sustainability of sensor technology and systems;
• Proof of concept or validation in laboratory environment of emerging technology; and
• Validation of representative or prototype systems in a relevant environment or a simulated operational environment.

Some of the subject areas may require access to Classified information up to the Secret level. As applicable, the requirements will be identified in any potential solicitation document and a Security Requirements Checklist (SRCL) will be provided.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is currently working with DRDC to develop the solicitation process, and intends to issue a Request for Information late spring 2016 to seek Industry feedback. Interested suppliers should monitor the Buyandsell.gc.ca website for additional information.