THE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS CANADA PROGRAM (ISC) - Call for Proposals (Call 001)

August 24, 2018

The closing date of the call for proposals has been extended.

The list of open challenges has been updated.

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July 16, 2018

New challenges are now open!

The closing date of the call for proposals has been extended.

For each Challenge, proposals must be submitted by the closing date and time indicated on the tender notice page for that individual Challenge.

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July 11, 2018

Attachment 007 have been added.

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June 19, 2018

Amendment 008 and Attachment 006 have been added.

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New challenges are now open!

Amendments 001 to 006 have been removed and replaced with amendment 007 and attachment 5.

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BACKGROUND

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is issuing a Call for Proposals (CFP) on behalf of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), seeking innovative solutions to address a wide range of challenges facing federal departments and agencies.

The Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) program is designed to support the development of early-stage, pre-commercial innovations by small businesses. Phase 1 targets proposed solutions starting at technology readiness levels (TRLs) 1-4 (inclusive), while Phase 2 is meant to further advance the TRL of the innovation.

Innovative Solutions Canada is designed to seek truly novel solutions from Canadian small business. Challenges posted through ISC may appear to provide few details or specifications on what the desired solutions should look like. This is intentional. Challenge statements will contain some guidance on desired outcomes, but will not prescribe how a solution should work or function. We leave that to the creativity and ingenuity of Canada’s innovators.

Phase 1: Proof of Concept

Phase 1 is for the development and delivery of a proof of concept addressing a challenge articulated by a federal department or agency. The proof of concept will have to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility, and commercial potential, of a novel solution that addresses a federal department’s challenge. If selected to be part of a Challenge Pool of Pre-qualified Proposals, an eligible small business may receive a contract for up to $150,000 for a maximum of six months to develop and deliver a proof of concept. Small businesses must enter the program at Phase 1. The maximum funding and duration are identified in each challenge notice.

On a case-by-case basis, the Department of National Defence will be allowed to spend outside of the limits and timelines noted in Phases 1.

Phase 2: Prototype Development

Small businesses that successfully complete Phase 1 may receive a contract for up to $1,000,000 for a maximum of two years to develop their solution beyond the proof of concept with the goal of developing and delivering a prototype addressing a federal department’s challenge. The Government of Canada will own the prototype at the end of the contract as referenced in SACC Manual clause 2040 (2016-04-04), section 21 Ownership and section 29 Ownership of Intellectual Property Rights in Foreground Information. The maximum funding and duration are identified in each challenge notice.

On a case-by-case basis, the Department of National Defence will be allowed to spend outside of the limits and timelines noted in Phase 2.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible small businesses under the ISC program are those that meet all of the following criteria:

• for profit
• incorporated in Canada (federally or provincially)
• 499 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees*
• research and development activities that take place in Canada
• 50% or more of its annual wages, salaries and fees are currently paid to employees and contractors who spend the majority of their time working in Canada*
• 50% or more of its FTE employees have Canada as their ordinary place of work*
• 50% or more of its senior executives (Vice President and above) have Canada as their principal residence*

* Calculations must take into account and include affiliated businesses, such as parent companies and subsidiaries that are either in or outside of Canada.

Under the Innovative Solutions Canada program, an "affiliate" relationship exists in the following situations:

• An affiliate is a corporation that is a subsidiary of another corporation
• If a corporation has two subsidiary corporations, the two subsidiaries are affiliates of each other; or
• If two corporations are controlled by the same individual or business, the two corporations are also affiliates of each other.

REQUIREMENT

Challenges issued under the ISC CFP will be published on an ongoing basis and will be listed on this page. Details related to each challenge will be published in separate challenge notices. For each Challenge, proposals must be submitted by the closing date and time indicated on the tender notice page for that individual Challenge.

All information related to Proposal Submission, Evaluation Procedures and Basis of Selection are contained in the CFP solicitation document.

Federal departments and agencies may post challenges that use either procurement contracts or grants as financial instruments to support R&D in Phases 1 and 2. This notice pertains to procurement contracts. For information on open challenges funded by grants please see the ISC website: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/101.nsf/eng/00001.html

For general ISC information, Bidders can visit the ISC website.

ENQUIRIES

Enquiries regarding the ISC Call for Proposals solicitation must be directed to:

TPSGC.SIC-ISC.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

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Open Challenges:

Measurement of Cold Spray

Earth observation images processing and management system

Innovative platform to facilitate evidence-informed decision-making