Platform Corrosion Detection and Prevention

July 25, 2018

The closing date for this challenge has been extended to August 23, 2018 at 14:00 EDT.

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This Challenge Notice is issued under the Innovative Solutions Canada Program Call for Proposals (EN578-170003/B).

Please refer to the Solicitation Documents which contain the process for submitting a proposal.

CHALLENGE TITLE: Platform Corrosion Detection and Prevention

CHALLENGE SPONSOR: Department of National Defence (DND)

Steps to apply:

Step 1: read this challenge

Step 2: read the Call for Proposals

Step 3: propose your solution

Funding Mechanism: Contract

MAXIMUM CONTRACT VALUE:

Multiple contracts could result from this Challenge.

The maximum funding available for any Phase 1 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $200,000.00 CAD (plus tax) including shipping, travel and living expenses, as applicable.

The maximum funding available for any Phase 2 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $1,000,000.00 CAD (plus tax) including shipping, travel and living expenses, as applicable. Only eligible businesses that have completed Phase 1 could be considered for Phase 2.

This disclosure is made in good faith and does not commit Canada to contract for the total approximate funding.

TRAVEL:  No travel anticipated.

Problem Summary Statement

The Department of National Defence (DND) requires new methods/processes to identify/detect corrosion and the development of proactive corrosion control measures.

Problem Statement

The process of corrosion shortens the operational life of Canada’s naval platforms which then raises the costs of investing, acquiring, operating, and maintaining these same platforms. The Department of National Defence (DND) is seeking novel concepts, technologies, and systems leading to a capability for the early detection of corrosion in naval platforms and enhanced proactive corrosion control measures.

Outcomes and Considerations

The emphasis of this challenge is for early detection of corrosion in remote or difficult to reach places and under tiled or coated surfaces is desired. This may include detection techniques that can directly detect the location and extent of corrosion under tiles and coated surfaces, and/or detection techniques that could directly detect the corrosion rate or detect the environment leading to severe corrosion. Of interest, also are tools that can predict the location and severity of corrosion over time in platforms, and advanced corrosion control measures.

The areas of employment include the hull structures of both submarine and surface ships including internal hull plating and support structure in the bilges, seawater handling systems and deck plating.

Desired outcomes include: A Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) fleet that applies a holistic approach to addressing platform corrosion in order to improve the availability and to extend the operational life of naval platforms.

Topic areas of interest include (but are not exclusive to): Corrosion protection measures, designs that prevent corrosion, and corrosion detection methods; development of numerical tools that can predict corrosion location and severity over time for specific platform designs; and prevention, maintenance and repair strategies.

Consideration should be given to links between engineering solutions, research and development (e.g. in new materials), and innovative (and maybe integrated) approaches for detection, monitoring, prevention and control of corrosion.

Background and Context

RCN operates a fleet of ships and submarines to deliver on missions that result in exposure of their platforms to challenging environments. Due to the significant investment in acquiring, operating, and maintaining these platforms, the RCN has an interest in addressing corrosion issues in order to improve the availability and to extend the operational life of the naval platforms. This requires advanced tools for early detection of corrosion in the platform structures, and proactive corrosion control and maintenance strategies.

Enquiries

All enquiries must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Authority no later than ten calendar days before the Challenge Notice closing date. Enquiries received after that time may not be answered.