Essential Deliveries: Getting Vital Supplies to Troops Using Autonomous Vehicles

IMPORTANT

To avoid last minute technical difficulties that could delay your submission, please send your request to open an epost Connect conversation as soon as possible, following the epost Connect instructions listed in Part 2 - Bidder Instructions of the CFP.

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UPDATES

November 20, 2020

Attachment 4 has been added. The document contains questions and answers related to the Challenge.

November 9, 2020

Attachment 3 has been added. The document contains questions and answers related to the Challenge.

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INTRODUCTION

This Challenge notice is issued under the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Program Call for Proposals (CFP) Call 004 (W7714-207317).

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HOW TO APPLY

Please refer to the main solicitation documents which contain the process for submitting a proposal.

Step 1: Prepare for Proposal Submission

Read the Call for Proposals documents and Challenge tender notice in their entirety.

Step 2: Download and Complete Attachment 1 – Electronic Proposal Submission Form

• Attachment 1 – Electronic Proposal Submission Form can be found at the bottom of each Challenge tender notice page on Buy and Sell.
• If you have technical difficulties downloading and opening the form, please follow the instructions in Attachment 2 – Technical Instructions, found at the bottom of the Challenge tender notice page on Buy and Sell.
• The security warning on the form is for DND internal information only. The use of epost Connect enables submission of the form through an encrypted delivery platform for secure electronic delivery of Protected B documents.

Step 3: Follow the submission instructions listed in Part 2 – Bidder Instructions of the CFP

• Please allow sufficient time to register and submit the completed form before the Challenge closing date and time.
• Additional attachments or documentation (technical drawings, CVs, diagrams, etc.) must not be submitted and will not constitute part of the Bidder’s proposal.
• Only one proposal is permitted per epost Connect conversation. For multiple submissions, this process must be followed for each proposal submitted.

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MAXIMUM FUNDING AND PERFORMANCE PERIOD

Multiple contracts could result from this Challenge.

The individual maximum contract funding available under Component 1a is up to $200,000 CAD (excluding applicable taxes) for a maximum performance period of up to 6 months.

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

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CHALLENGE DETAILS

Challenge Title

Essential Deliveries: Getting Vital Supplies to Troops Using Autonomous Vehicles

Challenge Statement

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) are seeking innovative solutions for Autonomous Vehicle (AV) technologies that can assist with the transport of military supplies in operational settings. 

Background and Context

Getting vital supplies, water, food and ammunition to military troops in operational settings can pose significant challenges. When there are no or few airports or rail lines for hauling materiel, the CAF must rely on Army vehicle operators to make frequent and often long and arduous journeys. Human operators need time to rest, which can be more or less frequent depending on the difficulty of the route. In conflict zones, adversaries will also routinely target supply convoys in order to disrupt the military’s ability to resupply combat formations. Therefore, the DND/CAF need innovative solutions that focus on reducing the number of human operators that are needed to transport supplies, while still ensuring the same volume of supplies are delivered in a given context.

Desired Outcomes

Research, development and engineering solutions are sought for overcoming the technical challenges associated with the future deployment of AV technologies for service support operations. The goal is to partially or entirely replace the human driver in navigating a vehicle or a series of vehicles (e.g. a convoy) in genuinely uncontrolled, real-world environments. Innovative solutions for retrofitting existing vehicles with driverless technologies are preferred. 

Solutions are sought that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• AV technologies that permit having one lead human-operated vehicle at the front of a convoy with one or more autonomous vehicles following behind;
• Remotely-driven vehicles that keep a human-in-the-loop at a safe distance;
• Ability to manoeuver off-road in difficult terrain and in potentially hostile environments;
• Ability to detect and avoid unexpected obstacles (e.g. livestock and pedestrians);
• Ability to operate in conditions of low visibility and/or extreme weather;
• Capabilities that limit the need for considerable advance planning and mission mapping;
• Assurance of data security and protection against cyberattacks.

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ENQUIRIES

All Challenge-related enquiries must be submitted in writing to:

TPSGC.PAIDEES-APIDEAS.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

Enquiries must be submitted no later than 10 calendar days before the Challenge notice closing date. Enquiries received after that time may not be answered.

For more information about the IDEaS program, Bidders can visit the IDEaS website.