Navigating your next chapter – The transition back to civilian

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

December 7, 2020

Attachment 5 has been added. The document contains questions and answers related to the Challenge.

November 27, 2020

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

November 20, 2020

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

November 10, 2020

The previous update was made in error. There is currently no Questions and Answers attachment pertaining to this 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

Navigating your next chapter – The transition back to civilian

Challenge Statement

The Department of National Defence (DND) and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) are seeking novel integrative and adaptable approaches and tools to help support members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), in particular, members who are ill and injured, to successfully transition to civilian life.

Background and Context

Life as a member of the CAF is understood to be a process of continuous transition, beginning from the first day of initial recruitment and following well beyond the day they take off their uniform. Research has shown that transition from military to civilian life can present significant challenges for releasing service members. The CAF/DND/VAC are committed to providing comprehensive support to all service personnel, veterans, and their families through this difficult period of transition.‎

Recently, significant efforts have been placed on developing and enhancing programs and services to assist CAF members during their transition to civilian life, including new processes implemented as part of a critical group of initiatives designed to offer a member-centric, personalized, and standardized experience for all. Yet, the process may be complex and difficult to navigate due to the high volume of information and substantial number of third-party organizations that need to be managed to ensure a seamless process. There also remains a need to facilitate efficient collection, management/processing, and exchange of information during transition in order to better address the needs of CAF members, veterans, and their families. To that end, DND and VAC require novel approaches and tools to help support members of the CAF and help facilitate their transition to civilian life. This includes more integrative or multi-faceted approaches that can help facilitate the exchange of information across departments, units, and individuals, and that can be adapted to the unique needs of CAF members during their transition.

Given the cognitive challenges that may be associated with the current strategy for disseminating key information to service members, particularly with respect to those who are ill/injured, can we “virtualize” the transition process and apply innovative technological solutions in order to better assist them as they transition out of the military and into civilian life?

Desired Outcomes

The desired outcomes of this Challenge include, but are not limited to, innovative solutions that could be adopted to:

• help CAF members, veterans, and their families access and process the high volume of information related to their transition more efficiently in order to simplify and support the transition experience;
• facilitate the exchange of information between CAF members, veterans, and their families, as well as the various organizations involved in the transition process to more effectively allocate and coordinate programs and services based on individual needs, avoid service gaps, and ensure a more seamless process;
• provide DND/CAF/VAC the ability to assess the value of the various services offered by third-party organizations in order to identify and leverage optimal services to support CAF members, veterans, and their families during the transition process.

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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.