100M Depth rated Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) System

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
Tendering Procedures: 
Competitive Procurement Strategy: Lowest/Lower Bid
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 
100M Depth rated Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) System

W7707-165820/A
Collier, Susan
Telephone No. - (902) 496-5350 
Fax No. - (902) 496-5016

REQUIREMENT

DRDC intends to procure one (1) complete 100 meter depth rated
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) system. This system will be
used to augment existing autonomous systems and provide a
platform to continue R&D development in underwater research at
DRDC Atlantic. 

DRDC has a requirement for an AUV with an onboard vehicle
control system with a mature 
interface to various adaptive behavior "autonomy software"
architectures.  

Autonomous vehicle manufacturers typically provide vehicle
navigation and control systems on a main vehicle control
computer (VCC). The VCC is capable of outputting vehicle
position and trajectory information to a separate payload
computer. The VCC in return accepts input of  autonomy decisions
such as heading, speed and depth. 

The two autonomy software systems used by DRDC are SeeTrack
Neptune and MOOS-IvP. 
See Annex A - Statement of Work in the Request for Proposal for
more details. 

BACKGROUND

The Mine Defence project, part of the DRDC's Maritime Science
and Technology Programme, is focused on the use of unmanned
systems for naval mine countermeasures activities.  A key
research area has been the development of autonomous vehicle
behaviours and autonomous cooperation between different MCM
autonomous systems. This AUV will play a key role in DRDC
research.

To facilitate other DRDC work the AUV will support DRDC mine
countermeasures (MCM) sonar and automatic target recognition
research and will be supplied with a high frequency
interferometric side-scan sonar.   The AUV will operate as a
contributing member of a fleet of autonomous systems and must
communicate using underwater acoustic modems with other AUVs and
autonomous surface vehicles.  The AUV will deploy from a variety
of locations, including large and small boats, from a jetty, a
beach or rocky shore line. 
The AUV system must be easily transportable to remote field
locations by road, rail, sea and air transport. The AUV must be
of a size and weight allowing for manual deployment of the
vehicle by a two-person crew in a small boat. 
The AUV will be usable in all regions of the country and
overseas. Operations include Northern latitudes where
traditional navigation systems using magnetic compasses are
typically unreliable; therefore an integrated and operational
inertial navigation system (INS) is necessary. The INS is
required to provide for accurate AUV heading control to carry
out mission tasks.  

METHOD OF SELECTION

Basis of Selection

The bid evaluation method used in this requirement is evaluation
using Mandatory criteria with selection on the basis of the
lowest priced compliant proposal. Under this contractor
selection method, a compliant proposal is one which complies
with the requirements of the bid solicitation and PASSES all
mandatory criteria contained in the TSOR Mandatory Requirements.

The lowest priced compliant proposal is recommended for contact
award. 

DRDC SUPPORT

(a)	No DRDC Atlantic support is required during this requirement.

(b)	The DRDC Atlantic technical authority or representative
reserves the right to inspect the build stage of the AUV and sea
acceptance trials, with prior notice and arrangements being made
with the contractor. 

SECURITY REQUIREMENT

There is no security requirement applicable to this Contract.

DELIVERABLES

The contractor must deliver to the Crown:

i.	One (1) AUV with depth rating of 100m with functionality and
support equipment as detailed in the TSOR. The AUV must have
successful completed a contractor sea acceptance trial; and

ii.	A copy of the sea acceptance trial results for the delivered
AUV, must at a minimum show the AUV operational parameters,
sensor system integration, functionality and navigation accuracy.

DELIVERY DATE

All the deliverables must be received 8 weeks after contract
award.






PAYMENT

BASIS OF PAYMENT

In consideration of the Contractor satisfactorily completing all
of its obligations under the contract, the contractor will be
paid on delivery of all deliverables.

UNFUNDED OPTIONS

In the proposal the contractor shall submit pricing for the
following three unfunded options that DRDC may evoke at a later
date.

This procurement is subject to the provisions of the following
Trade Agreements:

•	Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)

INQUIRIES: All inquiries of a technical nature and all questions
of a contractual nature are to be submitted to the Contracting
Authority: Susan Collier, telephone (902) 496-5350, facsimile
(902) 496-5016, e-mail susan.collier@pwgsc.gc.ca. Inquiries are
to be made in writing and should be received no less than five
(5) calendar days prior to the closing date to allow sufficient
time to respond.
This PWGSC office provided services to the public in English.
Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any
procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.