Sponsor
The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF)
Program
Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS)
For More Information
Visit the Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems Concept Development website.
Description
Funding of up to $500,000 will be provided for innovative Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) concepts over a period of up to 9 months. There is a potential for further funding of up to $2 million should concepts be found successful and promising by the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
The IDEaS program is expanding its CUAS challenge by offering innovators the opportunity to mature their developmental solutions from a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 1–5 to a demonstration ready solution (TRL 6 and higher). Selected projects may be eligible for up to $2,500,000 in funding!
This Call for Proposals (CFP) invites proposals for CUAS Concept development with two windows of opportunities to apply:
- Window #1: Proposals must be received by October 12, 2023, at 2:00 PM EDT.
- Window #2: Subject to confirmation, proposals must be received by April 15, 2024, at 2:00 PM EDT.
Eligibility
Eligible recipients of funding under an IDEaS CA must be a legal entity duly incorporated and validly existing in Canada, including:
- Canadian universities and educational institutions chartered in Canada;
- Incorporated Canadian not-for-profit organizations or associations;
- Incorporated Canadian for-profit companies, organizations or associations;
- Provincial/territorial or municipal government organizations;
- Individuals; and,
- International applicants may be eligible, provided they meet this requirement with a legal entity duly incorporated and validly existing in Canada.
- These websites may be of assistance in setting that up if required:
Federal and provincial crown corporations are not eligible for funding.
Note that regardless of eligibility status of the recipient, in no case can more than 50 per cent of eligible costs under the Contribution Agreement be incurred outside of Canada.
Funding Availability
Funding of up to $500,000 will be provided for innovative Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) concepts over a period of up to 9 months. There is a potential for further funding of up to $2 million should concepts be found successful and promising by the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
Indirect Costs
15%
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Internal Deadline | Please submit all documentation, along with an OR-5 form to research.services@uoguelph.ca. | |
External Deadline | Proposal due via epost Connect. Note: the applicant must send as early as possible, and in any case, at least five business days prior to the CFP closing date and time to DND.IDEaS-IDEeS.MDN@forces.gc.ca requesting to open an epost Connect conversation. Requests to open an epost Connect conversation received after that time may not be answered or may result in the late submission of the proposal. |
How to Apply
Step 1: Carefully read the Applicant Guide for Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (CUAS) Concept Development.
Step 2: Download and complete the following:
- Concept Development Project Proposal Form. This form describes the proposed project’s scope, schedule and cost, and the applicant’s competency and capacity to execute the project to develop their solution to a higher TRL. It focuses on the work effort to be undertaken rather than the solution itself.
- Concept Development Solution Technical Description Form. This form describes the concept of the solution, including how and why it will work, its technical detail and capabilities, and its development and testing to date if any.
- Concept Development Budget and Eligible Expenditures Form. This Excel form will form the basis of “Schedule B – The Project Budget and Expenditures” in the formal CA for those applicants selected for funding. All costs identified in the proposal must be in Canadian dollars.
- Concept Development Proposal Overview. This is a PowerPoint overview to be used by DND/CAF for summary briefings.
Step 3: Create an epost Connect account.
During Stage 1 of the CFP process, applicants are required to register and submit their proposal(s) using the epost Connect service provided by Canada Post Corporation (CPC). It is the applicant’s responsibility to hold an account with CPC and to complete the submission steps to submit a proposal.
If the applicant has an existing epost Connect account with CPC, please proceed to step 4.
To register for an account, please contact the CPC epost Connect service. The use of epost Connect service requires a Canadian mailing address. Should the applicant not have a Canadian mailing address, they may use the following DND/CAF address in order to register for the epost Connect service:
Department of National Defence
60 Moodie Drive
Ottawa ON
K1A 0K2
Step 4: Request an epost Connect conversation.
Applicants must send an email requesting an epost Connect conversation to DND.IDEaS-IDEeS.MDN@forces.gc.ca at least five business days prior to the CFP closing date and time. The IDEaS program will then initiate an epost Connect conversation.
The epost Connect conversation will create an email notification from CPC prompting the applicant to access and action the message within the conversation. The applicant will then be able to transmit its proposal at any time prior to the CFP closing date and time.
Applicants may submit more than one proposal; however, each proposal must have a unique title and individual file number. When requesting an epost Connect conversation, the applicant should indicate the number of proposals submitting to ensure individual file numbers are assigned.
The applicant must send as early as possible, and in any case, at least five business days prior to the CFP closing date and time to DND.IDEaS-IDEeS.MDN@forces.gc.ca requesting to open an epost Connect conversation. Requests to open an epost Connect conversation received after that time may not be answered or may result in the late submission of the proposal.
Step 5: Submit the proposal form using epost Connect.
- Applicants must transmit their proposal by uploading the full application package in the epost conversation at any time prior to the CFP closing date and time.
- Once the application package has been received, the applicant will receive a confirmation message and a file number for future reference. Please ensure that the proposal contains the applicants full contact information.
- Applicants are able to edit the proposal up until the closing date of October 12, 2023, at 14:00 EDT.
All epost Connect conversations must remain open until at least 30 business days after the CFP closing date and time.
The file number assigned by the IDEaS program should be identified in all electronic communications.