Specialized Professional Advisory Services for Cospas-Sarsat Programme

The Department of Public Safety Canada has a requirement to obtain specialized professional advisory services to support Canada’s participation and leadership in the international COSPAS SARSAT Programme. The services are required to provide expert strategic, technical, governance, and negotiation support to the Canadian Permanent Representative to the Programme, including preparation for and participation in international meetings, development of Canadian positions, and support for negotiations to modernize the International Cospas Sarsat Programme Agreement

The work will involve supporting major and minor COSPAS SARSAT meetings and activities by drafting and analyzing working, response, and information papers; developing Canadian delegation instructions; advising during deliberations; and contributing to meeting records and trip reports. The contractor may also act as an impartial Chair for COSPAS SARSAT governance and working group meetings, ensuring orderly conduct, adherence to Programme procedures, and completion of mandated objectives. Additional tasks include providing expert advice related to the development and implementation of MEOSAR, Second Generation Beacons, Return Link Service, and ICAO Autonomous Distress Tracking requirements, as well as supporting ICSPA negotiation planning, participation, and follow up. The work requires a high degree of subject matter expertise, independence, judgment, flexibility in scheduling, and the ability to engage credibly with international technical experts and state representatives.