SURVEILLANCE BY TEAMS OF AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS (STAR): WIND-GUST CONTROL AND INTEGRATION

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited to bid Attachment: None Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Vendor Name and Address: Carleton University Office of Research Services 510F Tory Building 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa Ontario Canada K1S5B6 Nature of Requirements: SURVEILLANCE BY TEAMS OF AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS (STAR): WIND-GUST CONTROL AND INTEGRATION

W7714-125450/A Oates, Christine Telephone No. : (819) 956-1332 Fax No. : (819) 997-2229

ADVANCE CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE (ACAN)

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a Statement of Capabilities. If no supplier submits a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award.

1. RIGHTS OF SUPPLIERS

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services and/or goods described herein, may submit a Statement of Capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The Statement of Capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

2. REQUIREMENT

2.1 DESCRIPTION

Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being widely used for surveillance. Recent analysis has demonstrated the potential for cost savings and improved search flexibility through the use of a formation or swarm of small UAVs in comparison to a single large UAV. The Department of National Defence (DND) - Ottawa has recently been awarded Advanced Research Project (ARP) funds to realize the flight of a self-organized formation and/or swarm of small UAVs both indoors, and outdoors under wind gust conditions in an urban environment (in the vicinity of buildings). The Work requires the development of a quad-rotor UAV craft and an autopilot controller to implement selection and control algorithms to respond to turbulence arising from urban wind flow-fields. The controller must make use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations which have previously been developed to determine wind flow-fields around different urban geometries. In addition, the autopilot must incorporate the swarming/formation algorithms previously developed by the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC).

2.2 CAPABILITIES

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a Statement of Capabilities and provide evidence that it meets the following minimum requirements:

1. The principal proposed resource must have the following

i. A PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Physics, with specialization in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) or Control Systems and at least five (5) years, post PhD, of research experience conducting CFD modeling research.

ii. At least five (5) years of experience supervising researchers or graduate students in conducting research projects. At least one research project supervised must have been in the area of modeling the effect of urban wind-fields on small, uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs).

iii. At least two (2) publications on modeling the effects of urban wind-fields on small UAVs or other small aerial vehicle flight, in peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings.

2. All other proposed resources must have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physics and post-graduate, research experience in the design of Control Systems for autopilots.

3. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR

Carleton University Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6

4. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS REGULATIONS EXCEPTION

Under the provisions of Section 6 of the Government Contracts Regulations (GCR), it is proposed to negotiate directly with Carleton University on the basis that the proposed contractor is the only person or firm capable of performing the contract (GCR 6(d)).

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University is the only known entity to have the technological capability to perform the work as described above. Under a previous contract with DRDC, Carleton University developed a method for determining the effect of wind-gusts on small aircraft in urban environments using CFD simulations. Carleton University also has a unique record of scholarly publications on incorporating the effects of wind-gusts in urban environments into an autopilot for autonomous aircraft, and has access to faculty and graduate students with the requisite Control Systems background. Carleton University is the only known institution to have this combination of CFD and Control Systems experience and expertise, specifically in the area of modeling urban wind effects on UAV flight. It is therefore proposed to negotiate directly with Carleton University, on the basis that they are the only known entity capable of performing the contract.

5. APPLICABILITY OF THE TRADE AGREEMENTS

This requirement is subject to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).

The requirement is being directed to the proposed supplier, as permitted under the limited tendering provisions of Article 506, 12(b) of the (AIT).

This procurement is not subject to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), as it consists of Research and Development Services which are excluded from the application of the NAFTA as per Annex 1001.1b-2, Section B, Part A - Research and Development, all classes.

This requirement is not subject to the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business.

6. OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

As per the Treasury Board Policy on Title to Intellectual Property Arising Under Crown Procurement Contracts, the proposed supplier will retain ownership of the intellectual property arising from any resulting contract.

7. PERIOD OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT

The services of the proposed supplier will be required commencing at contract award until the 31st of March, 2015.

8. ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT

The total estimated value of the proposed contract should not exceed $125,000.00 (Canadian dollars), including all applicable taxes.

9. CLOSING DATE AND TIME

The closing date and time for submitting a Statement of Capabilities is 2:00 p.m. EST, March 15th, 2012.

10. CONTACT PERSON

All inquiries with regard to this Notice must be addressed to the Contracting Authority:

Christine Oates Telephone: (819) 956-1332 Fax: (819) 997-2229 E-mail: christine.oates@pwgsc.gc.ca

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada. Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting officer identified above.

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority may then proceed with the award. However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full tendering process.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this Notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

The PWGSC file number, the contracting officer's name and the closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile transmission, on the covering page.

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.