RFI - LBDS Project

Trade Agreement: NONE Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No Nature of Requirements:

RFI - LBDS Project

W8476-206286/A Courteau, Robert Telephone No. - (343) 550-1614

Background

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Biological Detection, Identification and Monitoring (Bio DIM) capability is current afforded by the Vital Point Bio Sentry (VPBS) which came into service in 2011. During its procurement, many engineering trade-offs were made in order to meet the required speed and level of detection; nonetheless, this created a system that saw little usage due to its bulkiness, high false alarm rate, and fast user skill fade. In 2017, Canada’s Defence Policy ?Strong, Secure, Engaged? re-ascertained the need for the Canadian Armed Forces to be able to evolve and face all its missions within an austere Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) environment. As the VPBS is underutilized and will fall into obsolesce within the next five to ten years, the Department of National Defence (DND) needs a reliable Bio DIM capability that will provide biological threat situational awareness in order to minimize the potential impact on CAF’s assigned missions. In addition the LBDS will need to be optimized for non-specialized CAF personnel wearing complete CBRN personal protective equipment. This is expected to be achieved by integrating the following modular, light-weight and portable Bio DIM capabilities:

a. Bio-aerosol point detectors;

b. Bio-aerosol air samplers;

c. Biological identification systems; and

d. Bio-aerosol standoff detectors.

The vision of the Local Biological Defence System (LBDS) project is to have an integrated system consisting of an array of up to 15 bio-aerosol point detectors and 15 air samplers, capable of being remotely monitored and controlled by a single laptop (Government Furnished Equipment), an identification system capable of providing up to confirmatory level of identification in accordance with AEP-66, NATO Handbook for Sampling and Identification of CBR agents, and a standoff bio-aerosol detector in order to protect vital points of interest at the tactical level such as airfields, forward operating bases, ships conducting littoral operations, ship boarding parties or while along-side in a foreign port, etc.

The intent is for the point detectors to conduct continuous monitoring, alarm when there is a bio-aerosol hazard, and trigger air samplers to gather a sample for further identification. The point detectors and air samplers can be separate or integrated capabilities. The point detectors and air samplers must be capable of transmitting CBRN messages in accordance with ATP-45(F), Warning, Reporting and Hazard Prediction of CBRN Incidents. The system will alert threatened localities and provide situational awareness to enable the local commander decision support in assessing probable impact of the biological attack on operations.

The biological defence system must provide an alarm within 30 seconds to minimize exposure. The point detectors will trigger the air samplers in the locality producing a sample for further identification processes. The identification systems should ideally be ruggedized but must be simple to use and capable of producing results in a maximum of two hours. Point detectors along with the air samplers must be small, light-weight and ruggedized such that no more than two people, ideally one person, can move, setup and teardown the devices in a short period of time.

The bio-aerosol standoff detector would be operated from the protected locality and be capable of being remotely monitored and controlled by a single laptop (Government Furnished Equipment). The standoff detector would scan/monitor the area surrounding the locality, be capable of detecting bio-aerosol threats and providing an alarm increasing warning time of an attack and increasing situation awareness of the local commander.

Defence Research & Development Canada - Valcartier has done substantial work in developing a bio-aerosol standoff detector which could be made available and leverage by the industry to meet the LBDS expectation. Alternative solutions that would meet the requirements are welcomed and will help with informing how the project will proceed with potential solicitation. The intent of the LBDS project is to acquire ruggedized, man-portable bio aerosol standoff detectors to increase early warning and enhance decision support.

LBDS will be integrated into the wider CAF CBRN defence warning and reporting system. Therefore, the LBDS project will incorporate software that is capable of interfacing with individual point sensors, standoff detectors and air samplers in accordance with STANAG 4586.

Annex A contains example scenarios of employment of the LBDS.

Purpose The purpose of this RFI is to achieve the following:

a) Collect information regarding current market capabilities that meet the requirements as published in this RFI; b) Seek industry feedback to solidify the DND requirements; c) Seek costing information from industry for budgetary purposes; d) Engage potential respondents; and e) Answer questions, as necessary.

This is the first of several request for information (RFI) in support of this project.

Canada would like to engage industry and seek feedback on the requirements that are published via this RFI.

Please see attached document for further information and questions. 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.