Innovative Solutions Canada Program Call for Proposals – 004

***This Amendment 001 is raised to modify the Challenge Stream - Call for Proposals 004 solicitation closing date.*** Introduction and Procurement Approach Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is issuing this Call for Proposals (CFP) on behalf of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) program and participating departments, seeking to purchase innovative solutions to address a wide range of challenges facing federal departments and agencies. The purpose of this CFP is to create various pools of potential solutions that Canada may select from to address the challenges. Pools created as a result of this CFP can be utilized by any participating department. This CFP will be published on an ongoing basis for PWGSC to post departments’ challenges. Details related to each challenge, including entry phase, estimated number of contracts, maximum contract value, contract duration, the specific challenge closing date, and the essential and additional outcomes (if applicable) that the innovation must meet as long as it remains in the challenge stream, will be published under distinct Challenge Notices on the CanadaBuys website, which will form part of this CFP solicitation. 1.1 Innovative Solutions Canada Program Overview There are three components to the ISC program – the Challenge Stream, the Testing Stream and the Pathway to Commercialization. This CFP addresses entry and advancement through the Challenge Stream whereby solutions may later have the option of exiting the Challenge Stream for advancement into the Testing Stream. It also addresses entry to the Pathway to Commercialization. The Challenge Stream is designed to support the development of pre-commercial innovations by Small Businesses, with possible progression along a Technology Readiness (TRL) maturity scale. Entry into the Challenge Stream may occur at Phase 1 or at Phase 2, as specified in the individual Challenge Notices. Solutions may progress from entry TRL to a level which can be used by departments to solve the specific Challenge and be used in government operations. Challenge notices will specify the phases for which proposals can be submitted as set out in section 1.2.1. 1.2.1 Challenge Stream Entry 1.2.1.1 Entry at Phase 1: Proof of Feasibility Offerors with an innovation at TRL 1-4 may apply to enter the program at Phase 1. The objective of Phase 1 is for selected Offerors to conduct research and development (R&D) on their proposed solutions and deliver a proof of feasibility to Canada. Offerors are encouraged to progress their solutions as far as possible on the TRL scale during Phase 1. Offerors that demonstrate feasibility of their solution to the satisfaction of the sponsoring department upon completion of Phase 1 may be invited to submit a proposal for the Phase 2 outlined in section 1.2.2.1. Advancement to Phase 2 is not guaranteed. It is at the sole discretion of Canada to proceed with Phase 2. OR 1.2.1.2 Entry at Phase 2: Prototype Development Offerors with an innovation at TRL 5-9 may apply to enter directly into Phase 2, if specified in the Challenge Notice. The objective of Phase 2 is to conduct R&D on the proposed solution with the goal of developing, testing and delivering a prototype to Canada addressing the Challenge. Offerors enter into Phase 2 at TRL 5 to 9. Offerors are encouraged to progress their solutions as far as possible on the TRL scale during Phase 2. 1.2.2 Advancement of Research and Development Activities 1.2.2.1 Invitation to Advance to Phase 2: Prototype Development The objective of Phase 2 is to continue the R&D efforts of the proposed solution from Phase 1 with the goal of developing, testing and delivering a prototype to Canada for the selected Challenge. Small Businesses that have completed their Phase 1 contract and where the innovation remains of interest to Canada may receive an invitation, by way of a request for documentation, to advance to Phase 2 at the sole discretion of Canada. There is no minimum TRL level for a Phase 1 innovation to advance to Phase 2. Small businesses should not have any expectations of being invited to advance to Phase 2. In other words, there is no guarantee of participation in Phase 2. Canada will not provide justifications to small businesses as to why an innovation was not selected to participate in Phase 2. 1.2.2.2 Advancement into Testing Stream: Prototype Testing The objective of the Testing Stream is to procure, test and evaluate R&D pre-commercial goods and services in late-stage development (TRL 7 to 9), as defined on the ISC website here - https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/101.nsf/eng/00077.html. Canada may purchase multiple quantities of prototypes, test them and provide valuable feedback. In some cases