CanadaBuys #EN578-24ISC4/97

Canadian Army Seeks Uncrewed Ground System for Tactical Cargo Movement

The Canadian Department of Public Works and Government Services (PSPC), on behalf of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Canadian Army, is seeking proposals for the MINERVA Initiative: - Procurement of a domestically produced Uncrewed Ground System (UGS) for tactical cargo movement - System must include: ground vehicle with onboard electronics and propulsion, sensor payload for navigation, ground control station (GCS), radio system, battery with charger, and remote antenna - Key operational requirements: - Operate in temperatures from -20°C to +40°C - Unladen weight not exceeding 410kg - Minimum operational radius: 5km (remote control), 10km (autonomous) - Minimum speed: 15 km/h; endurance: at least 4 hours - Tow capacity: 275kg; onboard cargo: 140kg; must transport a specified cargo container - Deployable within 30 minutes; size constraints for transport - Electric or hybrid power; low noise emission; obstacle avoidance - Non-EM communication capability; NATO-standard recovery - Projected production cost: CAD 150,000 or less per system - Ground Control Station (GCS) requirements: - Mission planning simulation, TAK system interface, vehicle status display, autonomous navigation, and link loss recovery - Sourcing and compliance: - Critical components must be sourced from NATO or allied countries, with supporting documentation - Competitive procurement: - Up to five contracts may be awarded - Maximum funding: CAD 500,000 - Travel to Suffield, Alberta required for prototype demonstration

Description

The Canadian Department of National Defense and the Canadian Army are seeking proposals for an uncrewed ground system (UGS) designed for tactical cargo movement. The system must be domestically produced, rugged, easy to operate and maintain, and highly survivable, including a ground vehicle, sensor payload, ground control station, radio system, battery with charger, and remote antenna. It must operate in temperatures from -20°C to +40°C, weigh no more than 410kg unladen, and have specific operational capabilities such as a minimum operational radius of 5km remote control and 10km autonomous, speeds of at least 15 km/h, and endurance of 4 hours. Additional requirements include deployability within 30 minutes, size constraints for transport, non-EM communication, electric or hybrid power, obstacle avoidance, low noise emission, and NATO-standard recovery. The ground control station must support mission planning, interface with TAK system, display vehicle status, and support autonomous navigation and link loss recovery.

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