# CanadaBuys #26-58196

NRC procurement of wheel force transducers and an autonomous tracked research UGV

**Posted:** October 23, 2026
**Respond By:** November 09, 2026
**Identifier:** 26-58196
**NAICS:** 333998, 334519, 423830

The National Research Council of Canada is procuring specialized wheel-force measurement equipment and a research-ready tracked autonomous vehicle for Arctic mobility and off-road robotics research.
- **Government buyer:** National Research Council of Canada (NRC/CNRC); no sub-agency or office is identified.
- **Named OEM:** **Clearpath** — the UGV must be a Clearpath Warthog or equivalent tracked platform and include Clearpath OutdoorNav autonomy software.
- **Named proposed supplier:** MSS LTD. The wheel force transducer manufacturer is not specified.
- **Products requested:**
  - Four six-axis wheel force transducers (WFTs), with acquisition modules, telemetry/encoder rings, user-interface electronics, cables, manuals, accessories, and four rugged water-resistant storage and shipping cases. No part numbers are provided.
  - One complete electrically powered tracked UGV, with lithium battery upgrade, onboard computing and autonomy, navigation and localization systems, forward- and rear-facing perception sensors, communications, and required hardware and software. No part number is provided.
- **WFT requirements:** Measure three forces and three moments; support radial loads up to 130 kN, lateral loads up to 60 kN, and torque up to 30 kNm in all axes; fit rims of at least 16 inches; and operate from -20°C to 40°C. The system must support rotating-wheel data transfer, CAN FD, CAN 2.0, or Ethernet, and PTPv2 synchronization. Specified measurement accuracy, resolution, sensitivity, and static-load requirements also apply.
- **UGV requirements:** At least 270 kg payload, 250 mm ground clearance, 18 km/h speed, and 35° gradeability. Include a minimum 20-core computer, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, GPU with at least 8 GB VRAM, Ubuntu Linux, and ROS 2 Jazzy or later. The autonomous system must support navigation, obstacle handling, remote teleoperation without continuous cloud access, dual-antenna multi-frequency RTK GNSS with complementary localization, front and rear 3D LiDAR and colour/depth cameras, Wi-Fi 6 or newer, and LTE or newer cellular connectivity.
- **Integration and delivery:** Integrate NRC-supplied sensors mechanically and electrically, configure their ROS 2 interfaces, and verify sensor data access. Provide a tested, operational platform with safety features, documentation, licences, warranty, and support.
- **Other notable requirement:** The procurement is set aside for eligible Indigenous businesses under the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business.

### Description

The National Research Council of Canada requires four wheel force transducers, acquisition modules, and accompanying hardware for Arctic terrain-sensing and vehicle-mobility research, and one unmanned ground vehicle for offroad robotics research. The UGV must be a complete, operational, research-ready tracked platform with autonomous navigation, computing, localization, perception sensors, communications, and integration of NRC-supplied sensors. The procurement is set aside under the federal Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB), and only qualifying Indigenous businesses may submit a statement of capabilities. The notice identifies MSS LTD as the pre-identified supplier; statements of capabilities are due November 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. EST.

[View original listing](https://canadabuys.canada.ca/en/tender-opportunities/tender-notice/cb-281-19503923)