RFP2: Achieving Interoperability Between Search and Rescue Organizations

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION:

Achieving Interoperability Between Search and Rescue Organizations

and Fire Departments in Beyond Visual Line of Sight RPAS Authorization

Scope:

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to seek interest from qualified individuals/companies to develop or identify or consolidate standardized training, education and materials that can assist in achieving BVLOS authorization from Transport Canada. This will include information materials, templates and guidelines; Standards of practice for BVLOS operators in SAR nationally irrespective of the organization type (i.e. primarily SAR or Fire Departments), as it pertains to Search and Rescue.   

Background:

In 2018, the CAFC passed a resolution to establish a committee that would provide fire departments with assistance in understanding and adhering to the new Transport Canada RPAS regulations. The resulting committee proposed a grant application with its partners, CASARA, SARVAC and CERRA that would focus on developing a community of policy and practice for RPAS operators who are working in Search and Rescue Beyond Visual Line of Sight. This focus was chosen as part of a larger goal to improve interoperability between Search and Rescue Organizations and Fire Departments as per the goals of SARNIF. As part of this initiative and before getting started on the BVLOS portions, the CAFC wishes to ensure that the policies and practices, training and equipment that a Department or a Search and Rescue organization may need to develop any type of RPAS program are considered. This allows organizations to determine whether they are BVLOS ready but also to build their programs to the appropriate level to their resources; capacity and budgets.

General Work Description

The overarching goal is to identify or consolidate or develop or adapt, standardized materials for the four partners as it pertains to standards of practice, education, operating procedures, and training materials that can help the member organizations achieve BVLOS authorization from Transport Canada. The successful candidates will propose what needs to be included. This will be discussed and approved by a committee. The candidates will then proceed to acquire, consolidate or develop the materials, as the case may be. The partner organizations will provide feedback on each step of the process but the successful candidate, will be responsible for generating the initial proposal and then refining drafts until they create a satisfactory final product. Our goal is to make this information available to all SAR and fire departments. This RPF is based on an assumption of a general familiarity with SAR and RPAS operations which will be handled through a more fundamental manual (separately administered RFP). 

Deliverables:

·       Table of contents for the items that need to be covered for organizations to achieve beyond visual line of sight authorization

·       The actual materials (templates, information, training modules, educational information, videos, diagrams, standards, SOPs, that would populate the table of contents based on best practices and adult education principles

·       The end product which may be will sit on a designated webpage and can be multimedia.

Proposal Requirements

To respond to this proposal, please provide a short (max 3-5 pages) response including:

1.     who you are or who your company is (what you do, when started, etc.).

2.     yours /your organizations qualifications as it pertains to the subject matter and the initiative including:

·       What positions you to write effectively and efficiently on this topic?

·       What positions you to take an evidence informed approach to this subject matter?

·       Describe any experience you have with BLVOS at Transport Canada, in Canada and / or internationally

3.     How you would proceed? What would be your proposed approach/method?   

4.     A timeline (in weeks) with milestones, budget for each step and total budget.

·       what can you achieve /complete between November and February 2022?

·       What would be your milestones and what invoice amount would be associated with this?

5.     Examples of similar projects, reports, clients, or materials in the public domain

6.     Describe your experience with national associations and multi-stakeholder collaborations

7.     Describe your project management approach and style

Notes

All materials associated with this project from data collected to drafts of reports, email lists, etc. will be the property of the CAFC, if necessary provided to the CAFC with a royalty free license in perpetuity, or other similar agreement that allows CAFC ongoing and permanent access to the material and the ability to modify and update them, and housed on the CAFC website. The chosen consultant will work directly with and through the CAFC’s Executive Director. Committees of experts in SAR, Robotics, and Fire Departments will be available to discuss and improve drafts.

Payment

Please note that CAFC operates on a fixed price contract. A payment schedule can be agreed upon, but must be tied to deliverables. Invoices are processed within thirty (30-60) calendar days after the invoice and deliverable is received. All invoices shall indicate the type of service, services provided, time of event, location, etc. and be attached to a deliverable or work request.

Responding to this RFI 

Please submit your proposal to the attention of Dr. Tina Saryeddine at tsaryeddine@cafc.ca

Deadline:  

October 12, 2021