The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is seeking an automated system outside of PHAC infrastructure that would enable the pre-processing of large sets of Earth Observation (EO) data and the storage and overlaying of user defined ground truth data (GT) on pre-processed EO images to help address a wide range of public health needs.
Sponsoring Department: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Funding Mechanism: Contract
Opening date: July 16, 2018
Closing date: October 1, 2018, 14:00 Eastern Daylight Time
Please refer to the tender notice for this challenge on Buy and Sell
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Challenge
Problem statement
The large volume of EO data available in Canada and abroad and the high rate at which these data must be updated for disease risk assessment exceeds the information management information technology (IMIT) capacity and technologies currently available in-house. As the need for high volume data on factors affecting health (environmental, climatic, socio-economic) increases both domestically and internationally, the PHAC is continuously challenged to maintain access in timely, reliable and accurate manner with EO data.
The pre-processed data and GT system would help to answer the need for actors engaged in responses to public health priorities and crisis to improve effective and accurate mapping capacities that support: risk assessments and decision-making during health emergency events; risk communication via the supplied ready to analyze images; and, the evaluation of factors affecting health via risk modelling. There is also a need for enhanced ground information for the surveillance of diseases so that greater emphasis can go towards the development of efficient models and tools that make use of EO data to inform decision-makers. Finally, this is a problem beyond PHAC as it applies to a much wider geomatics/EO audience nationally and internationally.
Desired outcomes and considerations (updated August 15, 2018)
The EO data and products will enable estimation of variables and indicators related to environmental determinants of health. Targeted environmental determinants desired are land use and land cover determinants (e.g. forest cover, type and density, forest fragmentation metrics, shrublands, grasslands, croplands, urban and built up areas, semi-urban areas, surface water, wetland types, micro artificial and natural water containers, etc.) and climate and microclimate determinants (e.g. vegetation index, percent vegetation cover, land surface temperature, land surface moisture, soil moisture, accumulated surface degree-days, near surface air temperature, near surface air humidity, precipitation, etc.).
Enhanced access to multi-source open data (e.g. satellite images), along with preprocessing functionality such as image format conversion, re-projection creation of masks (e.g. cloud and water detection and masking), image correction (radiometric, atmospheric and geometric corrections), spatial integration (co-registration) and down scaling functions. The system should allow users to upload a dataset of GT (e.g. samples of reference data developed from aerial photos, thematic maps, field measurements, etc.) in order to develop a bank of GT with metadata such that they can automatically overlay to image scenes and downloaded for future use. This system could be integrated with other systems.
The solution must support uploading of EO open data (e.g. Landsat-8, Modis, Sentinel series data) from the web and new data with metadata defining new GT, such that the information can be enriched by national and international users on a continuous basis to address the limits that current image processing capacity places upon disease risk mapping activities (going from weeks and months to days and hours). The EO data and products must cover local (spatial resolution < 30 m), regional (30 < spatial resolution < 250 m), national (250 < spatial resolution < 500 m) and global scales (500 < spatial resolution < 1000 m), with a daily, weekly, monthly (climate and microclimate determinants) and yearly (land use and land cover determinants) time frequencies. EO data and products from 1990 to present days are needed.
In addition, the solution must have the requisite storage and analytical capacity to ensure a more rapid analysis/use of the outputs. Functionality for restricted access to some dataset of the GT bank is needed.
Background and context
PHAC's mandate is to lead federal efforts and mobilize Pan-Canadian action in preventing disease and injury, and promoting and protecting national and international public health.
PHAC's roles are to anticipate, prepare for, respond to and recover from threats to public health. PHAC also provides information, advice and leadership in public health to Canadians and stakeholders. In this regard, the current challenge is meant to support the organization's scientific, advisory and communications roles and responsibilities, both nationally and internationally, by enhancing analytical and communication tools such as risk maps that spatially locate and evaluate health events or risks. These risk maps are used by surveillance programs, public health researchers, outbreak investigators, officials engaged in health emergency preparedness and response, and epidemiological risk assessment and modeling teams at many levels of the public health system (local, regional, national and international) and beyond to other decision-makers in society.
Maximum value and travel
Maximum contract value
Multiple contracts could result from this Challenge.
The maximum funding available for any Phase 1 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $150,000.00 CAD (plus tax) including shipping, travel and living expenses, as applicable.
The maximum funding available for any Phase 2 Contract resulting from this Challenge is $500,000.00 CAD (plus tax) including shipping, travel and living expenses, as applicable. Only eligible businesses that have completed Phase 1 could be considered for Phase 2.
This disclosure is made in good faith and does not commit Canada to contract for the total approximate funding.
Travel
For Phase 1 it is anticipated that two meetings will require the successful bidder(s) to travel to the location identified below:
- Kick-off meeting
Saint-Hyacinthe, QC - Final Review Meeting
Saint-Hyacinthe, QC
Eligibility
Solution proposals can only be submitted by a small business that meets all of the following criteria:
- for profit
- incorporated in Canada (federally or provincially)
- 499 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employeesFootnote *
- research and development activities that take place in Canada
- 50% or more of its annual wages, salaries and fees are currently paid to employees and contractors who spend the majority of their time working in CanadaFootnote *
- 50% or more of its FTE employees have Canada as their ordinary place of workFootnote *
- 50% or more of its senior executives (Vice President and above) have Canada as their principal residenceFootnote *
Application guide
All federal departments and agencies that issue ISC challenges, regardless of whether they use a grant or a contract as the financial instrument to support research and development (R&D) in Phases 1 and 2, will assess proposals and bids from small businesses based on standard questions. The online application and bid submission system will contain these standard questions and provide guidance on the length of responses.
Assessment process
Once a complete application or bid is submitted, it will be sent to the department and agency that issued the challenge as well as to the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) for assessment. It is the prerogative of the challenge sponsoring department or agency to decide which businesses will receive funding for Phase 1. All businesses that submit an application or bid will receive feedback.
In advance of accepting applications and bids from eligible businesses, the following is meant to provide guidance to businesses on what could be asked as part of the application and bid submission process. The information below may be used to evaluate proposals and is subject to change.
Innovation
- Please be prepared to identify the starting technology readiness level (TRL) of the solution and the anticipated TRL at the completion of Phase 1. Reminder, Phase 1 is meant for solutions in the TRL range from 1 to 4.
- Be prepared to describe the novelty of your solution and how it advances the state-of-the-art over existing technologies, including competing solutions. Include in your description the scientific and technological basis upon which your solution is proposed.
- Be prepared to identify what are the key scientific and technical risks facing your solution and how those risks would be addressed in Phase 1.
Benefits to Canada
- Please be prepared to provide a brief description of your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem identified by the department or agency that issued the challenge statement.
- Be prepared to describe the benefits to Canada that could result from the successful development of your solution, with a focus on three types of benefits: Economic Benefits, Innovation Benefits, Public Benefits.
Economic Benefits: Consider the proposed solution's potential impact on the growth of your firm but other firms in Canada more broadly. This could include the development of new clusters and supply chains. Consideration should be given to the number of jobs created, number of high-paying jobs, project-related revenue growth, etc.
Innovation Benefits: Consider the proposed solution's expected contribution towards the enhancement or development of new industrial or technological innovation within your firm. For example, potential spillover benefits, creation of intellectual property, impact on productivity of the new technology, etc.
Public Benefits: Consider the proposed solution's expected contribution to the broader Canadian public, including but not limited to inclusive business and hiring practices (e.g., gender balance), investment in skills and training and the environment.
Management and technological capability
- Please be prepared to identify the work plan for Phase 1 including key milestones and activities anticipated, the total time foreseen to complete Phase 1 (not more than 6 months), resources required to complete the project and the key success criteria.
- Be prepared to identify the potential project risks (e.g., financial, project management, human resources, etc.) to the successful development of the solution and how those risks would be managed in Phase 1.
- Be prepared to provide a brief description of the project implementation team including specific members, partners, their roles and responsibilities, and how their expertise is relevant to the project. The team members must include a Project lead.
- Be prepared to describe what your business is doing to encourage greater inclusivity in its innovation activities. One of the objectives of the program is to encourage greater participation of under-represented groups (e.g., women, Indigenous people, youth, persons with disabilities, visible minorities) in the innovation economy.
Financial capability
- Please be prepared to provide a financial proposal for R&D in Phase 1. Be sure to check the details of each challenge posting which will indicate the maximum funding available for Phase 1 as well as any eligible or ineligible costs.
- In addition, please be prepared to provide information on funding received from other orders of government (i.e., federal, provincial and municipal) for the same work being proposed in your application or submission.
- Please be prepared to describe the financial controls and oversight that your business has in place to manage public funds if selected to proceed into Phase 1.
Commercialization
- Please be prepared to describe how you envision the commercialization of your solution and how potential risks or barriers to further commercialization would be mitigated.
Evaluation Criteria
The official source of the Evaluation Criteria for this challenge is the Government Electronic Tendering System (Buy and Sell) (https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-18-00816551 Attachment 1)
In the event of a discrepancy between the information below and the information published on Buy and Sell, Buy and Sell will take precedence.
Question | Mandatory/ Point Rated | Criteria | Assessment | Pass/Fail or Points Range | Minimum Pass Mark |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 (a) | Mandatory | The Applicant/Bidder demonstrates that the proposed solution is starting between Technology Readiness Level 1 and 4 (inclusive). | Pass: The Applicant/Bidder has demonstrated that the proposed solution is starting between TRLs 1 and 4 (inclusive), and provides justification by explaining what kind of research and development (R&D) has taken place to bring the solution to the stated TRL. Fail: The Applicant/Bidder has not provided sufficient evidence that the TRL is between 1 to 4 (inclusive) including:
|
Pass/Fail | Pass |
1 (b) | Point Rated | The degree to which the Applicant/Bidder has demonstrated that the proposed solution advances the state-of-the-art over existing technologies, including available competing solutions, and provides a description of the scientific and technological basis of the solution. |
|
0–8 | 4 |
1 (c) | Point Rated | The degree to which the Applicant/Bidder has demonstrated that the proposed solution can solve the problem identified in the challenge. |
|
0–8 | 4 |
1 (d) | Point Rated | The Applicant/Bidder identifies scientific and technical risks facing their solution and explains how those risks would be addressed in Phase 1. |
|
0–8 | N/A |
Question | Mandatory/ Point Rated | Criteria | Assessment | Pass/Fail or Points Range | Minimum Pass Mark |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Points Rated | The proposed solution describes the benefits that could result from the successful development of the solution using the following 3 categories (Economic Benefits, Innovation Benefits, Public Benefits | The Applicant/Bidder identifies the benefits to Canada citing 3 categories of below (Innovation, Economic and Public).
|
9 | N/A |
Question | Mandatory/ Point Rated | Criteria | Assessment | Pass/Fail or Points Range | Minimum Pass Mark |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 (a) | Point Rated | The Applicant/Bidder provides a project plan for Phase 1 that includes key milestones and activities, estimated time to complete the milestones and associated success criteria. |
|
0–8 | N/A |
3 (b) | Point Rated | The Applicant/Bidder describes the potential project management risks to the successful development of the solution and how will they be managed in Phase 1. |
|
0–8 | N/A |
3 (c) | Point Rated | The Applicant/Bidder identifies roles, responsibilities and expertise in the project implementation team that will develop the solution in Phase 1. |
|
0–8 | N/A |
3 (d) | Point Rated | The Applicant/Bidder identifies how it is including members of under-represented groups (e.g., women, Indigenous people, visible minorities) in its efforts to innovate. |
|
0–3 | N/A |
Question | Mandatory/ Point Rated | Criteria | Assessment | Pass/Fail or Points Range | Minimum Pass Mark |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 (a) | Point Rated | The degree to which the Applicant/Bidder has identified a realistic financial proposal to advance the proposed solution in Phase 1. |
|
0–4 | N/A |
4 (b) | Point Rated | The degree to which the Applicant/Bidder has indicated financial controls and oversight to manage public funds in Phase 1. |
|
0–4 | N/A |
Question | Mandatory/ Point Rated | Criteria | Assessment | Pass/Fail or Points Range | Minimum Pass Mark |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 (a) | Point Rated | The degree to which the Applicant/Bidder has thought beyond the work in Phase 1 and advancing the solution in Phase 2. |
|
0 - 8 | N/A |
5 (b) | Point Rated | The degree to which the Applicant/Bidder has identified target market, risks and barriers to commercialization following Phase 2. |
|
0 - 4 | N/A |
- Minimum pass mark
- 40
- Total available points
- 80
Questions and answers
Please visit Buy and Sell for all Questions and Answers related to this challenge.
Please visit Buy and Sell for all Questions and Answers related to the Call for Proposals.
If you have a question about a challenge, please send it to ISED-ISDE@canada.ca.
You can also consult the Frequently asked questions about the Innovative Solutions Canada Program.
A glossary is also available.