FAA inks aviation agreements with Canada and Brazil

On the same subject

• 

  April 6, 2022 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  3 New Thematic Calls for Prototypes / 3 nouveaux appels thématiques pour les prototypes

  (le français suit) New Testing Stream funding opportunities! We're looking for innovative, pre-commercial prototypes that can help address Canada's priorities in the Arctic and the North, defence, and oceans fields. Through these three themes, we've launched 15 new funding opportunities for Canadian innovators. Do you have what it takes? You could receive a contract of up to $1.15M to get your innovation tested with the Government of Canada! Apply before April 22, 2022 at 2:00pm EST. Arctic and the North From climate resilience to emergency response, the Government of Canada is seeking innovative solutions to address priorities in the Canadian Arctic and North. Check out our list of opportunities and apply for funding if you're eligible. Defence The Government of Canada is looking for prototypes to explore innovating the country's defence capabilities by bolstering cybersecurity, enhancing soldier systems, and more. Check out our list of opportunities and apply for funding if you're eligible. Oceans Could your innovation make a difference for Canada's coasts and oceans? The Government of Canada is seeking prototypes to address coastal resilience, pollution remediation, and other ocean priorities. Check out our list of opportunities and apply for funding if you're eligible. Nouvelles possibilités de financement pour le volet " mise à l'essai " ! Nous sommes à la recherche de prototypes précommerciaux novateurs qui peuvent aider à répondre aux priorités du Canada dans les domaines de l'Arctique et du Nord, de la défense et des océans. Selon ces trois thèmes, nous avons lancé 15 nouvelles possibilités de financement pour les innovateurs canadiens. Avez-vous ce qu'il faut ? Vous pourriez recevoir un contrat d'une valeur maximale de 1,15 million de dollars pour mettre votre innovation à l'essai auprès du gouvernement du Canada ! Posez votre candidature avant le 22 avril 2022 à 14 h HNE. L'Arctique et le Nord De la résilience climatique aux interventions d'urgence, le gouvernement du Canada est à la recherche de solutions novatrices pour répondre aux priorités dans l'Arctique et le Nord canadiens. Consultez notre liste d'opportunités et faites une demande de financement si vous êtes admissible. Défense Le gouvernement du Canada est à la recherche de prototypes pour explorer l'innovation des capacités de défense du pays en renforçant la cybersécurité, en améliorant les systèmes des soldats, et plus encore. Consultez notre liste d'opportunités et faites une demande de financement si vous êtes admissible. Océans Votre innovation peut-elle faire une différence pour les côtes et les océans du Canada ? Le gouvernement du Canada est à la recherche de prototypes pour aborder la résilience côtière, l'assainissement de la pollution et d'autres priorités relatives aux océans. Consultez notre liste d'opportunités et faites une demande de financement si vous êtes admissible.

• 

  January 9, 2019 | Local, Naval, Security

  Trade tribunal calls for review of west coast vessel contract

  DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is recommending a review of key performance requirements used in the procurement of two emergency towing vessels for the west coast. Heiltsuk Horizon, a partnership of majority partner Heiltsuk Nation of Bella Bella, British Columbia and Horizon Maritime Services Limited, a Canadian marine services company, complained to the CITT in August that the winning supplier did not meet important safety requirements of the tender process. The CITT has recommended Public Services and Procurement Canada re-evaluate some of its mandatory requirements and that no further expenditure under the contact be undertaken. However, the tribunal also recommended that the contract remain with the winning bidder, Atlantic Services Limited/Atlantic Towing, until the evaluation can be completed. In August, the federal government announced the firm had been awarded a three-year contract worth $67 million for the lease of two emergency offshore towing vessels that would operate in the waters off the coast of British Columbia. The vessels were to be capable of towing large commercial ships in distress, such as tankers and container ships, before they get too close to shore, according to the federal government. As part of the contract, the firm, which is an Irving company, would also provide training in offshore emergency towing to Canadian Coast Guard personnel and partners, including Indigenous communities, involved in marine safety. But Heiltsuk Horizon challenged that award, pointing out that the contract was awarded without the required proof the vessels met the mandated towing power. The firm welcomed the CITT ruling. “From day one, we stated the procurement process was flawed,” Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett, Heiltsuk Nation, Bella Bella, BC, said in a statement Tuesday. In a letter to Heiltsuk Horizon, the CITT recommends Public Services and Procurement Canada reevaluate the “bollard pull” (towing power) of the vessels in all bids received. The CITT also awarded Heiltsuk Horizon costs incurred in submitting the complaint. In a statement late Tuesday, Public Services and Procurement Canada noted it is currently reviewing the CITT's reasons and recommendations in order to determine its next steps. “The contract with Atlantic Towing remains in place,” it added. “Given the importance of the services provided by the Emergency Offshore Towing Vessels in the context of Canada's Oceans Protection Plan, these services will continue. It is important to note that one of the two vessels has already been used in an emergency situation.” Mary Keith, vice president of communications for Irving, issued a statement from Atlantic Towing, pointing out that the tribunal did not declare the firm's bid non-compliant. “This is good news and reaffirms the integrity of the rigorous and transparent award process by PWGSC that also involved a third party fairness monitor,” the statement added. “The Tribunal has requested verification of one item and we are confident in our full compliance. The Bollard Pull on our vessels are verified and certified by one of the world's leading marine certification companies.” https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/trade-tribunal-calls-for-review-of-west-coast-vessel-contract

• 

  January 7, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

  Installing Canadian software on Australian F-18s first order of business when aircraft arrive, says defence official

  DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN One of the first things that will be done to the used Australian F-18s that Canada is purchasing is that the aircraft will be outfitted with different ejection seats and software. The first two F-18s that Canada is buying from Australia will arrive sometime in the spring and will be sent to Cold Lake, Alta, said Pat Finn, assistant deputy minister for materiel at the Department of National Defence. “They land, they (the Australians) will remove their software and we'll install our software,” Finn explained in an interview. Also to be installed are ejection seats and a lighting system that is used on the CF-18s. “Ultimately the intent is the 18 aircraft are indistinguishable from our 76 aircraft,” Finn said. Canada has finalized its deal to buy the 25 used fighter jets from Australia, Eighteen of the Australian F-18 aircraft will eventually be flying while another seven will be used for testing and spare parts. The Department of National Defence still has to figure out how to get the aircraft over from Australia. “We would rather fly them over,” Finn said. “Or have them (the Australians) fly them over.” The Liberal government had originally planned to buy 18 new Super Hornet fighter jets from U.S. aerospace giant Boeing to augment the Royal Canadian Air Force's CF-18s until new aircraft can be purchased in the coming years. But in 2017 Boeing complained to the U.S. Commerce Department that Canadian subsidies for Quebec-based Bombardier allowed it to sell its C-series civilian passenger aircraft in the U.S. at cut-rate prices. As a result, the Trump administration brought in a tariff of almost 300 per cent against the Bombardier aircraft sold in the U.S. In retaliation, Canada cancelled the deal to buy the 18 Super Hornets. That project would have cost more than US$5 billion. Instead of buying the new Super Hornets, the Liberals decided to acquire the used Australian jets. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says the extra jets are needed to deal with a “capability gap” as Canada does not have enough fighters to handle its commitments to NATO as well as protecting North America. But Conservative MPs say the capability gap didn't exist and was concocted by the government to delay a larger project to buy new jets, a competition that might end up selecting the F-35 stealth fighter the Liberals vowed never to purchase. In November 2018 Auditor General Michael Ferguson issued a report noting that the purchase of the extra aircraft would not fix the fundamental weaknesses with the CF-18 fleet which is the aircraft's declining combat capability and a shortage of pilots and maintenance personnel. “The Australian F/A-18s will need modifications and upgrades to allow them to fly until 2032,” the report noted. “These modifications will bring the F/A-18s to the same level as the CF-18s but will not improve the CF-18's combat capability.” https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/installing-canadian-software-on-australian-f-18s-first-order-of-business-when-aircraft-arrive-says-defence-official