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Sustainable Northern Operations: Water & Waste

This tender closed on October 20, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Buyer
Department of Public Works and Government Services (PSPC)
Location
National
Category
Professional Services, IT & Software, Environmental & Waste
Published
September 10, 2026
Closes
October 20, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

View the official notice

Description

This Challenge notice is issued under the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Program Call for Proposals (CFP) Call 006 (W7714-248676/A).

Solicitation Documents reference: See bidding details section.

*For additional general information on the IDEaS Program, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas.html

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This challenge is open to receive proposals for Component 1a, Component 1b and Component 2. Proposed solutions that fall within technology readiness levels (TRL) 1-9 can be submitted to this challenge.

Steps to apply:

Step 1: read this challenge

Step 2: read the Call for Proposals : See bidding details section

Step 3: propose your solution here : https://defence-innovation-portal.my.site.com/

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Maximum Funding and Performance Period

Multiple contracts could result from this Challenge.

The individual maximum contract funding available under Component 1a (TRL 1-3) is up to $250,000 CAD (excluding applicable taxes) for a maximum performance period of up to 6 months.

The maximum individual contract funding available under Component 1b (TRL 4-5) is up to $1,500,000 CAD (excluding applicable taxes) for a maximum performance period of 12 months.

The maximum individual contract funding available under Component 2 (TRL 6-9) is up to $5,000,000 CAD (excluding applicable taxes). The period of performance will be determined at the time of contract negotiation.

The maximum individual contractual funding and the maximum performance period offered under Component 3 will be determined by Canada at the time of contract negotiation.

This disclosure is made in good faith and does not commit Canada to contract for the total approximate funding.

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Challenge Details

Challenge Title: W7714-248676/018 - Sustainable Northern Operations: Water & Waste

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) are seeking novel, integrated technologies that enable the CAF to operate Relocatable Transportable Camps (RTCs) independently and sustainably in Arctic and sub-Arctic environments while meeting all applicable Canadian environmental and health regulations.

Background and context

The CAF’s strategic update Our North, Strong and Free (2024) directs an expansion of military operations in the Canadian North. RTCs deployed in remote Arctic regions must sustain personnel with safe water, sanitation, and waste-handling capabilities while minimizing logistics and environmental risk.

In 2023, the IDEaS Pop-Up City contest demonstrated advanced, containerized power-water-waste systems. These prototypes significantly reduced solid-waste mass and potable-water demand but were not tested under Arctic winter conditions. Material brittleness, freezing of fluids, and power-efficiency issues remain key obstacles.

This challenge will bridge this gap by developing, and then testing integrated cold-weather water and waste technologies under Arctic winter conditions (e.g., Op NANOOK).

The objective of the challenge is to support the development of a proven, deployable, Canadian-made, Arctic-ready water-and-waste system enabling CAF RTCs to operate independently, safely, and sustainably in the North with drastically reduced logistics burden and environmental impact.

Essential outcomes

Proposed solutions must meet the following requirements:

• Integrated capability combining water purification, wastewater treatment and solid-waste reduction suitable for camps of up to 50 personnel.

• Use a modular design that allows transport by air or ship – ensuring that individual components fit within a standard 20 ft sea container with maximum dimensions of 108 in. (2.74 m) wide × 268 in. (6.81 m) long × 96 in. (2.44 m) high and a maximum weight of 24,000 lb (10,886 kg; 10.9 tonnes). The modular design must also enable on site assembly without the need for heavy lift equipment.

• Treated outputs must meet or exceed Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations and Health Canada Drinking-Water Guidelines.

• Function continuously in remote northern locations and operate and withstand northern environmental conditions, including extreme cold down to -40°C.

• Resource efficiency must be demonstrated through a reduction in resupply volume and frequency (water, consumables) by at least 75% from baseline (see Table 1 below).

• Support maintainability and repairability in northern environments by ensuring that the solution can be serviced using common trades and tools available to CAF in deployed operations in remote areas.

Desired outcomes

Proposed solutions should include capabilities such as, but not limited to, the following:

• Integrated power.

• Operable in extreme heat conditions (up to +40°C).

• No manual pre-processing of solid waste.

• Recovery and reuse of waste-heat or by-products.

• Can be scaled to suit camps of over 50 personnel, up to 1500 personnel.

Table 1. Baseline for resources requirements for consumption and management per volume and frequency.

Resource Volume and Frequency

Potable water‡ 150 L / person / day

Non-potable water 50 L / person / day

Sewage – Black water 89.5 L / person / day

Sewage – Grey water 48.5 L / person / day

Solid waste – Dry* 1.1 kg / person / day

Solid waste – Wet† 1.1 kg / person / day

‡ Water supplied to RTC at =4°C. 20% of potable water requirement (i.e. 30 L/person/day), is used as hot water at 60°C.

* Total energy content can be assumed to be 15 MJ/kg.

† Water content can be assumed to be 70%.

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