Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP) Technology development (AO)

Industrial capacity-building contribution

Announcement of Opportunity

Publication date: February 21, 2020

Application start: May 1, 2020

Application deadline: March 31, 2022

1. Introduction

In February 2019, the Canadian Government announced the Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP) as part of a new National Space Strategy to 'position Canada's industrial space sector to help grow the economy and create the jobs of the future'. The Federal Budget 2019 confirmed that Canadian Space Agency (CSA) can access up to $150M over five years starting in 2019-20 for LEAP to 'help small and medium-sized enterprises develop new technologies to be used and tested in lunar orbit and on the Moon's surface'.

The strategy enables Canada and its space sector to grow the economy and create the jobs of the future by advancing science, developing and demonstrating space technologies and support the positioning of Canadian industries for upcoming commercial and science mission opportunities linked to our participation in Lunar exploration while generating benefits for Canadians in space and on Earth.

In light of the above, the CSA is issuing this AO to specifically support the Canadian space industry with funds for the development of technologies targeting the lunar economy and looking to be included into lunar mission supply chains by April 2024.

The AO will award non-repayable contributions for space technology projects that expect to enhance their commercial potential in the lunar economy in the short to medium term (i.e. 2 to 5 years).

This AO is consistent with the terms and conditions of the CSA Class Grant and Contribution (G&C) Program to Support Research, Awareness and Learning in Space Science and Technology – Research Component.

Applicants are asked to read the following AO thoroughly before submitting their applications. This AO was prepared to help applicants complete the application process, and outlines key elements, including mandatory criteria for eligibility, details on eligible projects and the selection process. In the event of any discrepancies between this AO and the individual funding agreements governing a project, the latter document(s) will take precedence.

2. AO objectives

The CSA's LEAP technology development AO aims to position Canadian technologies in the lunar mission supply chain by 2024.

To do so, the CSA is looking to contribute to the development of technologies that have garnered interest in the field of lunar mission and to consequently increase the commercial potential of Canadian space companies for the lunar economy.

3. Eligibility criteria

3.1 Eligible recipients

Eligible recipients are limited to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations established and operating in Canada, excluding academic institutions.

Multiple eligible recipients can collaborate on the same project. If selected for funding, eligible recipients, collaborating on the project, will be jointly and severally (solidarily) liable in the contribution agreement.

3.2 Eligible projects

The CSA's LEAP technology development AO aims to support the basic research and development of technologies that demonstrate strong potential of entering the lunar missions supply chain.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must identify the lunar mission supply chain related opportunities in which the technology has potential of being integrated. The applicants must also demonstrate the potential interest in the technology from the actors in the lunar mission community.

Only technologies targeted at integrating the lunar mission supply chains are eligible. Eligible projects do not include the development of space related medical technologies as they will be supported through other funding opportunities.

Eligible technologies should have reached TRL-2/3 by start of project. Projects aiming at TRLs higher than TRL-6 are not eligible.

All development phases necessary for a project are eligible. Any logical breakdown or combination of these phases can constitute a funded project. However, breaking down a project into numerous phases to obtain more than the maximum contribution in this AO is not allowed.

Furthermore, if a proposal is for pursuing a standalone R&D found in another awarded contribution (past or on-going), the proposed follow-up R&D, even if funded in a new contribution agreement, is considered another phase of R&D of the same G&C project which the CSA Class G&C program has a cumulative limit of $5M. If the maximum funding for one project is not reached, the completion of a funded phase does not automatically guarantee funding of the remaining phases.

3.3 Links to CSA priorities

To be eligible, projects supported under this AO must contribute to CSA's priority of positioning the Canadian industry in the lunar mission supply chain as part of the LEAP.

3.4 Links to program objectives

To be eligible, the project must support LEAP and STDP objectives and contributes to the following objectives of the CSA Class G&C Program:

• To support the development of technologies relevant to Canada; and
• To foster the continuing development of a critical mass of highly qualified people (HQP) in Canada.

The CSA encourages the space community to collaborate with SMEs (small and medium -sized enterprises) as well as the academic sector in the implementation of the AO by promoting projects that will include SMEs and academic participation. In terms of academic involvement, potential applicants may be interested in contacting Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization which helps companies access the talent, technologies, and strategic partnerships they need to innovate and grow, to investigate if and how academic researchers and highly skilled graduate or postdoctoral talent can be leveraged on research projects in collaboration with universities. Applicants should strive for a balanced gender representation in the group HQPs participating in the project. If in the research discipline of the proposed project there is a gender imbalance in the HQP population, applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate that this imbalance has been taken into consideration in their plan for recruitment of HQPs implicated in their project.

Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that increase the representation and advancement of women and underrepresented groups in space sciences and engineering as one means to foster excellence in research and training.

3.5 Basic R&D definition

Eligible projects supported under this AO must comply with the following definition for basic R&D by providing the required justification within section 4 of the Letter of Intent form:

"Any pre-commercial technology activities that are carried out to resolve unknowns regarding the feasibility of space concepts in the space sector."

The following due diligence process will be applied to determine whether projects are compliant with this definition. To that end, justification to be provided in section 4 of the Letter of Intent form should:

• Quantify the technical objectives being sought and must describe how the expected results will be measured;
• Clearly state which technological unknowns are proposed to be answered;
• Clearly state the working hypotheses behind solving the unknowns and describe how plausible it is anticipated to solve these unknowns;
• Demonstrate that the proposed project consists of more than ordinary engineering or current operations; and
• Substantiate the current TRL and the proposed TRL expected to be reached (up to TRL 6).

The following TRL definitions must be used:

TRL 1

Basic principles observed and reported

TRL 2

Technology concept and/or application formulated

TRL 3

Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof-of-concept

TRL 4

Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment

TRL 5

Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment

TRL 6

System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment (ground or space)

Basic R&D activities supported under this AO shall be undertaken in Canada unless it is essential to the success of the project.

4. Two (2) step application process

This AO uses a two step application process consisting of an initial Letter of Intent followed by a Complete Application if invited to submit.

4.1 Letter of intent – Step 1

The objective of this step is to verify the eligibility criteria, as listed in section 5.1, of the applicant and the project before submitting a full proposal. In the Letter of Intent, applicants must identify the lunar mission supply chain opportunities in which the technology has potential of being integrated as well as demonstrate the potential interest from the actors in the lunar mission community. Only applicants that have presented a letter of intent that meets the eligibility criteria and is deemed acceptable will receive an invitation to submit a complete application (see section 4.2).

4.1.1 Required documentation

In this first step, the project submitted shall include:

• A completed original Letter of Intent Application Form signed by the duly authorized representative;
• Letters of interest/support, if applicable;

Note: A single PDF-formatted file containing copies (identical to the paper copies) of all the above-requested documents with all security features disabled on standard electronic media (USB memory key, CD, or DVD). The application must be included in the file as a searchable PDF-formatted document (PDF/A-1a format preferred). If there is any discrepancy between the hard and the soft copies, the hard copy takes precedence.

Documents relating to the first step shall be mailed to the CSA at the following address:

Letters of Intent will be reviewed in the order of reception and must reach CSA before 14:00 (ET), March 1, 2022. Letters of Intent sent by email will not be accepted. Letters of Intent can be sent to the CSA prior to May 1, 2020, but will only be considered received from that date.

4.1.2 Service standards – Letter of intent

Applicants will be notified in writing of decisions about their project. Only applicants whose projects meet the eligibility criteria listed in section 5.1 will receive an invitation to submit a complete application. The CSA reserves the right to close the AO at anytime or if it determines that the AO is fully subscribed.

• Acknowledgement: The CSA's goal is to acknowledge receipt within five (5) business days of receiving the letter of intent.
• Decision: The CSA's goal is to respond to the Letter of intent within three (3) weeks of the reception.

4.2 Complete applications – Step 2

4.2.1 Required documentation

Applicants whose projects meet the eligibility criteria and have been invited to submit a complete application will need to provide the following documentation for formal point-rated project evaluation:

• A completed original Application form signed by the duly authorized representative;
• One copy of full Proposal:
  • A description of the project that responds to the evaluation criteria in Appendix A
  • An itemized and balanced budget for the project, indicating projected expenditures, cash flow requirements as well as confirmed and potential revenues and other sources of funds (in more details than is required in sections 3 and 4 of the Application Form);
  • The names, titles and telephone numbers of persons responsible for managing the project; and
  • The résumés of each team member responsible for managing the project and key technical personnel. The résumés should be limited to two pages with only information that is relevant to the application.
• Letters of interest/support, if available;
• A copy of the document(s) confirming the legal name of the applicant;
• Letters from other funding contributors confirming their contributions, if applicable;
• The Declaration on Confidentiality, Access to Information Act and Privacy Act form signed by the duly authorized representative (refer to the Applicant Declaration on Confidentiality, Access to Information Act and Privacy Act section included in the application form);
• For organizations in Quebec, M-30 Supporting Documentation form completed and signed by the duly authorized representative (refer to the M-30 form for organizations in Quebec included in the application form);
• A single PDF-formatted file containing copies (identical to the paper copies) of all the above-requested documents with all security features disabled on standard electronic media (USB memory key, CD, or DVD). The application must be included in the file as a searchable PDF-formatted document (PDF/A-1a format preferred). If there is any discrepancy between the hard and the soft copies, the hard copy takes precedence.
• If the project is executed through a partnership, a completed original Partner Application Form for each partner, signed by the duly authorized representative of the partner. Partner application forms are to be submitted in paper and in PDF.

Company financial statements for the last two years and the most recent interim results will be requested, in a later phase of the evaluation process, as a condition to signing a contribution agreement. It is not required to submit financial statements with the application.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the application complies with all relevant federal, provincial and territorial legislation and municipal bylaws.

Applications must be mailed to the CSA at the following address:

• The application has to reach CSA before 14:00 (ET), March 31, 2022.
• The application can be mailed/couriered/delivered to the address indicated.
• There is no one to receive hand delivered proposals during the weekends. Hand delivered proposals will only be accepted during business hours.
• Applications sent by email will not be accepted.
• Incomplete applications shall not be considered.

Questions and answers related to this AO will be posted on the CSA website in the Frequently asked questions (Section 10).

Complete Applications will be reviewed and evaluated in the order of reception.

4.2.2 Service standards

Applicants will be notified in writing of decisions regarding their application. Selected applications will be announced on the CSA website. The CSA has set the following service standards for processing times, acknowledgement of receipt, funding decisions and payment procedures.

• Acknowledgement: The CSA's goal is to acknowledge receipt within five (5) business days of receiving the completed application package.
• Decision: The CSA's goal is to respond to the proposal within ten (10) weeks of the reception of the proposal date and to send a contribution agreement for signature within 4 (four) weeks after formal approval of the proposal.
• Payment: The CSA's goal is to issue payment within six (6) weeks of the successful fulfillment of the requirements outlined in the contribution agreement.

Compliance with these service standards is a shared responsibility. Applicants must submit all required documentation in a timely fashion.

5. Evaluation of the application

5.1 Eligibility criteria – Step 1

• Represents an eligible recipient as defined in Section 3.1;
• Represents an eligible project as defined in Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4;
• Meets the basic R&D definition in Section 3.5; and
• Meets program funding provisions in Section 6.1.

5.2 Point rated evaluation criteria – Step 2

Applications will be evaluated according to the following point rated criteria:

1. Innovation and market need (30%)
2. Project feasibility, resources and risk assessment (20%)
3. Outcomes and benefits to Canada (50%)

The definition of the criteria and scoring grid are specified in Appendix A.

5.3 Evaluation process

Only applications that have passed the eligibility assessment listed in Section 5.1 will be given further consideration.

Once the eligibility criteria are confirmed, an individual evaluation of the screened applications will be performed according to the criteria listed in Section 5.2. Evaluators shall be familiar with the field relevant to the applications and may include representatives of other Canadian government departments as well as external consultants.

An application must receive an overall minimum score of 80% as well as the minimum specified thresholds for each criteria to be considered further for funding.

Before a final decision is made, the CSA's Program Manager responsible for this AO may seek input and advice from other organizations, including (but not limited to) federal, provincial, territorial and municipal government agencies and organizations.

6. Funding

6.1 Available funding and duration

The total funding available under this AO is currently expected to be approximately $13M.

The maximum contribution for any project is $2M with the possibility to extend to $4M. The target duration for any project is 18 months with the possibility to extend to March 31, 2024^{Footnote 1} at the latest. Please see section 7 for details.

The overall number of contributions awarded will depend on the availability of funds.

Approved proposals will be eligible for a total government (federal, provincial/territorial and municipal) assistance of up to a maximum of 75% of total eligible project costs. Thus, the maximum assistance of $2 million will be available for projects with $2.66 million of total eligible project costs.

To determine the amount of funding to be allocated, consideration will be given to the availability of CSA funds, the total cost of the project, and the other confirmed sources of funds provided by other stakeholders and the applicant.

Applicants must identify all sources of funding in their applications and confirm this information in a funding agreement if the project is selected for funding. Upon completion of a project, the recipient must also disclose all sources of funding.

The CSA reserves the right not to accept any proposals or to reduce the amount of the contributions at its entire discretion.

6.2 Eligible costs

Eligible costs are direct expenses that are associated with the delivery of the approved project and that are required to achieve the expected results of the project. Expenses will be covered subject to the applicant signing a funding agreement in the form of a contribution with the CSA.

Eligible costs are limited to one or a combination of the following categories (see definitions):

• acquisition or rental of equipment (not to exceed 20% of the total project eligible costs);
• consultant services;
• data acquisition;
• laboratory analysis services;
• material and supplies;
• overhead (administrative) costs (not to exceed 15% of project eligible costs);
• salaries and benefits (only the employee salary rates are authorized as admissible costs);
• travel; and
• publications and communications services in the case of Open science (please see section 8.7)

The same eligible costs categories will apply in the case of an extension.

7. Extensions - Two (2) step application process

Projects funded under this AO will have the possibility to be extended. The extension would be to continue TRL progression (up to TRL-6). Additional funding for a project could be provided up to a total maximum of $4M. Project duration should not extend beyond March 31, 2024^{Footnote 1}.

Extension(s) will have to be initiated by a request to the CSA by the Recipient. If the request is deemed acceptable, the CSA will invite the recipient to submit for evaluation a proposal detailing the work to be performed in the extension.

7.1 Request to extend

7.1.1 Required documentation

Near the completion of the project scope defined in the contribution agreement, a recipient can make a request to the CSA, in writing, to continue TRL progression (up to TRL-6) of the developed technology. The request must include

• The results of the work performed;
• Confirmation of the potential of the technology in integrating lunar mission supply chains;
• A summary of the work to be performed in the extension along with the requested additional funding and duration of the work (not to exceed March 31, 2024^{Footnote 1})

The request is to be mailed to the CSA Program Authority as defined in the contribution agreement. The request to extend will be validated against the eligibility criteria listed in section 7.3.1.

7.1.2 Service standards

Recipients will be notified in writing of decisions about the extension of their project. Applicants whose requests meet the eligibility criteria listed in section 7.3.1 will receive an invitation to submit to the CSA a proposal detailing the additional R&D to be performed. The CSA reserves the right to close the AO at anytime or if it determines that the AO is fully subscribed.

• Acknowledgement: The CSA's goal is to acknowledge receipt within five (5) business days of receiving the letter of intent.
• Decision: The CSA's goal is to respond to the Letter of intent within three (3) weeks of the reception.

7.2 Extension proposal

7.2.1 Required documentation

Only applicants whose projects qualify for an extension and have been invited to submit a proposal will have the opportunity to provide the following documentation for project evaluation:

• One copy of full Proposal:
  • A description of the project that responds to the evaluation criteria in Appendix A
  • An itemized and balanced budget for the project, indicating projected expenditures, cash flow requirements as well as confirmed and potential revenues and other sources of funds (in more details than is required in sections 3 and 4 of the Application Form);
  • The names, titles and telephone numbers of persons responsible for managing the project; and
  • The résumés of each team member responsible for managing the project and key technical personnel. The résumés should be limited to two pages with only information that is relevant to the application.
• Letters of interest/support;
• A copy of the document(s) confirming the legal name of the applicant if it has changed since initial application;
• Letters from other funding contributors confirming their contributions, if applicable;
• The Declaration on Confidentiality, Access to Information Act and Privacy Act form signed by the duly authorized representative (refer to the Applicant Declaration on Confidentiality, Access to Information Act and Privacy Act section included in the application form);
• For organizations in Quebec, M-30 Supporting Documentation form completed and signed by the duly authorized representative (refer to the M-30 form for organizations in Quebec included in the application form);
• A single PDF-formatted file containing copies (identical to the paper copies) of all the above-requested documents with all security features disabled on standard electronic media (USB memory key, CD, or DVD). The application must be included in the file as a searchable PDF-formatted document (PDF/A-1a format preferred). If there is any discrepancy between the hard and the soft copies, the hard copy takes precedence.
• If the project is executed through a partnership, a completed original Partner Application Form (Word, 94 KB) for each partner, signed by the duly authorized representative of the partner. Partner application forms are to be submitted in paper and in PDF.
• The financial statements for the last two years and the most recent interim results for each eligible recipients involved in the application. Financial statements and interim results are to be submitted in paper and in PDF. The financial statements should be provided in a separate PDF file.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the application complies with all relevant federal, provincial and territorial legislation and municipal bylaws.

Proposals must be mailed to the CSA Program Authority as defined in the contribution agreement.

7.2.2 Service standards - Extension proposal

Applicants will be notified in writing of decisions regarding their application. The CSA has set the following service standards for processing times, acknowledgement of receipt, funding decisions and payment procedures.

• Acknowledgement: The CSA's goal is to acknowledge receipt within five (5) business days of receiving the extension application package.
• Decision: The CSA's goal is to respond to the proposal within ten (10) weeks of the reception of the proposal date and to send a contribution agreement amendment for signature within 4 (four) weeks after formal approval of the proposal.
• Payment: The CSA's goal is to issue payment within six (6) weeks of the successful fulfillment of the requirements outlined in the contribution agreement.

Compliance with these service standards is a shared responsibility. Applicants must submit all required documentation in a timely fashion.

7.3 Evaluation of the extension request

7.3.1 Eligibility criteria

• Initial scope completed and results demonstrated
• Represents an eligible recipient as defined in Section 3.1;
• Represents an eligible project as defined in Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4;
• Meets the basic R&D definition in Section 3.5; and
• Meets program funding provisions in Section 7.4.

7.3.2 Point rated evaluation criteria

Applications will be evaluated according to the following point rated criteria:

1. Innovation and market need (25%)
2. Project feasibility, resources and risk assessment (20%)
3. Outcomes and benefits to Canada (55%)

The definition of the criteria and scoring grid are specified in Appendix B.

7.3.3 Evaluation process for the extension

Only applications that have passed the eligibility assessment listed in Section 7.3.1 will be given further consideration.

Once the eligibility criteria are confirmed, an individual evaluation of the screened applications will be performed according to the criteria listed in Section 7.3.2. Evaluators shall be familiar with the field relevant to the applications and may include representatives of other Canadian government departments as well as external consultants.

An application must receive an overall minimum score of 85% as well as the minimum specified thresholds per criteria to be considered further for funding.

Before a final decision is made, the CSA's Program Manager responsible for this AO may seek input and advice from other organizations, including (but not limited to) federal, provincial, territorial and municipal government agencies and organizations.

7.4 Available funding and duration of the extension

The total funding available under this AO is currently expected to be approximately $13M, including extensions.

The a total maximum contribution for any project going through an extension is $4M. Projects being can be extended up to March 31, 2024^{Footnote 1}. Any request to extend beyond March 31, 2024^{Footnote 1} can be rejected.

The overall number of extensions awarded will depend on the availability of funds.

Approved proposals will be eligible for a total government (federal, provincial/territorial and municipal) assistance of up to a maximum of 75% of total eligible project costs. Thus, the maximum assistance of $4 million will be available for projects with $5.33 million of total eligible project costs.

To determine the amount of funding to be allocated, consideration will be given to the availability of CSA funds, the total cost of the project, and the other confirmed sources of funds provided by other stakeholders and the applicant.

Applicants must identify all sources of funding in their applications and confirm this information in a funding agreement if the project is selected for funding. Upon completion of a project, the recipient must also disclose all sources of funding.

The CSA reserves the right not to accept any proposals or to reduce the amount of the contributions at its entire discretion.

8. Funding agreements

8.1 Payments

The CSA and each successful applicant (the recipient) will sign a funding agreement. This is a condition for any payment made by the CSA with respect to the approved project.

Payments for contribution agreements will be made in accordance with the process and the reporting requirements described in the signed funding agreement. Upon notice of a successful application, the CSA will have no liability until a funding agreement is signed by both parties. Only eligible costs incurred after the funding agreement is signed and indicated in the agreement will be reimbursed.

8.2 Audit

The recipient of a funding agreement shall keep proper records of all documentation related to the funded project, for the duration of the project and for six (6) years after the completion date of the project, in the event of an audit. This documentation shall be available upon request.

8.3 Conflict of interest

In the funding agreement, the recipient will certify that any current or former public office holder or public servant it employs complies with the provisions of the relevant Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders and the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector respectively.

Note: Current employees of the CSA are not eligible to participate in any way in any application under this AO.

8.4 Intellectual property

All intellectual property developed by the recipient in the course of the project shall vest in the recipient.

8.5 Organizations in Quebec

An organization in Quebec whose operations are partially or fully funded by the province of Quebec may be subject to the Act Respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif, R.S.Q., Chapter M-30.

Under Sections 3.11 and 3.12 of this Act, certain entities/organizations, as defined in the meaning of the Act, such as municipal bodies, school bodies, or public agencies, must obtain authorization from the Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes, as indicated by the Act, before signing any funding agreement with the Government of Canada, its departments or agencies, or a federal public agency.

Consequently, any entity that is subject to the Act is responsible for obtaining such authorization before signing any funding agreement with the Government of Canada.

Quebec applicants must complete, sign and include the M-30 Supporting Documentation form with their application.

8.6 Performance measurement

The CSA will ask the recipients to report on the following topics:

• Knowledge creation
  • Knowledge production
    • Initial and final TRL achieved under the project
    • Number of technology breakthroughs
    • Achievements resulting from research
  • Publications and presentations
  • Number and types of Foreground intellectual property (FIP) generated (e.g., trademark, patent, copyright, know-how, etc.)
• Capacity building
  • HQP (by gender) involved directly and indirectly in the project
  • Number of students or post-docs involved during the project
  • Number of young professionals involved during the project
  • Number and nature of industrial core capabilities and products developed
  • Number and percentage of technologies that are contenders for future missions
  • Number and percentage of technologies that are embarked on a mission *after project
  • Number of Canadian space technologies developed that are adapted and used on earth or re-used in space
• Collaboration
  • Number of different organizations involved
  • Number of different disciplines
• Benefits generated by the Canadian Government support in the short to medium (term 2-5 years) to be measured
  • Return on Investment (ROI) that the government contribution has supported.
  • Success Stories in the sale/use of the developed technology
  • Evolution of the company and positioning in the world market

8.7 Open science

The CSA wishes to promote the dissemination of findings that results from the projects it funds as quickly and to the greatest number of people as possible. Improved access to scientific results not only allows scientists to use a broader range of resources and knowledge, but also improves research collaboration and coordination, strengthens citizen engagement and supports the economy.

Thus, the CSA promotes the use of open access publication and archiving by recipients in order to facilitate the widest dissemination of findings that results from its funded projects. Thus, recipients are invited to publish, in a timely matter, their articles by using one of the following methods:

1. Accessible online repository (institutional or disciplinary) so that the publication is freely accessible.
2. Journal offering open access to articles.

The publication costs are eligible expenses as defined in section 6.2. It should be noted that these two methods are not mutually exclusive and that recipients are encouraged to use both.

Finally, the CSA wishes to receive, as a courtesy, a copy of the funded publications (if not freely accessible) or the hyperlink (if freely accessible) and its digital object identifier (DOI). These will be use to improve accessibility by including them in the CSA funded publications directory.

9. Privacy notice statement

The CSA manages and protects the information provided by the applicant under the Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act. By submitting your personal information, you consent to its collection, use and disclosure in accordance with the following Privacy Statement, which explains how the information about the applicant will be processed.

The information is collected under the CSA Class G&C Program in Support of Awareness, Research and Learning - Research Component (ASC PPU 045) and Awareness and Learning Component (ASC PPU 040) . This information will be used for administration and application evaluation purposes. Personal information (such as name, contact information and biographical information) will be kept for 6 years and destroyed. According to the Privacy Act, any individual may, upon request,

1. have access to his or her personal data and
2. request correction of the incorrect information.

Applicants should also note that information relating to the Funding Agreement could be disclosed publicly in accordance with the laws, policies and directives of the Government of Canada.

For additional information regarding this statement, please contact:

10. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

It is the responsibility of the applicants to obtain clarification of the requirements contained herein, if necessary, before submitting an application.

For any questions related to the AO, applicants shall use the following email address paelexploration-explorationleap@asc-csa.gc.ca. Questions and answers related to this AO will be posted on the CSA website in the Frequently asked questions section of this AO. The CSA will respond to questions received before 14:00 (ET), March 18, 2022.

At any point, applicants are welcome to share with the CSA their comments or suggestions regarding the program using the following generic email address or the generic web-based Comments and suggestions box.

11. Appendix A: Point-rated evaluation criteria

Application must receive an overall minimum score of 80% as well as minimum specified thresholds to be considered for funding. Obtaining the highest score possible maximizes your chance of being selected to obtain financial support (see Section 6). The following point-rated criteria will be evaluated using 4 benchmark statements. Each benchmark statement will receive the following percentage of maximum points according to the following scale:

1. Poor: 25%
2. Average: 50%
3. Good: 75%
4. Excellent: 100%

1. Innovation and market need (30% of overall score)

• Maximum: 30 points
• Minimum: 22.5 points (75%)

1.1 Degree of innovation

• Maximum: 10 points

This criterion evaluates the novelty associated with the new concepts, products and/or know-how to be developed. Innovation can range from sustaining innovations that improve the performance of existing products (but do not create new markets) to disruptive innovations that offer an entirely different value proposition leading to the creation of new markets. This criterion seeks answers to the following:

• What is the degree of innovation being proposed?

1.2 Market assessment

• Maximum: 20 points

This criterion evaluates the applicant's understanding of the market needs associated with the proposed technology. It includes a thorough analysis of market demand. Incidentally, this criterion also evaluates whether the proposal addresses the existence and number of competing alternatives on the market. This criterion seeks answers to the following:

• Is the applicant aware of its current market share?
• What are the factors that drive the demand for this technology?
• Who are the customers for this technology?
• Who are the competitors and what alternatives do they offer?

2. Project feasibility, resources and risk assessment (20% of overall score)

• Maximum: 20 points
• Minimum: 15 points (75%)

This criterion evaluates the completeness and effectiveness of the proposed implementation plan in directing the project to successful completion as well as the combined technical qualifications and experience of the team assembled to carry out the proposed work.

This criterion seeks answers to the following:

• Does the combined team have the necessary technical and managerial qualifications to execute the project?
• Does the proposal include a clear and complete implementation plan consisting of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), detailed Work Package Descriptions (WPD), schedule, milestones, resource (personnel, facilities, laboratories, field sites, specialized equipment, etc.) availability and allocation as well as risk identification and mitigation?
• Does the proposed implementation plan seem credible and well suited to the project objectives, and does it embody sound methodology and management?

3. Outcomes and benefits to Canada (50% of overall score)

• Maximum: 50 points
• Minimum: 37.5 points (75%)

3.1 Path to commercial opportunities

• Maximum: 15 points

This criterion evaluates the applicant's roadmap for implementing the technology in the lunar mission supply chain. This criterion seeks answers to the following:

• Does the applicant have a post-project strategy, with expected budget and schedule, to further develop the technology in order to achieve commercial potential?
• What are the relevant lunar mission supply chain opportunities for this technology?
• What are the opportunities to re-use the technology in space or on Earth?

3.2 Competitive advantage and economic benefits

• Maximum: 30 points

This criterion assesses the merit and potential of the proposed project to positively affect the company's competitive advantage and/or overall market share. It is recognized that an improvement in the company's overall market share (or competitive advantage) can be achieved through creating a new market, penetrating for the first time an existing one and/or increasing one's position in an already accessed market:

• How will the project impact the company's competitive advantage in the lunar economy?
• What impact will the project have on the company's growth in terms of size (workforce) and revenues ?
• Will the project impact positively other Canadian firms?

3.3 Public benefits

• Maximum: 5 points

This criterion assesses the merit and potential of the proposed project to positively affect the Canadian public. This criterion also evaluates the degree to which this project will help retain and enhance the number of HQP as well as their knowledge and expertise through their involvement in this project and the degree to which the project encourages Canadians to develop STEM skills in order to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.

This criterion seeks answers to the following:

• How is this project affecting the life of the broader Canadian public?
• Will this project help retain or enhance the number of skilled workers (project managers, engineers, scientists, post-doc fellows, and technicians) in the space sector, through their involvement in this activity?
• Does this project have the potential to stimulate the creation of highly skilled jobs in Canada?
• Does this project involve students and post-doc fellows to help develop their STEM skills?

12. Appendix B: Point-rated evaluation criteria for extension

Application must receive an overall minimum score of 85% as well as minimum specified thresholds to be considered for funding. Obtaining the highest score possible maximizes your chance of being selected to obtain financial support (see Section 6). The following point-rated criteria will be evaluated using 4 benchmark statements. Each benchmark statement will receive the following percentage of maximum points according to the following scale:

5. Poor: 25%
6. Average: 50%
7. Good: 75%
8. Excellent: 100%

1. Market need (25% of overall score)

• Maximum: 25 points
• Minimum: 18.75 points (75%)

1.1 Market assessment

• Maximum: 25 points

This criterion evaluates the applicant's understanding of the market needs associated with the proposed technology. It includes a thorough analysis of market demand. Incidentally, this criterion also evaluates whether the proposal addresses the existence and number of competing alternatives on the market. This criterion seeks answers to the following:

• Is the applicant aware of its current market share?
• What are the factors that drive the demand for this technology?
• Who are the customers for this technology?
• Who are the competitors and what alternatives do they offer?

2. Project feasibility, resources and risk assessment (20% of overall score)

• Maximum: 20 points
• Minimum: 15 points (75%)

This criterion evaluates the completeness and effectiveness of the proposed implementation plan in directing the project to successful completion as well as the combined technical qualifications and experience of the team assembled to carry out the proposed work.

This criterion seeks answers to the following:

• Does the combined team have the necessary technical and managerial qualifications to execute the project?
• Does the proposal include a clear and complete implementation plan consisting of a WBS, detailed WPD, schedule, milestones, resource (personnel, facilities, laboratories, field sites, specialized equipment, etc.) availability and allocation as well as risk identification and mitigation?
• Does the proposed implementation plan seem credible and well suited to the project objectives, and does it embody sound methodology and management?

3. Outcomes and benefits to Canada (55% of overall score)

• Maximum: 55 points
• Minimum: 41.25 points (75%)

3.1 Path to commercial opportunities

• Maximum: 30 points

This criterion evaluates the applicant's roadmap for implementing the technology in the lunar mission supply chain. This criterion seeks answers to the following:

• Does the applicant have a post-project strategy, with expected budget and schedule, to further develop the technology in order to achieve commercial potential?
• What are the relevant lunar mission supply chain opportunities for this technology?
• What are the opportunities to re-use the technology in space or on Earth?

3.2 Competitive advantage and economic benefits

• Maximum: 20 points

This criterion assesses the merit and potential of the proposed project to positively affect the company's competitive advantage and/or overall market share. It is recognized that an improvement in the company's overall market share (or competitive advantage) can be achieved through creating a new market, penetrating for the first time an existing one and/or increasing one's position in an already accessed market:

• How will the project impact the company's competitive advantage in the lunar economy?
• What impact will the project have on the company's growth in terms of size (workforce) and revenues ?
• Will the project impact positively other Canadian firms?

3.3 Public benefits

• Maximum: 5 points

This criterion assesses the merit and potential of the proposed project to positively affect the Canadian public. This criterion also evaluates the degree to which this project will help retain and enhance the number of HQP as well as their knowledge and expertise through their involvement in this project and the degree to which the project encourages Canadians to develop STEM skills in order to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.

This criterion seeks answers to the following:

• How is this project affecting the life of the broader Canadian public?
• Will this project help retain or enhance the number of skilled workers (project managers, engineers, scientists, post-doc fellows, and technicians) in the space sector, through their involvement in this activity?
• Does this project have the potential to stimulate the creation of highly skilled jobs in Canada?
• Does this project involve students and post-doc fellows to help develop their STEM skills?