Space Technology Demonstrations for SMEs, Not-for-Profit Organizations and Universities AO

3.1 Eligible Recipients

Eligible recipients are limited to:

• Canadian universities;
• For-profit organizations of less than 500 employees;
• Not-for-profit organizations;

All must be established and operating in Canada.

Multiple eligible recipients can collaborate on the same project through a partnership, where all partners are all liable in the contribution agreement and are all considered funding recipients.

3.2 Eligible Projects

This AO supports the basic R&D of space technologies. Only technologies targeting a demonstration in space are eligible. Projects seeking demonstration in a suborbital flight platform, e.g. sounding rockets, are ineligible for this AO. Demonstrations through the International Space Station will only be eligible if the access is obtained through commercial service providers.

Projects related to Application development, Earth Observation data, Satellite Telecommunications data, and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) data are not eligible, as they are or will be supported through other funding opportunities.

Eligible technologies must have reached TRL-6 (System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment (ground or space)) at the beginning of the project. The design and development of an instrument, payload or platform (e.g. Basic R&D from TRL 1 to TRL 5) is excluded from the eligible scope of projects funded under this AO. However, projects funded under this AO can include the R&D required to adapt an existing instrument or payload, or to develop a protoflight model based on the existing design for its integration on a demonstration platform. Activities such as adaptation of interfaces (electrical and mechanical), volume, mass or power and integration/modification of components to withstand the space environment are also eligible.

Eligible projects are not required to be manifested with a payload delivery service provider to apply for Project Phase 1. However, eligible projects will be required to be manifested with a payload delivery service provider to apply for Project Phase 2.

All development phases necessary for a project are eligible. Any logical breakdown or combination of these phases can constitute a funded project under this AO. However, breaking down a project into numerous phases submitted as distinct proposals to obtain more than the maximum grant or contribution under this AO is not allowed. Furthermore, the completion of a funded phase does not automatically guarantee future 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 building industrial capabilities, i.e. projects that aim to develop new technologies and/or know-how.

3.4 Links to the Class G&C Program Objectives

To be eligible, projects supported under this AO must contribute to the achievement of at least one of the following objectives:

1. To support the development of science or technology relevant to the priorities of the Canadian Space Agency;
2. To foster the continuing development of a critical mass of researchers and highly qualified people (HQP) in Canada in areas relevant to the priorities of the CSA.

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 Phase 1 Application 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 5.2 of the Phase 1 proposal 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 routine engineering or current operations; and
• Substantiate the current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and the proposed TRL expected to be reached (up to TRL 8).

The following Technology Readiness Level (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)

TRL 7 

System prototype demonstration in a space environment

TRL 8 

Actual system completed and "flight qualified" through test and demonstration

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

4.1 Application for Phase 1

4.2 Application for Phase 2

Upon completion of Phase 1 activities, participants could be invited to submit proposals for Phase 2 through funding offers. Schedule relative to this process will be determined at a later date.

Instructions to apply for Phase 2 will be made available to Phase 1 participants in due time.

4.3 Service Standards – Complete Applications

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 of proposals within 2 weeks of receiving the completed application package for both Project Phases 1 and 2.

Decision: The CSA's goal is to respond to the proposal within 11 weeks of the AO's closing date for Project Phase 1, within 8 weeks of the funding offers closing for Project Phase 2.

Agreement: The CSA's goal is to send a contribution agreement for signature within 4 weeks after formal approval of the proposal for both Project Phases 1 and 2.

Payment:

Contribution: The CSA's goal is to issue payment within 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. Service standards may vary by AO.

5.1 Eligibility Criteria

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

5.2 Evaluation Criteria

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

For Project Phase 1:

1. Innovation and Need (20% of overall score)
2. Project Feasibility, Resources and Risk Assessment (20% of overall score)
3. Outcomes and Benefits (60% of overall score)

For Project Phase 2:

1. Project Feasibility, Resources and Risk Assessment (60% of overall score)
2. Outcomes and Benefits (40% of the overall score)

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

5.3 Evaluation Process

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

Once the eligibility criteria are confirmed, evaluators will assess the screened applications according to the criteria listed in Section 5.2. Evaluators will be familiar with the fields relevant to the applications and may include representatives from other Canadian Government departments as well as external consultants.

An application must achieve an overall minimum score of 60% for Project Phase 1 applications, and 70% for Project Phase 2 applications, as well as the specified minimum thresholds for each criterion 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.

The results obtained in this AO could take into account certain factors in the final decision to grant funding, such as, but not limited to, the representativeness of the four designated groups (woman, Aboriginal person, disabled person or member of a visible minority), regional distribution, academic level, distribution between universities and post-secondary educational institutions, etc.

Other factors may also be taken into account such as, but not limited to, the priorities of the Government of Canada and the CSA, growth potential, marketing opportunity, return on investment, involvement of HQP and students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), etc.

6.1 Available Funding and Duration

This initiative is structured in two phases. For Project Phase 1, CSA will provide to a maximum of 10 beneficiaries a maximum contribution of $150K per project over a maximum period of 4 months, for a maximum total of $1.5M. For Project Phase 2, CSA will provide to a maximum of 3 beneficiaries a maximum contribution of $2M over a maximum period of 36 months, for a maximum total of $6M. The total maximum available funding of the entire AO is $7.5M.

The maximum available funding and maximum number of beneficiaries could be increased at the discretion of the CSA.

Eligible recipients can be funded for only one (1) project under this AO.

The CSA reserves the right to reject any proposals or reduce the amount of the contributions at its entire discretion.

Approved proposals will be eligible for a total amount of government assistance (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) of up to 75% of total project eligible 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.

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.

7.1 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 (including advance payments) 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.

7.2 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.

7.3 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.

7.4 Intellectual Property

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

7.5 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 (L.R.Q., c. 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 (SQRC), 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.

7.6 Performance Measurement

The CSA will ask the recipients to report on certain aspects of their projects such as:

• Knowledge Creation
  • Knowledge production (including publications)
  • Presentations
  • Intellectual property (including patents)
• Capacity Building
  • Project's research team (including highly qualified personnel supported)
• Collaboration
  • Partners' contributions
  • Partnerships
  • Multidisciplinary

7.7 Open Access Publications

In the event that publications result from the project, 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 manner, 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.

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 publications (if not freely accessible) or the hyperlink (if freely accessible) and its digital object identifier (DOI). These will be used to improve accessibility by including them in the CSA publications directory.

10.1 Point-Rated Criteria for Phase 1 – Definition

Application must receive an overall minimum score of 60% for Phase 1 applications 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 45 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%

10.2 Point-Rated Criteria for Phase 2 – Implementation

A Phase 2 Application must receive an overall minimum score of 70% for Phase 2 applications 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 3 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%