Northern Controlled Environment Agriculture Unit: Co-Design Study

The Canadian Space Agency is seeking a multidisciplinary team consisting of a Canadian Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) specialist and an Inuit-owned firm based in Nunavut to co-develop a conceptual design for a deployable CEA unit tailored to the extreme environmental and cultural conditions of Northern communities. The project aims to produce technical drawings, CAD models, and a comprehensive report that integrate mature and near-ready technologies into a novel system capable of supporting food security in Nunavut while simultaneously advancing capabilities for long-duration space missions. This initiative is not merely a technical exercise but a strategic effort to align space innovation with Indigenous-led sustainability goals, requiring the contractor to go beyond existing CEA solutions by customizing components for unprecedented terrestrial and space-relevant challenges. The design output will directly inform future Canadian Space Agency activities in both Earth-based Northern food systems and extraterrestrial food production. The solicitation prioritizes Inuit socio-economic participation through a mandatory Inuit Benefits Plan (IBP), which constitutes 35% of the overall award evaluation, with technical merit accounting for 40% and price for 25%. Inuit employment, ownership, and location within the Nunavut Settlement Area are core evaluation criteria, with specific scoring tied to the percentage of labor hours performed by eligible Inuit employees and the proportion of contract value awarded to Inuit-owned firms—up to 50% or more for maximum points. The contract requires full compliance with Canadian ethics and integrity standards, including disclosure of potential conflicts of interest, security clearances for all personnel, and prior approval for any subcontracting or personnel changes. Proposals must be submitted electronically by April 24, 2026, and include detailed deliverables across three technical and IBP annexes with strict page limits, alongside certifications confirming Canadian supplier status and adherence to non-discrimination and anti-bribery policies. The estimated contract value ranges from $595,000 to $745,000, inclusive of capped travel expenses, and the performance period extends from contract award through January 31, 2028, with inspections and acceptance conducted solely by the Canadian government. No U.S.-style contracting clauses or military standards apply; the framework is governed by Canadian procurement practices and emphasizes transparency, cultural relevance, and long-term community benefit.