Deadline: 14 May 2020
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) is seeking a simple and eco-friendly way to lower emissions and reduce impact on the environment while managing refuse at GAC sites in Canada and abroad. Solutions currently exist for recyclables and compostable, but GAC is seeking a solution for the waste that is going to landfill.
GAC is looking for a solution to treat the waste that it produces, that is neither compostable nor recyclable, with the objective of lowering its emissions and reducing what is sent to landfills. The intent is to manage the Department’s refuse as three streams: recyclable, compostable, and waste that can be converted into fuel, thermal energy, and/or a usable product. Solutions sought through this challenge would support the third stream. Ideally, any materials that are not recyclable or compostable would become fuel or thermal energy for providing heat and hot water in GAC facilities, or a usable product. The solution will also use the waste to fuel its own operation. Treatment of waste on site will reduce haulage and use of landfill, will help lower Green House Gas (GHGs) emissions, reduce use of fossil fuels and reduce the related effects on the environment.
Solutions will enable GAC to improve on its current waste management and allow for onsite and environmentally friendly alternatives that minimize the amount of product that must be transported off site. Ultimately, solutions would be deployable within Canada and where needed. It may be that, to achieve the above, the initial phase in developing solutions will require an analysis of current waste production at the 125 Sussex GAC campus in Ottawa.
Outcomes
Proposed solutions must:
- be able to convert some of the garbage into energy to operate and the rest into a usable product
- be portable (i.e. ensure ease of regular movement by truck or something smaller to different locations)
- be user friendly (i.e. the program or mechanisms for its operation should be easy to understand and operate by the staff that will be placed in charge of them)
- be waterproof and able to function in extreme temperatures (- 35 degrees Celsius to +35 degrees Celsius) to accommodate the various seasons during the course of the year
- result in fewer CO2 emissions than a garbage truck for the same volume of garbage
- be able to process one 7-16 gallon-bag of garbage at a time
- be easily cleaned and have removable containers/basins that can be used to catch and transfer the product to wherever it will be used
- not release toxic fumes that will pollute the environment
- be able to fuel their own operation using waste
Funding Information
The maximum funding available for any Phase 1 contract resulting from this Challenge is $150,000.00 CAD excluding applicable taxes, shipping, travel and living expenses, as required, for up to 6 months (excluding submission of the final report).
Eligibility Criteria
Solution proposals can only be submitted by a small business that meets all of the following criteria:
- for profit
- incorporated in Canada (federally or provincially)
- 499 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
- research and development activities that take place in Canada
- 50% or more of its annual wages, salaries and fees are currently paid to employees and contractors who spend the majority of their time working in Canada
- 50% or more of its FTE employees have Canada as their ordinary place of work
- 50% or more of its senior executives (Vice President and above) have Canada as their principal residence
For more information, visit https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/101.nsf/eng/00089.html