Tender: MINERVA Initiative — Uncrewed Ground Vehicle for Tactical Cargo and Munitions Delivery (DND)

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The Department of National Defence (DND) is seeking a supplier for the MINERVA Initiative: an uncrewed ground system (UGS) to conduct short‑range tactical delivery of cargo and munitions that is domestically produced, easy to operate and maintain, and rugged for Canadian Army operations. This Phase 2 prototype competition under the Innovative Solutions Canada Call for Proposals 004 accepts TRL 5–9 submissions and requires a complete system composed of a ground vehicle, sensor payload, ground control station (GCS), radio, battery with multi‑battery charger and a remote antenna placed 100 m from the GCS. Mandatory performance requirements include operation between -20°C and +40°C, unladen maximum weight 410 kg, minimum unladen RF control radius 5 km with live video, 10 km autonomous radius, minimum speed 15 km/h and 4 hours continuous unladen endurance, towing 275 kg, onboard payload 140 kg, carriage of a tri‑wall container 122 x 102 x 92 cm, day/night navigation on paved roads/sand/gravel at 15° gradients, sustained mobility ≥7 km/h with rated payload, climb 20% grades, traverse 15% side slopes, negotiate a 250 mm vertical step and cross a 500 m trench. Desired additional outcomes include deployable from stowed to mission‑ready in ≤30 minutes, two UGS stowable on a PLS deck (2.44 m x 6.10 m), option to operate via fibre‑optic or other non‑EM communications from ≥100 m, electric or hybrid power, front automated obstacle avoidance, noise ≤5 dB SPL at 500 m, NATO‑standard tow hook, aggregated projected production cost ≤ CAD 150,000 per system, and a GCS with mission planning simulation, ≥50 m remote antenna cable, direct and GNSS waypoint navigation, MGRS vehicle and camera position, vehicle orientation, real‑time full motion video and battery life display, TAK interface for PLI and return‑to‑location on loss of link. Offerors must provide a list of critical components (radio, GCS, on‑board computer, software) with OEM details and country of origin. Phase 2 funding is up to CAD 500,000, project duration up to 15 months, with an estimated five contracts; the challenge opens 24 August 2026 and closes 21 September 2026 at 14:00 Eastern, and prototype demonstrations require travel to Suffield, Alberta. Amendment 001 adds an attachment to the solicitation.