2023108-IT-ACAN - Research Intelligence Platform

BACKGROUND:
Notice is hereby given by the University of Ottawa of the intent to enter a contract to procure Research Intelligence Platform from Strider Technologies Inc. (Strider) for the University of Ottawa’s Strategic Initiatives Research – Security Directorate (SIR). This will allow the University of Ottawa to identify, manage and visualize research security risks related to partnerships and research activities with foreign entities. Strider’s Risk Intelligence Platform designed specificities to respond to nation-state-directed activities targeting IP and supply chains.
Advanced research conducted in Canadian academic institutions presents an attractive target for foreign states or groups. The illicit acquisition of the results of this cutting-edge research can result in the loss of intellectual property, can negatively impact publication opportunities and subsequent patent rights, and the ability to realize the economic fruits of the research. In addition to potentially damaging the integrity of Canadian academic institutions and their research programs, the illicit transfer of certain types of research could also potentially contribute to advancements in the military and intelligence capabilities of states or groups whose aims run counter to Canadians interests and may also place institutions and researchers in violation of Canadian law or regulations.
To help Canadian universities safeguarding their research a start was made (by the federal government) with funding provided in Budget 2022 in the amount of $125 million over five years for “Research Support Fund” to “build capacity within post-secondary institutions to identify, assess and mitigate potential risks to research security. Budget 2022 also launched a Research Security Center, established at Public Safety Canada, as a key point of contact with universities on national security issues. The federal government has also enacted a set of new national security guidelines for research partnerships for Canadian universities.  
Supporting information:
The institution-specific and application-specific set of knowledge possessed by Strider cannot be found elsewhere in the public domain, but within state intelligence services. A substitute resource would not be acceptable to the client and would not have the skills and capabilities required to fulfill the requirements of the contract.
PROCESS;
Suppliers who consider their SAAS Software functional, successfully tested, readily available and fully compliant to the ACAN minimum requirements may submit in writing a statement of specifications to the contact person identified in this Notice, on or before the closing date of this Notice.  In the statement of specifications, the supplier must unequivocally demonstrate how their SAAS Software, at minimum, equals, or exceeds the stated requirements.
If no other supplier submits a statement of specifications, on or before the closing date of this Notice, the competitive requirements of the University of Ottawa will be considered having been met.
Following notification to suppliers not successful in unequivocally demonstrating that their statement of specifications equals or exceeds the requirements set out in this Notice, the contract may then be awarded to the pre-identified supplier. (Strider Technologies Inc.)
Date of issue: October 25th, 2023   
Closing Date: November 20th, 2023, at 3:00:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time






INTENDED USE:

 The following characteristics are those required minimum requirements for the software | application:

University of Ottawa requires first rate expertise in providing strategic intelligence specifically designed to help visualize, manage, and respond to risks specific to research and innovation. The supplier will deliver open-source strategic intelligence to organizations through a data as a service (DaaS) model. This data enables clients to visualize, manage, and respond to state-sponsored risk across organization. Strider data also help clients screen third-party entities, partners, visitors, and other collaborators for connections to restricted or high-risk entities.

The specific scope of services identified in the contract with this University of Ottawa client requires first rate expertise in providing strategic intelligence specifically designed to help visualize, manage, and respond to risks specific to research and innovation.

 

1. The software application must be a full stack web hosted SAAS research security and economic statecraft intelligence solution for use in protection technology, talent, and supply chains.

2. The software must include collection of open-source data globally from tens of thousands of primary sources, including global patent data, research publication data, publicly available websites, foreign government websites and databases, employment data, and corporate financial disclosures.

3. Collection of open-source data for the tool must occur in Russian, Farsi, Mandarin, and Cantonese, and must be translated into English for inclusion in the platform.

4. New data points must be gathered on a daily basis, and users must receive new data on third party entities on a monthly basis at minimum. Risk signals within an organization must be updated at least quarterly.

5. Data points gathered through AI and other tools must be verified by deep-dive intelligence experts with foreign language capabilities to ensure the credibility of information. The operational team must have significant experience in research, economics, intelligence, and national security.

6. The software must include the provision of a platform | tool to filter, sort, and interpret data points. This platform must use tools | signals to assist in the manual interpretation of risk types.

7. The platform | tool must overlay global data with publicly available university data to provide customized analysis for the post-secondary sector.

8. The vendor must include training for uOttawa users.

9. The vendor must provide technical assistance and support at minimum 16 hours per day. The vendor must also undertake regular platform maintenance and ongoing feature development.

10. Available subject matter experts for further issue-based discussions.

11. uOttawa must be able to request up to 3 customize report per quarter (12 annually) on entities not captured by intelligence experts.

12. The proponent’s senior management team cadre should have significant government intelligence experience.