Equipment Procurement

Projet ACCORD

Deputy Minister, Robert Fonberg

"This initiative is a critical step in progressing our commitment to early engagement of industry towards implementing the Canada First Defence Strategy."

ADM(Mat) Dan Ross

"ACCORD is an integral part of our strategy for getting industry engaged earlier in the procurement process.  Industry has made clear - and we have listened - that there is a lot that they can bring to the early stages of a project's development.  This will help Canada get the benefit of their ideas and advice, and should help companies - Canadian-based companies in particular - with an early warning of our procurement plans to inform their R&D, Business Development, Teaming and Partnering strategies."

Dr. Robert S. Walker ADM(S&T)

"The implementation of this new framework will provide industry/academia with a window into Canadian Defence requirements and will enable a pro-active investment into innovative research and development solutions."

ADM(IM) John Turner

"ACCORD will provide the Information Management Group with a key tool to continuously allow us to develop innovative IM and IT capabilities and provide ongoing leadership in the departmental IM/IT program."

Chief of Force Development

"Project ACCORD is expected to provide two important ingredients of improved force planning and management: richer options for force-development; and a shorter, faster and lower-cost path to conceive, design and build a balanced operational force."

Normand Massé, Director General, Public Works and Government Services Canada

"PWGSC-Acquisitions Branch fully supports the Canadian First Defence Strategy and is looking forward to participating in new innovative initiatives such as project ACCORD."

The Vision | The Mission | The Background | The Difference | The Project | The Concept | The Value | What’s New | Milestones | Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Us | Related Sites

The Vision

A unique relationship between industry, academia and the Government of Canada that unites the brightest minds and best ideas from around the globe to address critical defence capability issues.

The Mission

Create a Canadian independent and cooperative mechanism that will provide the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces with access to vital, valued and validated advice to address critical defence capability issues from the outset in an open and transparent environment.

The Background

Put simply, current equipment procurement processes in the Department of National Defence (DND) begin with the identification of a military capability gap that prevents the Canadian Forces (CF) from fulfilling their mandate and associated missions. This missing capability is then assessed by the Department through such mechanisms as Statements of Requirements and Requests for Proposals. As a result, a solution such as a specific piece of equipment is put forward and purchased by the DND to fill the capability gap.

These processes continue to ensure that the CF have the equipment they require to conduct missions here at home and around the globe. However, what they don’t do is enable key players within industry or academia to provide the Department with the vital, valued and validated advice it needs from the outset to ensure that it adopts and purchases the best possible solution to address the capability gap. As such, there needs to be a step between the moment at which a capability gap is identified and the formal procurement process is launched.

The Difference

The new Canadian independent and cooperative mechanism proposed by Project ACCORD will enable the Department of National Defence to acquire comprehensive, validated, transparent and impartial advice from the brightest minds and the best ideas in industry and academia from around the globe.

More specifically, independent mechanism proposed by Project ACCORD will enable:

  • a more comprehensive analysis of defence capability deficiencies;
  • the provision of vital, valuable and industry and academia validated advice on how to address defence capability deficiencies from the outset and throughout the procurement process;
  • maximum effectiveness and impact while reducing risks of implementation failures.

The Project

Project ACCORD is a DND initiative that will enable key players within the broad defence industry, academic and government realms to directly feed into the conception, development and analysis of future military capabilities for the CF.

Using the brightest minds and the best ideas from the public and private sectors in Canada and worldwide, this new mechanism will ensure that critical and unbiased input is integrated into procurement processes from the outset. This mechanism will operate in a fair, open and transparent environment – a key priority in the Government of Canada’s Procurement Reform agenda – and will streamline defence procurement process for maximum effectiveness and impact as identified in the Canada First Defence Strategy.

Project ACCORD is a multiyear project that is expected to roll-out in three phases:

  • Phase 1 – Options Analysis Study of possible Canadian concept options.
  • Phase 2 – Definition (Pilot Project) Initial concept option testing in a two year pilot project.
  • Phase 3 – Implementation (Final Operational Capability) Implementation of a Canadian independent body and process.

The Concept

The concept proposed by Project ACCORD is designed to ensure that industry and academia are engaged early and to streamline and influence the DND decision making process from capability planning to implementation. This mechanism will provide DND with vital, valued and validated advice. It will also provide industry and academia with early insight into defence challenges now and in the future.

The new Canadian independent and cooperative mechanism proposed by Project ACCORD will contribute to the Department current procurement processes in the following way:

Step 1 – Identify the Need

The Department, as part of its capability management process, would identify themes for which industry and academia can contribute in addressing the capability challenges.

Step 2 – Input to ACCORD Mechanism

Based on these themes, the new mechanism proposed by Project ACCORD would make a decision to proceed, or not, based on anticipated benefits to both DND and Canadian industry and academia.

Step 3 – Output from ACCORD Mechanism

The mechanism would analyze the theme and provide unbiased, industry-wide, and validated advice to DND.

Step 4 – Output Exploitation

DND would take into consideration this advice in determining its way ahead.

The Value

The value in engaging the combined breadth and depth of the broader defence community in the conception, development and analysis of future defence capabilities is significant. That is why the Government of Canada is drawing upon the examples of similar organizations, such as the United-Kingdom’s Niteworks enterprise and Australia’s RPDE program, in order to streamline and independent Canadian body and process that will ensure maximum effectiveness and impact for CF capabilities.

Benefits to Canadian industry/academia

  • early engagement in the conception, development, analysis and procurement of future defence capabilities;
  • fair, open and transparent procurement processes;
  • opportunities to provide input in defence procurement processes; and
  • access to critical information to understand DND requirements in the short and long term;
  • enhanced Canadian industry competitiveness.

Benefits to the Department of National Defence

  • streamlined procurement practices within DND;
  • more complete ways of conducting capability assessments and addressing capability issues;
  • access to expert and industry validated advice from the brightest minds available worldwide in a timely and structured manner; and
  • mitigate the risk of implementation issues.

What’s New

Following input received from industry and academia in the Fall of 2009, the Project Team is just about ready to launch its Request for Proposals (RFP) for Phase 1 – Options Analysis. The RFP is expected to be released in the Spring of 2010.

Milestones

Achievements:

  • Project ACCORD has been approved by the Deputy Minister of National Defence.
  • Similar organizations in allied nations, namely Australia’s RPDE Program and the UK’s Niteworks, have provided input to the Assistant Deputy Minister (Science and Technology), Chief of Force Development, and Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel) within the DND.
  • Canadian academia and Defence Industry stakeholders have been engaged.

What Lies Ahead:

  • Fall 2010 – Request for Proposals for Phase 1 – Options Analysis
  • Winter 2011 – Contract Award for Phase 1 – Options Analysis
  • Winter 2012 – Phase 2 – Definition (Pilot Project)
  • Spring 2014 – Phase 3 – Implementation (Final Operational Capability)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Project ACCORD’s long term objective?

The overall objective of Project ACCORD is to establish a mechanism that will enable the Department of National Defence to more efficiently and effectively formulate solutions to correct or mitigate Canadian Forces capability deficiencies. Such solutions will be based on impartial and timely advice using the brightest minds and the best ideas from the board defence community worldwide, while operating in a fair, open and transparent environment.

I represent Canadian industry/academia. How can I get involved?

Project ACCORD is a multiyear project that is expected to roll-out in three phases from 2011 to 2014. Industry and academia can get involved by taking part in the project’s Request for Information, Requests for Proposals, industry and academia engagement events or by contacting the project team.

How will the independent body proposed by Project ACCORD work?

At this time, it is too early to determine how the independent body proposed by Project ACCORD will work. As the Project moves through Phase 1 – Options Analysis Phase, a study of possible Canadian concept options for this body will be conducted.

How will this project change the way the Department of National Defence currently works with its industry partners and academia?

At this time, it is too early to determine how Project ACCORD will change the way the Department currently works with its industry partners and academia. However, the early engagement of industry and academia in the conception, development, analysis and procurement of future defence capabilities will provide fair, open and transparent procurement processes, opportunities for industry and academia to provide input in defence procurement processes and will enable the Department to access expert and industry validated advice from the brightest minds available worldwide in a timely and structured manner.

How does Project ACCORD differ from Technology Roadmaps?

Technology Roadmaps are technology development driven, while the independent body and mechanism proposed by Project ACCORD is a new way of obtaining vital, valuable and validated advice on how to address defence capability deficiencies.

What will happen to the project after the pilot phase ends?

Based on the successful outcome of the pilot, the new body proposed by Project ACCORD will be fully integrated and implemented into the Department of National Defence practices best practices.

How can I get in touch with the Project ACCORD management team?

You may get in touch with the project team via:

E-mail: accord@forces.gc.ca

Project ACCORD
Labelle, 4210 Labelle,1-FE01
National Defence Headquarters
Major-General George R. Pearkes Building
101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0K2

Related Sites

- NITEworks (http://www.niteworks.net/)

- RPDE (http://www.rpde.org.au/)