In brief
- Bids close Nov. 17, 2026 at 14:00 EST
- Two UGVs to be delivered in Ontario by March 26, 2027
- NRC has signed 1,351 contracts worth C$283.3 million in 2026
National Research Council Canada is seeking a supplier for two medium-size unmanned ground vehicles for its Center for Drone Innovation, with bids due Nov. 17, according to a notice on CanadaBuys.
The vehicles must be rugged and outdoor-capable and will serve as research and development platforms. The supplier must deliver both units in Ontario by March 26, 2027.
The competition is open only to Canadian suppliers under the Policy on Reciprocal Procurement. Selection will be based on the highest combined rating of technical merit and price. The NRC applies the Integrity Regime administered by Public Services and Procurement Canada.
GovMarket data shows the NRC has signed 1,351 contracts worth C$283.3 million in 2026.
For similar research and development work, the NRC has previously contracted MDA Systems, 1872087 Ontario, and Atco Frontec, with recorded values of C$69.8 million, C$41.5 million and C$15.5 million.
Procurement is through an open competitive Request for Proposal under the CFTA and CKFTA. Bids close at 14:00 EST on Nov. 17, 2026. The contract runs for 16 months starting Dec. 1, 2026. It is scheduled to end on March 31, 2028.
Key facts
* 2026 so far
| Year | Value | Contracts |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $213.6m | 2720 |
| 2022 | $273.3m | 2667 |
| 2023 | $210.8m | 2641 |
| 2024 | $319.2m | 2877 |
| 2025 | $270.9m | 2722 |
| 2026 | $283.3m | 1351 |
Who this buyer has used for this work
Written from published notices and GovMarket contract records. Totals cover GovMarket records, which start at different dates for each source.
