Artificial Intelligence Behaviour Monitoring Solution

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is soliciting proposals for an Artificial Intelligence Behaviour Monitoring Solution to monitor the movements and vital signs of detainees in custody. This initiative aims to enhance the safety of individuals in RCMP holding cells, particularly in remote areas, by providing early warnings for destructive or life-threatening behaviors.

Background and Purpose The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), in partnership with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, is actively seeking innovative technological solutions to enhance the safety and well-being of individuals held in custody. The aim is to develop an Artificial Intelligence Behaviour Monitoring Solution capable of monitoring detainee movements and vital signs within RCMP holding cells. Such a solution will provide real-time alerts to RCMP personnel, enabling prompt intervention in cases of concerning or life-threatening situations. This initiative is especially crucial for remote and rural areas where officers may not be immediately available at the detachment. Problem Statement Current operational policies at RCMP do not allow guards to remain in the holding cell area without the presence of an officer. In many remote locations, an officer might not be onsite, leading to delays in addressing potential emergencies. The proposed AI solution aims to bridge this gap by offering early detection of destructive or self-harm behaviors and signs of medical distress. This modernization effort is geared towards reducing in-cell deaths and bolstering public trust in RCMP's duty of care. Key Objectives and Expected Outcomes The solution must meet both mandatory and additional outcomes to qualify: - **Mandatory Outcomes**: - Detect and alert on destructive behaviors (e.g., fighting, hitting cell fixtures, reaching under the cell door). - Detect and alert on self-harm behaviors (e.g., strangulation, drowning attempts, headbanging). - Detect medical distress (e.g., abnormal heart and breath rates, extreme body temperature). - Comply with installation and maintenance guidelines, ensuring the system is tamper-proof and meets RCMP standards. - Allow for customized medical thresholds for detainees with pre-existing conditions. - Record and retain sensor data for post-incident analysis and compliance with RCMP’s Information Management policies. - Ensure contactless and non-wearable monitoring, with no visual cameras that could identify detainees. - **Additional Outcomes**: - Detect nefarious behaviors and distinguish multiple subjects within the same cell. - Operate efficiently across varying cell configurations, monitoring up to 6 cells from a single interface. - Be scalable for other uses, like transporting detainees. - Achieve an accuracy rate of 80-85%, including false positives. Eligibility Criteria To submit a proposal, the company must: - Be a for-profit small business incorporated in Canada. - Have 499 or fewer full-time equivalent employees. - Conduct at least 50% of research and development activities in Canada. - Ensure that 50% or more of wages, salaries, and fees are paid to Canadian employees and contractors. - Ensure that 50% or more senior executives reside in Canada. Funding Mechanism and Contract Details The challenge is structured into two phases: - **Phase 1**: - **Funding**: Up to $150,000 CAD. - **Duration**: Up to 6 months, excluding final report submission. - **Contracts**: Estimated 2 contracts. - **TRL**: For solutions between TRL 1 to 4. - **Phase 2**: - **Funding**: Up to $1,000,000 CAD. - **Duration**: Up to 24 months, excluding final report submission. - **Contracts**: Estimated 2 contracts. - **TRL**: For solutions between TRL 5 to 9. Eligible companies must clearly identify and prove the current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of their solution in their proposal. Proposals can only apply to one phase and will be evaluated based on how well they meet the challenge’s essential and additional outcomes. Evaluation Criteria The evaluation process has both mandatory and point-rated criteria: - **Mandatory Criteria**: Proposals must pass all mandatory criteria to proceed to the point-rated evaluation. This includes scope alignment, current TRL, innovation evidence, and advancement over current state-of-the-art solutions. - **Point-Rated Criteria**: Proposals are rated on how well they meet the additional outcomes, identification and mitigation of scientific and project risks, project plan feasibility, team capabilities, inclusivity, financial controls, and commercialization strategy. A minimum passing mark of 65 out of 130 points is required. Application Process Applicants must complete the Challenge Stream Submission Form with detailed information that demonstrates how their proposal meets each criterion. The deadline for submission is September 10, 2024, at 14:00 Eastern Time. Conclusion This grant represents a strategic initiative by the RCMP to leverage advanced AI technology to safeguard individuals in custody. By providing early detection of dangerous behaviors and medical distress, the AI Behaviour Monitoring Solution aims to enhance the overall safety and efficiency of RCMP holding cells, especially in remote areas. The initiative not only seeks to protect detainees but also aims to boost public confidence in RCMP’s commitment to safe custody practices. Small businesses with innovative technological solutions are encouraged to apply and contribute to this significant public safety challenge.