Innovative Solutions Canada - Deterministic artificial intelligence-assisted compliance checking for building permit applications

• Challenge Stream Submission Form

Who is eligible?

• For-profit businesses.
• Businesses incorporated in Canada, federally or provincially.
• Businesses with 499 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
• Businesses conducting research and development activities in Canada.
• Businesses that meet the Canada-based wage, workplace, and senior executive residence requirements set out for the Challenge Stream.

Eligible expenses

• Salary costs.
• Contractor's fees and sub-contracts.
• Travel costs in accordance with the National Joint Council Travel Directive.
• Reports and studies.
• Material costs, patenting costs, overhead, and capital costs, including equipment, testing tools, and instruments.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Land acquisition, leasing land, buildings, renovation or construction, other facilities, real estate fees and related costs.
• Financing charges, legal fees not linked to patenting, and loan interest payments.
• Goods and services received through donations or in kind.
• Property taxes.
• Lobbyist fees.

• Post-evaluation proposal selection may consider proposals from applicants signing the voluntary certification for Indigenous-owned companies or Black-owned businesses.
• Departmental and/or Government of Canada priorities, the number of investments across priorities, previous years' investments, the strength of individual proposals, similar initiatives being funded, and project types and technology readiness levels may be used in funding decisions.
• Priority may be given to firms with an in-depth knowledge of Canadian construction codes and experience in research and development of AI and digitalization solutions for the Canadian construction sector, or Provincial/Territorial/Municipal regulators.

• Submit the proposal using the Challenge Stream Submission Form on the ISC website under the specific challenge.
• If you cannot submit through the web-based system, contact the ISC Secretariat at solutions@ised-isde.gc.ca to arrange delivery before the Challenge Notice closing date and time.
• When the proposal is submitted, an automated email confirms receipt.
• Ensure the proposal is received by the Challenge Notice closing date and time, as late submissions will not be considered.

• Proposals are first assessed against all mandatory criteria; only proposals that pass proceed to the point-rated criteria.
• Canada may request clarifications or verification during evaluation, and failure to respond may result in the proposal being declared non-responsive.
• Responsive proposals are placed in a Challenge Pool of Pre-Qualified Proposals, but placement does not guarantee selection or a grant award.
• Each applicant receives a debrief communication noting the final results of the evaluation.
• Eligible recipients may be asked to provide interim progress reports, a final report, and to participate in business surveys for up to 5 years after completion of the project.

• No travel is anticipated, but a virtual integration test and demonstration of the solution with NRC digital construction codes is expected.
• Kick-off, progress review, and final review meetings will be conducted by telephone or videoconference.