The Canadian Space Agency yesterday issued a request for proposals for a $6 million Mars Exploration Science Rover (MESR) prototype as part of their Exploration Surface Mobility (ESM) program. The due date for proposals is June 8 and work must be completed by the end of December 2012.
Only companies residing or operating in Canada and incorporated, registered or recognized as such, under federal or provincial legislation and which carries on activities in Canada can qualify to win the RFP. As well, unlike in some past CSA contracts, the intellectual property will belong to the contractor.
This project is part of the governments Canada Economic Action Plan which provided $110 million in stimulus money to the CSA over three years. More than half of that stimulus money will be spent this year on two projects: Exploration Surface Mobility and the Next Generation Canadarm.