Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund

2013-2014 Call for Proposals

Search and Rescue (SAR) is pleased to announce the 2013-2014 SAR New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF) Call for Proposals and to initiate the process of collecting submissions for financial year 2013/2014.

The 2013-2014 Call for Proposals will provide funding for projects that support the annual priorities of the National Search and Rescue Program.

The priorities are:

• Support the Organization and Sustainability of Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) - by leveraging best practices and sharing information on the delivery of GSAR services across Canada.

• Protect and Support SAR Volunteers - by improving the capability, assuring the sustainability and reducing the risk for SAR volunteers.

• Deliver Public Education - by utilizing broad public awareness and targeted outreach to reduce the frequency and severity of SAR incidents.

• Promote Interoperability through Common Platforms and Protocols - by promoting standardization and compatibility of systems, equipment and personnel to achieve greater integration and program effectiveness.

• Build Local SAR Capacity in the North and Remote Areas - by evaluating trends and being proactive in augmenting local capacity, currently and in the future, to prevent and respond to SAR incidents in the North and remote areas.

The intent of the SAR NIF is to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, economy and innovation of search and rescue activities as it relates to the response and prevention objectives of the National Search and Rescue Program.

All NIF submissions must be endorsed and prioritized in the region where the proposal is targeted.  Only those proposals that have been approved in the regions will be forwarded to Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) headquarters for national review, endorsement, prioritization and forwarding to the NSS Merit Board for approval. 

Following is a list of regional SAR Superintendents for submitting NIF proposals:

• Pacific Region:
  David.Heap@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Maritimes Region:
  Paul.Rudden@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Newfoundland/Labrador:
  Brian.Stone@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Quebec:
  André.Audet@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Central and Arctic:
  Marc.Gagnon@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Proposal submissions must be supported by CCG management and must demonstrate that they reflect at least one of the National SAR Program priorities listed above.

Details of the application process and procedures for submitting proposals to the SAR NIF are contained in the Applicant’s Guide available at: SAR New Initiatives Fund.

Regions must ensure that endorsed proposals are returned to the SAR Manager in Headquarters, no later than Friday, August 3, 2012 - 11:59p.m. (Eastern Time).

Applicants with questions concerning the SAR NIF application process may contact:  Anne-Marie Choquette, Manager, SAR NIF, National SAR Secretariat, Ottawa at: anne-marie.choquette@nss-snrs.gc.ca

In order to reach as many SAR organizations as possible, we invite you to distribute this call for proposals throughout your SAR community.