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397: That's how many suppliers have pre-qualified for the Defence Drone Initiative marketplace, according to the Department of National Defence.
Driving the news: DND confirmed the figure to Vanguard and said a second qualification round, along with three additional requests for proposals, will be released on or around Oct. 8.
Vanguard understands more than 500 firms applied in the first intake, meaning roughly one in five did not make the cut.
The full list of qualified suppliers is posted on CanadaBuys under the DDI marketplace tender notice. DND notes the site labels them "contracts awarded," but they are supply arrangements, not contracts.
Why it matters: The marketplace is the front door for Canadian firms looking to sell drones to the military. Getting on the list is the price of entry for future work.
Firms that were declined, and new ones that become eligible, will get more chances to qualify. DND says the request for supply arrangement was designed as an ongoing mechanism, not a one-time intake.
Proposals were assessed against technical requirements including endurance, control and vertical takeoff ability, camera performance, speed, range and load capacity.
Also: The Defence Investment Agency's request for proposals for a mine countermeasures capability closes today, Oct. 8.
What's next: DND says Canada will continue to look at "broader collaboration and partnership models" that support domestic capability and access to allied innovation, language that suggests future rounds could open further to partners outside Canada.
Yes, but: Qualifying is not the same as getting paid. DND has not said whether any work has yet been ordered against the supply arrangements.
Bottom line: Nearly 400 firms are now inside the tent. The test of the Defence Drone Initiative is how many of them actually get orders.
