Balans
AI Engineering for Government Modernization
Balans delivers sovereign, project-based data and AI solutions for public sector institutions. We build local, in-process, on-device solutions that guarantee data privacy, control, and full compliance with WCAG 2.2 AAA and FAIR principles—without vendor lock-in or long-term contracts.
We are the right fit when:
- You need a completed project, not another platform subscription.
- Your mandate has a hard deadline.
- Your budget rules out multi-year vendor relationships.
- Your data assets must be processed on infrastructure you can control and audit.
Why Government Modernization Needs a New Approach
Traditional government IT modernization is sold as a platform, a subscription, a dashboard, a multi-year contract that outlives the mandate it was built for. Balans works differently.
Embedded, Scoped, Handed-over
Our forward-deployed model puts an engineer directly on your mandate, working within your constraints until the deliverable is complete and handed over—not retained as ongoing expenditure.
Built for Public Sector Reality:
- Local-first, sovereign by default: Data and models run on infrastructure you control.
- No vendor lock-in: Deliverables include complete code, documentation, and training.
- Project-based: Defined scope, defined end date, fits standard contracting vehicles.
- Standards-compliant from day one: Built to WCAG 2.2 AAA and FAIR data principles.
What We Deliver
Fix the data, make it actionable, add on advanced capabilities–with compliance and sovereignty as underlying principles.
Data Engineering
Custom pipelines, ETL, and modern analytical infrastructure that turn raw data into actionable assets, with scalability in mind. Ideal for departments consolidating legacy systems or preparing for open data initiatives.
Reporting & Analytical Deliverables
Actionable insights through reports, notebooks, dashboards, and AI layers that draw on your project’s data and your team’s knowledge.
AI/ML Engineering
From proof-of-concept to production, we build solutions for real-world problems with transparency and fairness at the core, specializing in on-device inference for maximum data control.
Strategy, Governance & Compliance
Align your data with organizational goals, regulatory requirements (ATIP, Privacy Act), and best practices (WCAG 2.2 AAA, FAIR). We help you pass departmental review the first time.
Sovereign Tooling
Local, in-process, on-device inference and tooling by default—ensuring data sovereignty, privacy, and full auditability. No third-party cloud routing unless you explicitly choose it.
Service Tiers
Every engagement is scoped before it’s priced—the tiers below are for planning purposes, not a binding quote.
| Tier | Use Case | Typical timeline | Price range (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Forensic data audit, FAIR assessment, scoping report | 4–6 weeks | $7,500 – $9,500 |
| Architect | Data cleaning, vault/lake structuring, pipeline development | 8–12 weeks | $35,000 – $80,000 |
| Enable | End-to-end build, SQL/reporting layer, local LLM integration, training materials | 12 weeks+ | $85,000 – $140,000 |
Final pricing depends on data volume, schema complexity, and current data quality. Scope tier required before Architect/Enable contracts.
Get Started
Have a project in mind, or want to discuss your options? A first conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Balans is a disability-owned business with federal government data science and research data management expertise. Working with us helps you meet supplier diversity targets.
About the name
Several cultures share the idea of something being “just right” (not too much, not too little). Like the Earth’s axial tilt, a small but well-placed adjustment can be what makes everything feel optimized, well-balanced. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to.
© 2026