REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Revision History:

Amendment 001: This amendment is raised to revise the RESPONSE DATE under the (RFI) W7714-166198 as follow:

At page 5, Article 8. RESPONSE DATE:

Delete: RFI Responses should be submitted on or before November 18, 2016.

Insert: RFI Responses should be submitted on or before November 21, 2016.

All other terms and conditions remain the same.

Amendment 002: This amendment is raised to add the Appendix 1 to Annex “B” – Engagement Participation Dispute Resolution Process under the (RFI) W7714-166198.

All other terms and conditions remain the same.

Amendment 003: This Amendment is raised to advise the industry that Canada will not pursue with this requirement.

Thank you for your interest.

1. PURPOSE

This Industry Consultation process seeks information from industry on its interest, capacity and ability to produce and deliver the COSMO-SKYMED Satellite Data Product and services in various areas of interest across Canada that meet the requirements of the department of Defence Research and Development Canada to assess and improve its space-based radar exploitation capability. The attached Request for Information (RFI) provides industry the opportunity to give feedback on the procurement strategy, including decision making in limiting contractor liability.

The information gathered through this Industry Consultation process will be used by Canada to assist in the development of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the implementation of the COSMO-SKYMED Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite Products procurement.

2. BACKGROUND

The COSMO-SKYMED (COnstellation of small Satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation) is an X-band synthetic-aperture radar sensor. Unlike the C-Band RADARSAT-2 24 day repeat cycle satellite, this X-Band COSMOS-SkyMed radar provides a 1, 4 and 8 day exact repeat cycle. This capability is unique and not available from any other SAR provider.

Defence Research and Development Canada requires a number of COSMO-SkyMed Data products acquired in various Area of Interest (AOI) across Canada to access and improve our space-based radar exploitation capability. These data products will be used strictly for R&D analysis purposes. Short coherent stacks of COSMO-SkyMed single and dual polarization data will be acquired over each area of interest. Wherever possible, stacks of RADATSAT-2 fully polarimetric data will be acquired in conjunction with the COSMO-SkyMed acquisitions, and ground truth will be collected. Investigations into coherent data set pairs will be conducted. The exact timing and COSMO-SkyMed acquisition parameters will be determined in discussion with the Contractor once the resulting contract is in place.

DRDC will strictly use the purchased Single Look Complex (SLC) data products for internal research purposes only. DRDC will not provide or transfer the purchased SLC data products to a third party for any purpose. DRDC acknowledges that Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) owns all intellectual property rights, including copyrights, regarding the COSMO-SKyMed product.

3. REQUIREMENTS

On behalf of the federal government, DRDC is seeking COSMO-SKYMED SAR Satellite Data Product and services in various areas across Canada. The Contractor will be required to provide the following:

• Contractor must acquire and deliver new acquisitions of COSMO-SkyMed Single Look Complex (SLC) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Spotlight-2 (with 7x7 km scene size) images, on an “as and when requested” basis.

• Contractor must acquire and deliver archived of COSMO-SkyMed Single Look Complex (SLC) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Spotlight-2 (with 7x7 km scene size) images, on an “as and when requested” basis

• Contractor must assistance planning the acquisition of single images over an AOI and be able to negotiate with DRDC and the satellite order desk to find suitable dates and times if a conflict exists, on an “as and when requested” basis.

• Contractor must assistance planning the acquisition of short coherent stacks of images over an AOI and be able to negotiate with DRDC and the satellite order desk to find suitable alternate dates and times if a conflict exists, on an “as and when requested” basis.

4. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Canada is seeking responses from industry for challenges involving the proposed acquisition strategy and delivery of the COSMO-SKYMED SAR Satellite Data Product contract. Responses to this RFI are requested on or November 21, 2016.

5. NOTES TO INTERESTED FIRMS

This Industry Consultation process is not a bid solicitation and a contract will not result from this request.

Potential respondents are advised that any information submitted to Canada in response to this Industry Consultation process may be used by Canada in the development of a subsequent competitive RFP. However, the Government is not bound to accept any Expression of Interest or to consider it further in any associated documents such as a RFP. 

The issuance of this Industry Consultation process does not create an obligation for Canada to issue a subsequent RFP, and does not bind Canada legally or otherwise, to enter into any agreement or to accept any suggestions from organizations. Canada reserves the right to accept or reject any or all comments received.

There will be no short listing of firms for purposes of undertaking any future work, as a result of this request. Similarly, participation in this Industry Consultation process is not a condition or prerequisite for participation in any RFP(s).

Companies participating in this Industry Consultation process should identify any submitted information that is to be considered as either company confidential or proprietary.

All enquiries and other communications related to this Industry Consultation process shall be directed exclusively to the PSPC Procurement Authority.

6. PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY

Allen Zourani

Agent d’approvisionnement

Division des projets spatiaux de la défense

Travaux publics et Services gouvernementaux Canada

Place du Portage, Phase III, 11C1

11, rue Laurier

Gatineau (Québec) K1A 0S5

Téléphone: 873-469-4448

Télécopieur: 819-997-2229

Courriel: allen.zourani@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca