WIDEBAND MULTI BEAM ECHO-SOUNDER

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
Tendering Procedures: Generally only one firm has been invited
to bid
Attachment: None
Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy: Exclusive Rights
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Vendor Name and Address: 
R2Sonic LLC
1503 - A COOK PL.
SANTA BARBARA California
United States
93117
Nature of Requirements: 
				Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)
			
	     		    WIDEBAND MULTI BEAM ECHO-SOUNDER	
			
				    	      5P032-140893/A

1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) 

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community
that a department or agency intends to award a contract for
goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier,
thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in
bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no
supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the
requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date
stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed
with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

2. Definition of the requirement 

BACKGROUND:

Parks Canada's Underwater Archaeology Team (UAT) conducts
comprehensive scientific diving and remote-sensing surveys to
identify, inventory, and assess submerged cultural resources
within the Parks Canada mandate. This includes the expanding
system of National Historic Sites, National Parks, National Park
Reserves, National Marine Conservation Areas, National Marine
Parks, and Heritage Rivers. The UAT is also a recognized Federal
Authority for the evaluation of submerged cultural resources
under the provisions of the Canadian Environmental Assessment
Act. As such, the UAT is called upon to conduct archaeological
site investigations throughout Canada in both marine and fresh
water environments (including the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic
Oceans, as well as the Great Lakes).

The UAT has a requirement for a shallow water (<300 m) wideband
multi-beam echosounder to support its archaeological survey
operations across Canada, specifically to locate and document
cultural features including shipwrecks, and to situate these
features in a precise geo-referenced bathymetric context. As the
detailed documentation and analysis of submerged archaeological
structures such as wharves, cribs, fish weirs, and shipwrecks is
the principal occupational focus of the UAT, a system with both
200 kHz to 400 kHz selectable operation for general area survey
and initial target location, as well as 700 kHz selectable
operation for ultra high resolution imaging of structural
features is required. 

The wide-band multi-beam echosounder will be deployed from a
variety of vessel platforms, including both survey vessels in
use with the UAT -- the 10 m aluminium-hulled research vessel
Investigator and a 6 m rigid hull inflatable boat -- as well as
from other vessels of opportunity. Furthermore, the system will
occasionally be deployed from the UAT's remotely operated
vehicle (ROV) which is equipped with a single Gigabit Ethernet
channel over it fibre-optic umbilical for wideband data
transmission. Consequently, the echosounder must be of a size
and weight and require a minimal power draw to support these
various deployments.
The option for a high-performance inertial navigation system
(INS) is requested to provide extremely accurate heading,
attitude, position, and heave compensation to the system in
order to achieve maximum data accuracy and precision. As the INS
will be deployed in high northern latitudes (up to 75 degrees),
the INS needs to have a proven performance history in multi-beam
survey in the waters of Arctic Canada.

The option for post-processed kinematic (PPK) navigation
correction software is also requested, again to achieve optimal
accuracy and precision of the multi-beam imagery.

GENERAL

The required system consists of a 1) multi-beam echosounder
projector and receiver array housed in a sturdy aluminum
mounting frame with integrated sound velocity sensor, 2) a
topside interface unit for integrating INS  inputs and
connecting to a user-supplied data acquisition computer, and 3)
all required cabling. It is the intention of the UAT to use
third party data acquisition software, and as such, this does
not form part of this requirement. The options for both a
high-performance inertial navigation system (INS) and compatible
post-processed kinematic (PPK) navigation correction software
are also requested.

3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities
(Minimum Essential Requirements)

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement
of capabilities that its product/equipment/system (as
appropriate) meets the following requirements:

MANDATORY SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

1) The wideband multi-beam echosounder must operate over a
frequency range of 200 kHz to 400 kHz with at least 20 frequency
selections available over this range (available in equal
incremental steps), selectable in real time.

2) The wideband multi-beam echosounder must additionally provide
selectable 700 kHz operation.

3) The wideband multi-beam echosounder must provide a minimum of
256 dynamically focused beams with user selectable equiangular
or equidistant beam spacing.

4) The wideband multi-beam echosounder must provide narrow
dynamically focused beam widths as follows (receive and
transmit, respectively):

°1 x 2° at 200 kHz selectable operation
0.5° x 1° at 400 kHz selectable operation
0.3°x 0.6° at 700 kHz selectable operation


5) The wideband multi-beam echosounder signal processing and all
beam forming must be done inside the sonar head receiver,
without recourse to a surface sonar processor. Telemetry with
the sonar head must be achieved over a single Gigabit Ethernet
cable connection. This requirement relates to the need to
periodically deploy the system on the Underwater Archaeology
Team's remotely operated vehicle, which has a single Gigabit
Ethernet channel available through its fibre-optic multiplexers.

6) The wideband multi-beam echosounder must offer a signal
bandwidth of 60 kHz with a system range resolution of 1.25 cm
for improved resolution and accuracy of the multi-beam soundings
and the quality of the resultant imagery.

7) In order to permit system deployment on the Underwater
Archaeology Team's remotely operated vehicle, the average power
consumption of the wideband multi-beam echosounder must not
exceed 150W, this being the maximum power budget available for
an additional sensor on the underwater vehicle.

8) The wideband multi-beam echosounder must provide selectable
swath widths from 10° to 160° in real-time at all frequency
selections from 200 kHz to 400 kHz and from 10° to 60° at 700
kHz, with the ability to rotate the swath sector +/- 70° port or
starboard in real-time at all frequency selections from 200 kHz
to 400 kHz and +/- 30° at 700 kHz. This requirement relates to
the need to optimally image the sides of submerged heritage
structures such as shipwrecks and wharf structures.

OPTIONAL FEATURES

In order to provide position and attitude measurement, the
option (executable within 12 months). for an Applanix POS MV 320
E (or equivalent) high performance inertial navigation system
utilizing fibre-optic gyroscope and GNSS carrier phase
differential technology is requested (with 'equivalence' based
on the precision and accuracy of attitude, position, true
heading, and heave measurement; the rate of data output; and the
precision of time synchronization).

In order to optimize the geo-rectification of the multi-beam
data, the option (executable within 12 months) for Applanix
POSPac MMS 7.0 post-processed kinematik (PPK) navigation
correction software (or equivalent software compatible with the
optional inertial navigation system outlined above) is also
requested.

4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement(s):

- Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)

4.1. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons
The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are
invoked under the:

Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) - Article(s): Exempted -
Article 506 (12b)

World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement
(WTO-AGP) - Article(s): Excluded - Annex 5, Appendix 1, Article C

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) - Article(s):
Excluded - Annex 1001.1b-1, Section A  Article 1,(h)

5. Set-aside under the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal
Business

Not applicable

6. Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement(s)

Not applicable

7. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

The UAT requires a shallow water (<300 m) broadband multi-beam
echosounder for archaeological area survey and target detection
that is also capable of ultra high resolution  (700 kHz) 3D
structural recording of shipwreck targets, their associated
debris fields, and other identified underwater heritage
features. R2Sonic is the ONLY manufacturer of a shallow water
multi-beam sonar system (typically 200-400 kHz) that provides an
additional ultra high resolution 700 kHz imaging option As high
accuracy, high precision and high resolution structural
recording is the primary operational requirement of the UAT, no
other available system on the market meets its needs.

As the UAT also plans to deploy this multi-beam echosounder
system on its inspection class ROV, in addition to deployments
from small craft, a low power sonar head with telemetry provided
through a single Gigabit Ethernet connection is required for
integration.  R2Sonic provides the only 200-400 kHz shallow
water multi-beam echosounder system that draws less than 150 W
and which also interfaces both projector and receiver
transducers through a single Gigabit Ethernet connection. This
owes to the fact that R2Sonic systems offer integrated sonar
processing -- the processing taking place inside the sonar head
instead of in a surface unit. The available power budget of the
UAT's inspection class ROV for ancillary sensors dictates that a
maximum power draw of 150 W is incurred, and the R2Sonic 2024
draws only 50 W.

8. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts
Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under
subsection 6 d); only one person or firm is capable of
performing the contract.

9. Ownership of Intellectual Property

Not applicable


10. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date

The product/system/equipment (as appropriate) must be delivered
on April 30th 2015. Delivery to Parks Canada's Underwater
Archaeology Team, 1800 Walkley Road, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H
8K3.
 
11. Cost estimate of the proposed contract

Price is not provided as it could compromise the pre-identified
supplier's competitive position if the requirement proceeds to a
traditional or electronic bidding process.

12. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

R2Sonic LLC
5307 Industrial Oaks Blvd., Suite 120
Austin, Texas 78735

13. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available
to provide the goods, services or construction services
described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in
writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or
before the closing date of this notice. The statement of
capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the
advertised requirements.

14. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of
capabilities is: April 10th 2015, at 2:00pm EST.

15. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Stefan Wetscher
Intern Officer
Electronics, Munitions and Tactical Systems Procurement
Directorate
11 rue Laurier, Place du Portage Phase III, 8C2
Tel :	819 - 956 - 5772
Email:	Stefan.wetscher@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca
Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate
with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any
questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting
officer identified above.

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows departments and
agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15)
calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it
intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a
pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or
before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets
the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority
may then proceed with the award.  However, should a Statement of
Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the
ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full
tendering process.

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available
to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a
statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person
identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this
Notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate
how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

The PWGSC file number, the contracting officer's name and the
closing date of the ACAN must appear on the outside of the
envelope in block letters or, in the case of a facsimile
transmission, on the covering page.

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any
procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.