Mercury Global Ground Segment

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Attachment: YES (MERX) Electronic
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 
Mercury Global Ground Segment

GENERAL

A Request for Information (RFI) was issued by the Communications
Research Centre Canada (CRC) on 25 August 2010 to gather
information from commercial satellite operators and service
providers on their ability to provide capacity and service
provision to the Department of National Defence (DND) Forces
over the 2012 to 2027 time frame as per the DND Mercury Global
Project.  As a result of this RFI process and subsequent
analysis by the DND, it was determined that an Allied
Partnership via the US Department of Defense Wideband Global
SATCOM (WGS) constellation was the preferred option.

With this current RFI, the DND, Mercury Global Project, is
seeking feedback from industry, and in particular, satellite
terminal providers, ground station operators and system
integrators with respect to the commercial sector's ability to
address DND's satellite ground infrastructure needs for access
to the US Department of Defense WGS constellation. In essence, a
long term, firm commitment is contemplated to provide access to
satellite communication through the provision of Anchor Stations
(AS), Strategic Deployable Terminals (SDT) and in-service
support (ISS) beginning in 2015 and ending in 2031.

The information gathered through this RFI will be used by Canada
to assist in the development of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for
the implementation of the Mercury Global Wideband Satellite
Communications Project Ground Segment.  

BACKGROUND

The Mercury Global project will provide the DND with assured
access to robust global wideband satellite communications to
meet the needs of the Canadian Forces (CF) in the present and
future.

Mercury Global will provide the CF with a secure, reliable and
high availability wideband military X and Ka band communications
space segment via an Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) signed
January 2012 with the US Department of Defense and other
international partners.  This MOU provides the CF with immediate
access to the US Department of Defense's WGS satellite
constellation. 

The objectives of the Mercury Global Project being explored
under this RFI are as follows:

* Deliver strategic Military X-band and Ka-band SATCOM AS. These
AS will enable backhaul connectivity into DND's Information
Management Infrastructure from global theatres. 
* Deliver a family of WGS certified X-band and Ka-band SDT to
the CF as detailed below.
* Deliver SATCOM ISS that will allow the management, control and
maintenance of the above AS and SDT.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

In order to receive a copy of the RFI documents and engage in
the Industry Consultation process, potential respondents must
sign the attached Rules of Engagement and return a signed copy
to the Procurement Authority indicated below.  A scanned copy
will suffice.

Document distribution will follow a green procurement approach
and utilize electronic distribution and questionnaires.

INDUSTRY DAY

An Industry Day information session and one-on-one sessions will
be held on 3-5 October 2012 as an opportunity to pose and
address questions with regards to this RFI.  The Industry Day
will be held at 3500 Carling Avenue, Pavilion Building, Carling
Campus, Ottawa ON.  One hour one-on-one meetings, with the
Mercury Global Project team, will be held following the Industry
Day information session.  These meetings will provide an
opportunity for vendors to clarify the presentation and to
present relevant technical input for the upcoming RFP.

Registration for the above events will be required on or before
27 August 2012. All vendors will be limited to sending three (3)
representatives.  Upon registration, a meeting time will be
allocated to each registering vendor on a first come first
served basis.  To register please contact the Procurement
Authority listed below.

Attendance at the Industry Day is not required in order to
submit a response to the RFI nor any follow-on RFP.

INDUSTRY CONSULTATION MEETINGS
 
The Mercury Global Project Team welcomes the opportunity to 
hold additional one-on-one meetings, either in person or by
teleconference, with interested vendors at their request.  In
person meetings will occur at government facilities within the
National Capital Region.  Meetings will be held at a date and
time agreeable to both Mercury Global Project team and the
vendor.  Meetings may be held at the vendor's facilities at the
sole discretion of the Mercury Global Project team..  In
addition, the project team is prepared to conduct such meetings
beyond the closing date identified in this Notice and throughout
the pre-RFP phase or until further notice.  To arrange a
meeting, please contact the Procurement Authority listed below.
 
All substantive and non-proprietary questions and answers
discussed during these meetings will be noted and made available
to all vendors participating in the Industry Consultation
Process. Questions may be edited so that the proprietary nature
of questions is eliminated.
 
Participation in one-on-one meetings is not required in order to
submit a response to the RFI nor any follow-on RFP.

NOTES TO INTERESTED FIRMS

This RFI is not a bid solicitation and a contract will not
result from this request.

A review team composed of representatives of Canada and one
additional reviewer (contractor, to be identified) will review
responses submitted as a result of this RFI.  The additional
reviewer details will be included via amendment when determined.

Potential respondents are advised that any information submitted
to Canada in response to this RFI 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 RFI 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 RFI. 
Similarly, participation in this RFI is not a condition or
prerequisite for participation in any RFP(s).

Companies responding to this RFI should identify any submitted
information that is to be considered as either company
confidential or proprietary.

All enquiries and other communications related to this RFI must
be directed exclusively to the Procurement Authority.  Firms
that intend on responding to this RFI are asked to advise the
Procurement Authority of their intention to respond, in order
that they may be notified of any changes to the notice on MERX,
which may occur during the posting period.

CLOSING DATE

Responses to this RFI should be submitted to the Procurement
Authority identified below, on or before the close of business
on 7 August 2012.  E-mailed responses are acceptable.

PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY

All enquiries and other communications related to this RFI must
be directed to the Procurement Authority as follows:

Public Works and Government Services Canada
Acquisitions Branch
Specialized Services and Acquisitions Management Sector
Science Procurement Directorate
Space Sciences and Communications Division (SR-ST)
11 Laurier Street
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0S5
ATTN:	 Mark Thorsley
TEL:	819-956-1772
FAX:	819-997-2229
E-mail: mark.thorsley@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

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

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.