Mercury Global Ground Segment

Trade Agreement: Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT)
Tendering Procedures: 
Attachment: None
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 
Mercury Global Ground Segment

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SUPPLIERS

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After June 1, 2013, all tenders and related documents and
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On June 1, 2013, suppliers must go to Buyandsell.gc.ca/tenders
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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.

Following the Mecurty Global Ground Station RFI issued 1 June
2012 the Mercury Global Project is continuing its Industry
Consultation process 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 Industry Consultation
process 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 previously provided 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 was
held on 3-5 October 2012 as an opportunity to pose and address
questions with regards to this RFI.     One-on-one meetings,
with the Mercury Global Project team, wereheld following the
Industry Day information session.  These meetings provided an
opportunity for vendors to clarify the presentation and to
present relevant technical input for the upcoming RFP.

Attendance at the Industry Day is not required in order to
submit a response to any follow-on RFP.
INDUSTRY DAY #2

An Industry Day information session and one-on-one sessions will
be held on 15-16 May 2013 as an opportunity to pose and address
questions with regards to the draft RFP.  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
14 May 2013.  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  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 any follow-on RFP.

INDUSTRIAL REGIONAL BENEFITS

Canada's Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) Policy will be a
mandatory element of the Mercury Global Ground Segment
requirement, with vendors committing to achieve IRB valued at
100% of any future contract value.  The IRB Policy is
administered by Industry Canada, with assistance from the
Regional Development Agencies.  Detailed IRB requirements and
instructions will be issued with any RFP.  To obtain information
about Canada's IRB Policy, visit www.ic.gc.ca/irb.

Any Direct IRB requirement will be based in part on the
following considerations: Letter Of Interest responses by
vendors and assessment of industry capabilities, both domestic
and international.

As part of this overview, vendors were requested to include
information regarding the Canadian content currently included in
their equipment.  Vendors were requested to provide this input
(within a reasonable level of assurance) in accordance with the
IRB LOI request document that was attached to this notice.

The IRB LOI process closed on 1 March 2013..

Participation is not required in order to submit a response to
any follow-on RFP.

DRAFT RFP

A Draft RFP was made available on 16 April 2013 in order to
allow further questions and discussions regarding the
requirement and enhance industry's contributions to the
development of the RFP.

Responses to this Draft RFP should be submitted to the
Procurement Authority identified below, on or before the close
of business 10 May 2013.  E-mailed responses are acceptable.

Participation in the Draft RFP process is not required in order
to submit a response to any follow-on RFP.

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 Industry
Consultation process.  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 must be directed exclusively to the
Procurement Authority.  

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.