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

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) and in-service
support (ISS) beginning in 2014 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 SATCOM ISS that will allow the management, control and
maintenance of the above AS.

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 were
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, were held 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 were
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, were held
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 CONSULTATION MEETINGS

The Mercury Global Project Team held one-on-one meetings, either
in person or by teleconference, with interested vendors at their
request throughout the industry consultation process.

At this time, the Mercury Global Project Team will no longer be
able to support one-on-one meetings.  However, vendors are
encouraged to provide any questions or comments that they may
have to the Procurement Authority identified below.  Please note
that any and all responses will be provided to all vendors
participating in the industry engagement process.  Questions
will be edited so that the proprietary nature of questions is
eliminated.

Participation in industry consultation 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 were requested on or before the
close of business 10 May 2013.

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

SITE VISITS

It is intended that an Optional Site Visits will form part of 
any follow-on RFP.  Vendors will require an approved Visit
Clearance Request (VCR) in order to participate in the Site
Visits.  In order to assist vendors in expediting their VCR
request, the Mercury Global Project Team will provide a Letter
of Invitation to vendors participating in the Industry
Consultation process upon their request to the Procurement
Authority identified below.

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.