Enhanced SATCOM Project - Polar

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: All interested suppliers may submit a bid
Competitive Procurement Strategy: N/A - P&A/LOI Only
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 

Enhanced Satellite Communications Project - Polar

W6369-180123/B
Barreca, Gianni
Telephone No. - (613) 858-9351 

1.0 Nature of Requirements
1.1. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is providing Industry with an update on the progress of the Enhanced Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Project - Polar (ESCP-P) and is requesting Industry feedback regarding its Arctic Narrowband (NB) and Wideband (WB) Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communications capability for the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

1.2. Extensive information and feedback was received from Industry as part of the Request for Information (RFI) process conducted between December 2017 and 2019 and that process helped to refine the ESCP-P requirements.

1.3. The objectives of this ESCP-P RFI are to:
a. Share the progress of ESCP-P with Industry and detail the scope of the proposed preferred capability;
b. Seek feedback from Industry on potential areas that could result in cost and/or schedule efficiencies without impacting the desired capability; and
c. Seek feedback and proposed hybrid architecture solutions from Industry. 

1.4. This RFI is neither a call for tender nor a Request for Proposal (RFP). No agreement or contract will be entered into based on this RFI. The issuance of this RFI is not in any way a commitment by the Government of Canada (GC), nor an authority to potential Respondents to undertake any work that could be charged to Canada. This RFI is not to be considered as a commitment to issue a subsequent solicitation or award contract(s) for the work described herein. This RFI is solely for informational purposes.

1.5. Although the information collected may be provided as commercial-in-confidence (and, if identified as such, will be treated accordingly by Canada), Canada may use the information to assist in drafting performance specifications, risk assessments, and/or budgetary estimates.

1.6. Respondents are encouraged to identify, in the information they share with Canada, any information that they feel is proprietary or confidential. Canada will handle the responses in accordance with the Access to Information Act and will not disclose proprietary or commercially-sensitive information concerning Respondents or third parties, except and only to the extent required by law. For more information, see: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/a-1/.

1.7. Respondents are asked to identify if their responses, or any part of their responses, are subject to the Controlled Goods (CG) regulations, see Section 2.2.

1.8. Participation in this RFI is encouraged, but is not mandatory. Respondents should note that this RFI is not a pre-selection process and that there will be no short-listing of potential suppliers for the purposes of undertaking any future work as a result of this RFI. Participation in this RFI is not a condition or prerequisite for the participation in future follow-on RFI processes, Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) (if applicable) or RFP solicitation.

1.9. Respondents will not be reimbursed for any cost incurred by participating in this RFI or for any activities associated with the Industry consultation including, but not limited to, travel or hospitality. Responses to this RFI will not be returned to Respondents.

1.10. Responses will not be formally evaluated. The responses received however, may be used by Canada to develop or modify business requirements, conduct analysis, and analyze possible procurement approaches. Canada will review all responses received by the RFI closing date. Canada may, at its discretion, review responses received after the RFI closing date.

1.11. A review team composed of representatives supporting ESCP-P will include, but is not limited to, DND, CAF, PSPC, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and the Canadian Space Agency, will review the responses. Not all members of the review team will necessarily review all aspects of each response. Canada reserves the right to hire any independent consultants, or use any Government resources that it considers necessary to review any response. Independent consultants, that may be provided access to the Respondent’s information, will be subject to a Non-Disclosure Agreement stating that they will not reproduce, copy, use, divulge, release or disclose, in whole or in part, in whatever way or form any ESCP-P response information to any person other than a person employed by Canada on a 'need-to-know’ basis. Such consultants will not be involved in preparing any subsequent RFP.

2. INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL BENEFITS

The Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, including Value Proposition may apply to this procurement. For more information about the ITB Policy, please visit www.canada.ca/itb.

3.   Contracting Authority
 All enquiries and other communications related to this RFI must be directed to the Contracting Authority by email as follows:

Mr. Gianni Barreca
Supply Team Leader
Procurement Branch
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Space, Innovation and Informatics Projects Directorate
Telephone: 613-858-9351
E-mail address: Gianni.Barreca@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca


Revision History:

Amendment 17 - This amendment serves to extend the industry engagement period to 1 November 2024.

Amendment 16 - This amendment serves to extend the industry engagement period to 1 May 2024.

Amendment 15 - This amendment serves to extend the industry engagement period to 3 October 2023.

Amendment 14 - This amendment serves to extend the industry engagement period to 31 March 2023.

Amendment 13 - This amendment serves to extend the industry engagement period to 3 October 2022.

Amendment 11 & 12 - This amendment serves to publicize the second Enhanced Satellite Communications Project - Polar (ESCP-P) Summary of Feedback and Outcomes document, which summarizes the feedback received from industry and related outcomes as a result of the industry engagement process under RFI W6369-180123/A and W6369-180123/B.

Amendment 10 - This amendment serves to extend the industry engagement period to 31 March 2022.

Amendment 9 - 
This amendment is to extend the ESCP-P RFI industry engagement period until September 30 2021 in order to identify further engagement activities to be announced at a later date.
RFI responses provided after March 18, 2021 will still be accepted but Canada, while making a best effort to do so, may not consider these responses in the refinement and revision of the ESCP-P options.


Amendment 8 - This amendment serves to extend the industry engagement period to 18 March 2021.

Amendment 7 - This amendment serves to extend the industry engagement period to 16 February 2021.

Amendment 6 - Amendment 5 was issued in error and is replaced by amendment 6.

Amendment 4 - This amendment serves to extend the industry engagement period to March 31, 2021.

Amendment 3 - This amendment serves to extend the industry engagement period to September 30, 2020.

Amendment 2 - This amendment serves to extend the industry engagement period to March 31, 2020. 

Amendment 1 - This amendment serves to publicize the Enhanced Satellite Communications Project - Polar (ESCP-P) Summary of Feedback and Outcomes document, which summarizes the feedback received from industry and related outcomes as a result of the industry engagement process under RFI W6369-180123/A and W6369-180123/B.


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.