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.