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.