Surveillance of Space 2 RFI

Amendment 001

This amendment serves to publish a presentation from the 2021 Military Space Situational Awareness Conference (Attachment 002).

REQUEST FOR

INFORMATION: ENGAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

This RFI serves to publish a presentation from the 2021 Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) Conference (Attachment 001).

GENERAL

This industry consultation process seeks information from industry on its interest, capacity and ability to produce and deliver the systems that meet the requirements for the Department of National Defence Surveillance of Space 2 (SofS 2) project. This industry consultation process provides industry the opportunity to provide feedback in the development and refinement of the requirement, including the proposed technical requirement, the procurement strategy and methods of leveraging economic benefit for Canada.

The information gathered through this industry consultation process may be used by Canada to assist in the development of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the implementation of the SofS 2 procurement. As such, the requirement may be revised pending alternate solutions and discussions that take place during all industry engagement processes.

BACKGROUND

The Canadian Armed Forces rely heavily on space-based assets to conduct operations. The space environment is increasingly congested due to the dramatic increase in commercial and other satellites and debris. Potential adversaries also possess increasingly sophisticated anti-satellite weapons. In the context of this environment, access to Space Situational Awareness (SSA) helps ensure the security and integrity of national space-based capabilities, the awareness of space threats to Canadian territory, and support to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations worldwide. In 2013, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the CAF launched their first military satellite, Sapphire, a Space Based Optical (SBO) sensor that provides valuable Space Situational Awareness to both Canada and its allies. SSA products allow Canada to accurately assess the orbital positions and projected paths of our space assets.

Surveillance of Space 2 (SofS 2) offers Canada the opportunity to build on the performance of Sapphire and to continue Canada's status as a valuable contributor to the US owned and operated Space Surveillance Network (SSN) and enjoy guaranteed access to the SSN. Canada has previously released two Requests for Information (RFI) (file numbers W8474-187639/A and W8474-187639/B) to buyandsell.gc.ca that sought vendor feedback on solutions for a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capability that could include Space Based Optical (SBO) Sensors, Ground Based Optical (GBO) Sensors, or a combination of the two. The SofS 2 project solution selected now includes both GBO and SBO Sensor segments, which may be subject to separate procurement processes and implementation timelines. An RFI specific to the GBO requirement (file number W8474-207923/A) has since been posted on buyandsell.gc.ca:
https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-ST-047-36767

REQUIREMENT

Please refer to the RFI documents, located in the "Solicitation documents", "Attachments" and "Related tender notices" linked below, for details.

FAIRNESS MONITOR

Vendors are advised that the services of a Fairness Monitor have been engaged in support of the engagement and procurement process stages. The Fairness Monitoring Program provides client departments, government suppliers, Parliament and Canadians with independent assurance that Public Services and Procurement Canada conducts its activities in a fair, open and transparent way. Additional information can be found at: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/se-fm/index-eng.html

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.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

In order to participate in the Industry Engagement process, potential respondents must return a signed copy of the Rules of Engagement provided in notice W8474-187639/A to the Contracting Authority indicated below via email. Document distribution will follow a green procurement approach and utilize electronic distribution as appropriate.

NOTES TO INTERESTED FIRMS

This Industry Engagement process is not a bid solicitation and a contract will not result from this process.

Potential respondents are advised that any information submitted to Canada in response to this Industry Engagement process may be used by Canada in the development of a subsequent competitive RFP.

The issuance of this Industry Engagement 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.

Participation in this Industry Engagement process is not a condition or prerequisite for participation in any RFP(s).

Companies participating in this Industry Engagement 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 Engagement process shall be directed exclusively to the Contracting Authority.

CONTRACTING AUTHORITY

All enquiries and other communications related to this Industry Engagement process shall be directed in writing as follows:

Alan Chan
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Procurement Branch
10 Wellington St.
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0S5

TEL: (number on the official notice)
E-mail: (email on the official notice)

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.
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.