Polar Epsilon 2 Project (W8474-14PE02/A)

Revision History
Amendment 001 - to replace the RFI document in its entirety, added NDA
Amendment 002 - to incorporate additional RFI requirements (IRBs)
Amendment 003 - to incorporate additional information about one-on-one meetings and removal of two questions under Annex "A"
Amendment 004 - Added option to send responses by e-mail, added Annex C (Questions and Answers) and D (PowerPoint Presentation).
Amendment 005 - Added "Attachment 9 - RFI Questions and Answers", to section 3.0, and modification at section 8.1 - Industry Day Format.
Amendment 006-007-008-009 - Change in the closing date with the sole purpose of allowing publication of the findings document.
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1.0	Purpose
Canada is in the planning process for the procurement of the Polar Epsilon 2 (PE2) capabilities, which plans to develop ground infrastructure to collect and process data from the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM).

Canada is seeking to engage Industry in a consultation process for the refinement of the procurement strategy, along with the proposed delivery solution. One of the purposes of this Request for Information (RFI) is to register interested Respondent(s) wishing to participate in an Industry Day and/or the one-on-one meetings.

The Engagement process will include one Industry Day planned for November 26, 2013 in (Location within National Capital Region TBD), with an Industry Engagement Session followed by one-on-one Industry Meetings.

2.0	Background
The Department of National Defence (DND) Polar Epsilon (PE) Project was established to exploit information from Canada’s RADARSAT-2 satellite to support Canadian defence by providing wide area surveillance over the ocean approaches to Canada, over Canada’s Arctic region, and in foreign littoral areas where Canadian forces may be deployed. DND is now moving forward with the PE2 Project, which will exploit data from the RCM satellites that are currently being designed by the Canadian Space Agency to replace RADARSAT-2, with a planned launch in 2018.

Under the PE2 Project, DND plans to develop the infrastructure to permit collection, processing, exploitation, and dissemination of RCM Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Automated Identification System (AIS) data.  The PE2 Project will enhance maritime surveillance by providing detection, classification, and identification of seagoing surface vessels, with increased revisit frequencies over that currently provided by the RADARSAT-2 satellite. The PE2 Project infrastructure will include, but is not limited to, the data reception antennas, the SAR data processor, the AIS data processing service, telecommunications hardware, data exploitation software, and data links between multiple stakeholders’ facilities.

It is planned that the implemented PE2 capability, which will be separate from and will not repurpose or reuse any components of the current PE system, will be installed at the same locations which are located primarily in Aldergrove, BC and Masstown, NS.

3.0	Registration Procedures 
In order to participate in the Industry consultation process, Respondent(s) shall meet the RFI registration criteria, and must also complete, sign and return the Engagement Participation Form, along with its Appendices, which are identified in the RFI Main Document.  A Draft Request for Proposal to Qualify (RPF-Q) and technical documents will be provided to the Respondent following submission of their Engagement Participation Form to the Procurement Authority, listed below.

4.0	Important information
The information provided by Canada in this RFI is preliminary and may change.  This RFI is not a solicitation nor will it be used to pre-qualify or otherwise restrict participation in a future solicitation.  

The information provided by Respondent(s) may be used to refine the PE2 Project procurement strategy, the project cost envelope, and/or project timeline. The information gathered through the RFI may also be used to assist Canada in the refinement of the competitive two (2) stage “RFP-Q” for the implemented PE2 capability.

The issuance of this RFI does not create an obligation for Canada to issue a subsequent RFP/RFP-Q, and does not bind Canada legally or otherwise, to enter into any agreement or to accept any suggestions from potential Offerors.  However, Canada reserves the right to accept or reject any or all recommendations received.  

All Industry consultations will be documented and this information is subject to the Access to Information Act.  Canada will not reveal any designated proprietary information to third parties.  Respondent(s) responding to the RFI should identify any submitted information that is to be considered as either company confidential or proprietary. Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.

All enquiries related to this notice or the RFI are to be forwarded to the PWGSC Procurement Authority identified below:

John Caldwell
Science Procurement Directorate
Public Works and Government Services Canada
11 Laurier Street, Place du Portage, Phase III, 11C1-10
Gatineau, QC K1A 0S5
Telephone: 819-956-1373
Fax: 819-997-2229
E-mail: john.caldwell@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca