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Aerial Logistics Support Services  –  MERX ACAN Notice  –  November 2008 Sherpa Precision Aerial Delivery System — Guided Parachutes for  Logistics  Air  Drops  in  Afghanistan  —  MERX ACAN Notice This ACAN is for the supply of 18 Sherpa Navigator GPS-guided parachute systems from Nepean-based MMIST (Mist Mobility Integrated System Technology, Inc.). The Sherpa is identified as a "Precision Aerial Delivery System" after the joint  US  JPADS version. MMIST tailored the commercial-off-the-shelf Sherpa for the US military as an interim PADS.  MMIST, itself, describes the Sherpa system as a  GPS-Guided  Parafoil. The Sherpa consists of a ram-air parachute  –  deployed by a programmable drogue chute  –  a control unit and a remote control. There are 4 Sherpa systems  (capable of delivering loads of  between  120 and  1000 kg)  but  this ACAN does not specify which version  DND  is buying. Precision delivery of  supplies to remote locations in the Afghan theatre will certainly  be welcomed  by those on the ground. It is odd that a purchase has taken this long. CF interest in MMIST dates back at least to 1999 when comparison trials were done by the Airborne Trials and Evaluation Section to determine the best Parachute Guided Air Delivery System SAR  (ATES compared  the Sherpa and Orion chutes for PGADS).  In 2005,  DRDC awarded  MMIST a contract to study ways to improve recovery accuracy for CU-161 Sperwer UAVs using GPS guidance. But it wasn't until 2007 –  almost three years after the first US operational use of the Sherpa – that the CF tested the Sherpas. Misty Mountain Drop – Canadian Joint-Precision Aerial Delivery Stand-Off System Trials for what would be dubbed the Canadian Joint-Precision Aerial Delivery Stand-Off System were run in early 2007.  The Canadian  Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre  sponsored  test drops of  the Sherpa from a CC-130 at  CFB Cold Lake as  part of a study into "alternative aerial delivery methods".  The Air Force saw this system as immature (despite being operational in US service). Evidently,  CF attitudes towards Sherpas have changed. It was the Sherpa 2200 that was tested as CJPADSS at Cold Lake. Presumably it is this 1000 kg model that will also being delivered as Sherpa  Precision Aerial  Delivery System. Note that the 18 Sherpas in this ACAN are "for immediate use in deployed operations in Afghanistan.  This makes the ACAN,  in effect,  an Immediate Operational  Request. The full text of  this ACAN (as published on the MERX website) is reproduced below. ________________________________________ Sherpa Precision Aerial Delivery System [GPS-Guided Parachute]  –  ACAN  [ Advance Contact Award Notice ] ________________________________________ Reference Number                PW-$$BY-246-17676 Solicitation Number              W8485-08SB03/A Organization Name               Public Works and Government Services Canada                                                  Travaux publics et Services gouvernementaux Canada Source ID                               FD.DP.QC.10077.C2 Associated Components     No Dates Published     2008-10-17 Revised        — Closing         2008-11-03  02:00 PM  Eastern Daylight Saving Time  EDT Details Category     Aerospace GSINS          N1670:  PARACHUTES,  AERIAL  PICK-UP  DELIVERY,  RECOVERY                       SYSTEMS,  AND  CARGO  TIE  DOWN  EQUIPMENT Region of Delivery            Ontario Region of Opportunity     — Agreement Type                Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) Tender Type                       Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) Estimated Value                  — Solicitation Method           — Notice Description Sherpa Precision Aerial Delivery System Trade Agreement:  Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) Tendering Procedures:  Generally only one firm has been invited to bid Attachment:  None Non-Competitive Procurement Strategy:  Exclusive Rights Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement:  No Vendor Name and Address: Mist Mobility Integrated Systems Technology 3 Iber Road Ottawa Ontario Canada K2S1E6 Nature of Requirements: File Number: W8485-08SB03/A -(Sherpa Precision Aerial Delivery System) 1. Definition: An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)... allows departments and agencies to post a notice, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that it intends to award a good, service or construction contract to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority may then proceed with the award. 2. Requirement: You are hereby notified that the Government intends to solicit a bid and negotiate with one firm only as identified herein. The Department of National Defence has an urgent requirement for quantity 18 "Sherpa Navigator " guided parachute systems and associated support for immediate use in deployed operations in Afghanistan. Both Manufacturer(s) and Parts Traceability clauses are applicable to this requirement. 3. Trade Agreements: The following Trade Agreements are applicable: AIT 4. Government Contract Regulation and Limited Tendering Reason: Exclusive rights. 5. Period of contract and/or Delivery date: 2008-11-30 6. Proposed Contractor: Name: Mist Mobility Integrated Systems Technology Inc. (MMIST Inc.) Address: 3 Iber Road Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2S 1E6 7. Statement of Capabilities: Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services/goods described herein, may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this Notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements. Suppliers that have submitted a statement of capabilities will be notified in writing of PWGSC's decision whether or not to continue with the aforementioned procurement or to open for competition the requirement. 8. Closing Date for a submission of a statement of capabilities: 2008-11-03 9. Inquiries and Submission of Statements of Capabilities: Suppliers may inquire or submit a statement of capabilities to: W0105-066596/A Valerie Fowler, Supply Specialist Public Works and Government Services Canada Land Aerospace & Marine Systems Sector (LAMS) Tel: (819) 956-0273 Fax: (819) 956-4717 Delivery Date: 15/09/2008 You are hereby notified that the government intends to negotiate with one firm only as identified above. Should you have any questions concerning this requirement, contact the contracting officer identified above. [...] The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement. Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada. Contact Contracting Authority Name        Valerie Fowler (246by) Address   11 Laurier St. / 11, rue Laurier 5C2, Place du Portage [...] City           Gatineau State / Province  Québec Country        Canada Postal Code K1A 0S5 Phone           (819) 956-0273 ( ) Fax                (819) 956-4717