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Griffon Escort Helicopters  –  MERX  –  CF Procurement  –  March  2008 INGRESS  —  Interoperable  Griffon  Reconnaissance  Escort Surveillance  System: MERX Letters of Interest (LOI) Notice Update: 26 Nov 2008 –  MND Peter MacKay announced that 8 INGRESS Griffons will go to Kandahar in early 2009. In July 2008, a $25.9M contract was awarded  to L-3 Wescam to act as INGRESS prime contractor. The contract includes supply of 19 Wescam MX-15 True HD electro-optical turrets and  the associated equipment. Canadian Forces CH-146 Griffons utility helicopters are ‘militarized’ Bell Model 412EPs. These Mirabel- built aircraft  use the standard Huey belly mounting points to attach various ‘mission kits’. One such kit consists of an  E/O (Electro-Optical) turret mounted on an S-shaped, tubular arm.  The E/O is a Wescam Model  16SS-A or AN/AAQ-501 bought specifically for the Griffons in 1997. The AAQ-501 is considered first-generation infared sensor technology. Modern, military  E/O  turrets combine  IR  with other imaging technologies – magnifying video, laser marking, etc. Amongst other things, INGRESS  –  INteroperable Griffon  Reconnaissance Escort Surveillance System – would replace the single-sensor  AN/AAQ-501 with a multi- sensor E/O turret. This LOI Notice is also a Pricing and Availability (P&A) enquiry but much of  the content is an attempt to clarify the terms of an earlier LOI  Notice. The latter is in the form of a question-and-answer series for all potential suppliers. Revealed in that Q&A is that laser target-marking will be part of the E/O suite and data collected will be both  recorded onboard and  transmitted to remote receivers. The new E/O turret will  be a straight  replacement  for the AN/AAQ-501 using the same,  portside mounting position  (some Model 412 users  –  civilian and  foreign military –  permanently mount an E/O turret beneath the nose to free pylon space). Night vision goggles are mentioned in the Q&A in reference to laser marking. The Griffon flight crew also wear NVGs (and a NiteSun searchlight can be mounted on the starboard pylon) so,  the question might arise: why is an E/O turret necessary? Unlike NVGs, an IR imager remains effective in extremely low light conditions. The turret also has full 360° traverse while the flightcrew’s vision is rather more limited. The INGRESS project grew out of  the earlier I-BRUH Griffon or  Interim Battlefield Reconnaissance and Utility Helicopter). INGRESS is to be operational by February 2009. If  Griffons are to begin escort duties in Afghanistan this summer, they must continue to rely on their original-issue AN/AAQ-501 E/O turrets.  Nor is there any evident  connection between INGRESS and the recent ACAN for M134 MiniGuns. The LOI Notice’s text  (as published on the MERX website)  is reproduced below: ________________________________________ Interoperable Griffon Reconnaissance Escort Surv- eillance System – Letters of Interest ( LOI ) Notice ________________________________________ Reference Number                PW-$$BF-106-16843 Solicitation Number              W8475-08EB11/B 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     2008-03-18 Revised         — Closing         2008-03-25  02:00 PM  Eastern Daylight Saving Time  EDT Details Category                          Communications, Detection and Fibre Optics GSINS                               N5855: "NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT, EMITTED AND                                            REFLECTED RADIATION" Region of Delivery         National Capital Region Region of Opportunity   — Agreement Type             NONE Tender Type                    Letter  of  Interest  ( LOI ) Estimated Value               — Solicitation Method        — Notice Description INTEROPERABLE GRIFFON RECONNAISSANCE ESCORT SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (INGRESS) Trade Agreement:                         NONE Tendering Procedures:                 — Attachment:                                   None Competitive Procurement Strategy:  N/A - P&A/LOI Only Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement:   No Nature of Requirements: Solicitation Number: W8475-08EB11/B Interoperable Griffon Reconnaissance Escort Surveillance System (INGRESS) Further to the Letter of Interest W8475-08EB11/A which closed on 7 March 2008 @ 2:00 PM, this solicitation document W8475-08EB11/B contains additional infor- mation for all potential Bidders in regards to Industry Canada requirements and to provide responses to questions submitted in respect to W8475-08EB11/A. Additional information pertinent to this requirement is also included. INDUSTRIAL AND REGIONAL BENEFITS (IRB) The bidders will be required to provide high-quality Industrial and Regional Bene- fits (IRB) equivalent to 100% of the contracted value for the INGRESS sensor system project. Each bidder's proposal must include the following:   •  Commitment to 100% of their bid price in IRB;   •  Commitment to 20% of their bid price in direct IRB;   •  Commitment to the IRB Terms and Conditions;   •  30% of bid price in acceptable identified direct and/or indirect transactions;   •  Regional Development Plan, Small Business Plan, IRB Management Plan and      Company Business Plan. The INGRESS Request for Proposal will have further detail on these requirements. RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS The following responses are provided without prejudice to those questions posed by interested parties relating to the Letter of Interest on the Interoperable Griffon Reconnaissance Escort Surveillance System (INGRESS) project.  #     Question     [A]  Response 1  Evaluation criterion to determine winner of RFP.    [A]  It is anticipated that the winner of the RFP will be the bidder with the lowest    cost compliant proposal. 2  Define marking in Sensor Payload description.    [A]  The performance requirement for "marking" is the ability to mark an object    so that someone with NVGs [Night-Vision Goggles] can see the laser mark. 3  Do recorders need to record HD video?    [A]  The specification for the data recorder will be to record all available sensor    channels uncompressed. 4  Does data link need to transmit full bandwidth HD video?    [A]  The data link will be required to transmit up to 10.71 Mbs. 5  Does the cockpit display need to display HD at full resolution?    [A]  The cockpit display size is limited to the space currently allocated on the    CH146 Griffon instrument panel. The performance requirement is for the cockpit    display to provide full resolution for the space provided. 6  Will IRB be required for INGRESS?    [A]  Yes. 7  Will the prime contractor be responsible to obtain airworthiness certification?    [A]  The Sensor System prime Contractor will be responsible for providing a    system solution that is installable for use on the Griffon helicopter and that    meets the certification criteria specified in the RFP. The certification of that    system for operation on the CH146 Griffon will be the responsibility of the DND,    with BHTCL [Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited], Mirabel providing    engineering support. The Sensor System prime Contractor will be obligated to    support BHTCL through certification activities, and transition to in-service    support for the system life. 8  Does procurement include spares?    [A]  The INGRESS ILS concept allows for first to third maintenance, and 400    hours MTBF for each major component. System level spares are included in the    total number of systems that will be procured. 9  Will the lifetime system (O&M) support be procured under a different contract?    [A] Yes. Following the initial two year ILS support period, the in-service support    will migrate to the Optimized Weapon System Support ... contract covering the    CH146 Griffon fleet. 10 Firm Fixed Price or Cost Plus?    [A]  The contract for the INGRESS will be Firm Fixed Price. 11 Will Factory Acceptance Test be required for each production system as well    as for the First Article System?    [A]  Assume factory test for all systems with DND acceptance at the delivery    destination. 12 Will formal classroom, computer and factory training be required for operators/    maintainers?    [A]  Yes. Initial cadre training for sensor system operators and first line mainten-    ance personnel is included. Course training [material] is also required to provide    DND with the capability to conduct in-house training. 13 Standard maintenance manuals required?    [A]  COTS manuals for level one maintenance will be acceptable. 14 Requirement for built-in-test of other self-test methods?    [A]  The built-in-test requirement is a performance requirement to provide the    operator with a high level indication of WRA component availability. 15 Operational environment conditions?    [A]  Aircraft environmental data is to be provided in the RFP. 16 Will a CONOPS  [ Concept of  Operations ]  be provided?    [A]  The sensor system functional and operator interface design concept for the    two principal operational applications (escort, and intelligence, surveillance and    reconnaissance (ISR) ) are attached for reference. 17 Will display systems be operated in low light operational condition with NVGs?    [A]  Cockpit display lighting and controls are required to be NVG  [ Night-Vision    Goggles] compatible in accordance with Mil Std 3009  [ MIL-STD-3009  Lighting,    Aircraft, Night Vision Imaging System Compatible]. 18 Will it be incorporated in FMFS  [ Full Mission Flight Simulator ] ?    [A]  Flight Simulator not part of this project. 19 Will helicopter wiring configuration and equipment installation diagrams be    provided (as part of procurement package)?    [A]  No. Sensor System integrators can approach BHLCL to put in place    contractual requirements to obtain helicopter information. 20 What will be furnished as GFE  [ Government Furnished Equipment ] ?    [A]  No GFE will be furnished, unless specifically requested. 21 Will a CH146 be available for form and fit checks of first article?    [A]  Anticipate prototype and first article test on aircraft at BHTCL Mirabel. 22 Who are the key technical and Program contacts at Bell?    [A]  PWGSC can provide Bell contact information. 23 Will the turret use existing side mounts or would a nose mount from approved    Bell parts be acceptable?    [A]  The turret will be installed at the same station as the existing FLIR (port side    of aircraft). 24 Confirm that 6 hour data recorder capability is required    [A]  The specification for the data recorder will be to capture, at native    resolution, a minimum of four hours of all sensor channels. 25 Due to time required for obtaining Export Licenses prior to responding to RFP,    could response date be extended from April to May 2008?    [A]  To successfully deliver the Initial Operational Capability to conduct ISR    [Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance]  tasks by February 2009, the    milestone objectives outlined in the LOI are essential. Delays in RFP response    will add unacceptable risk to the project schedule.  Post contract award,  DND    will be interested in accelerated delivery schedules (ie first system fall 08). 26 What is the level of criticality required? (non-critical system or mission-critical    system)    [A]  This is a non-critical system. 27 Does the GPS [Global Positioning System] have to be military grade? (i.e.    SAASM  [ Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module ] )    [A]  No. 28 Does the system have to meet TEMPEST emanation [1] requirements?    [A]  No. 29 Is a specific type of cabin control station envisioned for Escort variant?    [A]  No. The configuration requirements for escort and ISR are as described in    response to question 16. 30 Is  DT&E  [ Developmental Test  &  Evaluation] /  OT&E  [ Operational Test  &    Evaluation] part of the project schedule?    [A]  Yes, ET&E [sic] and OT&E  [is]  part of  the project schedule. 31 Is there a preference for the display operating system environment (future    growth)?  [A] The sensor system should provide growth capability for systems. 32 What type of aircraft power is available to power the various components?    [A]  28VDC W8475-08EB11/B Schenk, Bruno Telephone No. - (819) 956-0127 Fax No. - (819) 956-9110 Delivery Date: 25/03/2008 The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement. Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada. Schenk, Bruno 11 Laurier St. / 11, rue Laurier 8C1, Place du Portage Gatineau Québec K1A 0S5 (819) 956-0127 ( ) Contact(s) Contracting Authority Name        John Sinkinson Address   11 Laurier St. / 11, rue Laurier 8C2, Place du Portage, Phase III City           Gatineau State / Province  Québec Country        Canada Postal Code K1A 0S5 Phone           (819) 956-0127 ( ) Fax                (819) 956-9110 [1]  TEMPEST  is a  US codename  referring to compromised electronic emissions.