CASR

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Procurement
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Notice  of
Proposed
Procurement
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Leased UAVs for Afghanistan  –  MERX  –  CF Procurement  –  May  2008 Project Noctua  —  a  Leased,  Contractor - Maintained  UAV System for Use by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan  —  MERX NPP Notice Update: Canwest reports that a $100M contract has been "quietly awarded" to MacDonald Dettwiler to satisfy Noctua requirments with IAI Heron UAVs based at  Kandahar Airfield. MND MacKay confirmed this media report but, as of  16 July 2008, no DND or Government of Canada press releases have been made. The MND said that an announcement will follow. This Notice of Planned Procurement follows on from the Feb 2008 Letters of Interest Notice for Project Noctua. When that  LOI notice was published, it was assumed that the preferred General Atomics Predator  was a shoe-in  for this  leased  UAV contest.  The surprise came when General Atomics (partnered with General Dynamics Canada) announced  that  DND's $190M contract  for a supplier-operated drone for Afghanistan was worth bidding on. With General Dynamics out of the running for Project Noctua, it now remains to be seen how the other potential suppliers react to this NPP.  Who are the expected  Project Noctua bidders? Most highly motivated seems to be L-3 Communications  MAS Canada partnered with Elbit Systems of  Israel. Elbit (partnered with Thales UK) has leased its Hermes 450 tactical UAV (right) to the British Army as the Watchkeeper WK450 for use in Iraq. Previously, Elbit and L-3 offered the larger Hermes 900 UAV to DND to fulfil its Joint Airborne ISR Capability requirement. But in place of the JAIC-style Hermes 900, for Project Noctua, Elbit and  L-3 will  try to replicate Watchkeeper with  Hermes 450. [1] MacDonald Dettwiler has previously partnered with Israel Aerospace Industries for the IAI Malat Eagle-1. IAI was willing to lease its company-operated prototype for participation in DND’s PLIX (the Pacific Littoral Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Experiment). For Noctua, MacDonald Dettwiler is proposing the IAI Heron, an Israeli version of Eagle-1. Rheinmetall Canada has also expressed  interest  in Project Noctua.  As Oerlikon Contraves, this firm was prime contractor for the SAGEM  CU-161 Sperwer. Oerlikon (then Rheinmetall) were also responsible for Sperwer training and overall support. Thus far, Rheinmetall hasn’t announced a  UAV-building partner  to supply  the actual aerial vehicles for Project Noctua. [1] Thales UK was originally leader of the so-called "Team Canoctua" with Elbit and  L-3 in support. But, at the end of May 2008, Thales UK dropped out of  Project Noctua altogether. However, Elbit and  L-3 are expected  to continue promoting Hermes 450 for Project Noctua. ________________________________________ Project NOCTUA, leased UAV  [ Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle] System  –  Notice of Proposed Procurement  (NPP) ________________________________________ Reference Number                PW-$$BB-213-16931 Solicitation Number              W8485-087005/B Organization Name               Public Works and Government Services Canada                                       Travaux publics et Services gouvernement aux Canada Source ID                               FD.DP.QC.10077.C2 Associated Components     Yes Dates Published     2008-04-09 Revised         — Closing         2008-05-09  02:00 PM  Eastern Daylight Saving Time  EDT Details Category                          Aerospace GSINS                               WL1550: UNINHABITED AIR VEHICLE (UAV) - LEASE Region of Delivery         Alberta,  Foreign  [Afghanistan] Region of Opportunity   — Agreement Type             NONE Tender Type                    Notice of  Proposed Procurement  (NPP) Estimated Value               — Solicitation Method        — Notice Description Project NOCTUA, leased UAV System Trade Agreement:                         NONE Tendering Procedures:                 All interested suppliers may submit a bid Attachment:                                   YES (MERX) Electronic Competitive Procurement Strategy:  Best Overall Proposal Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement:   No Nature of Requirements: Project NOCTUA, leased UAV System W8485-087005/A Sinkinson, John Telephone No. - (613) 943-3492 Fax No. - (613) 944-7870 E-Mail  -  John.Sinkinson@pwgsc.gc.ca Project NOCTUA, leased UAV System. On behalf of DND, a leased and contractor maintained  Unmanned Air Vehicle  System to Support  Canadian troops in Afghanistan (Project Noctua). Project Milestones, Contract Award planned for 4 July 2008, Initial Operating Capability 180 days after contract award.  Major requirements:  90% availability 12 hours on station, ability of the air vehicle to gather and transmit high quality [sensor]  imagery at from a distance of 100km  from Kandahar, Afghanistan.  Detailed requirements and evaluation criteria are con- tained in solicitation documents. All Solicitation annexes and [appendices] are also available in Microsoft Office format in the CD available from MERX. However, the MERX PDF version of these annexes and [append- ices]  have precedence over the CD version.  Government  Furnished  References  are  also included on the CD. 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. Sinkinson, John 11 Laurier St. / 11, rue Laurier 8C1, Place du Portage Gatineau Québec K1A 0S5 (819) 956-0486 ( ) 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           (613) 943-3492 ( ) Fax                (613) 944-7870