9F045-13-TICFIRE
NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT
NATURE OF REQUIREMENT:
Microsatellite Feasibility Study Activities for the Thin Ice Clouds in the
Far InfraRed Experiment (TICFIRE) Mission.
The intention of this Notice of Proposed Procurement is to notify the
suppliers that the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) plans to proceed with a
competitive procurement process by posting a Request for Proposal (RFP) for
the provision of feasibility study activities on the Thin Ice Clouds in the
Far InfraRed Experiment (TICFIRE) mission which is a potential Canadian
microsatellite mission.
COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT STRATEGY:
The RFP will be posted within the next two months.
Suppliers will be given a period of about four (4) weeks to submit their bid.
Maximum one (1) contract will be awarded.
BACKGROUND:
Following the successful launch of the NEOSSAT microsatellite and the coming
launch of the M3MSAT microsatellite later this year, the Canadian Space
Agency wishes to undertake feasibility study activities to identify suitable
microsatellite candidate missions to be considered in its planning of future
space missions.
The CSA, in collaboration with other federal departments,
has identified the Thin Ice Clouds in the Far InfraRed Experiment (TICFIRE)
mission as a high priority mission for which high level requirements could be
met with the use of a microsatellite platform.
MISSION DESCRIPTION:
The goal of the Thin Ice Clouds in the Far InfraRed Experiment (TICFIRE)
mission is to observe key parameters of Thin Ice Clouds (TIC) forming in the
cold regions of the Poles and globally near the tropopause, and link these to
the alteration by pollution of the clouds and their radiative properties. It
would combine limb imager observations (cloud top altitude) with precise
radiometric measurements of the same scene at nadir. The nadir radiometer
would require 6 channels covering the TIR to the FIR (7.9-9.5 m, 10-12 m,
12-14 m, 17.25-19.75 m, 22.5-27.5 m and 30-50 m) with a 10km spatial
resolution over a 640km swath. The limb imager would have a single TIR
channel and a 1km vertical spatial resolution.
Poorly understood and little measured Thin Ice Clouds (TIC), the dominant
cloud type in the Arctic, are an important factor in the generation of cold
Arctic air masses feeding large scale storms dominant during the cold season.
In addition, TIC properties can be altered by anthropogenic emissions such as
sulphate aerosols and thus become an important factor in climate and weather
linkage between the Arctic and lower latitudes. Data products would consist
in Thin cloud types maps along with their characteristics, their time
evolution, precipitation and their role in water and energy balance of cold
regions, a prime energy sources of storm developments.
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9F045-13-TICFIRE
TICFIRE fills a gap in energy balance and atmospheric cooling, subvisible
cloud microphysics and light precipitation in the Arctic, all key parameters
for climate evolution and winter storm prediction in the high and mid
latitudes.
OBJECTIVE:
The objective is to perform feasibility study activities (Phase 0 activities)
on the potential Thin Ice Clouds in the Far InfraRed Experiment (TICFIRE)
microsatellite mission.
TASKS AND DELIVERABLES:
The Contractor will perform activities in the area of Mission Requirements &
Concept of Operations definition, Mission Conceptual Design, preliminary
reference system design, and the development of Mission Development Plan,
including substantive cost, schedule & risk assessment.
SCHEDULE:
It is anticipated that the award of the contract will be at the beginning of
2014. The anticipated duration of the Contract will be 24 months.
APPLICABILITY OF THE TRADE AGREEMENT (S) TO THE PROCUREMENT:
This procurement is not subject to the Trade Agreements.
OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:
Any intellectual property created during the course of the contract shall
rest with the Crown.
ESTIMATED POSTING PERIOD OF THE SUBSEQUENT REQUEST OF PROPOSAL:
October 31, 2013 to November 27, 2013
ESTIMATED PERIOD OF THE SUBSEQUENT CONTRACT:
January 13, 2014 to January 12, 2016
CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY CONTACT
David Sokolic
Manager, Procurement and Contract Administration
David.sokolic@asc-csa.gc.ca
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