Department of National Defence: RFI-SPACE SEGMENT SOLUTION (MEOSAR) (W8474-16ME07/A)

Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue Project Space Segment Request for Information.

General

The Department of National Defence is engaging suppliers for the Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) Project Space Segment in order to develop the Statement of Work, Specifications, Evaluation Criteria, and obtain pricing information.

Background

Canada is a pioneer in satellite-aided search and rescue and has played a leadership role in creating a global system based on satellite beacons. Canada, together with Russia, France and the United States has contributed to the COSPAS-SARSAT (C/S) system.

MEOSAR is the next generation satellite system which aims to replace the current Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system. It will provide additional coverage and a more accurate detection and location capability for the Search and Rescue teams. As part of the Space Segment, Canada will provide 24 MEOSAR repeaters to be integrated into the United States Global Positioning System III. The Ground Segment consists of satellite ground terminals known in the C/S context as Local User Terminals (LUTS), which track the MEOSAR satellites, and receive and process the transmissions of the distress radio beacons as relayed by those satellites.

– Complete RFI.