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Report on China's Space and Counterspace Capabilities and Activities


District Of Columbia, United States
Government : Military
RFP
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:
January 23, 2019

PERIOD OF PROPOSAL SUBMISSION ENDS:
February 20, 2019


ABOUT PROPOSALS. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (hereafter "the Commission") invites submission of proposals to provide a one-time unclassified report on China's space and counterspace capabilities and activities.


ABOUT THE COMMISSION. The Commission was established by Congress in 2000 to monitor and report to Congress on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China. Further details about the Commission are available on its website at: www.uscc.gov.


The Commission solicits this research pursuant to its Congressional mandate (contained in Pub. L. No. 113-291, Section 1259B), which states, "The Commission ... shall investigate and report ... on..."


"(A) The role of the People's Republic of China in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other weapon systems (including systems and technologies of a dual use nature), including actions the United States might take to encourage the People's Republic of China to cease such practices.


(B) The qualitative and quantitative nature of the transfer of United States production activities to the People's Republic of China, including the relocation of manufacturing, advanced technology and intellectual property, and research and development facilities, the impact of such transfers on the national security of the United States (including the dependence of the national security industrial base of the United States on imports from China), the economic security of the United States, and employment in the United States, and the adequacy of United States export control laws in relation to the People's Republic of China."


"(E) The military plans, strategy and doctrine of the People's Republic of China, the structure and organization of the People's Republic of China military, the decision-making process of the People's Republic of China military, the interaction between the civilian and military leadership in the People's Republic of China, the development and promotion process for leaders in the People's Republic of China military, deployments of the People's Republic of China military, resources available to the People's Republic of China military (including the development and execution of budgets and the allocation of funds), force modernization objectives and trends for the People's Republic of China military, and the implications of such objectives and trends for the national security of the United States.


(F) The strategic economic and security implications of the cyber capabilities and operations of the People's Republic of China."


"(H) The drivers, nature, and implications of the growing economic, technological, political, cultural, people-to-people, and security relations of the People's Republic of China's with other countries, regions, and international and regional entities (including multilateral organizations), including the relationship among the United States, Taiwan, and the People's Republic of China."


This report's key research requirements are:


1.    Assess China's current military and dual-use space and counterspace capabilities and potential future capabilities that put at risk U.S. space assets and those of its allies and partners. Briefly describe China's space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, including its ocean surveillance network, and its near-, medium-, and long-term objectives to enhance its space-based ISR network. How do these assets enable or enhance the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) ability to operate at greater distances from the Chinese mainland, and how will these capabilities improve in the future? Assess China's kinetic and non-kinetic ground- and space-based counterspace capabilities, including a discussion of how these could be employed to target U.S. space assets or those of U.S. allies and partners. How is China seeking to improve its space situational awareness capabilities, and what is the status of China's space-based early warning capabilities? What are the trends in China's use of space-based communications, and what are its plans to use microsatellites and other technologies to enhance the survivability of its ISR and communications constellations? Describe any tests or concepts that China has explored for spaceplanes, space-to-air vehicles, and space-to-ground weapons programs.


2.    Assess China's progress in operationalizing its military space and counterspace programs since the establishment of the PLA Strategic Support Force (SSF) in 2015. Identify the SSF's operational space units and assess current and future trends in their operational status, including their integration into the PLA's training cycle. Describe how, if at all, the re-subordination of most military space programs under the SSF has impacted China's counterspace and space launch capabilities and how these capabilities could develop in the future. Assess the impact of China's current military reorganization and reform efforts on its ability to realize its space ambitions. Assess the SSF's ability to conduct both kinetic and non-kinetic counterspace activities by 2020 and 2035.


3.    Assess the PLA's success in leveraging China's civilian space capabilities and research and development (R&D) programs to support its development of operational capabilities. What role have China's aerospace defense conglomerates and civilian space industry played in building its military space program, as is outlined in China's military-civilian fusion strategy? How has the PLA harnessed research benefits from China's lunar exploration program, including its activities on the far side of the moon? Assess China's dual-use communications and jamming capabilities in deep space. How dependent is China's space program on global supply chains and foreign technology or deemed exports, overseas R&D collaboration (in particular with the United States and U.S. allies and partners), and overseas support infrastructure? Have any notable exchanges occurred between U.S. and Chinese entities that were either in violation of legal restrictions on U.S.-China cooperation on space or allowable under specified exceptions? In light of Hong Kong's special treatment granted by the United States under the U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992, is there evidence China has used Hong Kong-based companies to access or acquire space technology that is otherwise subject to U.S. export controls?


4.    Assess the status of China's international space activities. What are the contract terms and financing sources for manufacturing or launch services China has provided for other countries? What is the status and present implementation of contracts or agreements China has signed with other countries to allow China to build or maintain space infrastructure (including ground control or observation facilities), provide or manage launch services, and participate in bilateral, multilateral, and international space programs? What are China's regulatory policies concerning shared tasking and distribution of data obtained by space assets or through ground stations constructed for international clients? Describe any space-related components of China's recent military exercises with international partners. Are there any recent changes in China's willingness to share access to its satellite constellations, or access to particular capabilities of its satellite constellations, with international partners and to export more advanced space technology?


The report should include an executive summary of the report's key findings; a brief overview of the sources and analytic methodology used for the report; and a brief explanation of the scope and limitations of the report.


Additional Requirements:


1.    Prior to the award of any contract, the contractor must be registered in the federal System for Award Management (SAM).


2.    Once the Commission selects a contractor for this project, and a contract is signed, public notice of this may be made on the Commission's website.


3.    The Commission's goal is to have a report prepared for review in a timely fashion. In ordinary circumstances, once the Commission selects a contractor and a contract is signed, a draft report must be submitted to the Commission for review no later than 90 days from the date the contract is signed. The Commission will then endeavor to provide comments and requests for adjustments within 30 days; subsequently, the final report must be submitted within 30 days of formal receipt of the Commission's comments. The Commission recognizes, under certain circumstances, a contractor may wish to have more time to prepare the first draft of the report under the contract. The contractor, in their contract proposal, should stipulate the time frame for submission of the draft report. It is to be understood; however, that time is of the essence in completing research contracts for the Commission.


4.    As work on the report progresses, the Commission's Research Coordinator shall act as the Commission's representative in monitoring the progress, quality, and responsiveness of the report to the major issues of concern identified in this Request for Proposals (RFP). The Research Coordinator shall, on request to the contractor, be entitled to informal briefings on the status of the research work and to readings of the draft in progress.


5.    The report shall be free of typographical errors and conform to the Chicago Manual of Style. Upon receipt of all drafts, the Commission will inspect the document for typographical errors and deviations from the Chicago Manual of Style guidelines. At the discretion of the Commission, if a draft contains excessive deficiencies, the Commission will return the draft to the contractor and request the contractor cure the draft of deficiencies within five (5) working days (not counting weekends and Federal holidays). Upon resubmission of the draft by the contractor to the Commission, should deficiencies remain, the Commission, at its discretion, will submit the draft to its copyeditor for correction, the cost of which ($40.00 per hour) will be deducted from the final cost of the contract. The contract shall be subject to termination if the Commission deems that the work is of unsatisfactory quality.


6.    At the Commission's discretion, the report procured via this RFP may be posted on the Commission's website.


7.    Each organization or individual responding to this request must warrant they will perform this work solely for the Commission, and the resulting report will not be shared with other parties without the prior written consent of the Commission.


8.    The Commission expects contractors to identify all personnel working on the contract, and that there will not be any delegation of responsibilities to other parties without prior written approval of the Commission.


9.    After completion of the report, the Commission staff, in consultation with the contractor, will prepare a short summary of the research for posting on the Commission's website and other media. The Commission staff may consult with the contractor in preparing said document.


10.    At the discretion and request of the Commission, the contractor shall, within a year after publication of the report, agree to participate in up for two (2) separate briefings, and up to one (1) public hearing, held by the Commission, of up to two (2) hours each in the Washington, DC area, supported by at least one (1) individual affiliated with the contractor identified as "key personnel." This could include, but not necessarily be limited to, briefing the content of the research to Commissioners and Commission staff, appearing as witnesses at a public hearing held by the Commission, and briefing the content of the research to Members of Congress and/or their staff. No additional remuneration will be provided to the contractor for these briefings or a hearing. The Commission will make a good faith effort to schedule briefings and a hearing at times that are subject to mutual agreement.


Primary Selection Criteria:


1.    The Commission will determine which organization or individual responding to this request will be awarded the contract based on a comprehensive "best value" analysis of the proposals received, to include costs, technical value, and ability to complete the work satisfactorily and on time, and past performance with the Commission, if applicable.


2.    The primary weighting criterion in selection shall be the assessed qualifications and ability of an organization or individual to address the fundamental research points enunciated above ("key research requirements").


3.    The cost and amount of time necessary to complete the report will also be considered as criteria in the selection process.


4.    The Commission is a Legislative Branch agency not subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).


Proposal submissions should include:


1.    A statement of the applicant's relevant qualifications to satisfy the terms of this RFP, to include curricula vitae for personnel intended for work on the project.


2.    Identification of the principal researchers who will be responsible for the preparation of the report. It is understood that the designation of the researchers is a critical element of the proposal, and any changes regarding which individuals will be involved in the report's preparation must be approved by the Commission in advance and in writing.


3.    A description of the research methodology the applicant proposes to employ. In describing methodology, the submission should provide detailed descriptions of the sources and methods that will be used to research the report's topic and the extent to which Chinese language sources, if any, and other primary materials will be used.


5.    A list of any entities for whom you have conducted research or provided consulting services in the past. The Commission understands you may be limited in providing such information by confidentiality agreements.


6.    An estimate of the time the applicant will need to complete the required work.


7.    The price the applicant will charge to the Commission to complete the work set forth in this RFP.


Organizations and individuals wishing to submit a proposal in response to this RFP must ensure that the response arrives at the location noted below by 5:00 p.m. (EST) on February 20, 2019, or it will not be accepted or considered.


Electronic submissions are acceptable.


Proposals, as well as inquiries or any other correspondence related to this matter, should be directed to:


Christopher Fioravante
Director of Operations and Administration
U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
Hall of the States, Suite 602
444 North Capitol Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
phone: 202-624-1455
email: cfioravante@uscc.gov



Christopher Fioravante, Director of Operations and Administration, Phone 202-624-1455, Fax 202-624-1406, Email cfioravante@uscc.gov

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