Armada-Modern-Soldier-Compendium-AUGSEPT-2013

ISSP
Initially approved in 2008, the long awaited
decision on the Integrated Soldier System
Project (ISSP) did not materialise. Indeed
Public Works and Government Services
Canada announced on 25 January 2013 that
all bidders were non compliant in response
to the ISSP Request For Proposal, which was
launched in February 2012 and closed on
June 11 2012. On February 15 this year a
draft RFP to acquire integrated suites of
cutting-edge equipment under the ISSP was
issued. An industry day was subsequently
held on March 5, this time leading to a
formal RFP on March 31 with 1 August as
The Rheinmetall
Canada proposal for
the Canadian ISSP
programme pictured
during the 2012 trials.
(Rheinmetall)
Rheinmetall Canada is one of the contenders
in the ISSP programme. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
the closing date. According to available
information five or six teams are expected
to have answered the bid, including Thales
Canada, Rheinmetall Canada, Elbit
Systems, DRS/Selex and Raytheon/Sagem.
The RFP looks at the acquisition of up to
6,624 integrated suites (the number has not
changed) over four years, with a first batch of
1,600 systems and further optional batches
up to the total number.
A second contract will include In-Service
Support and Improvement Activities over a
period of five years plus three two-year
irrevocable options. If and when requested
improvement activities will allow to update
the system. One of the foreseen
improvements should aim at allowing ISSP
voice and data integration with the new Land
Command Support System and may include
changes to the messaging solution and
communication protocols, integration of a
Cross Domain Solution and of a Type 1 radio.
The contract award for the first batch is
expected to be announced in December 2014.
According to Canadian sources the new
RfP does not contain radical modifications
to the requirements. Apparently the main
changes involve the assessment process and
documents, as the procedure adopted in the
previous round appears to have been the
source of trouble. This being said, it will be
interesting to see to what extent the new
proposals will differ from the previous ones.
The DRS proposal for Canada during trials in
2012. All bidders were declared non
compliant and the acquisition process was
restarted. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
18 Compendium Modern Soldier Programme 2013