Research Report on China's Civilian and Military Space Programs

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
March 19, 2014

PERIOD OF PROPOSAL SUBMISSION ENDS:
April 9, 2014

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (hereafter "the Commission") invites submission of proposals to provide a one-time unclassified report assessing China's civilian and military space programs.

ABOUT THE COMMISSION. The Commission was established by Congress in 2000 to monitor and report to Congress on the economic and national security dimensions of the United States' trade and economic ties with 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 22 U.S.C. 7002), which states "The Commission...shall investigate and report ... on...

PROLIFERATION PRACTICES.-The role of the People's Republic of China in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other weapons (including dual use technologies), including actions the United States might take to encourage the People's Republic of China to cease such practices.

ABOUT PROPOSALS. The Commission solicits proposals from organizations and individuals capable of providing a one-time unclassified report assessing China's civilian and military space programs.

This report's key research requirements are:

1. Provide a brief description of China's space and counterspace strategy and doctrine. Describe the overall scope and scale of China's space and counterspace programs since the mid-1990s and project its trajectory through 2030. Identify any themes in China's space and counterspace programs that can be gleaned from China's official statements, activities, and resource allocation decisions. Approximate emphasis: 10 percent

2. Identify and provide detailed descriptions of the (1) civilian organizations, (2) military organizations, and (3) research and development programs involved in China's space and counterspace programs. Identify what domestic indigenous development capabilities exist. Explain and provide examples of how these organizations have capitalized or seek to capitalize on international cooperation, traditional espionage, and cyber espionage to acquire technology and expertise needed to pursue their long-term missions and objectives. Approximate emphasis: 15 percent

3. Assess China's current and projected ability to launch military, civil, and commercial satellites. Identify and describe all current and developmental Chinese launch vehicles. Identify and describe China's ground-based infrastructure for space launches and provide a map with their locations. Approximate emphasis: 5 percent

4. Provide detailed descriptions and assessments of China's civilian space programs, including China's (1) manned space program, (2) space station, (3) lunar program, (4) commercial launch services, and (5) space imports and exports. Explain the importance of China's moon interests and discuss official and/or authoritative Chinese views on potential mining and resource opportunities there. Discuss China's approach to space diplomacy and cooperation, particularly with the United States. Identify the extent to which China's activities in space may contribute to increasing debris fields and what steps, if any, China is taking to address this issue. Explain and provide examples of how China's civilian space programs contribute to the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) capabilities. Assess the economic and security implications for the United States of China's civilian space programs. Approximate emphasis: 20 percent

5. Provide a comprehensive overview of China's space-based C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) modernization program and describe China's current and future satellite infrastructure for reconnaissance, communications; position, navigation, and timing; and data relay. Include a chart listing all known Chinese satellites in orbit, including descriptions of their payloads, launch years, expected useful life, and missions. Assess how China's expanding space-based C4ISR capabilities are improving the PLA's ability to command and control its forces; monitor global events and track regional military activities; conduct counterspace operations; and increase the range at which Beijing can place U.S. ships, aircraft, and bases at risk with conventional missile systems. Assess any other economic or security implications for the United States of China's space-based C4ISR modernization program and capabilities. Approximate emphasis: 20 percent

6. Provide a comprehensive overview of China's counterspace weapons development program, including ground-based, airborne, and co-orbital kinetic weapons; directed energy weapons; electronic warfare capabilities; and missile defenses. Include a text box identifying and briefly describing all known Chinese counterspace capability demonstrations since 2005, including any suspected cyber operations against U.S. satellites. Assess how and under what possible conditions China could employ its antisatellite weapons against the United States. Include a text box briefly describing the U.S. military satellite infrastructure, including which types of satellites operate in which orbital regimes. Discuss Chinese capabilities in the upper reaches of space. Explain the PLA command structure for integrating its counterspace assets and address the implications for the United States of any overlap between China's counterspace and nuclear forces. Assess any other economic or security implications for the United States of China's counterspace programs and capabilities. Approximate emphasis: 30 percent

The report also 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 of the Commission:

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

2. Once a contractor has been selected for this project by the Commission and a contract signed, public notice of this will 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 a contractor has been selected by the Commission and a contract signed, a draft report must be submitted to the Commission for review no later than 120 days from the date of issuance of the contract. 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 that, under certain circumstances, a contractor may wish to have more time to prepare the first draft of the report. The contractor, in their initial submission, should stipulate the time frame for submissions of the initial review draft. 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 Director shall act as a representative of the Commission in monitoring the progress, quality, and responsiveness of the report to the major issues of concern identified in the 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 conform to the Chicago Manual of Style. Upon receipt of all drafts, the Commission will inspect the document for typographical errors or other 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 with notice that the draft does not conform to the Chicago Manual of Style guidelines, 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 technical editor for correction, the cost of which ($55 per hour for text, $65 per hour for endnotes) will be deducted from the final cost of the contract. The contract shall be subject to termination if the Commission deems 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 that 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 web site and other media. The Commission staff shall consult with the contractor in preparing said document.

10. At the discretion and request of the Commission, the contractor shall agree to participate in up for four (4) separate briefings, and up to one (1) public hearing, held by the Commission, of up to two (2) hours each in the Washington, D.C. area, supported by at least one (1) individual affiliated with the Contractor identified as "key personnel." This could include, but is not necessarily 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.

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.

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

5. 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 5:30PM (EST) on April 9, 2014, 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:

Caitlin Campbell
Research Director
Policy Analyst, Security & Foreign Affairs
U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
Hall of the States, Suite 602
444 North Capitol Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
phone: 202-624-1480
e-mail: ccampbell@uscc.gov