Australia - Cyber Security Strategy - Satellite -Based Augmentation System (SBAS)

Description

Geoscience Australia seeks to identify high-level cybersecurity risks associated with the proposed Australian SBAS architecture which may aid in the development of the development of an operational Cybersecurity Strategy. Respondents are asked to provide evidence of involvement and expert knowledge with similar previous projects. 
 The information received as a result of this Request for Information (RFI) process will inform government decision making for cybersecurity in relation to the SBAS program. In seeking your response, the Commonwealth wishes to ensure that this planning and decision making occurs with the full benefit of the information provided by your organisation. 
 This is a market research exercise and is not an approach to the market. The Commonwealth will not down select or exclude any companies from future participation in the implementation of the SBAS Cybersecurity Strategy based on their participation in this RFI or attendance or non-attendance at the Industry Brief. This notice or completion of the RFI or attendance at the Industry Brief does not represent a guarantee of future work in any format.
SBAS Program
Satellite positioning data is now fundamental to a range of applications and businesses worldwide. It increases our productivity, secures our safety and propels innovation. It enables GPS on smartphones, provides safety-of-life navigation on aircraft, increases water efficiency on farms, helps to locate vessels in distress at sea, and supports intelligent navigation tools and advanced transportation management systems that connect cities and regions.
Geoscience Australia received $160.9 million in the 2018-19 Federal Budget to support the development of an operational Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) over four years. SBAS utilises space-based and ground-based infrastructure to improve the accuracy, integrity and availability of basic Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, such as those currently provided by the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The Australian SBAS will augment the GNSS signals to deliver a satellite positioning capability across all of Australia and its maritime zones with decimetre accuracy. It will also support the aviation, maritime and road transport sectors, which have a requirement for high-integrity positioning-guaranteed performance with metre level accuracy.
Other regional partners may also join the Australian program as it progresses.
SBAS Architecture
Ground infrastructure for the program includes a network of Ranging and Integrity Monitoring Stations (RIMS) across the country. The stations, which will number 30 to 40, will be connected via a high-reliability communications infrastructure. Telecommunications channels include internet 3/4G, fibre optics and VSAT satellite communication. Computational processing occurs at a central processing facility which generates the corrections and integrity information. Satellite uplink facilities will support navigation services and will transmit signals to geostationary satellites, which will broadcast GNSS correction data to users. The ground infrastructure must be dual-redundant to comply with aviation safety requirements.
Geoscience Australia will only reply to questions submitted to the Contact Officer up to the 7 February 2019 and questions must be only be related to the SBAS program.

Opportunity closing date

13 February 2019

Value of contract

to be confirmed