NOAA RFP 1305M325R0002 - PAR SOLICITATION - Q and A 2ND ROUND.pdf

NOAA Request for Proposal (RFP) 1305M325R0002 Solicitation Questions & Answers

Department of Commerce (DOC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Phased Array Radar Test Article For Weather Observation Risk Reduction Activation

JANUARY 2025

NOAA Request for Proposal (RFP)1305M325R0002 Solicitation Questions & Answers

Acquisition Questions

Technical Questions

Acquisition Questions

1. Please outline the insurance coverage responsibilities for the building and equipment during the build-out phase and the subsequent operational phase

a. Please reference all insurance related clauses in the solicitation, see: RFP H.1, H.3, I.1, I.5.

2. Specifically, how will risks related to potential events, such as tornadoes, be addressed?

At what point during the build-out and operational phases will the Government assume responsibility for the insurance coverage?

a. The Government intends to take delivery of the site in accordance with Section 11 of the PWS. Please reference FAR 52.249-14 for additional information on excusable delays. In addition, please note warranty requirements contained in the solicitation (for example, RFP I.1, I.13, I.14, and PWS 5.3.6).

3. RFP Page 63 Paragraph L.9.a.4 States: Proposals shall be valid for a minimum of 365 days from proposal due date. Question: Validity is stated as 365 days. COTS suppliers will not typically agree to 365 day validity on their quotes. Can an offeror's proposal contain a lesser validity for specific required suppliers (COTS) if such suppliers will not agree to the 365 day validity?

a. See revised validity terms in section L.9.a.4. Additionally, offerors should reference section L.9.a.8 pertaining to exemptions to solicitation terms.

4. RFP Page 64 Paragraph L.9.a.6.C States: Font shall be Times New Roman and font size shall not be less than size 12. Question: May offerors use Arial font with size not less than 10 point in graphics and tables?

a. Yes, see revised instructions at L.9.a.6.C.

5. RFP Page 64 Paragraph L.9.a.6.C States: Font shall be Times New Roman and font size shall not be less than size 12. Question: Proposal cover pages include legal disclaimers for proprietary restriction, export restrictions, etc. These are difficult to fit on the cover page in Times New Roman 12 point font. May proposal cover pages be excluded from the RFP font restrictions?

6. RFP Page 64 Paragraph L.9.a.6.D States: 150 pages (inclusive of cover pages, table of contents, key personnel resumes, drawings, and tables); 50 pages for oral presentation slides Question: Tables of acronyms serve as a valuable aid to the proposal evaluators.

Are tables of acronyms expected/allowed? If included, can they be excluded from the page count limits?

a. Acronym tables are allowed but are not excluded from the page count, see revised instructions at L.9.a.6.D.

7. RFP Page 64 Paragraph L.9.a.6.D States: 150 pages (inclusive of cover pages, table of contents, key personnel resumes, drawings, and tables); 50 pages for oral presentation slides Question: RFP L.9.a.6.A requires each volume to contain a cover letter. Is the cover letter excluded from the page count limitations?

a. Cover pages are included in the page count in accordance with solicitation section L.9.a.6.D.

8. RFP Page 64 Paragraph L.9.a.8 States: Offerors shall identify and explain any exceptions or deviations taken to any part of the solicitation or conditional assumptions made with respect to the technical requirements of the solicitation. Question: In which volume should offerors identify and explain exceptions/deviations/conditional assumptions? Are these included or excluded from the page count limitations?

a. See revised RFP section L.9.a.8.

9. RFP Page 68 Paragraph L.9.b Factor 3 5 States: Offerors shall provide a proposed subcontracting plan. The proposed plan shall outline small business participation and identify what elements are to be subcontracted and why. Question: Does the Government have small business goals that we should plan to? None are listed in the RFP.

a. See revised RFP section L.9, b) in Factor 3.5.

10. RFP Page 69 Paragraph L.9.c FACTOR: COST/PRICE States: The offeror shall submit one Microsoft Excel copy of Volume II, marked as such, and one PDF copy of Volume II, marked as such. Question: We are assuming that the Excel copy is limited to the required Attachment 4 spreadsheet only and the PDF copy is everything else. Please confirm that an excel copy of the cost volume narrative material and a PDF copy of the Attachment 4 spreadsheet are not required.

a. See revised RFP section L.9, c) in FACTOR: Cost/Price.

11. RFP Page 72 Paragraph L.9.c.1.b "States: As a minimum, include the following information in the BOE 7. For all cost elements, indicate whether current rates or escalated rates are used. If escalation is included, state the degree (percent) and methodology. If escalation is not proposed, explain why." Question: Rate information is not typically included in the BOE but are explained in other sections of the cost proposal.

Please clarify is this information is required in each BOE.

a. Yes, this information is required in each BOE.

12. RFP Page 74 Paragraph L.9.c.2.e States: The following is a summary of the maximum fee structure that may be proposed, in accordance with FAR 15.404-4(c)(4)(i). However, the government expects to see fees proposed below the stated Not to Exceed amounts.

For CLIN 1001, Offerors shall propose a fee Not to Exceed (NTE) 7 percent of the CLIN’s estimated costs, excluding fee. For CLINs 2001 and 3001, Offerors shall propose a fee NTE 7 percent of each CLINs’ estimated costs, excluding fee. Question: The statutory fee limitations of FAR 15.404(c)(4)(i) are stated as proposed maximums. The narrative continues and states the USG "expects" fees lower than statutory maximums, and also uses the word "shall" with respect to fees proposed under CLIN 1001, 2001, 3001. Would a proposed fee below the statutory fee maximums in FAR 15.404-4 (c)(4)(i) yet above the 7% limitation for CLINS 1001, 2001, 3001 make an offer's proposal non-responsive. Would NOAA consider removing the 7% fee limitation for CLINs 1001, 2001, 3001 from the RFP?

a. See revised RFP section L.9.c.2.e

13. RFP Page 74 Paragraph L.9.c.4.b "States: Cost or Price Analysis of Subcontractors If proposed, cost information for each subcontractor shall be furnished in the same format and level of detail as prescribed for the prime offeror. The cost shall be captured on a separate tab of the spreadsheet by month and provide a summary by CFY at WBS level 4." Question: We assume 4 b applies only to major subs. Please confirm

a. This requirement is only applicable to “Key” subcontractors as defined in RFP section L.9.c.4.b.

14. RFP Page 77 Paragraph L.14 States: CAR 1352.239-71 ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Question: L.14 requires submittal of information related to electronic and information technology. In which volume should this information be included?

a. This information shall be included in Volume II.

15. RFP Page 70 Paragraph L.9.c FACTOR: COST/PRICE States: “2. SUPPORTING COST

DATA

a. Section B of Solicitation

b. Direct and Indirect Rates

c. Labor Hours

d. Work-year assumptions

e. Fee

f. Cost Summary by Contract Year"

Question: The detailed instruction for Supporting Cost Data do not include "Labor Hours" but do include "Travel, Materials, Other Direct Costs (ODC) and Subcontractors".

Please clarify the minimum expectations for this section.

a. Please reference RFP page 72, 2.b.

16. RFP Page 65 Paragraph L.9.b Factor 1 2 States: Offerors shall provide a preliminary design of the Radar Test Article (RTA) and Radar Test Facility (RTF), including notional drawings with sufficient detail to demonstrate meeting the PWS requirements. Question:

Detailed technical drawings to address this requirement will not fit within the page size and font constraints. Can these be supplied as foldouts with reduced font size?

17. RFP Page 62 Paragraph L.7.a States: Offerors or quoters are urged and expected to inspect the site where the work will be performed. Question: We missed the original opportunities for a site visit. Can we still visit the site prior to proposal submittal?

a. Please reference RFP section L.7 for updated and additional site visit information.

18. RFP Page 67 Paragraph L.9.b Factor 3 1.a States: Schedule Management Plan. As part of the schedule management plan, Offerors shall provide a proposed schedule (e.g., Gantt chart, milestones, deliverables), to include proposed due dates for the RTA and RTF preliminary and critical design reviews (see Section F.5 Schedule of Deliverables), demonstrating the Offeror’s ability to effectively manage the time constraints (i.e., 36-month schedule) of the effort. It shall also demonstrate the Offeror's plan to identify and mitigate schedule delays. If applicable, the Schedule Management Plan may also include a proposed alternate schedule that allows for expedited delivery in advance of the 36-month delivery schedule. Question: A detailed Gantt chart to address this requirement will not fit within the page size and font constraints. Can these be supplied as foldouts with reduced font size? Can we submit in original source (e.g. Microsoft Project) format?

Technical Questions

19. PWS Page 8 Paragraph 5.1.28 States: Scan loss: ≤0.5 dB flatness within an electronic scanning range of ±45° azimuth, 0-20° elevation. See PWS 5.1.9 for the definition Question: Does this apply to the 2 way total scan loss or is it ≤0.5 dB flatness for Tx and ≤0.5 dB flatness for Rx?

a. See revised PWS section 5.1.28.

20. PWS Page 8 Paragraph 5.1.28 States: H/V beam peak offset: ≤1 dB amplitude difference, ≤0.5° pointing angle difference across an electronic scanning range of ±45° azimuth, 0-20° elevation Question: Does this apply to the 2 way amplitude difference or is it 1 dB for Tx and 1 dB for Rx?

a. See revised PWS section 5.1.28.

21. PWS Page 8 Paragraph 5.1.28 States: Absolute reflectivity offset: ≤1 dB Question:

Absolute reflectivity would be measuring a volume target? What is the target? Is this in comparison to another radar?

a. PWS requirements 5.1.9 and 5.1.28 do not require a particular method of calibration or validation. The implementation is left to the vendor.

22. PWS Page 8 Paragraph 5.1.28 States: Broadside ZDR bias: ≤0.1 dB Question: What is the methodology to measure ZDR bias?

a. PWS requirements 5.1.9 and 5.1.28 do not require a particular method of calibration or validation. The implementation is left to the vendor.

23. PWS Page 8 Paragraph 5.1.27 States: a representative sampling of steered beam angles within ±45° azimuth and 0-20° elevation Question: Can you be more specific? Each test takes time and money

a. The number of steering angles required to be representative may be implementation-dependent and is left to the vendor.