QAs NCA 5-27-2020.docx

NCA Pre-Award RFIs

Question 1: After reviewing the documents, it is unclear what the government’s expectation is regarding personnel. Are you able to provide a brief clarification of what personnel (LCAT) you are looking to have access to and the expected labor hours? A single junior engineer may be able to assist your team full time on all of the items listed in the solicitation, but if your team is expecting a ground-up design from industry it would be advantageous to understand your intent and possibly offer multiple senior assets in part time capacity.

Answer 1: This contract will produce a “ground-up” design. This contract is Firm-Fixed-Price. The contractor should use their judgement to propose a design team that is capable of providing the required technical and management competencies, maintaining project schedules, and also maximizing value to the Government.

Question 2: (Page 6) The solicitation states “Contractor shall collaborate with NSWCPD throughout the duration of the contract for design input and direction” however CDRL A004 states “Contractor shall present three (3) concept designs to the Government”. Will the government please clarify what level of involvement they intend to have during development?

Answer 2: The Government has provided design requirements as part of the RFP package. As noted in the Scope of Work, the Government intends to discuss the project requirements with the contractor prior to commencement of the design at the Project Kickoff Meeting. Subsequent review meetings provide additional opportunities for the Government to review the contractor’s progress and comment on the direction of the design. The contractor is expected to communicate with the Government on a regular basis to ensure the Government’s design intent is being met.

Question 3: (Page 6) CDRL A003 references a technical data package (TDP) deliverable but specifically notes that it will be developmental level. Can the government clarify what condition “developmental level” is?

Answer 3: Per CDRL A003, refer to DI-SESS-80776B.

Question 4: (Page 9) CDRL A005 references a Requirements Traceability Verification Matrix (RTVM) deliverable, which sounds similar to another document required by NSWCPD’s SEPG program. Is there an expectation that the support in this proposal will also include necessary effort to comply with NSWCPD’s SEPG process? Will the TDP require quality assurance, software, or risk documentation?

Answer 4: This contract will NOT utilize NSWCPD’s System Engineering Process. All requirements of this contract are defined within the RFP package.

Question 5: (Page 19) Often on long-term FFP contracts for service deliverables there is language relating to the acceptance of progress payments, however this solicitation mentioned progress payment requests per the WAWF process. Is there any potential situation where monthly progress payments will not be approved on this award?

Answer 5: This solicitation does NOT include progress payments.

Question 6: After reviewing the SRD it is unclear how much of the production scale is dependent on the contractor during this effort. Program overview states that the NCA program will design, prototype, test, and qualify a new electric valve actuator however, it does not mention if the contractor will be responsible for the manufacturing and assembly. Please give a brief breakdown of what is government responsibility vs contractor responsibility when referencing development past the design selection phase.

Answer 6: Per the Scope of Work, the contractor is responsible for design development. This contract does NOT include prototyping or testing.

Question 7: Do all components need to be sourced in the US? Can it be built in the US but with foreign components? Or all components and build in the US?

Answer 7: The design shall comply with the Buy American Act.

Question 8: There is no detailed reference to the procurement of production units in the solicitation. Does NSWC intend to include any quantity of production units under this contract?

Answer 8: Production units are NOT part of this contract.

Question 9: Will the awardee of this design services contract be favored for future follow-on production contracts, or will the production contract be solicited under a full and open competition?

Answer 9: This contract and all future contracts will be in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

Question 10: Will future production unit contracts be 100% build-to-print according to a government-owned design, or will the production units be expected to meet a performance specification with some allowable deviations in form factor/design while conforming to major design requirements?

Answer 10: The Government has not defined any requirements for future contracts.

Question 11: Is the awardee required to build first article prototype(s) for first article testing; if so, how many? Is awardee responsible to develop, submit, and perform all test plans, test procedures, EQT testing, test report, post-shock tear down report, and submission of all plans, procedures and reports for approval?

Answer 11: Per the Scope of Work, this contract is for design development. This contract does NOT include test plans, test procedures, EQT testing, test report, or post-shock tear down reports.