QAs NCA 6-8-2020.docx

Clarifications

1. Scope of Work Section 3.4 Commonality of Systems, Subsystems, and Components references access to Virtual Shelf for the purposes of responding to and RFP. Access to Virtual Shelf for RFP purposes will NOT be required for this solicitation.

2. Previous questions requested drawings for the Model K and Model R Ventilation Dampers. While drawings are not provided at the pre-award stage, offerors may reference MIL-PRF-32152(SH) for additional details.

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.

Question 12. In the section 1.2 SCOPE OF WORK in the RFP, it states that "The Contractor shall collaborate with NSWCPD throughout the duration of the contract for design input and direction." while in section L.3.3 VOLUME III – FACTOR 2 it asks for "documentation which clearly demonstrates that their proposed design and performance characteristics are in accordance with the Government’s specifications cited in Section C. This may include a narrative description, drawings, schematics, etc.".

Can you please provide clarification as to the responsibilities of the Contractor in regards to whether they will be working with Government experts to determine final design solutions or if the Contractor should present their idea of finalized design solutions in the proposal?

Also, if the Contractor does not present a design solution within the proposal, is this grounds for dismissal of consideration for the RFP?

Answer 12: The contractor will work in collaboration with the Government to determine a final design solution per the Scope of Work. A finalized design solution is NOT expected as part of the proposal. In reference to Volume III Section 2, the contractor shall provide documentation demonstrating their understanding of the technical requirements of the Scope of Work. The contractor may demonstrate their understanding using high-level narratives, drawings, and/ or schematics of potential design features and/ or characteristics.

The contractor’s proposal will be evaluated in accordance with the requirements outlined in the solicitation.

Question 13. Can you provide drawings/descriptions of the types of valves that will be driven?

Answer 13: Any drawings will be provided upon contract award. The Government does not feel these drawings are required for proposal purposes.

Question 14. Is this for proportional actuation or on-off?

Answer 14: The Navy Common Actuator is intended to cycle between open and closed positions. Proportional control is NOT required.

Question 15. Actuators are typically electrohydraulic, meaning you power a servo valve or directional control valve and that would drive a hydraulic actuator opening and closing a valve. It seems like they expect more of a direct motor drive (based on comments about gears in the specs). Please clarify.

Answer 15: The Navy Common Actuator (NCA) will be powered by ship’s service electrical power. The drive method may be determined after contract award during the design development. The Contractor will work collaboratively with the Government during the design development to determine the best solutions to meet the project requirements.

Question 16. Most of the details on pages 6 and 7 are ‘masked’ in terms that are not clear (i.e. – “shall be capable of actuating quarter-turn Model “R” Round and Model “K” Oval Ventilation Closure”). Without seeing what valve they are trying to drive (mounting patterns, torques required, etc.), this is extremely difficult to evaluate. Once again, what drawings can they share so we have a better understanding?

Answer 16: All information required for proposal purposes has been provided in the Scope of Work and attachments. Drawings will be provided upon contract award.

Question 17: I am a little confused about where pricing goes in our response. It looks like it goes in the pricing volume (volume 6) and the Proposal Contractual Documents (Volume 1). Is that correct or should it only be in one of the volumes?

Answer 17: Proposed pricing belongs in Volume VI – Factor 5 – Total Evaluated Price.

Question 18: Regarding Design reviews, there is a PDR and an HCDR. Is there a final CDR or just the two listed?

Answer 18: Per the Scope of Work, there are three (3) design reviews; Alternative System Review, Preliminary Design Review, and Hardware Critical Design Review. See also CDRL A003 and DI-SESS-80776B.