Updated PPTS Questions and Answers 15MAY2026.xlsx

XLSX spreadsheet 19 KB Posted May 15, 2026

Attached to: Portable Patient Transport System (PPTS) Final
Solicitation number: W911QY-26-S-PPTS-01
Issued by: Department of the Army Materiel Command Army Contracting Command Aberdeen Proving Ground

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Other files

File	Type	Posted
Final Call for Solution PPTS (20May2026).docx	DOCX document	May 20, 2026
Final Call for Solution PPTS (19May2026).docx	DOCX document	May 19, 2026
Attachment 0002 PPTS Capabilities Assertion Matrix.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	May 19, 2026
Final Call for Solution PPTS (14May2026).docx	DOCX document	May 14, 2026
Final AOS Statement of Objectives PPTS (14May2026).docx	DOCX document	May 14, 2026
Questions and answers 14May2026.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	May 14, 2026
Questions and answers PPTS.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Apr 9, 2026
CPE CBRND Industry Day_BCIS-PPTS-SIS_1-1 Attendeees_18MAR26.pdf	PDF	Apr 9, 2026
Final Draft Call for Solution PPTS 12MAR2026..docx	DOCX document	Mar 12, 2026
AOS Statement of Objectives PPTS_Final Draft (2026-03-12)..docx	DOCX document	Mar 12, 2026

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PPTS Q&A

Program	Question	Answer
Common	Does there need to be Interoperability between the BIQ programs systems?	Yes. The requirements in the SOO specifiy the dimensional and interoperability requirements.
Common	Does the system need to be soft or hard?	Systems will be evaluated against the requirements and used to determine which solution fits our needs.
General	What is required for Berry amendment compliance?	This is the statute itself. Primary Law (U.S. Code): 10 U.S.C. § 4862 - "Requirement to buy certain articles from American sources; exceptions".
General	What if our initial deliverable is non-Berry compliant, with the promise that our final version will be?	It is in the best interest of the government for the Prototypes to be Berry Compliant. The prototypes will undergo testing to validate their performance. This testing would need to be replicated in the event of a change in the material composition between prototype and production. The replication of this testing is an unacceptable cost to the Government in both dollars and time.
General	Include disinfection process?	Yes. Include decontamination process.
General	Decon Interaction – Single use?	Per the SOO. The PPTS exterior surfaces shall be compatible with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered disinfectants for a contact time of 10 minutes
General	Are projects considered funded requirements? Or will they be impacted by continuing resolutions?	They are funded as they can be.
General	If selected for funding, what categories of offeror’s product development expenses are allowed? For example, engineering & design changes to meet military requirements, prototype costs, tooling costs, testing needed for FDA 510K (or De Novo) application, FDA-consultant fee, and marketing expenses.	As this effort will be awarded as an Other Transaction (OT) agreement, it is not subject to the specific cost principles of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). However, all proposed costs must be considered reasonable and directly allocable to the work required to perform the prototype project as defined in the Statement of Objectives (SOO). The Government will evaluate proposed costs as part of its overall best-value determination.
General	Is partnering preferred? Will networking list be provided for the attendees from Industry Day?	Preferred yes, but not a mandatory requirement for all offerors in all circumstances, partnering is a foundational element of the 10 U.S.C. § 4022 authority and this specific acquisition strategy. Offerors should view the formation of diverse teams, especially those involving Non-Traditional Defense Contractors (NDCs) and small businesses, as a key strategic element for a successful proposal. A list of attendees will be provided.
General	Is the Offeror required to propose a family of solutions by teaming up with the other vendors?	No. There is no requirement for an offeror to propose on all three systems (BCIS, PPTS, and SIS), nor is there a requirement to team up with other vendors for the specific purpose of creating a combined "family of solutions." "Family of Solutions" is an Opportunity, Not a Requirement.
General	What is the preference for the solution? System or Components?	We are not integrating, we want a complete solution.
General	Is this being procured via the CWMD OTA?	No, this is being procured via the Army Open Solicitation and will be a direct agreement with vendors, not a consortium.
General	Under AOS what constitutes a “significant participant”?	The Government's definition of "significant participation" is intentionally qualitative, not quantitative. There is no specific dollar threshold or percentage of contract value that automatically qualifies as 'significant.' the Government will make a business judgment on a case-by-case basis. A contribution will be considered "significant" if it is material to the success of the prototype project. The focus is on the substance and importance of the NDC's contribution, not just its price.
General	Will the CFS allow for the production contract?	Yes, it will allow for follow-on production without a Justification and Approval for other than full and open competition.
General	When will the final CFS be posted?	After the 01 April deadline and after all questions have been taken into consideration so that a final CFS/SOO can be established.
General	When are questions due?	Varies. 1 April 2026 is the last deadline.
General	When are submissions Due?	Mid-May at the latest.
General	What are the differences between the dates identified in the Draft Call for Solutions (CFS) for the Questions due date and the date identified on Sam.gov?	All due dates for questions and proposed solution proposals will be identified in each final Call for Solutions.
General	What will be done with the questions submitted during Industry Day?	The questions will help ACC get their ducks in a row and will be provided to all vendors via Sam.gov.
General	Weight limit? Expectation with patient?	The PPTS will comply with the two person-portable lifting and carrying limits specified in MIL-STD-1472, exclusive of the patient.
General	Bio Protection/Govt testing?	Refer to the requirements in the SOO. There are too many government tests to list in this response.
PPTS	What is the distance between glove ports based on?	The current requirement in the SOO does not list a glove port distance.
PPTS	What is the rationale behind the number of glove ports?	The current requirement in the SOO does not list a minimum number of glove ports, but does require certain performance specifications.
PPTS	What is the difference between transport pouch vs pass through port?	Pouch is transfer of items in and out of the system while maintaining negative pressure in the system. Port is more for transfer of cabling/hoses/tubes, etc.
PPTS	Could the Government clarify the clinical rationale behind the 14-port desired requirement and whether a solution with fewer glove ports that still allows for comprehensive patient care access would be considered compliant?	This desired requirement is no longer listed in the requirements.
PPTS	Can the DoW clarify the intended functional use of the pass‑through ports? Would alternative interface designs that achieve equivalent clinical functionality be acceptable?	We will consider alternative interface designs. Examples of functional pass-through items include vent tubes, IV lines, patient care devices, EKG wires
PPTS	What types of large items does the DoW intend to transfer through the transfer pouch?	Food, water bottle, medication, absorbant pads, patient comfort items
PPTS	If a solution can demonstrate equivalent bilateral access with fewer glove ports, would the DoW consider compliance based on demonstrated operational effectiveness rather than a fixed number of ports?	Yes. See the updated requirement that specifies the performance requirements of the ports rather than a number of ports.
PPTS	Could the Government provide or reference the applicable NSN or specifications for the stanchion systems in these platforms so offerors can demonstrate compatibility in their Solution Briefs?	We could not find an NSN , but a specification for the litter stanchion is available at the following link. https://www.coemed.org/files/stanags/03_AMEDP/AMedP-2.1_EDA_V1_E_2040.pdf
PPTS	Is Berry amendment required?	Yes. Must be able to identify where raw material come from.
PPTS	Why is affordability only being considered as a part of Segment 2 selections and not Segment 1 selections?	It will be considered at all phase of the OTA. This is detailed in the Call for Solutions.
PPTS	Could the Government clarify how pre-existing government-funded IP interacts with the Unlimited Rights preference in Section F?	Legal response: Review the criteia as wriiten. “The Government’s strong preference is for Unlimited Rights for all technical data, software, and associated intellectual property developed under this effort.”
PPTS	Additionally, could the Government clarify how IP assertions that protect commercially developed elements of the design will be weighed against the Unlimited Rights preference in the evaluation?	Legal response: Review the criteia as wriiten. “The Government’s strong preference is for Unlimited Rights for all technical data, software, and associated intellectual property developed under this effort.”
PPTS	What are the temperature ranges during operation? 120 degrees seems high.	Operating temperatures are listed in the SOO and associated MIL-STD.
PPTS	Specifically, is a Solution Brief acceptable if the offeror demonstrates a credible Phase III path to FDA clearance even if clearance has not yet been initiated?	The solution briefs for FDA marketing authorization and full airworthiness are required by the end of Phase III. The Offerors RSP must demonstrate a credible approach to meeting the project's core objectives. Draft Interface Control Document (ICD); submission of the FDA 510(k) marketing authorization request and performer's status with the FDA 510(k) marketing authorization process.
PPTS	Could the Government provide its anticipated Phase III timeline?
PPTS	Does the Government anticipate providing any support, such as letters to FDA or access to government-generated test data, to assist performers in achieving clearance?	CPE-CBRND provides support toward achieving clearance in the form of funding and subject matter expert review and guidance and, when allowable and pending negotiation, shares Government-generated test data that may be of use to performers.
PPTS	Could the required FDA marketing authorization be pursued through this DoW–FDA collaborative pathway?	Performers should respond with their regulatory strategy, including proposed pathway(s), that they believe are appropriate for their device and the indication that CPE-CBRND is seeking.
PPTS	If human factors engineering studies are required as part of FDA clearance, will the DoW support these studies by providing access to representative users and relevant operational environments?	Yes.
PPTS	Is the requirement for the filter to be located outside the system vs. inside?	The preference is for the filter to be located outside the system.
PPTS	Would the Government confirm whether EN1822 H14 certification is an acceptable equivalent to NIOSH P-100 for purposes of this CFS, or whether NIOSH P-100 is a hard certification requirement regardless of demonstrated performance?	The requirement as been rewritten for a filter that meets or exceeds the NIOSH HE HEPA-equivalent filtration performance of 99.97% or greater at 0.3 microns.
PPTS	Would the Government clarify if the intent of the NIOSH P-100 requirement is for the level of particulate filtration effectiveness, or if being oil-proof (i.e. P- vs N- filter rating) is critical for the expected use environment?	The requirement as been rewritten for a filter that meets or exceeds the NIOSH HE HEPA-equivalent filtration performance of 99.97% or greater at 0.3 microns.
PPTS	Would an alternative solution that enables hot‑swapping of filters located inside the containment enclosure be acceptable?	It would be taken into consideration, but we believe that optimally it would be on the outside.
PPTS	Will funding be provided for program management of this opportunity in addition to purchasing of prototypes?	Yes, funding will be provided as required to execute the agreement.
PPTS	Would the ppts need to be tested with litter or does the system need to be rigid?	System must be compatible with NATO litter at a minimum.
PPTS	Could the Government clarify whether the system is expected to have a universal connection mechanism compatible with all listed litter types, or whether compatibility is demonstrated on a per-litter basis?	Demonstration would be on a per-litter basis, but universal connectors would be viewed more favorably.
PPTS	Additionally, is litter compatibility intended to replace the system having its own independent base structure, or is it expected to function both as a standalone unit and in conjunction with the listed litters?	Design considerations are up to the vendor, but system must be compatible with NATO litter at a minimum.
PPTS	Which NATO stretcher will the PPTS prototype be tested with and can we assume the PPTS prototype will be attached to that stretcher for all functional tests?	System must be compatible with NATO litter at a minimum. System will be attached to litter as required persuant to the test plan for each individual test.
PPTS	Is there a requirement for the type of gloves?	Glove port gloves shall meet or exceed the requirements of ASTM F1671 and ASTM D6319. Glove port gloves shall provide sufficient dexterity for caregivers to perform clinical tasks such as operating medical equipment, administering medication, and adjusting patient monitoring devices.
PPTS	Has the DoW considered specifying minimum durability requirements for gloves rather than prescribing thickness?	Glove port gloves shall meet or exceed the requirements of ASTM F1671 and ASTM D6319. Glove port gloves shall provide sufficient dexterity for caregivers to perform clinical tasks such as operating medical equipment, administering medication, and adjusting patient monitoring devices.
PPTS	Would you desire the patient to be able to get out of the system?	There is no requirement for the patient to be able to exit the system unassisted
PPTS	Does the DoW require the PPTS to support transport of mechanically ventilated patients while maintaining biocontainment?	Yes
PPTS	Could the Government confirm whether this may be satisfied through a combination of hot-swappable battery packs that collectively sustain 12 hours of continuous operation, rather than a single battery configuration?	Yes that is the requirement.
PPTS	Additionally, does the 1-minute maximum power interruption apply to each individual swap event?	Yes it applies to each swap event
PPTS	Can the DoW provide a list of batteries currently in DoW inventory that are acceptable for use? Alternatively, would batteries with an assigned NATO Stock Number (NSN) be acceptable?	Batteries listed in DoW inventory can be found at https://www.nsnlookup.com/dla/webflis
PPTS	The CFS states that Solution Briefs must assert to meeting or exceeding threshold requirements to be considered, but several requirements including FDA 510(k) clearance and full airworthiness certification are only required by the end of Phase III. Could the Government clarify whether the initial Solution Brief threshold assertion applies to current demonstrated capability, a credible plan to achieve requirements by the applicable phase, or both?	The solution briefs for FDA marketing authorization and full airworthiness are required by the end of Phase III. The Offerors RSP must demonstrate a credible approach to meeting the project's core objectives. Draft Interface Control Document (ICD); submission of the FDA 510(k) marketing authorization request and performer's status with the FDA 510(k) marketing authorization process.
	Specifically, is a Solution Brief acceptable if the offeror demonstrates a credible Phase III path to FDA clearance even if clearance has not yet been initiated?
PPTS	Design a new system or current system with some deviations?	We are not dictating the solution type each vendor proposes. However, the delivery of the proposed solutions must meet the indicated timelines and will be evaluated against the requirements to determine the best fit for the Government.
PPTS	Was this specification written specifically around ISOVAC's C3L? Will you confirm that alternative designs will be accepted?	No it was not written specifically for C3L. Specification is based on user requirements. Alternative designs accepted.
PPTS	What is the anticipated procurement demand for the final solution (in Phase 3)?	Up to 476 production PPTS units delivered over a period of four years
PPTS	Could the Government clarify whether the initial Solution Brief threshold assertion applies to current demonstrated capability, a credible plan to achieve requirements by the applicable phase, or both?	The Government encourages solutions, even if they do not meet all requirements. Performers are permitted to iterate on their current designs to meet the requirements specified in Attachment 1, Tables 2 - 5, as long as the anticipated delivery timelines for Phase I can still be met.
PPTS	Could the Government confirm that a Solution Brief demonstrating strong compliance across most threshold requirements but identifying specific gaps with a credible remediation plan will still be considered for down-selection to the RSP phase?	Yes, Solution Brief's demonstrating strong compliance across most threshold requirements but identifying specific gaps with a credible remediation plan are encouraged and will still be considered for down-selection to the RSP phase.
PPTS	Can the DoW confirm whether user experience with Phase I prototypes may result in changes to the Desired Requirements?	The Government reserves the right to update or refine evaluation criteria prior to the Segment II award to ensure alignment with program objectives and operational needs, provided such updates do not alter the requirements specified in the SOO.
PPTS	Is there a priority of requirement for PPTS?	Yes, The requirement tables are listed descending order of priority.
PPTS	Would the Government consider proposals that offer a modified delivery schedule with adequate justification and a credible production ramp plan? If so, is there a maximum allowable delivery period beyond 90 days the Government would consider?	The Governments intended schedule is testing resource driven. Vendors should outline their proposed delivery plan in their proposal and the Government will assess whether it meets their timeline. We cannot provide a maximum allow delivery period.
PPTS	Who are the Interested parties in PPTS?	USAF.
PPTS	Is there a product design standard?	No, but it is designed around patient care.
PPTS	Will the system undergo a road vehicle crash test?	Yes. SAE J3027 crash-compliant for DOT vehicle transport is required
PPTS	Will there be a 90th percentile male-equivalent mass inside the containment envelope during all testing?	Yes, for all testing where this metric is relevant.
PPTS	How often will they be used?	Hopefully never. Threshold requirement is for a single use system.
PPTS	Would the DoW accept a solution in which certain components (e.g., gloves) have a shelf life of less than five years, provided these are replaceable?	Per the SOO, the Government encourages solutions, even if they do not meet all requirements. The vendor should provide shelf-life for all components and the Government will evaluate whether the proposed solution meets the Governments needs.
PPTS	Could the Government clarify whether alternative waste management approaches, such as a sealed passthrough or red bag disposal interface, would be considered compliant with the spirit of the waste management requirement?	We will consider alternative options that are compliant with the waste management requirement.
PPTS	Additionally, is the 5-liter per receptacle volume a firm desired requirement or is there flexibility based on the enclosure's overall footprint?	Alternative options would be considered, but must still meet the 10 liter waste containment requirement.
PPTS	Would a single waste storage receptacle, configurable for mounting on either side, be acceptable in place of two separate receptacles?	Yes, if the waste receptacle can reliably hold 10 liters of waste without failure.

https://www.coemed.org/files/stanags/03_AMEDP/AMedP-2.1_EDA_V1_E_2040.pdfhttps://www.nsnlookup.com/dla/webflis

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated May 15, 2026.