Response to Questions RFP 693JJ921R000034.pdf

Response to RFP 693JJ921R000034 VSR Research Testing Programs

Question 1:

SOW Section C.6.2, entitled “Vehicle-to-Rigid Wall Crash Tests”

Attachment J.5 title page says “Laboratory Test Procedure For Oblique Offset Moving Deformable Barrier Impact Test” and references OMDB cart in setup. Is this the correct test procedure?

Answer 1:

The incorrect version was attached. Correct version will be uploaded

Question 2:

SOW Section L.9.1, entitled “VOLUME I: TECHNICAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS”

Gives a page limit of 20 to respond to capabilities of 4 large test modes and a “hypothetical task order” can this page count be increased?

Answer 2:

Yes. See updated RFP

Question 3:

SOW Section L.9.1, entitled “VOLUME I: TECHNICAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS”

Requires a response to a “Hypothetical Task” which appears to be a technical proposal within the technical proposal. Is this an accurate assessment? And is there a page limit for this?

Answer 3:

That is correct. There is a hypothetical technical proposal within another technical proposal. See response to Question 2 for page limits.

Question 4:

SOW Section C.7, entitled “POTENTIAL TASK ORDERS”

This section lists 8 potential task orders, 2 of which appear in the pricing tables the rest do not.

This RFP appears to be driven around OMDB, Frontal w/Thor dummies, Wsid Pole and Wsid MDB. What are we being asked to provide a proposal for?

Answer 4:

The 2 that appear in the pricing tables are set procedures and they were also included in “Potential Task Orders” in case there was a drastic change in the test procedure. If that was the case a new task order for frontal or side would be requested.

Section L and M specifies the required information you should submit with your proposal.

Question 5:

Can Labs Partial bid or will this be sole sourced to one lab?

Answer 5:

A lab can provide price for only test specified in Section C.6 that they can perform. Every bidder must meet the General Test Requirements specified in Section C.5.

It is expected multiple awards will be awarded.

Question 6:

What is the estimated start and duration of the period of performance?

Answer 6:

Awards are expected by the end of this calendar year. The duration after award is specified in the

RFP

Question 7:

RFP Cover Page – Page 3.

Could you please clarify the due date for the proposal since different due dates are listed within this RFP?

See below for specifics.

1a.) On page 3, of 86 it states that the due date is August 31, 2021.

1b.) On page 72, of 86 (L.1 Proposal Delivery) it states that the due date is September 6, 2021.

1c.) On Sam.gov, it states that the “Original Date Offers Due: Sep 06, 2021 11:00 am EDT”

Answer 7:

The due date for proposals will be extended to Sep 13, 2021.

Question 8:

L.1 Proposal Delivery – Page 72.

Since Monday, September 6, 2021 is Labor Day, a Federal Holiday, could the due date be moved to Monday, September 13, 2021?

Answer 8:

See answer to question 7.

Question 9:

L.8 Proposal Content – Page 75 Could you please clarify the submission format, as there are conflicting instructions within the RFP? We would prefer electronic submission. See below for specifics.

3a.) On the Title page 3 of 86 it states submit proposals to an email address.

3b.) On page 72 of 86 (L.1 Proposal Delivery) it states submit proposals to an email address.

3c.) On page 75 of 86 (L.8 Proposal Content) it states that (5) copies of the technical proposal on CD-ROMs.

3d.) On page 76 of 86 (L.8 Proposal Content) it states that (5) copies of the business proposal on CD-ROMs.

Answer 9:

Proposals must be delivered electronically to c.clarke.ctr@dot.gov and nhtsaoam@dot.gov.

Question 10:

C.6 Test Specific Requirements – Page 23 Under section C.6 Test Specific Requirements (page 23 of 86), there are sub-sections that reference every CLIN and cross reference every appendix except for CLIN 0003 (page 5 of 86 – B.3.4 Price Schedule) Moving Vehicle to Stationary Vehicle Crash Test (Vehicle to Vehicle).

Therefore could you please provide section C.6. Test Specific Requirements and the corresponding test procedure (i.e. Appendix) for CLIN 0003?

CLIN 0002 = Section C.6.1

CLIN 0003 = ____???___

CLIN 0004 = Section C.6.2 CLIN 0005 = Section C.6.3 CLIN 0006 = Section C.6.4 mailto:c.clarke.ctr@dot.gov mailto:nhtsaoam@dot.gov

Answer 10:

CLIN 0003 is a mistake and has been removed from RFP.

Question 11:

B.3.4 Price Schedule – Page 6 For CLIN 0017 (page 6 of 86 – B.3.4 Price Schedule), if the contractor owns multiple load cells walls how should these different offerings be quoted (i.e. 0017A, B, C)?

Answer 11:

The Offeror should add a CLIN to the table for each barrier they have.

Question 12:

L.9.1 Volume I – Page 76 On page 76 of 86 (L.9.1 Volume I) it states that the page limit is 20. Does the cover page and table of contents count against this page limit?

Answer 12:

See answer to question 2 for page limit.

Question 13:

L.9.1 Volume I – Page 76 In sections L and section M, there are 21 topics that need to be covered within 20 pages. Past RFP’s had a page limit of 30 or 50 pages. In order to be able to cover all 21 topics requested within this RFP, could this page limit be increased to 30 pages?

Answer 13:

See answer to question 2.

Question 14:

Attachment J.5. Frontal Test Procedure Sept. 2020 On the title page of Attachment J.5. Frontal Test Procedure Sept. 2020, it states “Laboratory Test Procedure for Oblique Offset Moving Deformable Barrier Impact Test”. Is this title incorrect or is this the wrong procedure being that the title of the Attachment is “Frontal Test Procedure” and not “Oblique Offset”?

Answer 14:

No this is not the correct attachment. The correct version will be uploaded

Question 15:

Attachment J.4. Oblique Test Procedure July 2018 The footer throughout the Attachment J.4. Oblique Test Procedure July 2018 states “June 22, 2016.” Is this a typo or is there a more up-to-date July 2018 test procedure that the Contractor should reference?

Answer 15:

This is a typo.

Question 16:

C.5.20.4 Offset Moving Deformable Barrier - Page 20 In section, C.5.20.4 Offset Moving Deformable Barrier on page 20 of 86 it states that the government will not be providing any honeycomb required for testing under this contract. Does this pertain only to honeycomb barriers used to conduct tests to U.S. crash test protocols? We would prefer that it only apply to U.S. crash test protocols since barriers like the PDB (France) are quite expensive.

Answer 16:

A line item was added to the RFP to reimburse the contractor for the purchase and shipping of the honeycomb. The contractor is still responsible for purchasing the honeycomb.

Question 17:

C.5.22 Disposition of Government Property - Page 20 Regarding section, C.5.22 Disposition of Government Property on page 20 of 86 what is the time limit (i.e. 6 months) for the COR (TO) to release the vehicle for disposition from the Contractor’s facility following acceptance of the Contractor’s final test reports and deactivation of restraints (if required)?

Answer 17:

See updated RFP.

Question 18:

G.1.2 Payment Schedule - Page 39 In section, G.1.2 Payment Schedule on page 39 of 86, it states that invoices shall be submitted upon delivery and acceptance of the final test report and other final test deliverables. What is the time limit or deadline for the COR (TO) to provide the Contractor with feedback on the draft test report (i.e. 2 weeks)?

What is the time limit or deadline for the COR (TO) to accept the final test report and deliverables (i.e. 2 weeks). Without such deadline months / years could pass before the Contractor is able to issue an invoice.

Please note that the Contractor has deadlines that must be met:

Answer 18:

The RFP has been updated with new language..

Question 19 C.5.23.4 ATD Qualification - Page 21 In section, C.5.23.4 ATD Qualification on page 21 of 86 it states that ATDs shall be qualified before and after each sled and crash test. Furthermore that the qualification tests shall be included in the test cost.

Does this pertain to advanced ATDs like THOR and WorldSID that historically due to significant effort to complete their qualifications are not tested before and after every test?

Answer 19:

Refer to updated RFP.

Question 20

Cover Page The cover page states a due date of August 31, 2021 and section L.1 states a due date of September 6, 2021. Can the government please clarify the due date for proposal submission?

Answer 20:

Question 21 F.6 Monthly Status Reports Since the majority of the award is intended to be fixed price, can requirements 8) and 9) be eliminated from the monthly reporting? Or, can the government specify items 8 and 9 are only applicable to cost reimbursable CLINs?

Answer 21:

See updated RFP

Question 22 F.6.1 Standard Reporting Format Since the majority of the award is intended to be fixed price, can requirements 1, 2, 5 and 6 be eliminated from the monthly reporting? Or, can the government specify items 8 and 9 are only applicable to cost reimbursable CLINs?

Answer 22:

See answer to question 21.

Question 23 H.12.1 Security and Privacy Protection Is performing testing using NHTSA furnished vehicles and ATDs considered “operating NHTSA equipment” with respect to NHTSA’s right to install and operate monitoring equipment?

Answer 23:

This section only applies to IT.

Question 24 L.8 Proposal Content Indicates the Offeror shall submit its proposal via email. However, in the bullets below it states 5 separate CD-ROMs must be provided. Please clarify if CD-ROMs are required in addition to emailed proposals.

Answer 24:

See answer to question 9.

Question 25 L.11 Part I Cost/Price Information Is the government asking us to provide a table with labor rates and indirect rates? Or, is the expectation that we provide detailed cost estimates showing how we arrived at each of the prices included in the tables presented in section B.3?

Answer 25:

Yes the Offeror shall provide labor rates, indirect rates, and detailed cost estimates on how the prices for each test procedure.

Question 26 L.1 Proposal Delivery The proposal due date in Section L.1 is specified as 11:00 AM EST, Monday, September 6, 2021, however, the Cover Page (Page 3 of 86) states that the proposal is due on August 31, 2021. Can you confirm which due date is correct?

Answer 26:

Question 27 L.1 Proposal Delivery, L.8 Proposal Content Section L.1 and L.8 state to submit the proposal by email to Christopher Clarke at c.clarke.ctr@dot.gov and NHTSAOAM@dot.gov, however, Section L.8 also states to submit five (5) copies of each the Technical and Business Proposals on CD-ROM. Does the proposal need to be submitted both via email and on CD-ROM? If CD-ROMs must be delivered, can you confirm the delivery address?

Answer 27:

See answer to question 9.

Question 28 L.9.1: Volume I: Technical Proposal Instructions Can you confirm what is included in the 20 page limit of the Technical Proposal? Does a “Cover Page” or “Table of Contents” go against the page limit?

Answer 28:

See answer to question 2.

Question 29 Attachment J.9: Hypothetical Task:

Attachment J.9 makes reference to Attachment J.6: Laboratory Test Procedure for the Research Side Impact Moving Deformable Barrier Test. Should these references instead be made to Attachment J.5:

Frontal Test Procedure?

Answer 29:

Yes the reference document should be Attachment J.5.

Question 30 Attachment J.9: Hypothetical Task:

Will the booster seat be supplied for the 10 year old dummy as GFE or will the Offeror be responsible to supply? How often should the booster seat be replaced?

mailto:c.clarke.ctr@dot.gov mailto:NHTSAOAM@dot.gov

Answer 30:

The Offeror is responsible to supply the booster seat and should be replaced for each test.

Since the majority of the award is intended to be fixed price, can requirements 8) and 9) be eliminated from the monthly reporting? Or, can the government specify items 8 and 9 are only applicable to cost reimbursable CLINs?