RFP 70CMSW23R00000009 Q and A UPDATED 6 20 2023.pdf

Q&A for .223 Requirement

RFP 70CMSW23R00000009

Supports OFTP

Q&A for RFP 70CMSW23R00000009 .223 Duty Ammunition Requirement for ICE/OFTP

Dated 6/20/2023

Industry Question #1- RFP/Attachment 1; Page 1 “General Information”: Are the listed potential contract volumes inclusive of all MAC purchasers (RFP/Attachment #1-Page 2) or DHS/ICE only?

Government Answer #1- All volumes listed in the RFP shall be sent to the ICE CO only for evaluation (minus ammunition samples to Altoona). ICE may permit other DHS and DoD Federal Agencies to place delivery orders, subject to approval by the ICE CO/COR.

Industry Question #2- RFP/Attachment 1; Page 2 “Solicitation/FAT/LAT Samples of Ammunition”: In the event of an award, can initial FAT samples (8,100 rds) be from same day code as RFP bid samples (8,100 rds)?

Government Answer #2- No.

Industry Question #3- RFP/Attachment 1; Page 3 “Proposal Submissions Dates”: Would DHS/ICE extend the proposal due date by 30 days to accommodate product development, testing & bid/sample preparation.

The current due date of 8/1/23 provides less than 60 days to formulate a bid/sample response.

Government Answer #3- The Government hereby grants an extension to proposal submissions to FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2023, NLT 5:00PM EST. Attachment 1 is amended to reflect that date extension change.

Industry Question #4 RFP/Attachment 1; Page 3 “Proposal Submissions Dates”: Would DHS/ICE consider extending “questions” due date to 6/21/23?

Government Answer #4- No.

Industry Question #5- RFP/Attachment 1; Page 3 “Proposal Content”: It will be challenging for vendors to provide necessary documentation/data for an RFP of this size/technical requirement within the stipulated 5-page limitation for the individual listed “Volumes”. Would DHS/ICE consider expanding or waiving this limitation?

Supports OFTP

Government Answer #5- Attachment 1 is hereby amended to increase the page limit for Volume I (Part B ONLY) submissions to 15-pages.

Industry Question #6 – RFP/Attachment 1; Page 7 “Evaluation Criteria/Basis for Award”: In the event DHS/ICE chooses to make multiple awards, and in accordance with FAR 16-505.b where vendors will be ”awarded competitive delivery orders”, will vendors be required to provide LAT sampling (RFP/Attcah.#1/Page 2) up front with the “Fair Opportunity”/DO response or after the “Fair Opportunity”/DO has been awarded to the vendor?

Government Answer #6- No, LAT samples are provided for each production LOT that may fill that individual delivery order.

Industry Question #7- SOW/Attachment 2; Page 10 “4.11/Terminal Ballistics”- Can DHS/ICE provide suppliers and part numbers for each of the following: Heavy cloth (sub-components: shirts, denim, and comforter), Laminated Glass, and 20-gauge hot rolled galvanized steel?

Government Answer #7- The barrier materials that will be utilized during the test were purchased in bulk several years ago from local vendors. No suppliers or part numbers are available. The specifications for each material are detailed in the SOW.

Industry Question #8- Will DHS, ICE please provide a thickness measurement or thickness range of the auto glass that will be used for bid evaluation?

Government Answer #8- All glass that will be utilized in the solicitation has been measured. The glass was purchased several years ago from one supplier. Below is the data for the glass that will be used:

Average Thickness = 0.2370”

Thinnest Sheet = 0.2361” Thickest Sheet = 0.2386”

Standard Deviation = 0.000798

Industry Question #9- Section 4.9 Velocity references shooting groups out of a 5.56x45mm NATO caliber 11.5” 1:7” twist test barrel then shooting .223 Rem caliber SAAMI reference ammo for velocity correction. Please verify both ammo sets should be shot out of 11.5” 1:7” twist test barrel and not a standard 24” 1:12” twist SAAMI test barrel.

Supports OFTP

Government Answer #9- OFTP will perform all velocity testing through a .223 Remington caliber SAAMI 1:12” twist test barrel. SOW Section 4.9 will be amended to clarify (see revised SOW).

Industry Question #10 – SOW/Attachment 2; Page 8 “3.12/Terminal Ballistics”- Non-traditional lead-free projectiles provide unique construction & sustainability advantages but, are generally susceptible to more limited expansion values in auto glass & steel events when compared to traditional leaded products. Would DHS/ICE consider adjusting/eliminating these expansion disqualification thresholds in order to accommodate these unique products?

Government Answer #10- No.

Industry Question #11– SOW/Attachment 2; Page 10 “4.9/Verification-Testing Standards/Velocity”- Please clarify how DHS/ICE will establish a velocity assessment value using .223 SAAMI reference rounds while testing through a 5.56-11.5” NATO test barrels?

Government Answer #11- Section 4.9 of the SOW will be amended to state “The average velocity for three 10-shot groups will be measured by OFTP using a .223 Remington caliber SAAMI 1:12” twist test barrel mounted in a universal receiver.” See revised SOW.

Industry Question #12- The Introduction Letter of Attachment #4 states that evaluation forms have a due date of July 21st, 2023, at 1pm. Attachment #1, Section 3, Paragraph 13, Page 6, States that the “The offeror shall forward this questionnaire to each of the references provided and request the response be submitted directly to the address specified for receipt of responses by the due date of the solicitation." Can the government clarify whether the past performance evaluation forms are due on the solicitation due date of Aug 1st at 3pm or July 21st at 1pm.

Government Answer #12- Attachment 4 is hereby amended and states that all past performance questionnaires will be due to the CO NLT FRIDAY, August 18, 2023, 5:00PM EST. That is also the date for the final proposal submissions to the CO.

Industry Question #13- Attachment #2, Section 3.2 for “Testing” states that the contract awardee agrees to “allow ICE to release testing data of its ammunition samples to Federal agencies, Military and law enforcement.” While it is stated that an official letter of notification on “official agency or department letterhead” to the contract awardee will proceed the forwarding of testing data to any of the entities, will the contract awardee be informed of the specific Federal agency(s), Military branch/office(s), and/or law enforcement body(s) that will receive said data?

Supports OFTP

Government Answer #13- No.

Industry Question #14- Volume I part B is stated to be limited to 5 pages. Are any items excluded from the page count such as: Cover page, Table of Contents, Licenses/Registrations, Appendices/Supplementary Material to Support the Submission, etc.?

Government Answer #14- Attachment 1 is hereby amended to increase the page limit for Volume I (PART B ONLY) submissions to 15-pages. All documents count towards the total minus the Sub-Contracting Plan.

Industry Question #15- Volume II is stated to be limited to 5 pages. Are any items excluded from the page count such as:

Cover page, Table of Contents, Appendices/Supplementary Material to Support the Submission, etc.?

Government Answer #15- The 5-page limit does not include the Cover page, Table of Contents, Appendices/Supplementary Material, etc.

Industry Question #16- Volume III is stated to be limited to 5 pages. Are any items excluded from the page count such as: Cover page, Table of Contents, Appendices/Supplementary Material to Support the Submission, etc.?

Government Answer #16- The 5-page limit does not include the Cover page, Table of Contents, Appendices/Supplementary Material, etc.

Industry Question #17- What is the expected delivery date, in days after contract award, of the First Article Lot and 8,100 FAT sample after contract award?

Government Answer #17- The delivery date will be TBD after contract award based on need. That information will be shared with the IDIQ awardees (if more than one IDIQ award) during the kickoff meeting.

Industry Question #18- What is the expected delivery date, in days after contract award, of the first full production lot after FAT acceptance?

Supports OFTP

Government Answer #18- The delivery date will be TBD after contract award based on need. That information will be shared with the IDIQ awardees (if more than one IDIQ award) during the kickoff meeting.

Industry Question #19- Can the government confirm that the documents verifying SOW Section 3.5 are intended to be physical copies to be included with Volume I – Part A? If so, can the government identify if there is a desired format when organizing the physical documents?

Government Answer #19- Yes, all information in SOW Section 3.5 (minus the actual physical ammunition samples that are sent to Altoona) will be provided to the Contracting Officer as part of the 15-page limit for Volume I. The format is electronical (e-mail) submission.

Industry Question #20- Can the government clarify if offerors are expected to return a completed copy of section V’s representations? If so, can the government identify which volume or format shall be used to include it in the response? Is this included in any page count?

Government Answer #20- Yes, Section V Representations must be signed and returned to the Contracting Officer as part of your Volume I (Part B) submission. It will not be included in the 15-page limit.

End of Q&A