OBAA TS 8 70RWMD21R00000002 QandAs Proposals.pdf

Questions and Answers for CWMD OBAA Topic Solicitation No. 8: 70RWMD21R00000002 Proposals

# Reference Question Response 1 Topic Solicitation, para. 4, Description, pg. 3 What is the anticipated use rate of operational end users during normal operations?

The operational tempo for use of UGVs is based depending on the component, location, and unit identified and the situations they face during any given period. It is planned that the time the UGV is not in operation, but ready for operation, will be measured during the field trials.

2 Topic Solicitation

70RWMD21R00000002,

Attachment 1, pg. 7 Phase 1, Stage 3 – Field Trials

Will the Government confirm that damage to the system caused by operation outside of the specified unit parameters is the responsibility of the Government?

Offerors should clearly identify, both in the proposals and statement of work, the limitations of warranty, extended warranty, and/or maintenance plans provided under the anticipated contract with the Government.

3 Topic Solicitation

70RWMD21R00000002,

Attachment 1, pg. 7 Phase 1, Stage 3 – Field Trials

Where will acceptance testing occur?

The Acceptance Testing location for Offeror's units has not been confirmed.

For planning purposes, the following locations are under consideration:

Huntsville, Alabama Mt. Clemens, Michigan Lexington, Kentucky

4 Topic Solicitation

70RWMD21R00000002,

Attachment 1, pg. 7 Phase 1, Stage 3 – Field Trials

Where will field testing occur?

Field Testing locations are the responsibility of the Field-Testing Components. The general geographic areas are:

Los Angeles, CA San Francisco, CA El Paso, TX

5 Topic Solicitation

70RWMD21R00000002,

Attachment 1, pg. 7 Phase 1, Stage 3 – Field Trials

What are the operational scenarios for the Tests?

Use cases used in Field Testing will be based on the planning of the Field-Testing Components. Additional testing will occur for scenarios that cannot be tested in the environments available to the Field Test Components. The Government will determine what additional use cases will be used once a system has been selected and its stated capabilities are known.

6 Topic Solicitation

70RWMD21R00000002,

Attachment 1, pg. 7 Phase 1, Stage 3 – Field Trials

What are the measures of effectiveness for the prototype UGV?

The Government is not acquiring the prototype UGV against any measures of effectiveness. Nor is this term used in the section stated.

7 Topic Solicitation

70RWMD21R00000002,

Attachment 1, pg. 7 Phase 1, Stage 3 – Field Trials

How does CWMD intend to measure performance during field tests?

Against the criteria noted in attachment 3, Scenarios determined by the Field Components, and issues encountered with the system during these field trials.

8 Topic Solicitation

70RWMD21R00000002,

Attachment 1, pg. 7 Phase 1, Stage 3 – Field Trials

Will CWMD provide operational feedback to improve Phase 2 development?

Per Phase II, Stage 1 of Attachment 1, Topic Solicitation 8: Planning of Developmental Updates: "CWMD and the Offeror will review data from Phase I stage 3 to propose additional system development efforts."

9 Topic Solicitation

70RWMD21R00000002,

Attachment 1, pg. 7 Phase 1, Stage 3 – Field Trials

Who are the DHS operational components and their teams participating in the field trials?

Participating teams will not be publicly announced; but will be informed to contracted Offeror after contract award.

10 Topic Solicitation

70RWMD21R00000002,

Attachment 1, Section 12, Evaluation Criteria

Can the government clarify the evaluation criteria? Page 28 states the “five (5) criteria of decreasing importance:

Technical Approach, Platform capability, System Architecture, Team Experience, Cost Reasonableness”. This does not match the criterion described from pages 28-30, which has Criterion I as Platform Capability and Criterion II as Technical Approach.

As noted in the section technical approach is weighted the heaviest in the evaluation, even though the details of Platform capability are provided first.

11 Topic Solicitation

70RWMD21R00000002,

Attachment 3, Sensor Criteria, S-A1.4

In Attachment 3, Sensor Criteria, S-A1.4, the sensor criteria or 20 keV – 3MeV limits range of available options, expanding energy range criteria expands range of available detectors and can lower costs and decrease power consumption. Is a radiological sensor with a gamma energy detection range of 30 keV - 3 MeV acceptable energy range?

The Offeror may propose a sensor technology that does not meet all the desired criteria listed in Attachment 3.

The Government will determine if using the proposed sensor, or the GFE provided, is the best value path forward for the selected Offeror.

12 OBAA Solicitation

70RDND19R00000003,

page 27 and page 36

On page 27 the OBAA states that “certified cost and pricing data will be require prior to contract award for awards exceeding the dollar threshold… ($750,000)…to UARCs and Federal Government activities”. On page 36 the OBAA states that “costs above $750,000 may require certified cost and pricing data…prior to award”.

The FAR has since updated so that CCPD only applies when the total dollar threshold of the proposal is > than $2M AND it is sole source. Will the government acknowledge that a certified cost and pricing data is not needed?

The OBAA solicitation was written before the new updated FAR 15.403-4 threshold June 30, 2018. The government will require certified cost and pricing data as applicable in accordance with the current FAR requirements which requires certified cost pricing data for awards exceeding $2 million.

13 Attch. 1, pg 25 and Attch.

2, Section 5.3.2.2, pg 21

Attachment 1 indicates resumes are limited to 1 page; Attachment 9 indicates 2 pages. Which is correct?

Attachment 9 is the original OBAA provided for reference. Attachment 1 supersedes Attachment 9 per the guidance of the original OBAA, and Attachment 1 of Topic Solicitation 8. Therefore, resumes are required to be one page.

14 General Are there any specific RF / data Communications hardware/ radio or frequency requirements /specifications offerors should build to?

The RF / Data communications should meet the requirements specified in Attachment 3.

15 70RWMD21R00000002

Attachment 1, Section 11 , pg.21

Section 11 indicates that there are a few exceptions to the proposal Instructions, including specific technical narrative sections that are requested (e.g., list of bullet points on the bottom half of page 22). Are these technical proposal elements meant to be in lieu of or in addition to the Technical Proposal requirements provided in

70RDND19R00000003 CWMD

OBAA Attachment 9, Section

5.3.1 pg. 16?

The proposal submission Instructions of section 5.3.1 are applicable. However, per the Original OBAA section 5.3.2 (Attachment 9) notes the Topic Solicitation proposal elements supersedes those provided; and are in Lieu of those elements in the base OBAA document.

16 70RWMD21R00000002

Attachment 1, pg.5

Is only proposing to integrate the GFE sensors, listed under Task items labeled B, allowed or must an Offeror propose sensors to complete task items labeled A.

An offeror can note that they have sensors proposed under the A subtasks and only are proposing to complete the B subtasks in their proposal and pricing.

17 General Can the Government confirm that proposals received that exceed the $750K anticipated ceiling described in Section 7 of the Topic Solicitation will be considered compliant and receive an evaluation?

Proposal cost is not a factor for compliance, but it is a factor used in evaluating the proposal. Therefore, it is key to ensure that your costs are reasonable for the capabilities being provided.

18 General Will other DHS entities accept results of CWMD test and evaluation?

Other agencies will accept the data generated by CWMD. However, they may have different criteria so this does not mean that it will guarantee a pass or fail on those programs.

19 General Are there specific system/subsystem elements or parts of the architecture where the Government desires to have Government Purpose rights?

The software that interfaces and integrates sensor data for the UGV developed under this project would be desired either have Government rights and/or be based on an open framework.

20 General Will the performer have access to capture prototype test data during field trials?

The DHS Components and field teams the system is deployed with for Field Testing will determine the limitations of data capture by third parties based on their own security posture.

21 General Is the Government interested in additional capabilities beyond those requested in the Topic Solicitation?

The inclusion of any extra capabilities proposed beyond that in the Topic Solicitation must not prohibit the proposal from addressing the basic items.

22 General Should the software utilized in the system be proprietary or open source?

Please consider the use of software for the system that uses government defined, or open source, interfaces between the sensors and the data translation package found on the robot in the proposed approach.

23 General Does the Government have interest in a proposed solution incorporating the use of multiple unmanned vehicles?

Proposal must be limited to delivery of one UGV system as the Government is not looking to procure multiple unmanned vehicles under any contracts vehicles resulting from this Topic Solicitation at this time.

24 General Does the Government have interest in specific commercial radiation sensors for this project?

Offerors should propose a radiation sensor that can meet the requested criteria stated in Attachment 3; in general, a device such as a RADEYE GN+ may suffice.