QandA.docx

70Z02319RPE6R0100

Questions and Answers

1. Question: Are there any specific requirements with regards to sensor accuracy and data recording?

· Specifically, wave height measurements?

Answer: The requirement in SOW Table 1 – Minimum USV System Performance Specifications, Instrumentation and Data Recording, Sea State bullet specifies the information to be recorded but does not specify a particular accuracy, which we understand will vary depending on sensor.

2. Question: What kind of vessels are available for Coast guard Auxiliary with respect to launch and recovery of the USV?

Answer: The SOW background contains the following statement, “The research will look at a USV system solution deployable by the CG fleet, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary, with a key factor of being low cost and having a minimal logistics footprint.” Typically, the CG Auxiliary has boats 40 feet and under. The SOW does not require a demonstration that the USV System be launched and recovered from an Auxiliary boat. Question 11 provides additional information related to the provision of resources for the demonstration.

3. Question: Are these 10 report receiving devices (2.2 TASK Two) solely for the use of detecting other vessels? Or does the USV need a minimum of 10 devices which include the USV’s self-diagnostic reporting devices such as fuel burn, air temperature, etc. as listed in the “Instrumentation and Data Recording” portion of Table 1 – Minimum USV System Performance Specifications?

Answer: The requirement in SOW Table 1 – Minimum USV System Performance Specifications, Communications only requires “The USV shall be capable of communicating the detected vessel information to remote sites including the control station, District 14 & 17 Command Centers, PACAREA, CGRDC and GFW.” The requirement in SOW Table 1 – Minimum USV System Performance Specifications, Instrumentation and Data Recording requires that “The data shall be exported at the end of the demonstration.” Therefore the only information that must be reported to the 10 report receiving devices is the detected vessel information.

4. Question: With regards to the mission package – does the USCG has specific sensors or payloads which it would prefer?

Answer: The USCG has no preferred sensor or payload.

5. Question: “With regards to “Other Vessel Detection” and “Other Vessel Characterization” is a specific type of sensor required or preferred?

· Would AIS meet this requirement for detection and characterization or are there other USCG preferred sensors that would be integrated into the USV?”

Answer: The type of sensor is based on the vendor's solution; the Government is not stating any specific sensor. However, an AIS detection sensor is only effective if the target vessel has AIS and they are broadcasting AIS.

6. Question: “Why is this R&D project a Fixed Firm Price contract, vice a Cost Plus Fixed Fee – It’s not prohibited but where there is Contractor Risk, but the CFR indicates that it should.

48 CFR § 16.306 - Cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts.

(a) Description. A cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is a cost-reimbursement contract that provides for payment to the contractor of a negotiated fee that is fixed at the inception of the contract. The fixed fee does not vary with actual cost, but may be adjusted as a result of changes in the work to be performed under the contract. This contract type permits contracting for efforts that might otherwise present too great a risk to contractors, but it provides the contractor only a minimum incentive to control costs.

(b) Application.

(1) A cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is suitable for use when the conditions of 16.301-2 are present and, for example -

(i) The contract is for the performance of research or preliminary exploration or study, and the level of effort required is unknown; or

ii) The contract is for development and test, and using a cost-plus- incentive-fee contract is not practical.”

Answer: This requirement is to demonstrate an existing high TRL technology. The purpose of the demonstration is to see if an existing high TRL technology is effective for a Coast Guard specific mission requirements not develop a new USV technology. Part 1(i) of the solicitation states “for commercial items.” See part FAR 12.207.

7. Question: Can you provide information on the proposed budget ceiling for the project?

Answer: The amount is limited by what Congress has allocated for this project. An expected range is between 1M to 2.7M.

8. Question: Is the proposed pilot study schedule for the Hawaiian field testing set or is there some flexibility in the timing?

Answer: From the SOW, “current plans are to schedule the 30 days of in water evaluation to begin on July 15, 2020 and end August 13, 2020.” The Government has little to no flexibility in changing this timeline.

9. Question: SOW 2.2 states the contractor shall provide and prepare ten report receiving devices that collectively are suitable for reporting the execution of the Final USV System Demonstration plan. Request clarification of what is meant by “ten report receiving devices.”

Answer: The SOW does not require a specific means of communication of detections. The requirement in SOW Table 1 – Minimum USV System Performance Specifications, Communications only requires “The USV shall be capable of communicating the detected vessel information to remote sites including the control station, District 14 & 17 Command Centers, PACAREA, CGRDC and GFW.” SOW paragraph 2.2 states, “The report receiving devices shall allow the USCG locations to receive reports from the USV during the demonstration and shall not be integrated into any CG network.” These requirements allow the offeror to propose a method and technology outside of the USCG network to alert the remote sites

10. Question: SOW 2.2 states report receiving devices shall not be integrated into any USCG network, and SOW 3.3 states the contractor shall not require access to USCG IT Systems. Can receipt of reports during the demonstration be achieved by enabling multiple user access to a cloud-based COP or data display?

Answer: A cloud-based COP or data display accessible to the contractor provided report receiving devices would meet the requirement provided there was an alert within six hours of detection, detection information is provided, and the devices did not use a USCG network.

11. Question: SOW 2.2. states “For 20 days of the 30-day demonstration, the contractor shall provide a target/observation boat…” SOW 2.6 implies, but does not explicitly state, that the contractor also supplies the deployment and recovery vessel. Request clarification:

a. Does the contractor supply the deployment/recovery vessel?

b. Can the deployment/recovery vessel also serve as the target/observation boat?

c. How many observers do we need to accommodate for the launch/recovery demonstration?

d. Does the target/observation boat need to be capable of remaining at sea with crew, contractors and observers overnight, or are daylight-only operations anticipated?

e. If overnight, what is that maximum number of consecutive days of underway operations?”

Answer: SOW Paragraph 4, GOVERNMENT FURNISHED RESOURCES, provides no government resources (assets) for the conduct of the contractor owned and operated demonstration. The contractor is required to provide everything needed to successfully execute the demonstration other than what is explicitly specified as a government resource.

a. Yes

b. Yes

c. As stated in SOW section 2.2, “The boat shall also be used as a means for verifying USV detected traffic and be capable of conveying two Government personnel in addition to the contractor personnel requirements.”

d. There is not anticipated night operations unless there is some specific capability with specific nighttime ability that the offeror desires to demonstrate at night. If this is the case then the contractor can specify the particular demonstration event in the Demonstration Plan accordingly.

e. Answered in d.

12. Question: SOW 2.2 states “the contractor shall prepare, provide and man a Demonstration Control/Monitoring Center in Oahu, HI for the duration of the demonstration.” Our system is cloud-based and accessible anywhere. Our 24/7 Operations Center will monitor the data throughout the 90-day pilot study. Is maintaining a space large enough for 10 USCG observers in Oahu throughout the study still required? Can some of the observers be in our Operations Center in Groton, CT?

Answer: “Contractor presence is required at the demonstration site. As stated in SOW section 2.2, “The contractor shall prepare, provide and man a Demonstration Control/Monitoring Center (DCMC) in Oahu, HI for the duration of the demonstration. The DCMC shall:

• contain a Demonstration Control/Monitoring Station;

• have adequate space for 13 USCG observers during initial/kick-off and final briefings. During the remaining days of operations, the DCMS shall have adequate space for 10 USCG observers; and

• have adequate power for communications, video screens, and presentation space.”

This requirement does not preclude arranging an available conference room nor does it preclude an additional operations center elsewhere. However District 14 and the remote Pacific is our current target audience/area and the demonstration will include briefing and press from Oahu.”

13. Question: SOW 2.6.3 states the contractor shall demonstrate the capability of the USV(s) to execute multiple design reference missions. When will the reference missions be disclosed during the project?

Answer: Since the USCG does not know the specific technology and capability being proposed, SOW paragraph 2.1.2 states, “In the plan the contractor will propose design reference missions to highlight the capabilities of their system.”

14. Question: SOW 1.2 defines the purpose of the study as generating data that examines the operational utility of a USV system for improving USCG MDA in remote Pacific regions. SOW 1.1 anticipates a system solution deployable by the USCG fleet. Will the CG consider provision of MDA as a service where a contractor deploys USVs, conducts analysis, provides curated reporting, recovers USVs and performs maintenance?

Answer: The question of a later provision of MDA as a service is outside the scope of the RFP.

15. Question: If the endurance target is 30 days, what is the anticipated operating profile within those 30 day?

Answer: The SOW requires 30 days of in water operations. Since the USCG does not know the specific technology and capability being proposed, SOW paragraph 2.1.2 states, “The contractor shall elaborate in the plan on how the contractor will meet the intent of the Demonstration goals. In the plan the contractor will propose design reference missions to highlight the capabilities of their system.”

16. Question: As I understand, the contractor needs to have a manned vessel deployed with the USV during the 30-day demonstration?

Answer: See the response for question 11.

17. Question: Are there definitions for “low cost” and “commercially available”?

Answer: The term “low cost” was provided by Congress without definition. A commercial item is defined in FAR 2.101.

18. Question: Is there no physical size limits or targets for the USV?

Answer: This SOW contains no required physical size limits or targets. In the background it does describe the type of vessel that might be of interest.

19. Question: This level of TRL is incompatible with a “research and development project designed to award to a contractor that will develop, support, and operate their Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) System.” These TRL levels are more applicable to an off-the-shelf commercial item, which the USCG could simply purchase and test as required.

Answer: See Amendment 00001. The RFP has been amended to remove the word “develop” as quoted in the question. The intent of this procurement is not to develop a technology but instead to investigate how well a commercially available, low cost USV system can enhance the Coast Guard's mission effectiveness. The focused application at this point is the Maritime Domain Awareness aspect of CG operations. The CG does not have the infrastructure to have a USV fleet at this time but is interested in what capability exists and what resources and actions are required to make it a usable mission effectiveness enhancement tool.

20. Question: …it’s impossible to have a vehicle that is already at TRL 8 or 9 that meets the threshold or goal performance requirements. Verification and Validation (V&V) would not have been performed to meet these specific contract requirements. As such, there can’t be any vehicle available that can meet the contract requirements and already be at TRL 8 or 9. If the intention is to take a commercial off the shelf USV and modify it so that it meets the requirements, then the USV would not be at a TRL 8 or 9, it would likely be closer to TRL 4 or 5.

Answer: See Amendment 00001 to the solicitation. The Attachment III has been replaced. The Coast Guard is interested in a completed system not a prototype. TRL 8 is “Actual system completed “and “proven to work in its final form and under expected conditions.” Based upon market research, the CG believes there are systems out there now that meet the requirements of this RFP.