Contractor_Questions__Answers_for_70Z08418RBHQ01300.pdf

CONTRACTOR QUESTIONS FOR 70Z08418RBHQ01300

AMENDMENT 0004

QUESTION 1: For the standalone lantern line items, why is there a “Battery Charging Port –

Upgrade” listed on the Schedule of Supplies? These lanterns do not have internal batteries so there would be no need for a charge port.

The relevant CLINs are:

001AD (and all option periods) 003AP (and all option periods) 004AQ (and all option periods) 0005AD (and all option periods)

ANSWER 1: Yes. This is an oversight. All LED Lanterns associated with the CLINs listed above DO NOT contain batteries; therefore the “Battery Charging Port – Upgrade” DOES NOT apply to any of these CLINs. Schedule has been amended to remove items.

QUESTION 2: Section 3.4.9 Electromagnetic Interference – What is the frequency range, and what is the power level as per Table 5 in EN61000-4-3?

ANSWER 2: The test shall cover at least the frequency ranges of 80 MHz to 1,000 MHz and 1.4 Ghz to 6 Ghz; and the minimum test power level shall be Level 1 = 1 V/m Test Field

Strength (according to Table 1 in Paragraph 5, “Test levels,” in EN61000-4-3).

QUESTION 3: 2.1.16 & 3.1.2--‐ When calculating the Effective Intensity the Schmitt

Clausen calculation uses a visual time constant 0.2s as per the E--‐200--‐4 2008. Whereas the IALA Recommendation Referenced in 2.2.1.2 uses E--‐200--‐4 2017 which has a visual time constant of 0.1s (with exception of blue). Can you please confirm we are to make our calculations based on E--‐200--‐4 2017 which has superseded E--‐200--‐4 2008, or whether we remain with E--‐200--‐4 2008.

ANSWER 3: In calculating Effective Intensity, use the simplified Schmidt-Clausen calculation for the specific case for square waves but with the visual time constant, c, set to 0.1 second for nighttime observations (instead of 0.2 second). But the Modified Allard calculation method as described in IALA Recommendation R0204(E200-4) 2017 is acceptable as well since it provides identical results. We will update the spec to reflect this correction in paragraphs

2.1.16 and 3.1.2. ).

QUESTION 4: Within Data Sheet 2 subtitle “AIS ATON” there is a reference to a 10%

Duty Cycle (e.g Q Flash), however 3.1.10 “Coast Guard Flash Characters” there is no Quick Flash 10% duty cycle specified. Can you please confirm we are to use any one of the Coast Guard Approved Flash Characters with a 10% duty cycle, or can you please be more specific to the flash character to use for calculations.

ANSWER 4: The requirement for a 10% duty cycle flash rhythm in the “AIS ATON” subtitle in Data Sheet 2 is the intent, but the example shown, Q Flash rhythm, which is a 30% duty cycle rhythm, is incorrect. We will update the spec to replace the example with the 10% duty cycle rhythm FL4(0.4), which is a 0.4 sec flash every 4 seconds. Specification has been updated to Specification No. 506, Revision 3, Dated Feb 7, 2019.

QUESTION 5: Within the Schedule of Supplies and Services (page 7 of 86) there is a request for the Standalone LED Lanterns to have an optional Battery Charging Port. Can you please confirm this is required as it is not mentioned with Data Sheet 1.

ANSWER 5: Please see answer to Question 1. Since “Data Sheet 1, Standalone LED

Lanterns” do not contain internal batteries, Battery Charging Ports also do not apply to them.

Therefore, a Battery Charging Port is NOT a requirement for CLIN X001AA “Data Sheet 1, Standalone LED Lanterns.” ).

QUESTION 6: 70Z08418RBHQ01300, page 6: The solicitation mentions five (5) potential contracts. Will the USCG consider splitting section B.2 as has been done with the range lanterns (B.4 and

B.5)?

ANSWER 6: No, as shown on page 6, “If an offeror submits a proposal for any section, he must offer on all line items in that section.

QUESTION 7: 70Z08418RBHQ01300, pages 7 to 23: Battery charging ports have been specified for all lanterns. Please confirm that these are only required for the Self Contained lanterns, B.1 and B.2?

ANSWER 7: Confirmed. Yes, that’s correct. Please see answer to Question 1.

QUESTION 8: 70Z08418RBHQ01300, page 6: The solicitation instructs that “CLINs you are not capable of delivering should be annotated with N/A. A zero dollar figure ($0.00) unit price is not acceptable and will not be considered” Will a submission which includes a CLIN with N/A disqualify an

Offeror from that entire section?

ANSWER 8: Yes, as described in the last paragraph of page 6, “a proposal for CLIN

0001 requires a unit and total price for 0001AA, AB, AC, and AD along with pricing for each option period as shown in the “Schedule of Supplies/Services.”

QUESTION 9: 70Z08418RBHQ01300, page 6: If there is a CLIN within a subsection (e.g. B.2) where an Offeror is not compliant, does this mean that the Offeror cannot put forward a bid at all, or with a note of variation?

ANSWER 9: Each CLIN has a set of Sub-CLINS. All Sub CLINS are required for each

CLIN in order to receive an award.

QUESTION 10: 70Z08418RBHQ01300, page 57 (E): Offerors have the option to bid on one or several sections for various LED lanterns. If same Offeror bids for all 5 sections, can it allocate 40 pages per section?

ANSWER 10: No

1 Bid - 40 Pages

2 Bids - 50 Pages

3 Bids - 60 Pages

4 Bids - 70 Pages

5 Bids - 80 Pages

QUESTION 11: Specification No. 506 (Revision 2) Section 1, General: This section mentions multiple awards will be considered. The question is the same as above, will the USCG consider splitting sections B.2 and B.3?

ANSWER 11: No, See answer to question 9. Specification has been updated to

Specification No. 506, Revision 3, and Dated Feb 7, 2019.

QUESTION 12: Specification No. 506 (Revision 2) Section 3.2.1.1 and Datasheet 2: Self-contained LED Lanterns (B.2) hard wire sync option (“Sync Port – Upgrade”). Is being able to provide this option a mandatory requirement?

ANSWER 12: Yes. Specification has been updated to Specification No. 506, Revision 3, and Dated Feb 7, 2019.

QUESTION 13: Specification No. 506 (Revision 2) Datasheet 2: On Datasheet 2, the AIS-ATON lantern flash character is specified to a 10% duty cycle Quickflash, but the USCG flash patterns defined in

3.1.10 only has one Quickflash - which is a 30% duty cycle. Please clarify exactly what flash characteristic

(seconds of flash and eclipse) should be used in the AIS-enabled simulations.

ANSWER 13: Same as answer to Question 4 above: The requirement for a 10% duty cycle flash rhythm in the “AIS ATON” subtitle in Data Sheet 2 is the intent but the example shown, Q Flash rhythm, which is a 30% duty cycle rhythm, is incorrect. We will update the spec to replace the example with the 10% duty cycle rhythm FL4(0.4), which is a 0.4 sec flash every 4 seconds. Specification has been updated to Specification No. 506, Revision 3, and Dated Feb 7, 2019.

QUESTION 14: Specification No. 506 (Revision 2) Datasheet 3: Can you confirm that the defined minimum effective luminous intensity performance is required for all flash characters and duty cycles as defined in Specification 506, section 3.1.10?

ANSWER 14: Yes. Confirmed. But please also see the answer to Question 3 above, which pertains to calculating effective luminous intensity for LED Lanterns. Specification has been updated to Specification No. 506, Revision 3, and Dated Feb 7, 2019.

QUESTION 15: Specification No. 506 (Revision 2) Section 3.8, AIS: If a Type 3 is required, will a duty cycle for the AIS (receiving cycle) be allowed?

ANSWER 15: Yes. Specification has been updated to Specification No. 506, Revision 3, and Dated Feb 7, 2019.

QUESTION 16: Specification No. 506 (Revision 2) Datasheet 2: The specification mentions that the AIS programming shall be performed with an IR programming device. The AIS AtoN transponder requires a great number of parameters to be set, including MMSI number, type of AtoN, Name of AtoN and Position to name a few. An Offeror may consider these very challenging for the operator to set by one-way IR communication. Will the USCG consider wired communication for setting AIS parameters?

ANSWER 16: IR programming of the AIS ATON equipped self-contained LED lantern is prohibited altogether due to new USCG cybersecurity rules. Specification 506 has been updated to reflect this change. Initial AIS ATON transponder programming of the AIS parameters shall be performed by wired communication at the factory by the vendor according to the USCG recipient’s requirements prior to shipping. However, setting or changing the LED lantern’s optics parameters (e.g., effective intensity or flash character) may be carried out via dip or rotary switches or an IR remote control programmer. Specification has been updated to

QUESTION 17: Specification No. 506 (Revision 2) Section 3.7, Design Tools: This section mentions only “web based” while the other sections mention a Microsoft Excel spread sheet or web based. Please confirm both are acceptable?

ANSWER 17: Yes. Confirmed. Both are acceptable. Specification has been updated to

QUESTION 18: Specification No. 506 (Revision 2): Could the USCG provide a searchable version of the 506 Revision 2 PDF? The version on Fbo.org has embedded images of the pages and is not searchable.

ANSWER 18: We can provide a clean, standalone pdf version of Specification 506, Rev

3. However, due to cybersecurity concerns, WOPL no longer posts searchable official documents on their www webpage for universal access by the public.

QUESTION 19: Specification No. 506 (Revision 2) Datasheet 2: The energy production calculation formula in the specification instructs the offeror to use VMPP. Does this mean that the USCG requires the self contained lantern charging system to utilize Maximum Power Point Tracking?

ANSWER 19: No. A Maximum Power Point Tracking battery charging technique may certainly be used but it is not a requirement. Specification has been updated to Specification

No. 506, Revision 3, and Dated Feb 7, 2019.

QUESTION 20: Specification No. 506 (Revision 2) Sections 3.1.8 and 2.2.1.3: In section 2.2.1.2 there is a reference to the latest IALA Recommendation E200 Edition 2 (December 2017), but in section

2.2.1.3 there is a reference to an outdated IALA recommendation E200-1 December 2008. Could the updated IALA Recommendation E200 Edition 2 (December 2017) be used as this is now industry standard and manufacturers are now moving to this recommendation?

ANSWER 20: Yes. In fact, there is an even newer edition (E-200-1 Edition 3 (December

2018)). We will update spec 506 sections 2.2.1.3 and 3.1.8 to reflect this change. Specification has been updated to Specification No. 506, Revision 3, and Dated Feb 7, 2019.

QUESTION 21: Specification No. 506 (Revision 2) Sections 2.1.16 and 2.2.1.2: In the specification the reference for calculating effective luminous intensity is made to IALA Recommendation

E-200-4 Edition 2.0 December 2017. The result, when using the Schmidt-Clausen method, is identical to modified Allard (used in the new recommendation) for light sources with square wave format such as

LED signal lights. However, according to the updated recommendation, the visual time constant should be equal to 0.1 seconds for night-time observations for all other colors except for blue, which remains at

0.2 seconds. Could the updated IALA Recommendation be used as this is now industry standard?

ANSWER 21: Yes. Please see answer to Question 3 above. Specification has been updated to Specification No. 506, Revision 3, and Dated Feb 7, 2019.

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