20201026_SILVERSWORD_QAs_Final.pdf

SILVERSWORD

Questions and Answers

NOTICE ID: AFRL_RDSM_SILVERSWORD_ID_20201203

1. Is SILVERSWORD, in effect, the R&D component of ASTRO?

The Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) program office is considering delineating the requirements from the two geographically separated sites in Maui and the SOR on KAFB. The Government is now focusing on the AMOS site ONLY.

BLUF - SILVERWORD is not the R&D component of ASTRO, but the AMOS R&D component currently under RASTER. ASTRO is the OM&S portion and SILVERSWORD is the R&D portion, which specifically supports AMOS.

2. Would you be open to chatting on the phone about the opportunity and your vision for the potential program?

See amended RFI.

3. SOC of 5 page limitation will likely drive the need to submit more than one response. Would you allow a single company to submit more than one SOC/response?

See amended RFI.

4. Understand the intent of the RFI is to gather industry capabilities. What is the overall timeline for the acquisition, such as dates for draft RFP, final RFP, Industry Day? Do you envision releasing draft RFP to gather industry feedback? Will there be an industry day to enable dialog between industry and AFRL?

The Government is in the early stages of the acquisition development on the future procurement. Currently, our program management team is finalizing their requirements in order to brief AFRL leadership, to include the schedule of the new acquisition. The notional timeline is Q3FY23. Until approval to proceed is granted we are limited to the amount of information we can disclose.

5. Do you envision the procurement to be sole-source or competitive?

The Government envisions the procurement to be competitive.

6. A clarification on the response. Are we limited to 5 pages for the SOC covering all capability areas or is it a 5 page SOC per capability area?

See amended RFI.

7. Is there a specific contractor currently performing the same or similar work? If yes, can you provide me the basic contract details if available (i.e. vendor and corresponding contract number)?

This RFI is issued for Market Research purposes, please see section 5 of the RFI on the response objectives. If you wish to inquire on additional information available from the open sources, please submit a formal request to our organization.

8. Also, is the above mentioned effort related to the requirement, Amos Sustainment, Technology Research & Operations (ASTRO; notice ID: FA9451-20-R-0011)?

Please see Section 3 of the posted RFI.

https://beta.sam.gov/opp/56409a2d8df04f1eaa1bdb9cc31d16fd/view

9. Can you please provide the contract vehicle and type this is coming out on?

At this time we are only seeking information related to the RFI.

10. Do you have a general value of this opportunity and are the dates accurate in GovWin/beta.sam?

We anticipate a competitive environment. See amended RFI for dates.

11. With the R&D / S&T portions split off from RASTR, will this be a single -award IDIQ as the ASTRO contractor? Or is your vision for a different type of vehicle?

The Government is seeking Industry to provide a contract construct as part of their response to the RFI.

The government will use the responses in development of our Market Research Report. In accordance with the regulations, the CO will make the determination for contract structure and type.

12. Are you considering a virtual (or in person) Industry Day where industry might dive deeper into the technical aspects of the effort?

See amended RFI for clarification.

13. Are you also looking for a history of National Lab management to include team construct and methods of delivering innovation?

Yes.

14. Would you be open to establishing a CRADA where our internal R&D efforts might align with your future needs?

The Air Force Technology Transfer Program office encourages the public to visit their webpage to learn more about partnering opportunities and technologies available for licensing. The team can be reached at 937-904-9830, af.techtransfer@us.af.mil, or www.wpafb.af.mil/t2.

15. Where is the current R&D scope being performed? Government site, at the AMOS- Maui site, or on contractor site?

AMOS Maui government and contractor site.

16. The RFI requested submittals to be unclassified – will a classified appendix be released before RFP?

No classified appendix will be released.

17. Will there be a site visit before the release of the RFP?

No site visit is planned.

18. The RFI asks for Feedback on the Government’s requirements, contract type, schedule, objectives, and/or overall strategy. The RFI does not disclose any government position on contract type, schedule, or objectives. Will this be shared?

Not at this time.

19. Is the cover page included in the 5 page limit?

No, see amended RFI.

20. Is the 5 page limit just to respond to the questions 1.a-f. or is it intended to cover 1-5? (6 being stated to be included on the cover page)

See amended RFI for number of technical pages, Cover page not included.

21. Is there a page limit on answering the non-technical (2-6) areas of the response or should it just generally fit within 10 pages?

See amended RFI for number of technical pages (non-technical included), Cover page is not included.

22. Is this response going to be used to down select offerors? If so what are the selection criteria?

The RFI responses are only for Market Research purposes. Selection Criteria will be identified in the formal RFP. Formal RFP is TBD.

23. If the following are part of the response do they count in the 10 page limit: Cover page, Table of Contents, References, List of Acronyms

Cover page, Table of Contents, References, List of Acronyms are not included in 10 page limit.

24. The SILVERSWORD RFI is proceeding in advance of the ASTRO solicitation. Will a successful awardee under SILVERSWORD be an allowable offeror for ASTRO when that solicitation is released?

The SILVERSWORD RFI is only for Market Research purposes and is not the formal RFP. Formal RFP is TBD. An awardee for SILVERSWORD will not be excluded from ASTRO solely based on their SILVERSWORD awardee status.

25. Is it permitted to have team members on one proposal also participate in other SILVERSWORD proposals? That is, can an entity be on more than one proposal?

The government is not requesting proposals at this time. Yes, it is permitted for an entity to provide responses to the Request for Information. The RFI is for Market Research purposes only. The formal request for proposals is TBD.