Questions_AG-024B-S-17-0005_Updated.pdf

Question No. Question Response

Question 1: If the USFS leases the sensor system, does the USFS want software that supports product generation, storage, and dissemination to be provided as part of the lease or as a purchase?

Question 2: If the software is to be included as part of the lease, then it would be returned to the contractor at the end of the lease period. Is this acceptable to the USFS?

1. Any system operation software shall be provided for the full term of the lease, however any special software that would require to be used to manipulate data in the future would need to be owned by the USFS.

2. The software that would not be required to manipulate data in the future would be returned. The software required to manipulate data would not be returned but owned by the USFS.

The section states "In addition to the required MWIR, Short-wave infrared (SWIR) is desired, E/O is also desired but less than additional infrared."

Question 1: Are we correct in assuming that offerors will receive more favorable consideration if they propose additional sensors?

Question 2: Additional sensors are desired but not required. However, additional sensors may add significant costs to the offeror's total solution. Due to this, we respectfully request that the USFS modify Section B to include a separate line item for offerors to provide optional pricing for additional sensors. We believe that this will support the USFS in making a more informed decision and provide for a fair and competitive evaluation of offerors' overall pricing.

1. Yes, the additional capability whether through additional bands or sensors will result in a more favorable evaluation (E.4(b)(2)(i)) however, please review all evaluation factors in the solicitaiton 2. The additional capability would be evaluated against the additional cost in a best value senario. Recommend offeror's propose various solutions or levels of solutions.

Question 1: Can the USFS please clarify the intended function of the dismounted workstation? Specifically is the dismounted workstation intended to be a ground-based workstation or a removable workstation on the aircraft?

Question 2: Does the USFS require contractors to provide access to data on the ground?

1. The dismounted workstation will be used as a ground base station and to allow for sensor operators to manipulate (product generation and QA) mission data outside of the aircraft after mission completion.

2. Yes

For maintenance/technical support planning purposes, where will the USFS aircraft be operating during the contract period of performance? CONUS but predominately the Western US and Alaska.

Will the USFS please provide the location where contractors are expected to provide user training? Training will be held at the Contractor's facilities to ensure that the system is operating properly and allow for on site support during the training.

For proposal purposes, will the USFS please provide an estimated contract start date? This will help offerors in providing a detailed delivery schedule.

We anticipate award prior to April 1, 2017. Therefore, the contract start date would be April 1, 2017 for purposes of initiating the installation process.

Will the USFS please provide the start/end dates of the sensor system lease period (i.e., period during which the sensor is expected to be operated) for the base year and each option year?

Date of award to December 31 initial year and January 1 through

December 31 each option year. Per the Schedule of Items and Contract

Period.

Will the USFS please provide the location where the aircraft / final sensor system is to be delivered?

Inspection and acceptance is FOB Origin and will be at the Contractor's facility or installation location if different than the Contractor's facility.

Requirement references reports and documents required in Section B.8. However, Section B.8 refers to Data Link Requirements. Should this reference instead refer to B.10(d), Reports and Records?

Amendment will specify B.14

The section states "Lease payments will be made by dividing the total annual lease amount by 12 months."

Question 1: Does the USFS plan to lease the sensor for a full 12 month period and subsequent option years?

Question 2: If the sensor is not going to be operational for all 12 months, then how does the USFS intend to make lease payments?

1. We would like to have the sensor for the entire period (entire year).

2. Payments will be made all 12 months.

The section narrative references Figures 6-9. However, figures provided in this section are numbered 7-

10. Please confirm that the USFS is referring to Figures 7-10 Corrected through Amendment

Exhibit 7 includes Section B.10, Derived Product Requirements. Should this section instead be numbered as B.12 to align with Section B.12 on page 23 of the RFP? Yes. Corrected in Amendment

As offerors do not have control over the timeline between mail room receipt and receipt by the Contracting Officer, we respectfully request that the official receipt of submission be upon receipt by the USFS mail room.

Once the offer is in Government control it is considered to be delivered per GAO case law.

Requirement states "Computation is to be delivered in spreadsheet and graphic format with formulas and variable visible."

Question 1: May the spreadsheet be provided as a separate attachment to the offerors' proposal?

Question 2: May the spreadsheet be provided as an electronic file on a CD/DVD to enable the USFS to view formulas? 1. Yes. 2. Yes, as long as it is viewable when received. Will include in an amendent that files may be submitted electronically with the offer.

Are offerors correct in assuming that all requested items (both technical and pricing) are to be provided in one document?

Yes. Because this is considered a simplified acquisition and FAR part 12 is being used in conjunction with FAR part 13, there is no need to separate pricing from the proposal.

To enable better viewing of photos and sample imagery, will the USFS permit offers to submit a CD/DVD copy of their proposal in addition to a hard copy? Yes. Will be included in amendment

Requirement references "Section E.9" be completed and submitted with the offer. However, Section E.9 refers to amendments to proposals. Should this reference instead refer to Section E.10, Representations and Certifications? E.10 is the correct reference and will be corrected via amendment

Requirement references Section B.6. However, Section B.6 refers to Audio System Modification Requirements. Should this reference instead refer to Section B.4, Sensor Requirements? Yes. Will be corrected via amendment

Requirement references Section B.7. However, Section B.7 refers to Weather Sensor requirements.

Should this reference instead refer to Section B.5, Workstation Requirements? Yes. Will be corrected via amendment

Requirement references Section B.8. However, Section B.8 refers to Data Link Requirements. Should this reference instead refer to B.12, Software, User Interface, and Product Requirements?

Yes. Will be corrected via amendment

21 Was page 79 intentionally left blank?

Formatting error. Yes.

What is the anticipated collection time of each mission? Antipated collection time is max loiter time of 4.5 hours. May be less dependent upon conditions and mission.

How much data is required to be stored on the aircraft and ground?

Dismounted workstation in aircraft shall have collectively have 112 hrs.

The system shall have the ability to store 8 hrs dedicated in the aircraft.

Will be included as an amendment.

Is there an Electrical Loads Analysis (ELA) available for the current aircraft configuration and does it include all modifications to date?

Yes. It is a post G‐1000 ELA and is available for the current aircraft configuration. The document will be posted via amendment once received.

25 Will the US Government provide a list of Aircraft Flight Manual Supplements? Yes, it will be posted via amendment once received.

Are Base Layers Government Furnished Equipment? No. However, USFS may assist in locating raw data source should it be necessary.

Will the US Forest Service Detail a Final Acceptance Test?

Yes. The US Forest Service is working on a detailed Final Acceptance

Test that will include the following: Ground Phase ‐ (1) Inspection of the installation of all equipment, the overall modification to the aircraft, and all records pertaining to the installation and modification of the equipment. Flight Phase ‐ Simulation of an AFUE mission utilizing all features of the sensor system; collection of data over a target area;

attribution of AFUE Vector Feathers; Product creation; Off‐loading of mission data ‐ after landing to the dismounted workstation.

What are the interface requirements for the Weather Sensor subsystem when AFUE consoles are removed? Removable Media Storage

We assume tha the US Forest Service does not want to lose any existing capability associated with the existing provisions (existing camera port), is that correct?

No but this modification's STC has to be compatable with the existing door, has to replace it, or take it back to OEM structure.

30 What is the desire for a lavatory? No lavatory desired.

Will AFUE provide a list of sensor technologies previously evaluated and found to be unsuitable, leading to this solicitation?

AFUE sensor evaluation is base on AFUE’s objectives and mission requirements, not particular sensors. To fulfilling the AFUE mission;

ground, air, and space base collections methods have been pursued.

Aerially, Line Scanners, FMV Gimbles, WAMI Gimbles, Step‐stair imagers, Nadir Imagers have been evaluated.

Can the US Forest Service baseline what they feel is in the A-Kit and B-Kits (in other words what remains with the aircraft even when it is deconfigured and off mission status)?

Fixed provisions will be those that are not removable. Mission equipment are the sensor and consoles. The aircraft has to be able to return to its approved passenger configuration.

Is the weather sensor TSO'd (E.G. the probe head)?

Offorers will have to contact the manufacturer to determine if the system is TSO'd.

The solicitations states "in real time". Please define "real time"?

In section B.7.(e) “Weather Sensor data does not need to be transmitted outside the aircraft in real or near‐real‐time.” real‐time means at the time of on‐board collection.

Can the Gimbal or attachment point of the sensor be STC'd and not the actual sensor (i.e. a pod that or gimbal to which a sensor is installed in)? Will be addressed via an Amendment to the solicitation

Is the USFS willing to separate the current RFP, Solicitation Number: AG-024B-S-17-0005, into two separate requests? One request being specifically for the aircraft integration and the other being for the aircraft sensor lease/purchase, software, and future support?

No. To reduce the risk involved with procuring a solution and having the solution installed in the aircraft, we would like to have it together in one solicitation.

37 What are the specific aircraft paint colors and paint type that was last used? Working at obtaining the colors.

38 What type of removable data storage would be most beneficial to the USFS?

Physical storage devices with a USB, SATA, or eSATA, interface support by Windows or Linux OS.

We understand the desire to create a full Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) as described on Page 11, Section B.3 (a) (4). However, we believe that this would drastically increase the cost and the timeline for the delivery of the fully integrated aircraft to the USFS. Would it be possible to lower the requirements to just what is currently listed on Page 11, Section B.3 (a) (1)? This section requires an STC for either (a) Avcon STC SA1648CE camera door or other STC'd camera door, (b) STC'd nose mounted retractable sensor mount, or (c) STC'd belly pod. It would be very beneficial for the USFS timeline and to lower the cost of the solicitation if the sensor, sensor mount (to the aircraft or one of the STC'd items listed above), weather sensor, and data link with WiFi were approved to be installed engineering documentation and substantiation as approved by an FAA DER under FAA Form 8110-3 (for each individual item) with the addition of Function 51 DER FAA Field Approval as the overall integration approval. Will be addressed via an Amendment to the solicitation

Does the USFS expect there to be additional aircraft integrated in the same manner? If so, how many aircraft are currently expected to meet the USFS requirements and when does the USFS expect those aircraft to be integrated?

No. We anticipate this being the only aircraft that will be modified with a sensor system.

During the Preproposal Conference, it was stated that after contract award on March 16, 2017, the aircraft could be delivered to the offeror's facility on or about April 1, 2017. Would it be beneficial for the USFS to continue to operate the aircraft for an additional 2-6 weeks so that the offeror can perform pre-buildup of integration items?

Yes, it would be beneficial for the US Forest Service to be able to continue operating the aircraft for an additional time period.

What is the USFS's total integration timeline expectations (from award to integrated aircraft delivery)?

The desired redelivery date of the integrated aircraft is 3 to 6 months from date of award.

After the current aircraft integration is complete, is there any desire by the USFS to return the aircraft to its current configuration with the Avcon STC Camera door? It may be beneficial to the integration timeline and overall project cost for the integration facility to entirely remove the Avcon STC SA1648CE camera door and return the aircraft to OEM specifications before, or in conjunction with, the AFUE aircraft integration with the determination that the aircraft would not be returned to its current configuration if/when the AFUE sensor package is removed.

No. There is no desire to retain the Avcon camera door and retain the

STC. You may remove the Avcon door provided that area is returned to

OEM standards.

What is the desired amount of man hours for the USFS to change the aircraft from its AFUE configuration to the normal OEM passenger transport configuration? less than 4 man hrs.

45 What are the manufacturer, model, and part number of the currently installed belly beacon light assembly? Will provide via later amendment ‐ Waiting for the information.

Would the USFS provide a checklist for the aircraft and systems final acceptance test? Yes. We are working on a checklist for acceptance.

What are the desired terms of payment from the USFS to the offeror?

Purchase: The payment terms for the acquisition are payment upone delivery of an integrated system within 30 days from acceptance. Lease:

Payment for installation will be 30 days from acceptance of the installation; lease payments will be made on monthly installments by dividing the annual and dividing the annual by 12 for full years and by the number of months the system is available to the Government (date of installation to the end of the contract period). Additional Services:

Payment 30 days from acceptance of the work.

Section E.3 (a) (1) of the RFP states how the proposal is to be delivered. The preproposal conference confirmed that a hard copy was desired. Does the USFS also require an electronic version? If so, what form of electronic file and media storage is desired?

The offor may submit thumbdrives with electronic file however, there will be no requirement to submit the entire proposal electronically.

While on the front page of the RFP it states four (4) specific instructions, there are many more requirements listed in Section E.3. Which is correct? Corrected via Amendment. The information at E.3 is required.

How is Section E.7 “Certification Regarding Trafficking in Persons. . .” related to E.7.a and E.7.b that is instead referencing COTS?

This certification is not applicable if the item offered is not COTS. If the offeror is going to provide an solution that is not COTS, and is estimated to have a value in excess of $500,000, the offor must provide this certification prior to award (not required at time of submission).