BAA-RQKM-2015-0011-Amd3.doc

Questions and Responses on BAA-RQKM-2015-0011 Agile Manufacturing for ISR Program

Amendment 3 2 February 2015 Question 1: Under section V. Proposal Review Information, it is stated in 1.a.iv. that “Any proposed restriction on technical data or computer software will be considered negatively.” How is this weighted with respect to the evaluation?

Response: As noted in BAA Para V.1., the technical aspect of proposals are ranked as the first order of priority, higher than Cost/Price and Proposal Risk Assessment. Within the Technical area there are six criteria that are in descending order of importance: 1. Unique and innovative approach 2. Understanding of scope of effort 3. Soundness of technical approach 4. Potential to transition the effort which includes a negative view of restrictions on tech data 5. Availability of qualified personnel and 6. Availability of facilities. Restriction on technical data or computer software will be considered negatively when it comes to transition ability of the system (4th area under technical). So this will be considered more strongly in the evaluation than availability of qualified personnel or facilities or cost/price or risk associated with the proposal.

Question 2: Is “government-use rights” a feasible alternative that AFRL is willing to consider favorably?

Response: No. Data rights desired for this effort are captured in BAA para I.5.d. Anything other than Government Purpose Rights and customary licenses for commercial computer software rights would need to be addressed in negotiations if required.

Question 3: The design of the pod is driven by the environment it is operated in. Since the plan is to attach the pod via OSSCAR, are OSSCAR performance and engineering specifications available from the government and are they accepted for design/certification?

Response: OSSCAR performance and engineering specifications are currently unavailable. The pod will connect to the mount via BRU-14 carriage rack. Structural dynamics associated with the system required for proposal development may be determined from the vendor or can be assumed as required and captured as assumptions in proposal. The overall emphasis of this effort is to build a prototype demonstration pod that highlights the benefits of agile manufacturing. OSSCAR arm performance specifications are certified to 750lbs with plans to increase certification to 2000 lbs.

Question 4: Who will be providing the test aircraft?

Response: The demonstration aircraft will be provided by either the Ohio ANG or Navy. Determination will be made soon after contract award.

Question 5: The SOW mentions a C-130H/J as the test aircraft, what will determine which aircraft is used?

Response: The anticipated demonstration aircraft will be a C-130H from the OH ANG. Future plans likely include the C-130J model and there remains a slight possibility, although unlikely, a C-130J would be available for a flight demonstration for this effort.

Question 6: The current payload capacity of Airdyne’s SABIR arm is 450lbs., not 400 as stated in the response to Question 2 of BAA Amendment 2.

Response: Correct, we have confirmed with Airdyne. Documentation on Airdyne website reflected 400 lbs but was corrected to 450 lbs.

Question 7: Section III. 5. a. notes “Foreign Participation: No”. Does this prohibit the participation of Airdyne R&D’s Canadian office and Canadian employees?

Response: If Foreign Nationals (FNs) are employed by the US contractor or Subcontractor, FNs will be limited to Public Domain information unless the US contractor has obtained the proper Export License or Technical Assistance Agreement through the U.S. Department of State.

*Public Domain information is defined as information that is releasable to the general public and sometimes referred to as open source material. Examples include, but are not limited to, newspapers, magazine and information posted on the internet.

Question 8: What type of information will the customer require with regard to the contractor’s agile manufacturing process itself (as distinguished from the ISR pod produced through that process)?

Response: Per SOW paragraphs 4.1 through 4.1.6 attached to the solicitation and CDRLs A001 (Technical Reports) and A004 (Status Reports) the Government expects the contractor to provide the model based digital representation of the agile manufacturing process including relevant engineering data to populate a digital thread. Relevant manufacturing process data such as metrology or inspection data used to monitor variability, manufacturing automation, and digital work instructions derived from the digital models produced during design and manufacturing engineering analysis should be provided as deliverables. Monthly status reports can capture the maturing of the digital representation of the manufacturing process with final analysis captured in the final report. The technical data package (CDRL A006) delivered at the end of the technical effort would include the model based digital representation of the manufacturing process.

Question 9: Since the structural dynamics of the On Sensor System for Contingency Airborne Response (OSSCAR) system and the AirDyne’s Special AirBorne Mission Response (SABIR) impact the POD design, offeror requests the Government provide ICD documents for each mount.

Response: Expect the ICD for SABIR or OSSCAR mount will be provided after contract award as required. The pod will connect to either system via BRU-14 carriage rack. Structural dynamics associated with the system required for proposal development can be determined from the vendor, via internet search or can be assumed as required. The overall emphasis of this effort is to build a prototype demonstration pod that highlights the benefits of agile manufacturing.