NDBC's_Marine_Services_Questions_and_Responses_7.31.2015.docx

NDBC’s Marine Service Solicitation Questions and Responses Vendor Question 1: The bid specification has only one issue with our vessel – lack of DP positioning. Do you recommend we bid “as is” with our vessel or to be installed upon award to said vessel?

Government Response: The requirement for DP positioning is only for the Global Vessel Class and is not required for the Global Science or Regional Vessel Classes. See Section II paragraph 2.1.11 of the Global Vessel Class Terms and Conditions and SOW.

Vendor Question 2: Section IV of the SOW references an SF1449. Will NOAA be issuing a 1449? Also some of the items listed under Paragraph 1(b) contradicts what is asked for in the BOA Solicitation main document, specifically item (b)(6) and (c). Please confirm that pricing is not required in the BOA Solicitation response.

Government Response: Section IV of the Terms and Conditions and SOW document states the following:

“Offers may be submitted on the SF 1449, letterhead stationery, or as otherwise specified in the solicitation.”

In this case, the solicitation does not call for an SF 1449 and therefore one will not be issued. The wording in this provision is a standard commercial provision to ensure that the solicitation requirements are being followed. The Marine Services Solicitation document clearly states what is needed to be considered for consideration of a BOA, of which pricing is not one of them.

Vendor Question 3: Paragraph C states that if the vendor wants to be considered for more than one class, a response is required. Does NOAA want a complete solicitation response for each class, or can a vendor submit one response with different sections for each class? If a complete response is required for each class, can the past performance be the same for each class?

Government Response: A complete response is required for each vessel class. Past Performance may be the same for each class; however each response must still include the past performance. See Section D and E of the Marine Services BOA Solicitation document.

Vendor Question 4: The second paragraph of E.3 references two attachments – Attachment 4 and Attachment 5. Attachment 4 of the solicitation is titled Past Performance Risk Questionnaire. There was no Attachment 5 provided with the solicitation. Is Attachment 4 the attachment that is intended to be included with the solicitation response or is this the questionnaire that is to be sent to our reference? Please clarify and confirm the two past performance attachments that make up the solicitation.

Government Response: There is no Attachment 5. The Marine Services solicitation document has been changed to reflect only Attachment 4 per. See Revised Marine Services BOA Solicitation document.

Vendor Question 5: This opportunity involves three types of buoys systems: Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami (DART) System, Weather and Ocean Platform (WxOP) Network, and Tropical Atmosphere and Ocean (TAO) System. Are these buoys regulated under the EAR or ITAR?

Government Response: The DART buoy and BPR are regulated under the EAR. In 2006, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) determined that the DART system (buoy & BPR) ECCN was 8A992.f. They also provided a Schedule B number of 9015.80.8080. Neither the Weather and Ocean Platform or Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean buoys are regulated under ITAR or EAR.

Vendor Question 6: If the buoys are regulated under the EAR, what is their ECCN? Publicly available information suggests the DART system buoys may be under EAR99.

Government Response: Being on the Commerce Control List, the DART buoy and BPR would not be under EAR99.

Vendor Question 7: In the Global Services Agreement, pages 31 & 32 are missing. In the Science Vessel Agreement Pages 32 & 33 are missing. Are these pages relevant or should we disregard?

Government Response: There was a number error in all three vessel class documents. However, no pages were missing. All documents have been updated and reposted with this notice.

Vendor Question 8: May we request an extension beyond 8/3 to respond to this?

Government Response: An extension has been granted for the Global and Global Science Vessel Classes per the revised Marine Services BOA Solicitation document. As noted in the revised Marine Service Solicitation document, the new response date for these vessel classes will be Aug 10, 20156 at 11 AM Eastern time. The Regional Vessel Class response time remains unchanged.

Vendor Question 9: If NDBC receives no valid submittals for the "Global Science Class" category, would you consider re-soliciting right away, and/or, would NDBC still be in a position to use Global Science Class platforms contracted outside the process related to this solicitation , should the need arise within the next 12 months?

Government Response: The Government is not prepared to answer hypothetical questions at this point and will only respond to questions that are relevant to the Solicitation at hand.

Vendor Question 10: Noting there is an 'on-ramp' provision for annual re-solicitation for these marine services in future years, may we expect that such re-solicitation would be out by same time next year? We may need to consider waiting for another window (e.g. 2016), if we can't get an extension on the 8/3/15 deadline.

Government Response: The timeframe for the on-ramps has not been determined yet. An extension to the response time has been granted per the revised Marine Services BOA Solicitation document.