ESBD_File_328529_601440000040502_Questions and Answers.pdf
PDF 180 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Medium-lift and Fixed Wing UAS
- Solicitation number
- 601440000040502
- Issued by
- Smith County, Tyler City, Texas
About this file
This document contains the Questions and Answers for TxDOT Solicitation No. 601440000040502 for the procurement of Medium-lift and Fixed Wing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The solicitation is issued by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and is intended for use by various jurisdictions in Texas, including Smith County and Tyler City. The solicitation requests vendors to provide Medium-lift UAS capable of carrying specialized sensors and Fixed Wing UAS for longer airborne time. TxDOT has not provided detailed requirements for the sensors, but expects the offered UAS to include at least one type of survey-grade mapping and/or LiDAR sensor. The quantities to be purchased will be determined after the evaluation, demonstration, and negotiation stages are complete. TxDOT expects to place an order following the execution of the contract with the awarded vendor, but has not provided any forecast for quantities over the next three years.
Regarding pricing, TxDOT has not provided any forecast for quantities, but has stated that the vendors should offer discounts for the purchase of multiple units. TxDOT will not allow vendors to alter the provided pricing schedule, and all offered UAS must include the required sensors. TxDOT will not select or provide the LiDAR sensors separately, and the offered UAS must be capable of operating without GPS access, though TxDOT does not plan to initiate flights without GPS.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| ESBD_File_328529_601440000040502_Addendum 1.pdf | ||
| ESBD_File_328529_601440000040502_Solicitation Package.pdf | ||
| ESBD_File_328529_601440000040502_ Pricing Schedule.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet |
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125 EAST 11TH STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701-2483 | 512.463.8588 | WWW.TXDOT.GOV
Rev. 2/2/23
OUR VALUES: People • Accountability • Trust • Honesty OUR MISSION: Connecting You With Texas
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Questions and Answers
TxDOT Solicitation No. 601440000040502
Solicitation Title: Medium-lift and Fixed Wing UAS
Date: 7/10/2023
Question Answer
1. Question: You state in your requirements document:
6.12. Equipped with survey grade mapping
and/or LiDAR sensor(s).
7.11 Equipped with survey grade mapping
and/or LiDAR sensor(s).
Are you able to expand on this requirement "survey grade mapping" - do you mean an aerial camera for photogrammetry purposes.
Yes.
2. Question: Please can you confirm that you require both the "survey grade mapping" and a LiDAR sensor to be included in the offer. The "or" in your requirement causes some doubt.
A UAS offered to TxDOT must include at least one type of sensor option.
3. Question: You included a plural in the "Lidar Sensor(s)", are you anticipating more than one Lidar sensor per UAS?
No.
4. Question: Are you able to provide a lot more detailed requirements (absolute accuracy, resolution, your expected flying height) for 6.12 and 7.11.
There are a lot of mapping systems on the market, with a huge variance in price and performance, and it would be good to be able to meet your specific needs.
No we are unable to provide detailed requirements on accuracy and resolutions for the survey grade mapping and/or LiDAR sensor(s).
5. Question: What quantities of Medium Lift Fixed wing UAS do you require, this information is not provided in this document nor in the accompanying Pricing Schedule.
The quantities will be determined after the evaluation, demonstration, and negotiation stages are complete.
6. Question: What lifting capacity do you require for each UAS.
The UAS must be capable of lifting the sensors.
7. Question: What endurance do you require for each UAS.
Per the specification, the UAS are to be battery powered and subsequent endurance times apply.
8. Question: What do you consider "Medium lift", it is a rather relative and ambiquous term.
UAS that meet the weight requirements of 14 CFR 107, and are capable of carrying the specialized sensors.
9. Question: What are the applications that you have in mind for each of the UAS.
When and for what purpose would you use the Medium Lift UAS and when would you use the Fixed wing UAS.
Medium lift UAS will be used for carrying the sensors.
Fixed-wing UAS will be used for carrying sensors for longer airborn time.
10. Question: Is it possible to get the estimated quantities, the percent discount could be based on volume.
The quantities will be determined after the evaluation, demonstration, and negotiation stages are complete.
11. Question: Section 7.12.1 of the solicitation lists “Weighted Landing Pad” as a requirement for the Fixed Wing UAS. Is vertical takeoff/landing a requirement for the Fixed Wing UAS? If not, can you elaborate on the need for the weighted landing pad?
VTOL is not required for fixed wing UAS.
The weighted landing pad is needed because TxDOT has no access to improved or unimproved runways for operations.
12. Question: What is the minimum necessary endurance for both the Medium Lift UAS and Fixed Wing UAS?
Per the specification, the UAS are to be battery powered and subsequent endurance times apply.
13. Question: How important is IP rating for operations in light rain (Page 12 of PDF, Section
7. Fixed Wing UAS Requirements)? Typically, Part 107 regulations do not allow operations in light rain
An adequate IP rating will ensure that if it begins raining during flight, TxDOT can safely land the aircraft.
14. Question: Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) is only listed on Page 10 of the PDF, Section 2.
“Definitions of Terms and Acronyms”. Are BVLOS operations important or planned for TxDOT?
BVLOS operations are not important and not planned for TxDOT.
15. Question: Does TxDOT VRS network support RTK/PPK connections outside of Trimble equipment (Page 12 of PDF, Section 7. Fixed Wing UAS Requirements, Sub-section 7.7 RTK/PPK capable (integrated or add-on module) capable of connecting to the TxDOT VRS network)?
Yes.
16. Question: Clarification for the response submission (Section 4 – Vendor Qualifications and Experience Schedule or Page 17 of the PDF). Are we limited to one page for the entire section? More specifically, is our response limited to the space in “DOCUMENTATION OF
COMPANY QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Provide your company’s experience and capabilities outlined in the Specification:”? Can we insert a whitepaper into this section that provides our experience and capabilities? We will make sure it is inserted into the PDF for Section 4 of our response submission.
The response to Section 4 – Vendor Qualifications and Experience Schedule is not limited to one page. The following excerpt is stated at the bottom of the schedule: “This page or a reasonable copy must be returned with the response. Failure to return this page or a reasonable copy will result in the response being considered non-responsive.”
A respondent may use the schedule form to respond or may insert another formatted document that contains all the information requested in the schedule. If any field in the schedule is not answered this may result in the response being considered non-responsive.
17. Question: This question is related to the document titled “ESBD_File_328529_601440000040502_ Pricing Schedule.xlsx” or Section 1 – Pricing Schedule of the response submission. I asked this question during the pre-response conference but added here just in case. If we are only offering discounts for purchase of multiple units, how would you like us to format that into your existing format? Can we simply make a note in the description box along the lines of “Purchase of x amount of UAS provides x% discount”?
The quantities will be determined after the evaluation, demonstration, and negotiation stages are complete.
The respondent must not alter the pricing schedule. The respondent must offer the discount percentage per line item they determine to be most competitive.
18. Question: How important are operations in GPS denied/degraded environments (Page 16 of PDF or Section 3 – Data Sheet Schedule for Fixed Wing UAS of submission response)?
Typically, most UAS will perform an autonomous “Return-to-Home” (RTH)/”Return-to-Land” (RTL) when GPS signal is lost. Is TxDOT looking to conduct operations without GPS access?
TxDOT will not initiate flight operations without GPS access. However, the UAS should not be restricted from initiating flight when GPS conditions are less than ideal. In addition, the UAS should be hardened from GPS degradation caused by EMI/RF interference.
19. Question: Please define “Medium-Lift UAS” in terms of size, weight, and use cases?
UAS that meet the weight requirements of 14 CFR 107, and are capable of carrying the sensors. (Reference Spec. Para. 6.)
20. Question: Will TX DOT be using this procurement event for purchase of small size and weight UAS fleet ?
No this is for Medium-Lift and Fixed Wing UAS.
21. Question: Can you provide any forecast for quantity of units to be purchased in each category on initial blanket purchase order?
The quantities will be determined after the evaluation, demonstration, and negotiation stages are complete.
22. Question: Can you provide any forecast for quantity of units to be purchased in the next 3 calendar years (after initial order) ?
The quantities will be determined after the evaluation, demonstration, and negotiation stages are complete.
23. Question: When is delivery required for first order to be placed in October timeframe?
TxDOT expects to place an order following the execution of the contract with the awarded vendor.
24. Question: Will TX DOT select their own LiDAR sensor for a 3rd party integration and mounting to the UAV?
No, all UAS offered must include the sensor(s).
25. Question: Will TX DOT purchase their LiDAR sensor directly from a 3rd party to pair with the selected UAV ?
No, all UAS offered must include the sensor(s).
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