Q A_FA0021-16-R-0001.pdf

FA0021-16-R-0001

Combined Close Air Support (CCAS)

05 November 2015

Government Responses to Industry Questions Regarding Solicitation FA0021-16-R-001

1) Question: Based on 1.3.2.1 and 4.1.2 is it correct that the COR or designated 24 SOW rep could request a two-ship formation at three geographically separated concurrent operations?

Answer: YES

2) Question: Based on the statements above, can the designated government rep request three geographically separated concurrent operation with two aircraft all on the East Coast or request three geographically separated concurrent operation with two aircraft on the

West Coast.

Answer: The intent of 4.1.2 is that the Contractor may have to support one two ship exercise on the East Coast, one two ship exercise on the West Coast, and the SOTACC simultaneously.

3) Question: Should 1.3.2.1.2 read Maintain loiter time of no less than 90 minutes on station, 50 NM from base while supporting HQ AFSOC?

Answer: YES

4) Question: Is it correct that 1.3.3.11 only requires a minimum of two (four desired) operational (properly wired) pylons that enable the carriage of Bomb Release Units?

Answer: YES

5) Question: Are 2 to 4 pylons required per aircraft?

Answer: YES

6) Question: What is short notice? 2 days, 2 weeks, etc

Answer: 1 day prior to the start of the exercise

7) Question: Will any travel expenses incurred prior to the cancellation be reimbursable?

Answer: If movement of personnel has occurred (1 day prior to training event), travel will be reimbursed

8) Question: Attachment 9, Cost Proposal Workbook, Tab 3, indicates a total of 98 estimated trips. Is this accurate?

Answer: Yes, this estimate is based on the maximum number of exercises we anticipate for a 12 month period of performance. This estimate includes trips that may be cut short due to weather or other external factors.

9) Question: How many hours do you estimate for each exercise?

Answer: 12

10) Question: Are NVG required to see markings like IR Pointers and IR strobes?

Answer: YES

11) Question: Is FMV downlink and Live required at the same time?

Answer: YES

12) Question: Is secure voice required?

Answer: Desired, not required

13) Question: What locations are the Live CAS expected? Can this be broken out into #of exercises for logistics and cost planning?

Answer: Appendix 1, live events will be determined through unit scheduling

14) Question: Are Live Night Operations Required?

Answer: No

15) Question: Is there a specific camera requirement to provide FMV, EO/IR capable other than

1.3.3.5

Answer: PWS states minimum requirements, any additional capabilities are desired

16) Question: Is every aircraft/mission required to have FMV as described in 1.3.3.5 or can we have one payload that we can switch to multiple aircraft. If it is a two ship sortie can only one aircraft have the FMV?

Answer: Every aircraft needs to have stand-alone capability

17) Question: Is there a specific capability you request for the FMV Downlink ex. Video Data

Link (VDL) bandwidths utilizing L, S, and low/high C Band to a Remotely Operated Video

Enhanced Receiver (ROVER)-based system?

Answer: Yes ROVER capable

18) Question: Are there frequency specific capabilities for the radios? And is SATCOM Capable required Ex. Military VHF/UHF spectrum 30-88 MHz, 108-174 MHz or 225-512 MHz range requirement, SATCOM capable?

Answer: Primary comms will be on UHF/VHF AM, however due to the duration of the contract a complete comms suite 30-512MHz is desired

19) Question: Has ACC ceased all Live CCAS operations? If so, will this solicitation be put on hold until ACC allows Live CAS?

Answer: Not as of today, we have made the requested adjustments. If HAF requires further information, the CO and 24 SOW leadership will determine the proper COA.

20) Question: RFP Section B: The date in CLIN 0006 should be revised to read 15 JAN 2016 to

14 JAN 2017:

Answer: This has been corrected and posted in the Amendment 02.

21) Question: RFP Section B: The date in CLIN 3003 should be revised to read 15 JAN 2019 to

14 JAN 2020:

Answer: This has been corrected and posted in Amendment 02.

22) Question: RFP (SF33) does not reflect that Section H, Special Contract Requirements, is included as part of the RFP. However, PWS Attachment 1b is titled “Section H – Special

Contract Requirements,” which does include requirements that are not exclusively PWS related, but rather include both operational and more general government contractor requirements. Did the Government intend to include these Special Contract Requirements as Section H of the RFP, and not just as an attachment to the PWS?

Answer: “Local Clauses” are no longer used, but additional contract terms and conditions usually found under Section H in the RFP are included as an attachment to the PWS

Corrected to read – attachment C

23) Question: RFP Section L-0004, 2.1.1 and Table L-4-1: With the knowledge that Offeror’s company names should not be included throughout the text of Volume I in accordance with Section L-0004, 2.1.1 of the Solicitation, is there any other information that the government requires to be REDACTED from the Volume 1 copies? If so, what other information should be excluded from the copies?

Answer: No other information should be redacted.

24) Question: PWS Section 1.3.4.2.12: Is a more detailed response to this CONOPS requirement intended to be a CDRL, or is the Offeror expected to provide a complete

CONOPS within the Technical Volume page count?

Answer: CONOPS are to be submitted prior to each training event once coordination has been done with the unit. CONOPS are not a requirement for the technical evaluation.

25) Question: Is it the intention of the Government to use proof of purchase of ammunition/ordnance to show past performance as a CAS provider or does the

Government expect offerors to purchase stocks of these items prior to award?

Answer: The intent is to show the vendor has the ability to purchase ammunition/ordnance and be prepared to operate on day 1. If there is a 6 month waiting list to purchase BDU’s and you don’t have any in stock, the contractor will fail to meet the

PWS requirements.

26) Question: Must proof of purchase be provided for the entire spectrum of ordnance listed in PWS 1.2 or will purchase of any of the items suffice?

Answer: Primarily the purchase of BDU-33/MK-76 and whatever ammunition you plan on supporting the contract with.

27) Question: When will these procedures and manuals be provided given the apparent requirement to be ready to provide support on Day 1 of award?

Answer: Range procedures will be provided during coordination with the units, which should take place approximately two weeks prior to each event.

28) Question: Does this imply that the aircraft must carry a Standard Airworthiness Certificate?

Answer: The amendment to the solicitation has been adjusted to Public Use

29) Question: Please define “Non-public use” as it relates to this RFP. Aircraft operations in the

US are characterized as either Civil or Public Use.

Answer: Same answer as above

30) Question: Is it the Government’s intention to conduct all flights for this effort outside the scope and designation of Public Aircraft Operations?

Answer: No

31) Question: What type of FMV downlink is required in terms of frequency band (L, S, C, Ku etc.)?

Answer: Primarily L, but S and C also

32) Question: What wave form is required? In other words should this be ROVER compatible?

Answer: Yes

33) Question: What are the distances required from the aircraft to the reception point/receiver for LOS?

Answer: No less than 5NM from 10K ft AGL

34) Question: Will the ability to see laser designator energy on the pilot display via SWIR video meet the Laser Spot Track requirement or does the Laser Spot Track need to differentiate different laser PRF codes?

Answer: Ability to differentiate Laser PRF codes is preferred, but the ability to spot laser energy is acceptable.

35) Question: What level of refinement/accuracy must the coordinates generated by the POD attain?

Answer: CAT 3

36) Question: Outside of situational awareness what will be the purpose of the generated coordinates? In other words will other platforms deliver weapons based on these coordinates if the JTAC directs?

Answer: Primarily for SA/training but it is possible that you may be working with Mil Air

37) Question: Please define the frequency range of the radios required since VHF/UHF encompasses a wide array of civil and military bands.

Answer: Primary comms will be on UHF/VHF AM, however due to the duration of the contract a complete comms suite 30-512MHz is desired

38) Question: Will encrypted communications be required for these radios, if so how does the

Government intend to handle the key material and use of these materials by contractors?

Answer: Desired, not required. If secure comms are required the government will provide the COMSEC on site.

39) Question: Given that the requirement exists for Digital CAS which is normally supported by military grade radios (PRC-117, PRC-152 etc) Does the Government require offerors to hold a Communications Security Materials (COMSEC) account which allows contractors to own these types of radios?

Answer: Yes

40) Question: Block 10a of the DD254 states that access to COMSEC Information will be required yet no COMSEC account is required. What type of COMSEC Information will be utilized / shared that would not require the contractor to have a COMSEC account?

Answer: If secure comms are required the government will provide the COMSEC on site.

41) Question: What level of firing capability is required semi-automatic or fully automatic?

Basis for question is that there are various systems available that would meet the remit of

Live Strafe but would not provide “tactically relevant” support.

Answer: Fully automatic

42) Question: What, if any, assistance will the Government provide Contractors to streamline the extensive legal and logistical issues involved with transporting fully automatic weapons that are subject to the National Firearms Act (NFA) and registration with the ATF as well as local authorities?

Answer: None

43) Question: If Contractors apply for the requisite licensing to transport NFA weapons to the sites listed in PWS Annex 1, what lead time will be provided in order to transport NFA weapons to other locations, notably in states which have heavy restrictions on NFA weapons such as California?

Answer: California is not on Annex 1, but the lead time would be based on the schedule.

The government will provide a long range calendar of training events up to three months out.

44) Question: Request that this statement be amended to read “The contractor shall appoint a

Program Manager to serve as the single point of contact for CAS and flight operations as they relate solely to the contractor’s effort to support this task”. As currently written this implies or can be interpreted that the contractor may be responsible for other coordination duties.

Answer: The intent is to have one POC that the government can contact for all issues/scheduling.

45) Question: Does the Government anticipate the use of this RFP to govern the provision of

EA support or services? The subject of EA is not mentioned elsewhere thus we request clarification of this statement.

Answer: No EA support is expected

46) Question: How does the Government intend to verify FAC-A experience?

Answer: The GFR will inspect the contractors training records

47) Question: Given the list of aircraft in PWS 1.2 with most of them being two-seat models will a formerly qualified FAC-A in one of the seats of a dual-crewed aircraft meet this requirement?

Answer: Yes, there is no requirement to have both pilot and sensor operator. If the requirements can be met by the same individual

48) Question: How will weather cancellations enroute to/from training locations be handled?

The contractor should be traveling one day prior to the training event.

Answer: If the event is canceled due to weather the contractor will be reimbursed for the travel cost, weather days(2) and ferry hrs

49) Question: What will occur if the training location experiences inclement weather for more than two (2) days? Is the “day of and the day after” concept in 1.3.5.6 a rolling two day window?

Answer: The intent of the “day of and the day after” is if the entire event is cancelled on short notice due to forecasted weather. If weather is a factor during a training event but clears up, the contractor will be reimbursed for a weather day for each day training was on hold.

50) Question: This seems to be in conflict with PWS 1.3.2.1.2 which states that loiter time of

90 minutes on station, 50NM from base is a requirement. Which distance from base should be used for planning and costing, 50NM or 125NM?

Answer: The 50 NM distance is from any staging airport the contractor utilizes in order to meet the 90 min loiter time. The 125NM range is if you need support from a military installation on a non-interference basis such as deicing.

51) Question: The PWS does not address the transport, receiving, storage (either temporary or long-term in magazines) of ammunition and ordnance on Government facilities. Given the extensive and rigorous processes and procedures to work with these materials on

Government facilities how does the Government intend to address these matters and how much time will be allowed to qualify/license contractor technicians?

Answer: None, the government is not interested in a contractor that does not currently provide this capability

52) Question: Although Air Force regulations will certainly be standardized regarding handling of these materials there will be processes and procedures that local commanders will enforce that will likely differ from one location to the next. How does the Government intend to handle this matter? Will a blanket license and qualification be granted after appropriate training and certification of contractor technicians?

Answer: The COR will engage with the local base if any foreseen problems arise.

53) Question: Will the contractor be required to provide 6 total aircraft to meet the need for up to three simultaneous locations, with up to a two-ship formation, or will the contractor be able to perform three-location simultaneous operations with less than two aircraft at one or more locations?

Answer: The Contractor may have to support one two ship exercise on the East Coast, one two ship exercise on the West Coast, and the SOTACC simultaneously.

54) Question: Paragraph states, “day and night dry operations…” but isn’t as specific with respect to live ordnance operations. Will the contractor be expected to perform night live

CAS or day-only live CAS.

Answer: No night live CAS will be required

55) Question: Will the Government provide GFE SUU-20s and associated support and test equipment to the contractor in order to reduce cost of providing BDU-33/MK-76 capability?

Answer: No GFE will be provided

56) Question: Does the Government require every COCO aircraft (potentially up to 6, see previous question) to be simultaneously capable of providing DACAS, FMV/VDL, BDU-33, and strafe capacity? If not, how many aircraft must be simultaneously configured for such capabilities at any one time?

Answer: Each aircraft must have stand-alone capability

57) Question: Will the Government consider an extension to the RFP response time in order to allow thirty(30) days response time from the FedBizOpps posting consistent with the FAR?

Answer: Yes; Proposals will be due 12:00PM CST on 09 December 2015.

(Only questions submitted by interested parties were addressed. This RFP remains a small business set-aside)

(END OF QUESTIONS)