10Kg_Chamber_Q&A_25_Aug_17.pdf

QUESTION #1:

Will the Government consider proposed milestone or progress payments for fixed price CLINs?

ANSWER #1:

The solicitation was amended 23 Aug 2017 to add the following clause and provision:

52.232‐16 Progress Payments (APR 2012) and 52.232‐13 Notice of Progress Payments (APR 1984) to allow for progress payments.

QUESTION #2:

Per SOW Paragraph 3.3.10.1 Fatigue Analysis per ASME Section VIII DIV 3 is required. Is the entire vessel required to be constructed and stamped under the DIV 3 code?

ANSWER #2:

The chamber must be certified according to DDESB guidelines to provide protective construction as specified in the SOW. Fatigue analysis is one portion of that certification process, and the DDESB explicitly requires fatigue analysis per ASME Section VIII Div 3. Construction and stamping of the chamber under Div 3 are left to the contractor's discretion unless required to satisfy other DDESB requirements per the applicable documents in section 2 of the SOW.

QUESTION #3:

In order to identify and establish adequate subcontracting opportunities and complete a detailed BOM with competitive quotes, will the Government grant an extension of the proposal due date from 18 Sept 2017 to 10 Oct 2017?

ANSWER #3:

No extensions of the proposal due date will be authorized at this time.

QUESTION #4:

Confirm that these sensors (thermocouple, static pressure sensor, and O2 Sensors) are for safety consideration for entry into the chamber after a test is complete and that sensor locations and installation methods are up to the contractor.

ANSWER #4:

Yes, the sensors in SOW 3.2.1.5 were written in a safety context after a test/experiment is complete, and yes the sensor locations/installation method is up to the contractor.

QUESTION #5:

The requirement stated in the SOW is for K328 equivalent protection at 6 foot standoff distance from any point on the chamber; this level is quite low and may require further mitigation. Is compliance with this requirement verified during the blast tests at the contractor facility prior to shipping?

ANSWER #5:

It's up to the contractor on how to design, test, and certify to the K328 requirement. The Government understands that the K328 protection requirement in the SOW is more conservative than a K105 equivalent protection standard as described in AFMAN 91‐201 (a referenced document in the SOW).

The intent of using the K328 standard as the requirement for this effort is to increase personnel protection and to reduce the probability of damage to sensitive diagnostic equipment located in close proximity to the exterior of the chamber.

QUESTION #6:

Is the Vacuum system in Section 3.2.1.4 provided by Contractor or Customer?

ANSWER #6:

The vacuum pumps are a separate system and the vacuum piping is already included in the design of the building. However, connecting the chamber to the building vacuum system is the responsibility of the contractor.

QUESTION #7:

The CLINs are a mix of FPIF and FFP items. Does the Government plan to issue a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract or a Fixed Price Incentive Firm (FPIF) contract to the Awardee?

ANSWER #7:

The resultant contract from FA2487‐17‐R‐0131 will have three (3) different contract types to include fixed price incentive firm target (FPIF), firm fixed price (FFP), and cost reimbursement (CR). Please refer to “Section B – Supplies or services and prices/costs” within the posted RFP dated 3 Aug 17.

QUESTION #8:

Will the Government consider amending the RFQ to a small business set aside competition to allow a fair proportion of Government contracts is placed with small business concerns

(FAR 19.502‐1)?

ANSWER #8:

The Government considered the possibility of a small business set aside during acquisition planning and has determined that it is not appropriate for this requirement. There will not be a small business set aside for this requirement.