Question and Answers FA468626QC012 9 CE Tactical Gear.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Q&A) dated 18 September 2026

9 CE Tactical Gear

SOLICITATION NO. FA468626QC012

Question 1: Delivery address mismatch. The Statement of Need states “6500 B St, Ste 101, Bldg 2529, Beale AFB, CA 95903”, while the Deliveries or Performance schedule states “9 CES CERF, 6451 B ST BLDG 2359, Beale AFB, CA 95903-1508”. Which is the correct FOB Destination delivery point?

Answer 1: The correct delivery address 9 CES CERF, 6451 B ST BLDG 2359, Beale AFB, CA 95903-1508. The solicitation is hereby amended to reflect this.

Question 2: Basis of technical evaluation. Is the evaluation based on brand-name-or-equal, or is conformance with the salient characteristics stated in the Statement of Need sufficient for technical acceptability?

Answer 2: Conformance with the salient characteristics is sufficient. As stated in the Evaluation Factors, any proposed "equal" product must meet or exceed the minimum salient physical, functional, and performance characteristics outlined in the Statement of Need to be deemed technically acceptable.

Question 3: Domestic source clauses. For the end items in CLINs 0001 through 0006, please state the Government’s application of DFARS 252.225-7001, 252.225-7002 and 252.225-7012, and whether a certificate of origin or compliance statement is required at delivery.

Answer 3: Offerors shall comply with the domestic sourcing clauses explicitly checked or included in SF 1449 and FAR 52.212-3 (Representations and Certifications). No separate certificate of origin is required at delivery beyond standard WAWF/receiving report documentation and compliance with the representations made in the vendor's SAM.gov profile.

Question 4: Minor dimensional variance. Where the Statement of Need lists exact dimensions and weights, will products differing by a small tolerance while meeting the stated capacity and material requirements be considered technically acceptable?

Answer 4: Products must meet the minimum salient characteristics. For Item 1 (Plate Carrier), the carrier must securely fit a 10x12 or SAPI Medium plate. For Item 6 (Weight Plates), the plates must physically fit inside Item 1. Variances that negatively impact form, fit, or function will be deemed unacceptable

Question 5: Ballistic evidence. For CLIN 0004, is third-party laboratory test data required with the quotation, or is the manufacturer’s published specification and NIJ compliance statement sufficient?

Answer 5: The manufacturer’s published specification sheet and NIJ compliance statement are sufficient for the quotation, provided they clearly demonstrate the helmet meets or exceeds NIJ Level IIIA

Question 6: Squadron laminate. Is the offeror required to apply a squadron emblem to CLINs 0001 and 0002? If so: (a) when will the artwork be furnished, (b) is pre-production sample approval required, and (c) will the 30-day delivery period run from receipt of Government-furnished artwork rather than from award?

Answer 6: No artwork or unit emblems are required. The term "Squadron laminate" in the Statement of Need refers to the commercial mil-spec material known as Brookwood Squadron® laminate fabric (or equal material), which is used in the construction of the gear. It does not refer to a military unit patch.

Question 7: CLIN 0002 content. Are the three magazine splitters and the polymer placard buckles included in the CLIN 0002 unit price, or are they separately priced?

Answer 7: All associated hardware (including the splitters and buckles) must be included in the single unit price for CLIN 0002. The Government requires 200 fully assembled pouches. The Government will not evaluate separately priced components.

Question 8: CLIN 0006 unit of measure. The Statement of Need states “200 pairs” of weight vest plates while the schedule states “200 Each”. Please confirm whether 200 pairs (400 plates) or 200 individual plates are required.

Answer 8: The Government requires exactly 200 PAIRS (which equals 400 individual plates in total).

To be considered a complete pair, the offeror must provide one (1) front plate and one (1) back plate designed to fit the front and rear pockets of the Plate Carrier (CLIN 0001). For quoting purposes on the SF 1449, Offerors shall treat the "Each" Unit of Measure as representing "One Pair." Therefore, the Unit Price entered for CLIN 0006 must be the price for a complete front/back pair, and the total delivered quantity will be 400 physical plates. This Q&A serves as the official clarification; a formal amendment to the SF 1449 schedule will not be issued.

Question 9: Marking and packaging. The table at DFARS 252.211-7003 is not completed.

Please confirm that no IUID / MIL-STD-130 item marking and no MIL-STD-129 military packaging are required.

Answer 9: IUID marking IS required. This Q&A serves to clarify and complete the table at DFARS 252.211-7003(c)(1)(ii). IUID tags are mandatory for CLIN 0001 (Plate Carriers) and CLIN 0004 (Ballistic Helmets). Offerors shall price their quotes accordingly.

Question 10: Submission format. Please confirm that quotations are to be e-mailed to both points of contact, that the completed SF 1449 schedule and FAR 52.212-3 representations are the only required Government forms, and whether a page limit applies to technical specification sheets.

Answer 10: Quotations shall be emailed to both POCs or either POC listed in the solicitation. SF 1449 and FAR 52.212-3 are the only required Government forms. Yes, there is a 6-page limit for the attached technical specification sheets, provided they clearly address the evaluation factors.

Question 11: Delivery address: Should delivery be made to 6500 B Street, Building 2529, as stated in the SON, or 6451 B Street, Building 2359, as listed in the solicitation?

Answer 11: Please refer to Answer 1.

Question 12: Training plates: Please confirm CLIN 0006 requires 200 pairs (400 individual plates), and whether the specified 8.75 lbs weight applies per plate or per pair?

Answer 12: Please refer to Answer 8 regarding the requirement for 200 pairs (400 individual plates, consisting of 200 front plates and 200 back plates). The weight specification of 8.75 lbs applies strictly per individual plate. A delivered pair (one front, one back) must weigh a combined 17.5 lbs.

Question 13: Helmet lights: Must each light provide all five listed outputs—white, red, blue, green and infrared? Is there a reference manufacturer/model or configuration?

Answer 13: The light is not required to have blue or green outputs. As stated in the SON, the salient characteristics require Red, White, and IR modes. The reference baseline model for CLIN 0005 is the Princeton Tec Switch RGB/IR Helmet Light (Item # FL2121).

Question 14: Helmets: Which test standards apply to the ballistic, fragmentation and deformation requirements? Are the listed deformation figures maximum limits, and must helmets include rails, pads and retention systems compatible with the required lights?

Answer 14: Please refer to Answer 5. Helmets must meet or exceed NIJ Level IIIA standards.

Yes, the helmets must include standard rail, pad, and retention systems capable of mounting the required helmet light (CLIN 0005).

Question 15: Equivalent products: Are equivalents meeting the salient characteristics acceptable? Please clarify allowable weight/dimension tolerances, whether “Multicolor” means MultiCam, and the required plate-carrier color?

Answer 15: Please refer to Answer 2 and Answer 4 regarding acceptable equivalents and dimensional tolerances. "Multicolor" is an acceptable nomenclature for OCP (Operational Camouflage Pattern) or MultiCam. As stated in the SON, the required color for the plate carrier (CLIN 0001) is OCP/Multicolor.

Question 16: Sourcing requirements: Please confirm whether the nonmanufacturer rule applies, whether any SBA waiver covers this acquisition, and whether any exception applies to DFARS 252.225-7012?

Answer 16: This is a 100% Small Business Set-Aside. Offerors are required to comply with the Nonmanufacturer Rule (NMR) in accordance with FAR 19.505, unless the Offeror verifies an active SBA Class Waiver exists for the specific NAICS and PSC code of the item being provided. No specific exceptions to DFARS 252.225-7012 are provided beyond what is inherently authorized within the clause for Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) items.

Question 17: Cybersecurity: Does this supply purchase require any pre-award NIST assessment, SPRS assessment score or CMMC status? The solicitation includes DFARS 252.204-7020?

Answer 17: This procurement is for Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) items; therefore, a pre-award NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity assessment score is not required. However, the Government utilizes the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) to verify contractor responsibility and past performance prior to any contract award. Offerors must ensure their SPRS profile and all associated system requirements are active, accurate, and acceptable to be considered for award.

Question 18: Submission terms: Please confirm the governing clause versions where older full text appears alongside 2026 deviation references.

Answer 18: In the event of a discrepancy between an older full-text clause and a referenced DoD/DAFFARS Class Deviation, the most recent Class Deviation shall govern