Attachment 4 - Questions and Answers 1 September 2026.pdf

Solicitation FA469026Q0043 – Swaging Tool Kit Questions and Answers

1. Question: What is the aircraft platform these kits will be used on?

a. Answer: These kits will be used on the B-1B.

2. Question: What it the quantity of kits needed?

a. Answer: We require 8-10 suite case style pelican cases, and this is important that they are separated for the ability to transport them around in a hanger or flightline to perform the repairs.

3. Question: Where will these kits be used?

a. Answer: The swaging kit will be used for both back shop and flightline operations. Many aircraft parts that can be removed from the airframe are brought to the back shop for repair, however, there are many parts that cannot be removed or would be too time consuming to remove creating the need for flightline applications.

4. Question: Do you have existing tool kits that you are planning to replace?

a. Answer: The item currently used is the Shafer Bearing Tools Swaging Tool

System. The Smith Machine and Tool Swagging Kit will be replacing that tool system completely.

5. Question: What is your ideal delivery date to AFGSC?

a. Answer: As soon as possible considering upcoming phase inspections requiring the tooling. The solicitation lists a delivery date of 60 days after award.

6. Question: For the NIST-traceable calibration of the dual digital load cells and the high-precision depth gauge, does the Government require the calibration certificates to be dated within a specific timeframe prior to delivery (e.g., calibrated within 30 or 90 days of receipt at Ellsworth AFB)?

a. Answer: We require the date that the calibration certificate was awarded to the tool but there is not a range that it must be conducted in before delivery. As long as a date is provided for the certificate, out PMEL office can make a calibration schedule to ensure the tools serviceability throughout its lifetime.

7. Question: The solicitation states that all 'non-consumable mechanical tooling elements' must be backed by a lifetime replacement warranty. Could the Government clarify which specific items in the tool kit are classified as 'consumables' (and therefore exempt from the lifetime warranty), such as cutter blades, swage rollers, or pilot guides?

a. Answer: Tools manufactured by Smith Machine and Tool LLC undergo rigorous testing and inspection to ensure quality standards are met. If a tool arrives damaged the customer has 30 days to report to Smith Machine and Tool LLC, in which Smith Machine and Tool LLC will accept an exchange at no cost to the customer. No returns accepted. There are no warranties that extend beyond the description of the face hereof with this sale seller explicitly disclaims any warranty of merchantability and any warranty of fitness for a particular purpose.

This verbiage will be added to the Salient Characteristics in the solicitation.

8. Question: Is the shipping basis for delivery to Ellsworth AFB, SD required to be FOB Destination? If so, should all shipping, handling, and transit insurance costs be fully burdened within the unit price of CLIN 0001?

a. Answer: Yes, the shipping basis for delivery is FOB Destination and yes, all costs should be fully burdened within the unit price of CLIN 0001.

9. Question: If an offeror proposes an 'authorized equivalent' to the brand name Smith

Machine & Tool 'Slim Line' system, what specific technical documentation (e.g., CAD drawings, engineering schematics, or physical test data) must be submitted to demonstrate compliance with the 1.5-inch diameter physical clearance constraint for the B-1B Lancer rudder attach points?

a. Answer: No authorized equivalent products will be accepted under this solicitation. Offerors must provide the Smith Machine & Tool “Slim Line” system as specified.

10. Question: To satisfy the Buy American Act (BAA) compliance requirement for the primary mechanical tools, swage bodies, cutters, adapters, and load cells, is a formal BAA Certificate of Compliance required as part of the proposal submission, or is specifying the manufacturing origin on the Price Sheet sufficient?

a. Answer: Yes, to satisfy the Buy American Act compliance you can specify the manufacturing origin on the Price Sheet.

11. Question: Does the Government require the tool kit to be delivered in a specific type of storage container, such as a custom foam-cut, heavy-duty transit case (e.g., Pelican case), to ensure portability and protection on the flight line, or is the manufacturer's standard commercial packaging acceptable?

a. Answer: The manufacturer’s standard commercial packaging is acceptable for shipment purposes. The requirement for custom foam-cut, heavy-duty transit case is needed for the use of the tooling for day-to-day maintenance operations once the kit is in service within our section.

12. Question: We ask for any technical data package available as we notice certain requirements of this solicitation are not feasible. For example: requirement described in document called: Authority to Solicit from a Single Source, in its paragraph 4 (Findings) states that: “Cavities present restricted workspace with maximum physical clearance of 1.5-inch diameter.” Such constraint would not allow an MS14103-16 bearing to fit in such environment since its outer diameter (OD) is 2.125. Tooling for this bearing is naturally larger than this figure, yet it is part of the subject tooling package.

a. Answer: The requirement for this physical clearance was a specific example that correlated to one of the more common bearing jobs we see for the aircraft that our current tooling within the section cannot accomplish and was not a requirement for every single item within the purchase. If the capability can be met by one of the bearing swaging tools within the purchase, then that will meet our needs for that common job. We understand that the bearing swagging kit is an all-encompassing kit that covers a wide range of bearing diameters, including ones larger than the 1.5” diameter clearance because some of the bearings themselves are larger than that tolerance. It is not feasible to list every specific clearance that we will run into on the aircraft and technical guidance providing clearance requirements is not available. As a section, we do not perform scheduled maintenance and instead respond to many “one off” jobs as they arise. Due to this, unpredictable conditions are often met when conducting maintenance on aircraft and tooling with the tightest tolerances for each respective bearing it’s designed for is required to limit as many restrictions for clearance as possible. Based on our extensive research, Smith Machine and Tool offers the most compact designs on the market and allows for the widest range of maintenance capabilities for the airframe.