Solicitation Questions and Answers.docx

MAAS Trailers Solicitation Questions and Answers 18 August 2021

Question 1: In your invitation for the MAAS Trailer Teleconference scheduled for Aug 17, 2021, you included information provided to you by the customer. The information stated “The power pendant re-winder is a hydraulically driven attachment…”. It further stated that “This system has the following parts as a minimum: a 12 volt DC motor with mounting bracket…”.

Kindly clarify these two statements, as they appear to be contradictory. If the system should be “hydraulically driven”, then we assume that a hydraulic motor is needed, driven by the onboard HPUs, not an electric motor.

Answer 1: The pump is hydraulic and not 12 VDC.

Question 2: During our teleconference, you mentioned that there may be a requirement for First Article Testing. Given that [Vendor] is an approved source for the MAAS trailer, the FAT would be limited to the “option” of an added power pendant rewind system. Though [Vendor] would welcome a FAT for the power pendant system, we do consider the system to be of a non-critical nature to the performance of the MAAS system. The power pendant rewind system is exclusively used to offer a supported rewind operation of the pendant, e.g. during removal of the system. It is hence not a part that has any effect on the arrestment, nor used when the MAAS is installed.

Therefore, we suggest that a simple functional test may be satisfactory. If a full First Article Test, justified as a critical function of the MAAS, will be required as part of the contract, [Vendor] would ask that the RFP specify in detail pass/fail performance criteria to be met and what tests will be performed as part of a FAT for this sub-system.

Answer 2: A functional test is satisfactory.

Question 3: [Vendor] can offer a power pendant rewind system that will qualify to the “or equal” condition. However, to ensure that the power pendant rewind system offered by [Vendor] is as similar to that currently being used by USAF as possible, we ask you to provide photos of the system currently in inventory. This would allow us to ensure that the product will resemble that already in use to the extent possible in order to satisfy the end-user.

Answer 3: No we cannot provide photos of SAFRAN’s power pendant rewind system but [Vendor] can provide photos of their “or equal” power pendant rewind system for comparison.