Draft_Solicitation_-_Questions-Responses.docx

Questions/Responses to Draft Solicitation FA4890-17-R-0015

QUESTIONS / RESPONSES

Reference: According to FACTOR 2 – TECHNICAL CAPABILITY it requires each offeror must have obtained an airworthiness certificate or equivalent from a US Government agency as a prerequisite.

Question 1: Would the USG accept receiving this certification prior to award rather than as a perquisite to submit a bid?

Response: No, it will continue to be a prerequisite.

Reference: (Section L, Page 74/6.3) The offeror shall highlight any proposed enhanced performance exceeding PWS minimum requirements.

Question 2: Please clarify how you will evaluate enhanced performance that exceeds PWS minimum requirements. Will you allow alternative proposals?

Response: Section L, Para 6 explains how the technical proposals will be evaluated. Only one proposal per offeror will be accepted.

Reference: (Section M, Page 87/Factor 2-1b) The technical capability rating focuses on the strengths, deficiencies, and weaknesses in the offeror’s proposal.

Question 3: What are the specific rating definitions to be used in the evaluation of an offerors proposal?

Response: See Section M, Table 3.

Reference: (PWS Section A, Page 5/2.8.2) ...IAW time frame specified by CO Question 4: Will the timeframe be based on industry standard of 30 Days for RCCA response and 90 Days for implementation and closure?

Response: The response/implementation time frame is dependent on the severity of the deficiency, the risk to the program (cost, schedule, or performance), and the complexity of the remedy. Suspenses will be determined by CO as nonconformances arise.

Reference: (Appx D, Page 42/2.b) QMS shall incorporate a comprehensive risk management plan… Question 5: Please clarify text regarding “…a comprehensive risk management plan”. Is one risk plan expected for the entire company?

AS9100 requires risk analysis and management. Risks are typically managed by project and functional area.

Response: A comprehensive risk management plan is required for this effort. It should be part of the organization’s Quality Management System and demonstrate how the contractor will identify, monitor, measure and control risks. The QMS compliance requirement has changed from ISO 9001 to current version of SAE AS9100 (currently AS9100d).

Reference: (Appx D, Page 43/4.d) The contractor shall maintain and make available to the Government their measurement, analysis and improvement… Question 6: Please clarify what product measurement data is required.

ISO 9001:2008 is obsolete, clause 8 has 12 sub-clauses. This request is unclear as to intent and what information is being asked for.

Response: The QMS compliance requirement has changed from ISO 9001 to current version of SAE AS9100 (currently AS9100d).

Question 7: Will the USAF have an Industry Day, and if so, what is the estimated date?

Response: There will not be an industry day for this requirement.

Question 8: What is the planned award date?

Response: Sept 2018.

Question 9: Does the USAF plan to give an updated DPWS between now and final RFP?

Response: Not at this time.

Question 10: What is the predicted funding source for this solicitation: base funding or OCO?

Response: OCO.

Question 11: What specific base defense missions do you find SUAS most useful for, and which do you need improved capability performing?

Response: The minimum requirements are described in the PWS and represent the capabilities needed to perform the current missions. Any improved capabilities would be enhancements to the system and are desired if they provide a benefit to the Government.

Question 12: How important is Field Service Representative/Operator experience in this proposal, and how will this be evaluated?

Response: Section M of the RFP, Para 1 under “Evaluation Factors and Methodology” explains the hierarchy of importance among the evaluation factors and technical subfactors. Section L of the RFP, Para 6.2 and Subfactor C, Aspect 1, Management and Integration, explains how this area will be evaluated.

Question 13: What endurance is optimum for your Base Defense mission? Please explain how often 18+ hours of endurance is required over the 10 hour threshold. How much weight will you give for objective-level (18 hours) endurance in scoring proposals?

Response: The 18-hour objective requirement will be removed from the PWS. Refer to Section L of the RFP, Para 6.2 and Subfactor A, UAS Systems Performance, for an explanation of how this area will be evaluated.

Question 14: SUAS advanced payload development is rapidly evolving. Are there USAF advanced payload interest or requirements above and beyond FMV and comms relay? Of the potential payloads below, please list how you would prioritize and evaluate them?

-SIGINT

-Wide-Area Motion Imagery (WAMI)--multiple FMV feeds to track several targets simultaneously -Higher quality/NIIRS EO/IR FMV -Counter-UAS capability -Advanced Comms Relay -Others (please describe) Response: The PWS describes the minimum requirements. There may be requirements for new payloads in the future, but they have not been determined at this time. As this is a trade-off solicitation, the offeror may propose enhancements, detailing the benefits those enhancements provide.

Question 15: Is consideration being given for adding on-site Processing, Exploitation, & Dissemination services to the contract?

Response: Not at this time. The Government performs the PED function.

Question 16: What are the requirement to obtaining a USAF airworthiness certificate for COCO UAS? What is the process? Is there somewhere we can go to review the latest policies?

Response: The procedures will be included in the final PWS.

Reference: RFP Section M, Factor 2/Prerequisite – Airworthiness Certificate Question 17: If the offeror has a current IFC from NAVAIR, does this suffice as an airworthiness certificate meeting Section M, Factor 2 prerequisite requirements?

Response: Yes, as stated in the RFP Factor 2.

Question 18: Will the Government accept UAS airworthiness certification issued by a foreign Civil and/or Military Airworthiness Authority?

Response: No, in accrodance with the RFP Factor 2.

Question 19: Will the government accept a UAS platform that is currently in process of receiving airworthiness certification - and is expected to receive approval by Dec 2017?

Response: No, airworthiness certification or equivalent from a US Government agency must be submitted with proposal.

Question 20: Is the 600 sensor hours a month include the flight time to station (up to 2 hours per mission)? or is it 600 hours on station?

Response: 600 hours on station. Flight time to and from area of interest is not counted toward the 600 hours.

Question 21: What percentage of the missions are expected to be simultaneously from the same base of operations? Is the assumption that staff should be on call to support continues two simultaneous missions at all time?

Response: Simultaneous missions are rare, but the contractor must have the capability to support them when they occur.

Question 22: Will the Government consider lowering the Endurance requirement in order to reduce cost?

Response: No

Question 23: Will the Government accept fulfilling the endurance requirement using two (2) air vehicles hot swapping on station?

Response: No, the endurance requirements are for each air vehicle.

Question 24: Will the government consider using an electric UAS instead of a gas powered one to reduce costs? Will improve on ability to detect the AV, and will significantly reduce overall costs while maintaining performance.

Response: The PWS does not restrict the air vehicle to gas power.

Question 25: Will the Government agree to use Video Data links other than L3 Bandit and Vortex?

Response: Yes, the PWS will be revised.

Question 26: Is the SAASM GPS a Threshold requirement - or will other GPS (commercial) be accepted?

Response: Only DoD approved keyed Precise-Positioning System (PPS), SAASM or M-Code may be used.

Question 27: For technical performance requirement 3.3.5 (Non-Detectable) - Is there a specific conditions of wind, temperature, terrain, and time of day for the system?

Response: At Standard Day Conditions (Temperature: 52F (15C); Pressure: 29.92 in HG). The PWS will be revised.

Question 28: Is it the government intent to award a single award?

Response: Yes

Question 29: Will the Government entertain setting aside this opportunity?

Response: No, the requirement will be full and open.

Question 30: In June of 2017 a Draft PWS was distributed for comment. Does the Government plan to update the PWS? Will prospective suppliers be provided the opportunity to comment on an updated PWS?

Response: Yes, the Government will be updating the PWS. Prospective offerors may ask questions on the updated PWS once the solicitation is released during the specified period.

Reference: (Section L, Para 6.3, Subfactor B) PWS 3.10.2 specifies altitude and slant range for measuring the NIIRS performance of the EO/IR payload.

Question 31: Will subfactor compliance evaluation of PWS 3.10.1.1, EO/IR Video Output Quality, also be assessed from the slant range indicated in 3.10.2? What evidence (video, etc.) will be used in this evaluation?

Response: Section L of the RFP will be updated to further explain what will be evaluated under this subfactor and how it will be evaluated.

Reference: Section M, Subfactor A states the contractor must "demonstrate an ability to complete the Air Worthiness Inspection process."

Question 32: Does the Air Force have defined criteria for how this will be assessed, and can those criteria be made available?

Response: The requirements for Airworthiness Certification will be updated in the final PWS. Submission of acceptable, required documentation with the proposal will constitute a demonstration of the offeror’s ability to complete the Airworthiness inspection process.

Reference: (Section M, Factor 2) The technical capability ratings of purple and blue indicate a respondant has one or more strengths in it's proposal.

Question 33: Is meeting an objective PWS requirement considered a strength, and are strengths limited to achieving PWS objectives, or are there additional ways for a proposal to be assessed with strengths?

Response: All mention of objective requirements will be removed from the PWS. Strengths can be any proposed capability or approach that is above the requirements of the PWS AND is considered by the Government to be beneficial.

Reference: (Draft RFP; FAR Clause 52.245-2) Question 34: What defines Government Property Installation for the purposes of this contract, to be performed OCONUS? What does the Government intend to provide as Government Property in "as-is" condition.

Response: The list of GFE will be included in Section D of the final PWS.