FA5215-16-Q-9003;_RFI_Response_1.docx

FA5215-17-Q-9003 RFI Response #1

1. Q- The Shuttle Valve requirements in the SOW refer to the OEM’s (Tactair) specifications and data for inspection/evaluation. This information is proprietary to Tactair and alternatives to avoid sole sourcing would be to have base level personnel record the tolerances from a new article and include the data in the SOW or upon award.

R -- There is no alternative to the Tactair shuttle valves at this time. The design of the BAK-12 system and its components are not at the discretion of the Depot maintainers. The course of action suggested does not alleviate the requirement for approved sources for refurbishment of shuttle valves. Reference T.O. 35E8-2-5-3 page ix, paragraph 4(h).

2. Q-The hone & re-sleeve of cylinder bores for both the clutch and brake carrier creates too large of contrast to provide a legitimate offer. Example: Brake Carrier has 12 bores, 2 require repair per the SOW and 10 within tolerance. The next carrier requires a total repair of the 12 and so on… From a cost perspective every carrier bore would be assumed as requiring a total repair i.e. higher offer cost and cost to the USG. I suggest the carriers be inspected and labeled with the number of bores that require repair at JBER. This will allow for a more accurate offer to be presented and providing.

R -- The government does not agree that the contrast is too large to provide a legitimate offer as the government has provided the number of resleeves in the requirement.

The purpose of the brake carrier and clutch carrier contract is to restore the brake carrier and clutch carrier to like new specifications, a process that the government decided was out of the AAS barrier technicians capability because of equipment limitations and time constraints to perform the additional requirement. Only approved vendors are permitted to perform brake carrier resleeving. To become an approved vendor, first article testing must be completed for those offerors that do not currently sell brake carriers to the United States Air Force, see solicitation clause 52.212-1 INSTRUCTION TO OFFERORS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

The requirement to refurbish the brake carriers to "like new" places the full responsibility for performance on the contractor. The government requires the contractor to measure and inspect the carriers to ensure proper conformity to the specifications. As such, the government does not identify those sleeves that require resleeving, as this would place the government responsible for unidentified non-spec sleeves, as an FFP type contract, it is appropriate for the contractor to identify and resleeve as they will be responsible for carrier performance.

3. Q - Additional details for the shuttle valves has to be presented or remove the CLIN completely.

R -- The government does not direct how an offeror would accomplish the requirements of the SOW other than as identified. It has been determined to be in the best interest of the government to include the shuttle valve refurbishment on this contract due to the nature of the overhaul efforts as well as the administrative burdens for a separate contracted effort to support the same overhaul.