26Q0066 - Mission Partner - QA - 23Sep26.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

48TH FORCE SUPPORT SQUADRON

RAF LAKENHEATH

CUI

CUI

21 September 2026

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

FROM: 48 CONS/PKA

SUBJECT: FA558726Q0066 – 100 MXG Hangar Speakers - Vendor Questions

1. Please provide available hangar drawings/floor plans, including dimensions and ceiling/roof structure heights. Answer: The primary audio coverage area is approximately 60m x 48m. Ceiling height is approximately 23m at its highest point and 15.5m at its lowest point. The provided sketch identifies the primary coverage area, PA position, aircraft movement considerations, and areas where direct audio coverage is not required.

2. Please confirm which existing speakers, AV equipment, cabling and rack equipment are to be removed, retained or handed over to the Government. Answer: The intent is to decommission and remove the existing audio/speaker system in its entirety as part of the installation of the new system. Removed obsolete equipment is not required to be retained by the Government and may be removed from site for appropriate recycling/disposal.

3. Are there preferred/restricted locations for the 16 loudspeakers and 6 subwoofers, or should final locations be determined by the contractor's acoustic design? Answer: Final locations shall be determined by the contractor's acoustic design to achieve effective and balanced coverage of the designated area. Speakers will be wire-hung from the ceiling girders and positioned downward to minimize echo. Placement should maintain sufficient clearance for overhead beam cranes and aircraft tails transiting the hangar.

4. Please identify the Government-designated occupied areas requiring audio coverage and any areas that should specifically be excluded. Answer: The Government-designated coverage area is the main hangar area identified on the provided sketch, approximately 60m x 48m. The area specifically identified as “coverage not required” does not require direct speaker coverage or equivalent audio performance.

5. Please confirm the available/approved structural members from which speakers and subwoofers may be suspended or mounted. Answer: Speakers are intended to be wire-hung from the existing ceiling girders. Mounting shall maintain appropriate clearance from existing facility systems, overhead beam cranes, and aircraft movement areas.

6. Can existing containment/cable routes be reused, and are any existing speaker/audio cables intended for reuse? Answer: As the existing audio system is being replaced in its entirety, existing speaker/audio cabling will not be allowed to be reused. The contractor may determine the most appropriate cable routing necessary to support the new system.

CUI

7. If drawings are available, please provide approximate cable-route distances between the proposed rack location and speaker locations. Answer: The primary coverage area is approximately 60m x 48m. Cable routing and final cable lengths shall be determined by the contractor based on the proposed rack location, final speaker placement, existing available containment, and system design.

8. Please confirm the proposed location for the new floor-standing equipment rack and whether adequate space is available for the minimum 28U rack. Answer: The equipment rack will be installed at the designated system/rack location within the hangar. Adequate space is available for the required minimum 28U floor-standing equipment rack and associated audio equipment.

9. Please confirm the voltage, phase, available circuit capacity and connection points at the proposed rack location. Answer: The new audio system is intended to utilize existing electrical power available within the hangar, UK 220v. No separate facility power installation is anticipated as part of this requirement. The contractor shall ensure the proposed equipment is compatible with the available electrical supply. Please reference section 5.0 of the SOW.

10. Please confirm whether any required new dedicated circuits/outlets will be Government-provided, given that new permanent electrical work is excluded unless specifically authorised. Answer: No new dedicated circuits or permanent electrical installation are currently required. The audio system should utilize the existing available electrical power within the hangar.

11. Please advise whether there are existing frequency restrictions or approved frequency bands for wireless microphones at RAF Mildenhall. Answer: Wireless microphone equipment shall utilize frequencies authorized for operation at RAF Mildenhall and comply with applicable spectrum requirements. The contractor shall provide compliant equipment suitable for operation at the installation.

12. Please confirm whether the contractor is expected to provide a completely standalone wireless network/gateway solely for system control. Answer: Yes. Any wireless network/ gateway required solely for audio system control shall operate as a standalone system and shall not require connectivity to the Government network.

13. Please confirm whether an iPad/iPort solution is preferred or whether any commercially equivalent tablet, secure dock and gateway meeting the SOW is acceptable. Answer: A commercially equivalent tablet, secure docking solution, and gateway are acceptable provided the proposed solution meets or exceeds the stated salient characteristics, functionality, compatibility, and performance requirements of the SOW.

14. Please confirm that proposed equivalent products are acceptable where they meet or exceed all stated salient characteristics and system compatibility requirements. (The SOW already permits equivalents, but confirmation can protect the bid.) Answer: Yes. Proposed equivalent products are acceptable where they meet or exceed all stated salient characteristics, performance requirements, and system compatibility requirements identified in the SOW.

15. Please confirm whether the six subwoofers are intended to be suspended/high-level mounted or whether alternative engineered mounting locations are acceptable. Answer:

Alternative engineered mounting locations are acceptable provided the proposed configuration achieves the required acoustic performance and does not interfere with aircraft movement, overhead beam cranes, facility operations, or required safety clearances.

16. Please confirm any restrictions on MEWPs/scissor lifts or other high-level access equipment within the hangar. Answer: MEWPs, scissor lifts, and other appropriate high-level access equipment may be utilized for installation. Contractor activities shall be coordinated with the Government to prevent interference with aircraft, overhead crane operations, and other hangar activities.

17. Will aircraft remain within the hangar during installation, and are there restricted working zones/times around aircraft maintenance activities? Answer: Building 814 is an operational aircraft maintenance hangar, and aircraft and maintenance activities may be present during the installation period. Contractor activities will be coordinated with the Government to deconflict installation work with aircraft movements and maintenance operations. Speaker placement must specifically maintain adequate clearance for aircraft tails transiting the designated area.

18. Kindly furnish as many pictures as possible. Answer: Available photographs of the hangar and proposed installation areas will be provided with the Government's response.

19. Please provide any available asbestos/hazardous-material information relevant to proposed drilling, mounting and cable routes. Answer: There are no known asbestos or hazardous-material concerns associated with the planned installation areas or proposed mounting/cable routes that would prevent execution of the requirement.

Standard installation and facility safety procedures shall continue to apply.

20. Please identify any protected fire compartments/barriers affecting proposed cable penetrations and confirm required fire-stopping standards. Answer: No specific protected fire compartments or barriers have been identified as affecting the planned installation.

Where penetration is required, the contractor shall maintain the integrity of existing facility barriers and utilize appropriate fire-stopping methods/materials where applicable.

21. Please confirm whether obsolete equipment is to be disposed of off-site by the contractor or retained/turned over to the Government. Answer: Obsolete equipment associated with the existing audio system shall be removed from site by the contractor for appropriate recycling/disposal. The Government does not require retention of the existing system.

22. Please confirm whether FM reception is mandatory if adequate reception is available within the hangar, or whether this requirement may be omitted where reception is unavailable. Answer: FM reception should be provided where adequate reception is available within the hangar. If reliable FM reception cannot reasonably be achieved due to facility conditions, the requirement may be omitted without requiring additional external antenna infrastructure.

23. Please confirm whether the Government will provide the required announcement/jingle audio files or whether the contractor is expected to create/program these. Answer: The Government will provide any Government-specific announcement/jingle audio files required for operation. The contractor shall configure/program the system as necessary to allow playback of the files provided.

24. Please advise the anticipated operating scenarios/presets required, e.g. ceremonies, announcements, sports events and general functions. Answer: The system will support multiple operating scenarios, including official ceremonies, changes of command, commander's calls, PA announcements, Wing/Group/Squadron functions, sports events, music playback, and general events. Appropriate system presets should be configured to facilitate straightforward operation for these scenarios.

The system will include a wired microphone at the designated PA position for general announcements, two gooseneck microphones for desktop/lectern use, two body-pack transmitters with lapel/headset microphones, and two handheld wireless microphones. The PA microphone is intended primarily for announcements when the remainder of the system is not in use and is not required to override other active audio sources.

The system will also include a fixed music player with Bluetooth capability and a 3.5mm auxiliary input at the equipment rack. Limited Bluetooth range within the hangar is understood and acceptable.

25. Maintenance: Please confirm whether the required three-business-day onsite maintenance response applies throughout the full one-year support period regardless of fault type.

Answer: Yes. The three-business-day onsite maintenance response requirement applies throughout the full one-year support period for faults requiring onsite technical support. Remote troubleshooting may be utilized initially where appropriate; however, it does not eliminate the onsite response requirement when the fault cannot be resolved remotely.

26. We kindly seek extension of the bid due date to at least the 28th of Sept 2026 Answer:

The requiring activity has no objection to extending the bid due date to 28 September 2026.