Attch 9. F&ES PPE Ensemble Solicitation QA dated 19 Jul 22.pdf
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- Attached to
- F&ES PPE Ensemble Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- FA8051-22-R-0001
About this file
This document contains questions and answers related to a solicitation for firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) ensembles issued by the Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Installation and Mission Support Center Installation Contracting Agency. Key details include clarification that samples and the pricing questionnaire are due by the same date as proposals, with samples required for the coat, pants, and protective hood. Acceptable materials for the outer shell, thermal liner, and knee padding are specified. Reflective lettering must be sewn on rather than heat applied. The page limit for the written technical proposal was increased from 50 to 100 pages.
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Text version
FA8051-22-R-0001 F&ES PPE Ensemble
Q & A
19 July 2022
1. Is the deadline for when the samples need to be provided different than the proposal deadline?
A. It is the same date. However, the PPI Questionnaire is requested seven days prior to proposal deadline.
2. In the requirements for Third Party Testing, “6.2. Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).
All materials used in manufacturing Structural firefighting coats, pants and protective hood will be free of any PFOA, PFOA precursors, PFOS, GenX and related higher homologue chemicals.”
It calls for a third party Certification that the product meets this requirement. This is not a standard practice or a certification that has ever been required or completed. We are not sure UL would be willing or able to provide this type of certification and definitely not within the time allotted. Can you please clarify how an offeror will be able to certify the statement in the specification?
A. Paragraph 6.2 does not require third party testing. A letter form the material manufacturer would suffice this requirement.
3. In Section 6.5 Composite, third party certification and third party testing is required for both THL and TPP performance. UL, the third party that will verify that the components are certified and provide both THL and TPP figures for the composite. Please confirm if this will satisfy this requirement?
A. This is correct and will satisfy this requirement.
4. Section 6.6 identifies the outer shell as Kombat Flex ™ 6.9 oz. The SOW identifies the outer shell as “Outer Shell Material. The outer shell shall be a C-brown in color, 2 X 2 Twill with Rip- Stop, maximum of 7.7 osy material”. Please confirm which information is correct?
A. Materials must comply with the salient features section of the SOW. There are alternate options for most materials.
5. Section 6.6 also requires third party verification for the shell material.
a. It is not clear what is to be verified in 6.6. Please clarify if this is to measure the weight (osy) or something else?
A. Third party testing is described and should comply with NFPA guidelines.
b. Sections 6.6.1 through 6.6.6 also need third party verification. Are results from the manufacturer of the fabric acceptable for this requirement?
A. Yes
6. Section 6.8 Thermal Liner Material has no description of the thermal liner. The SOW says “6.8. Thermal Liner Material. The thermal liner shall be constructed of Aramid, Flame Resistant (FR) Rayon, Nylon with a maximum weight of 6.5 - 7.7 osy, woven facecloth quilted to non-woven batting. Color shall be blue.”. This does not match with any thermal liner that will meet the requirements for THL and TPP. Is Titanium SL2, from TenCate, an acceptable thermal liner?
A. Titanium SL2 or Titanium Nano would be acceptable material to meet this requirement.
7. Section 7.19.2 Flashlight retainer Strap. In the description, the placement of the flashlight strap is 6 inches below the hook. In the SOW, the placement is 3 inches below the hook. We believe the correct placement is 3 inches, but please confirm.
A. The retainer strap…approximately 3-inches below the flashlight hook (tip), meaning the metal hook.
8. In section 7.25 Sewn on Retroreflective Lettering and 7.26 Coat Name Patch, the lettering requires is 3M, sewn on reflective lettering. The SOW requires heat applied segmented lettering, which doesn’t exist. Please confirm all lettering will be Lime Yellow, sewn on lettering.
A. This is correct. We are under the impression the “new” 3M heat applied reflective tape can be in the form of lettering also. If this is not possible, we will accept sewn on lettering for paragraphs 7.25 & 7.26.
9. Section 8.10 Internal Knee Padding. The internal knee padding has been increased to ½ inch in thickness from the ¼ inch requirement in the previous contract. This will add weight and decrease flexibility of the knee. Is this ½ inch requirement the new standard or was it meant to be an option for to increase the padding in certain cases?
A. Section 8.10 is correct. ½ inch is the requirement.
10. Section 8.11 requires third party testing to validate performance. All this section does is provide two options for the knee reinforcement. What performance is being validated?
A. This section does not mention third party testing for the knee specifically.
11. Due to the current instability of the market, We would like to request that FAR Clause 52.216-4 for Economic Price Adjustment-Labor and Material be added to the contract.
A. The acquisition strategy cannot change at this juncture, the CLIN structure allows offerors to propose annual price adjustments.
12. It is not clear if a sample sizing kit is required to be submitted at the time of proposal or if the "Contractor" as stated on the excel spreadsheet will submit that once it has been awarded. The instructions only asks for a DVD format and Microsoft Windows compatible siting kit video.
A. The DVD will be submitted at time of the proposal. A controlled sample sizing kit with measurement guide and instructions on how to properly size the following: coat chest, coat sleeve, pant waist, pant inseam, and pant hips (women). The DVD with Microsoft Windows compatibility required at the time of proposal will suffice this requirement.
13. While completing the Price Sheet information, I noticed that 4 CLIN’s are not on the pricing sheet that are on the Solicitation under the 1449.
The CLINS that are missing:
CLIN 2002AG
CLIN 2002AH
CLIN 5002AG
CLIN 5002AH
How would you like us to proceed with pricing for these 4 line items as the instructions state we cannot change the excel spreadsheet in any way?
A. The SF1449 was updated to remove the erroneous CLINS mentioned above. The Price Sheet is accurate.
14. Our team very closely reviewed Attachment 5 - Pricing again, and do not see anywhere that the harness is mentioned. We did catch our error with the suspenders, but can not locate the harness CLIN. Can you please point out the CLIN/Line Number, as we are somehow missing it?
Additionally, could you please clarify if the integrated harness pants are required to be submitted as a sample?
A. The SOW and Specifications were was updated. The integrated harness is no longer a requirement.
15. We would like to kindly request that the Written Technical Proposal Volume II be extended to 100 pages maximum to allow for full substantiating documents to be included in our response, as required under Volume II, Technical Subfactor 1. With the multiple components of the ensembles, the 50-page limit greatly restricts an offeror's ability to provide all documentation required.
A. The Written Technical Proposal Volume II has been extended to 100 pages.
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