SCAI_Pre-RFP_Q A_-_8_APR_14.pdf

B-1 SCAI PROGRAM

Pre-Solicitation Conference Telecom - held on 17 Mar 14

RFI No. FA8107-14-R-0001 Questions & Answers – 8 Apr 14

1. Reference: SOW 1.3 - Associate Contractor Agreements

Question: Will an Associate Contractor Agreement with Boeing be required?

Government Response: The Government has decided that an Associate Contractor Agreement is not required for this effort.

2. Reference: SOW 2.2 - Attachments to SOW

Question: Can the Design Standard Cutout (LP032-0024) be provided?

Government Response: The cutout will be provided at the next draft update of the SOW.

3. Reference: SOW 3.1- Engineering Requirements

Question: Would a 2 unit design be considered?

Government Response: No. The requirement is for a one unit design. A two unit design would be technically unacceptable.

4. Reference: SOW 3.1 - Engineering Requirements

Question: What is the depth – available space for the single unit?

Government Response: The maximum depth is listed in the System Requirements Document paragraph 3.6.6 Indicator Envelope Size (Dimensions).

5. Reference: SOW 3.1.13 - Training

Question: Where will the training be held?

Government Response: Needs to be at both bases for maintainers (Dyess and/or Ellsworth Air Force Base). Travel cost is a cost reimbursable and not a factor when figuring total estimated cost (TEP).

6. Reference: SRD 3.2.2 - Explosive Decompression

Comment: Comment was made that with the 0.20 requirement, the aircraft would be coming apart.

Government Response: This is the requirement.

7. Reference: SRD 3.3 - Dynamic Environment

Question: EMI/EMC testing will be added to the requirements at the next Systems Requirements draft update?

Government Response: The Government has updated the SRD.

8. Reference: SRD 3.6.9 - Environmental Conditions

Comment: Government stated that there is no “dead air”.

Government Response: There is air flow behind the console.

9. Reference: SRD 3.6.11 - Display Defects

Comment: Conversation on “elements” versus “pixels”

Government Response: Government replaced elements with pixels in SRD.

10. Discussion: The Government specified that a drawing package would be provided as part of the final RFP. It will enable bidders to provide a better response if the Government can include any existing reports, analysis or procedures (e.g.; B-1 Weight and Balance Report, B-1 Aircraft Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Test Procedures) that will need to be updated or reused as part of the proposed effort. Request these documents be provided.

Government Response: The Government intends to provide L5159404 (pitot and static installation), L5306180 (panel assembly instrument center), L5306181 (panel instrument center), L5306182 (web panel instrument center) and LP0320024 (design standard cutout).

11. Question: Was this considered for a small business set aside?

Government Response: Yes.

12. Question: Which NAICS?

Government Response: Vendors will need to register under 336411 in order to propose.

13. Question: When is the award date of this effort?

Government Response: Government anticipates Aug or Sep 2014

14. Question: How many days after release of the RFP will proposals be due?

Government Response: Government anticipates 45 calendar days from the release of the RFP.

15. Question: Will consideration be given for the warranty on the LRU?

Government Response: No additional consideration will be given to offerors for extended warranty or for exceeding any requirements.

16. Where should “data” be priced within the proposal?

Government Response: Data is not separately priced; therefore the cost of data should be included in the price as appropriate.

17. Question: Will an ACA be required? What is required to show, if one is needed, at time of award?

Government Response: No. If required, Government will need a letter of intent.

18. Question: When will the formal RFP be released?

Government Response: As soon as all required reviews and approvals have been completed The Government anticipates 3 to 4 weeks.

19. Question: Can you explain the profit?

Government Response: EMD is cost plus fixed fee. CLIN 0001 will be the cost ceiling. CLIN 0002 is for fixed fee tied to CLIN 0001, and CLIN 0003 is for performance incentive fixed fee.

Profit for all other CLINs will be proposed as part of the firm fixed prices associated with those CLINs.

20. Question: Will this be a full and open competition?

Government Response: Yes.

21. Question: The referenced DoD Source Selection procedures include a rating of “Substantial Confidence” with a corresponding description as follows; “Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a high expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.”

The referenced Section M paragraph does not include a rating for “Substantial Confidence”.

We understand that performance risk is a significant evaluation factor to be considering in source selection and ultimately achieving the objectives of this acquisition. To promote greater visibility into the performance of the selected contractor, we recommend the Government include “Substantial Confidence” as a rating for the Past Performance Factor 3.

Government Response: The Government has determined to not include “Substantial Confidence” in the evaluation for past performance.

22. Question: Would the Government favorably consider including a “Very Relevant” as a rating for the Past Performance Factor 3?

Issue: The referenced Section M paragraph does not include a rating for “Very Relevant”.

The referenced DoD Source Selection procedures include a rating of “Very Relevant” with a corresponding description as follows; “Present/past performance effort involved essentially the same scope and magnitude of effort and complexities this solicitation requires.”

Government Response: The Government has determined to not include “Very Relevant” as a rating for past performance.

23. Question: Please confirm the number of kits required.

Issue: The Draft-RFP establishes a maximum quantity of 65 kits (Group A& B).

With a total of 62 B-1s in the active inventory, that maximum number provides three spare kits.

The three estimated ordering periods identify a total of 61 kits, which would leave one aircraft unmodified, is that the intent?

Government Response: Under EMD portion of this effort, one kit is purchased and installed (prototype/kit-proof, group A & B) and will remain on aircraft. Anticipate purchasing 61 group A & B kits during production and 6 group B spares. This will cover all aircraft and provide 6 spares.

24. Question: For Safety of Flight items, is -40F is the correct value for performance? Should the non-operating temperature minimum be lower than -40F? Please clarify. SRD Table 3.2.1

Government Response: The system specification states -65F for operating and -80F for non-operating; however a value of -40F has been deemed acceptable for this application.

25. Question: Is MIL-STD-210A correct? Our thermal department believes that MIL-STD-810B might be the standard you intended to cite. Please clarify.

Government Response: All specifications have been reviewed in section 3.2 and will be released with the updated SRD.

26. Question: Section 3.2.1 doesn’t specify if degraded performance is acceptable. It currently just says it must operate. Can it operate at a degraded or must it operate at full performance? Please confirm.

Government Response: Must operate at full performance.

27. Question: Several environmental sections do not call out a MIL-STD. Should these paragraphs, (for example 3.2.6 – 3.2.11) call out MIL-STD-810B.

Government Response: All specifications have been reviewed in section 3.2 and will be released with the updated SRD.

28. Question: Appendix D, Verification Matrix. There are some requirements in the verification matrix that list both test and analysis for environmental requirements (i.e., humidity, sand & fog). Solar radiation and ozone exposure are listed as analysis only. Please confirm which ones you will accept with analysis only.

Government Response: Instances where both test and analysis are checked the offeror has the option of either testing to requirement in the SRD or providing document s that show the proposed unit complies with the requirement in the SRD.

In either case, the burden rests with the offeror to provide test results and/or perform analysis to demonstrate requirement compliance.

29. Question: Will the use of a B-1 Lab be required? (Reference SOW 1.4 Government Furnished Property)

Government Response: No. The use of a B-1 Lab will not be required.

30. Question: What is the security level; as a draft DD Form 254 was not provided? (Reference SOW 1.6 Security)

Government Response: The Government is still researching this issue.

31. Question: What is the Government’s expectation for the location of the technical reviews?

(Reference SOW 3.2 Technical Reviews)

Government Response: Technical reviews that cannot be executed via VTC will performed on site at the vendor’s location.

32. Question: Does the Government desire a manual or automatic dimming? (Reference SRD

3.4.1 Display Luminance)

Government Response: The requirement is manual.

33. Question: Would a system in development be considered?

Government Response: No. A system in development will not be considered.

34. Question: What is the lowest level of testing?

Government Response: The SRD outlines LRU level qualification in Appendix C.

35. Question: What is the total expectation for this modification?

Government Response: The expectation for this modification is to obtain a single system with the ability to perform the function of the existing three standby indicators (Attitude, Altitude, and

Airspeed). The unit must work functionally on the B-1B and be successfully installed on the aircraft without modification to existing aircraft structure or connections.

36. Question: For clarity of the Past Performance Volume and ease of evaluation, would the USG adopt the following recommendations?

a) Amend first sentence text of SECTION L, , Para 5.3.1 to:

“Request each PPIS not exceed 8 pages, although more or less may be submitted if necessary and relevant to the SCAI effort. Offerors shall provide a relevant contract narrative in ATTACHMENT 1.1, PAST AND PRESENT PERFORMANCE INFORMATION SHEET, Paragraph I explaining what aspects of the contracts are deemed relevant to the proposed effort and to what aspects of the proposed effort they relate.”

b) Amend text of SECTION L, Para 5.3.2., Specific Content by deleting first sentence:

Offerors shall provide a narrative explaining what aspects of the contracts are deemed relevant to the proposed effort and to what aspects of the proposed effort they relate.

c) It appears that section I of the PPIS meets the requirement for Relevant Contract Narrative, however para 5.3.2 requests a separate narrative. RECOMMEND both a summary in the PPIS AND a detailed narrative below.

Government Response: The Government will revise section L.

37. Question: Please provide the definitive source of the “total requirements” to include the quantity, originating document, and references?

Recommendation: Amend text to read “more than 10% of the total contract VALUE.”

Government Response: The Government will revise section L.

38. Question: In the PPIS, ITO Attachment 1, there is a reference in Paragraph I, Sub-factor 2 to sub-factor elements a through e. Where are these located in the DRFP?

Issue: There are no references to sub-factor elements (a through e) in Section L or M, in the SOW or in the SRD.

Government Response: The Government will revise section L.

39. Question: Would the Government consider a cost plus incentive fee (CPIF) type contract for engineering and manufacturing development, rather than a cost plus fixed fee (CPFF) contract type?

Issue: The description of CPFF at FAR 16.306 states that the fixed fee is negotiated (within the FAR 15.404-4 limits) at the inception of the contract. The fee constraints of CPFF mitigate the Government’s risk and establish a cost incentive for contractor to meet or increase fee by reducing or meeting negotiated costs during execution. Withholding 5% of the total fee as a schedule incentive reduces the incentive to reduce costs. A CPIF type contract allows for multiple incentives, cost and schedule, and might be more appropriate for this effort.

RECOMMENDATION: Additional incentives to reduce contract costs and improve schedule would be better achieved by using a CPIF contract type described at FAR 16.401(a). There are several CPIF fee structures that would satisfy the requirements of Clause H-0, Performance Incentive Requirements and Procedures.

Government Response: The Government has reviewed other contract types and has determined this cost plus fixed fee with performance incentives to be the most appropriate for this effort.

40. Question: Is the fee limitation of 10% a typographical error?

Issue: FAR 15.404-4(4)(i)(C) states that developmental, or research work performed under a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, allows a fee that shall not exceed 15 percent of the contract’s estimated cost, excluding fee.

Government Response: The combined fixed fee and performance incentive fixed fee cannot exceed the statutory limit of 15%. Therefore, the fee for CLIN 0002 is capped at 10%, and the performance incentive fixed fee is set at 5% for a total fixed fee of 15%.

41. Question: Would the Government consider the following billing instructions:

CLIN 0001 - Contractor shall invoice for incurred costs on a monthly basis.

CLIN 0002 - Contractor shall invoice fixed fee (as a percent of completion) on a monthly basis.”

Issue: FAR Clause 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment, on page 16 of the draft RFP directs the Government to make payments to the contractor as work progresses.

Government Response: The Government is reviewing and any adjustments will be included in the final RFP.

42. Question: Will provisions for material and tools, associated with over and above repairs, be added to CLIN 0006 or included on a separate CLIN?

Issue: Tools and materials outside the kits will be required for over and above repairs.

Government Response: The Government is researching the response for this issue.

43. Question: We understand that travel will not be included in the TEP calculation. Can the CLIN 0008 on the B-1 SCAI Pricing Matrix be proposed as an estimated cost summary rather than a unit price?

Government Response: CLIN 0008 is cost reimbursable no fee in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR). No input is required by the contractor in the Pricing Matrix.

44. Question: Touch temperature limits shown in the table in paragraph 3.4.4 of the SRD calls out the same values for momentary and prolonged cold contact. Please confirm that this is correct.

Government Response: The touch temperature limits will remain as stated in the SRD.

45. Question: Paragraph 3.6.10, response times. Are the response times different from the warm up time specified paragraph 3.2.11? Currently the paragraphs reference different time parameters. Please confirm.

Government Response: Warm-up time refers to the time it takes the system to go from an off or standby state to a fully operation state. Response time has been changed to System Latency and refers to the time it takes the system to respond to a known input.

46. Question: Does the Government have a preference out of the three possible locations for the single unit?

Government Response: The lower left cutout will be used.

47. Question: Should the built-in test be self-contained? (Reference SRD 3.7.1 Built-in Test)

Government Response: BIT should be self-contained and robust.

48. Question: Request that previous B-1 experience of personnel be considered for relevancy in the “Past Performance” Evaluation Factor.

Government Response: In accordance with FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iii) offerors may provide key personnel’s experience as part of their past performance if such information is relevant to this effort. If submitted, it will be reviewed by the team to determine relevancy as it relates to the SCAI effort.

49. Question: Request the explosion environment requirement be reviewed?

Government Response: The requirements will remain as stated in SRD.

50. Question: Is there a requirement for NVIS compatibility?

Government Response: The display shall be compliant with Night Vision Goggles (NVG) IAW MIL-STD-3009, Type 1, Class A or B Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS).

51. Question: Will the Government make a B-1 aircraft available to the contractor within 45 days after contract award to conduct a survey of the installation of the current standby indicator?

Government Response: Yes

52. Question: Is there any consideration for a future growth requirement?

Government Response: No

53. Question: The SRD (3.6.1) shows the PITOT and STATIC connectors have the same size connector. Generally, these are of a different size such that they cannot be misconnected. Ate these the correct connector requirement?

Government Response: The connector requirements are based on existing aircraft equipment, which will remain the same. It is up to the contractor to determine how to integrate their system with the existing connections.

54. Question: What is the format for the Safety Assessment Report (SAR)? (Reference SOW

1.9 Safety)

Government Response: Contractor format will be acceptable in accordance with CDRL A008

(DI-SAFT-80102B/T).

55. Question: What is the environment for the 10K hours MTBF? NOTE: not sure where this is referenced.

Government Response: 10K hr MTBF is based on aircraft operating time, which will include any time the aircraft is under power.

56. Question: What are the connections for the LRU?

Government Response: There will pitot pressure connection, static pressure connection, power, and 5 Vac (edge lighting). Connector requirements are stated in the SRD.