QA RFP.doc

Questions and Answers

B-1 Advance Radar/Electronic Warfare Test Station (ARTS)

Request for Proposal (RFP) FA8533-11-R-31160

13 December 2011

The following questions have been received in the WR-ALC/GRVKBB, Major Programs Contracting Office on the above ARTS requirement. The questions as well as the applicable answers are provided below for assistance to all potential offerors for the greater understanding of the Government’s requirement.

Question 1: Reference: Bands 4-8

Will the Bidders receive the band breaks for these frequency ranges so that we can generate the proper RF Signals to the Band 4-8 RCVR, Band 8 Repeater/DRFM, etc?

Government Response: The frequency band breaks for Bands 4-8 are classified. The classified T.O. supplement containing this information will be provided after contract award to facilitate TPS development. For proposal purposes, the RF stimulus requirements are defined in section 3.2.4.1. The PD specifies that the RF stimuli must accommodate a frequency range of 0.01 to 18 GHz. Bands 4-8 fall within this frequency range.

Question 2: Assumption: The Bidder will supply the oil cooling carts for their own use during test station and TPS development and integration.

A) Does the Government want the bidder to supply oil cooling carts with the production test stations and TPS deliveries, or will the Government use their existing cooling carts?

B) If the Government wants their existing oil cooling carts replaced, is one per station adequate?

Government Response: Yes, the contractor is responsible for providing the necessary liquid cooling for LRUs during TPS development. The government does not have sufficient quantity of assets to provide the oil cooling carts as GFE. Section 3.2.5.2 of the PD identifies the requirement to interface with the existing USAF oil cooling carts. The interface requirements are specified in CID A-A-59828.

A) No, the government does not want oil cooling carts provided as part of this contractual effort. The government will utilize existing cooling carts in inventory and has a separate contracting effort to procure additional cooling carts.

B) N/A. See answer A above.

Question 3: Does the Government want the waterloads that are required for Band 4-8 transmitters supplied with the TPS or as an ancillary kit to each test station?

Government Response: There is no specific requirement in the SOW or PD to use a waterload. Although the current test set up for various transmitters uses a waterload and calorimeter for high power measurement, there is no requirement for ARTS to implement these tests in the same fashion using the same equipment as long as the testing requirements of the LRU are met.

IAW section 3.6.4 of the PD, ITAs and any interface hardware between the UUT and the test stations shall be “passive” to the maximum extent possible. IAW section 3.3.3.2.3 of the PD, the ARTS station shall have the necessary RF cables and interface hardware for interfacing the RF signals between the LRUs and the test station. If a waterload or some other form of loading/attenuation is used in the RF interface path, it will be p/o the test station if it supports more than one (1) LRU. If the interface hardware is used ONLY for one (1) LRU, then it will be considered as p/o the ITA for that LRU and not p/o the test station.

Question 4: What is driving the 25 Amps per phase requirement for AC source #2, since it cannot be found in the UUT/TRDs specs?

Government Response: The question asks about AC2; however, it is assumed that the question was intended for AC1. The specification of 25 amps per phase for AC1 is an error. This was originally calculated using the maximum load specification from the T.O. for the DR/TX 8 LRU which is 5185 VA. The calculation was performed this way due to the lack of a LRU TRD at the time:

P = V x I, where V = 230 VAC and P = 5185 VA and solving for I, I = 22.5 amps and was rounded up to 25 amps. However, this calculation for current is the total current and not the current per phase. The maximum current per phase should have been calculated using the following formula:

I = P / 3V = 5185 / 3(230) = 7.5 amps

The specification for maximum current for AC1 is based on the LRU that has the highest current draw. The Band 6 TX LRU has the highest current draw of 9.8 amps per phase. Therefore, the specification for AC1 should be as follows:

Revision C to the Purchase Description will be incorporated via Amendment 0002 to show these changes.

Question 5: Reference: Band 6 and Band 7 Transmitters

Please clarify the requirement for 230 VAC and 100 VAC 3-phase 400 Hz rated at 6700 VA. This 6700 VA is not defined relative to how much current is required at 230 VAC or 100 VAC.

Government Response: The following data is obtained from the TRD for each LRU:

Band 6 TX:

230 VAC, 9.8 A RMS

101 VAC, 2.5 A RMS

Band 7 TX:

230 VAC, 9.4 A RMS

100 VAC, 2.5 A RMS

So, the total power (6700 VA as described in the respective T.O.s) is calculated as follows:

P = Volts x Amps x 3

P = (230 VAC) x (9.8 Amps/phase) x (3) = 6762 VA

Question 6: Reference: PD Paragraph 3.3.2 Input Power Requirements

The primary power for the ARTS shall accommodate both 120/208 VAC ± 10% with 70 amperes per phase, and with 56 amperes per phase, at 50/60 Hz ± 5%, 3-phase, 4-wire, wye-connected, with a separate safety ground.

A) Is this a simultaneous operation requirement or an either/or requirement?

B) Should 480 VAC ± 10% be 277/480 VAC ± 10%?

Government Response: A) The requirement is an either/or requirement, NOT simultaneous. The ARTS station should have the connections and internal power conditioning and distribution for both input specifications, but there will only be one input used at a given time.

B) Yes, that is correct. The PD should read 277/480 VAC +/- 10%.

Revision C to the Purchase Description will be incorporated via Amendment 0002 to show these changes.

Question 7: Does the Government anticipate all 400 Hz AC power requirements for LRU testing will be supplied by AC Source 1 and 2? Or, can the bidder use 400 Hz facility power to eliminate the need for AC Source 2?

Government Response: Yes, all 400 Hz AC power requirements for LRU testing will be supplied by AC Source 1 and 2. The intent is to not use 400 Hz facility power. As implied in Answer A for #6 above and section 3.3.2 of PD, there is no input power connection for 400 Hz power.

Question 8: What are the font and margins sizes for the RFP response?

Government Response: Instructions relative to proposal preparation are contained in the RFP provision “Proposal Requirements.” As there are no specifications regarding font and margin sizes, such is at the discretion of the offeror. Note that the provision requires the proposal to be clear, concise, and legible.

Question 9: Does the Table of Contents for the Technical Volume count against the page count?

Government Response: Instructions relative to proposal preparation are contained in the RFP provision “Proposal Requirements.” The total page count for the technical proposal is 30 pages.

Question 10: Does the Title Page for the Technical volume count against the page count?

Government Response: Instructions relative to proposal preparation are contained in the RFP provision “Proposal Requirements.” The total page count for the technical proposal is 30 pages.

Question 11: Reference: PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS (d)3. Subfactors 1, 3, and 4

The Government requests data sheets, drawings, and specifications be included in the Technical Volume for hardware performance requirements. Do these documents count against the page count or should they be included in an Addendum?

Government Response: Instructions relative to proposal preparation are contained in the RFP provision “Proposal Requirements.” Per paragraph (a), “Drawings, diagrams, illustrations, supporting empirical data, etc., are included in the page count.” The total page count for the technical proposal is 30 pages.

Question 12: Will the compliance matrix for the RFP, PD, and SOW count against the page count?

Government Response: Instructions relative to proposal preparation are contained in the RFP provision “Proposal Requirements.” The total page count for the technical proposal is 30 pages.

Question 13: Does the Government want a complete description of our corporate capabilities to ensure we have the management, logistics, and supply chain processes in-place, the financial integrity, as well as the technical expertise, and CMMI, ANSI and ISO Quality control/configuration control experience to perform the work. If so, which volume should contain this information, and is there a page count requirement?

Government Response: This information is not required per the RFP provision “Proposal Requirements.” Offerors shall provide only that information required by the RFP.

Question 14: A comprehensive review of the TPS TRDs and the ATLAS call-outs has revealed the requirement for complex TPS development. In order to adequately explain our technical approach, we will require additional page count. We request the page count be increased to 100 pages.

Government Response: After careful consideration of the technical complexity within the technical subfactors, the Government determined the 30 page limitation of Volume II, Technical Proposal, to be adequate for offerors to provide a detailed technical proposal.

Question 15: We request the following three (3) TOs that were not included with the Technical Data:

· 12P3-ALQ161-232-1: Technical manual maintenance instructions (intermediate level) processor, digital data (Jammer Logic A)

· 12P3-ALQ161-242-1: Technical manual maintenance instructions (intermediate level) processor, digital data (Jammer Logic B)

· TO 35D29-5-6-1: Oil Cooling Cart

Government Response: The T.O. for the Oil Cooling Cart is not needed for this effort. Please refer to the Commercial Item Description A-A-59828 for relevant technical information pertaining to the oil cooling cart. The Intermediate Level maintenance instructions for JLA and JLB were provided on a data CD during the draft RFP. The date on the CD containing the tech orders is 06 April 2011. The correct Tech Order numbers for JLA and JLB, respectively, are:

a) 12P3-2ALQ161-232

b) 12P3-2ALQ161-242

Question 16: With our technical data, TRD, and software review of the RFP documents completed (Note three missing TOs), the acquisition approach of the Government now clear, and with the three federal holidays during this response period, we respectfully request the due date be extended by 14 days.

Government Response: The Government took into consideration the technical complexity, the acquisition approach and the upcoming holidays when determining the proposal due date of 24 January 2012; 54 days from the date of the RFP issuance. As such, the proposal due date will not be extended at this time.

Question 17: Reference: RFP, Schedule B and Attachment 6 Quality Ranges The CLIN numbers in Attachment 6, Quality Ranges, do not match the CLIN structure provided in the RFP, Schedule B. For example, Attachment 6 refers to CLIN 0018, but Schedule B does not show a CLIN 0018. Could the government confirm that the CLIN structure provided in the RFP, Schedule B, is the correct structure?

Government Response: The CLIN structure in the RFP, Schedule B, is the correct structure. Amendment 0002 will incorporate the corrected Attachment 6.

Question 18: Upon contract award, does the Government intend to incorporate the awardee’s proposal into the final contract?

Government Response: The Government will base the award decision on the proposal that provides the best value in accordance with the “Evaluation Basis for Award” provision in the RFP.

Question 19: SOW paragraph 3.3.1.2.1 ARTS Maintenance Programs: Do the legacy systems use PATEC for calibration verification?

Government Response: No, the legacy systems do not use PATEC for calibration verification. The following is a list of equipment identified in T.O. 33D7-44-251-8-1 that is currently used as the “standards” for calibration verification of legacy systems. ATE assets are also used as working standards once they are calibrated.

6011A

Measurement CCA

Question 20: SOW paragraph 3.4.3 Training/Familiarization. The SOW states the government will order this in a delivery order against contract. Is this effort separately priced? If so, please identify which CLIN the costs should be applied against.

Government Response: The training is separately priced. This CLIN is found in the Option I period, under CLIN 1051.

Question 21: Proposal Requirements, page 165: The RFP states that “paper size shall be 8 1/2 x 11” and “drawings, diagrams…are included in the page count.” Some drawings and diagrams require a “fold-out” page to enable all the data to fit on one page. Is it permissible to count an 8 1/2 x 11 foldout page as one page in the page count?

Government Response: The Government will accept legal size pages (8 ½” x 14”) to accommodate drawings, diagrams, illustrations, and other similar-type data.

Question 22: PD paragraph 3.2.5.2 UUT Cooling. The UUT air cooling flow is specified at 180 cfm. What is the backpressure at this flow rate?

Government Response: The back pressure at this flow rate will be dictated by the design of the blower, size of conduit, and other circumstances. No specification was given for the back pressure. The forced air cooling is required to provide 180 cfm at the interface of the UUT. A page from the specification control drawing of the legacy LRU blower is attached for informational purposes only (Attachment 1 to this Q&A document).

Question 23: CLIN 0003 – Data in Support of CLINS 0001 & 0002: What are the four items requiring Test Plan, CLIN 0003AA? Test Plan A001 requires quantity of 4; however CLIN 0001 is for QTY 3 testers and CLIN 0002AA Self Test TPS (1) & 0002AB Calibration TPS (2). Are Self Test & Calibration considered QTY 1…or should the CLIN 0003AA QTY be 5?

Government Response: The quantity of 4 LO for CLIN 0003AA is broken down as follows:

1 Test Plan for each preproduction test station in CLIN 0001 (i.e., 3 Test Plans)

1 Test Plan for CLIN 0002 as a whole (i.e., 1 Test Plan will include test procedures for the Self-Test TPS and the Calibration TPS.

Question 24: CLIN 1051-Data in Support of CLIN 1001--training materials ELIN A006 qty 4 for Production Tester (CLIN 1001): What are the four (4) different Training Materials? The CDRL lists 4 distribution copies. Should the quantity be 1 lot?

Government Response: SOW paragraph 3.4.3 states that the contractor “shall provide on-site training to each customer location listen in Attachment B.” Attachment B lists 4 locations. As such, the contractor shall provide 1 LO training materials per location in Attachment B.

Question 25: CLIN 014: What is the ADE delivery requirement?

Government Response: The Application Development Environment (ADE) requirements are discussed in SOW paragraph 3.3.2 and PD paragraph 3.2.6.3.

Question 26: Appendix C Industrial Safety and Health Requirements: Is a Safety & Health Plan required with the submittal of the completed RFP?

Government Response: No. The Safety & Health Plan is a post-award requirement. Note that the instructions state that the “contractor,” not the “offeror,” shall submit it. Such denotes a post-award action.

Question 27: TM-86-01 Table I: Government Q&A from 25 July stated… “The tester O&M should be at the Intermediate level. A depot level manual is not required”; but TM-86-01 Table I identifies Depot Maintenance Manual.

Please clarify.

Government Response: A revised TM-86-01 will be incorporated via Amendment 0002.

Question 28: Will the contracting officer give credit to a small business prime doing the work it does toward the small business plan goals and percentages required under the small business plan?

Government Response: A small business may count its own work when preparing the small business participation plan.

Question 29: The formatting of the proposal volumes is called out on page 165, but no font size is specified. Are there limits to the font size that would be acceptable? Is there a difference for text or graphics?

Government Response: Instructions relative to proposal preparation are contained in the RFP provision “Proposal Requirements.” As there are no specifications regarding font and margin sizes, such is at the discretion of the offeror. Note that the provision requires the proposal to be clear, concise, and legible.

Question 30: Page size is specified as 8.5 x 11. Does that mean that there are no fold-outs allowed?

Government Response: The Government will accept legal size papers (8 1/2”x14”) to accommodate drawings, diagrams, illustrations, and other similar-type data.

Question 31: It is specified that the tech volume page count includes drawings, diagrams, illustrations and supporting empirical data.

A) Does that mean no appendices?

B) Are vendor data sheets included in the page count?

Government Response: Instructions relative to proposal preparation are contained in the RFP provision “Proposal Requirements.” Per paragraph (a), “Drawings, diagrams, illustrations, supporting empirical data, etc., are included in the page count.” The total page count for the technical proposal is 30 pages.

Question 32: Per CDRL F001, we request Air Force drawings 9626025, 9579776, and 9579777.

Government Response: Air Force drawings 9626025, 9579776, and 9579777 are posted along with this question and answer document.

Question 33: CDRL D001 indicates that we need to prepare the technical docs in accordance with TM-86-01M, but the exhibit attached is TM-86-01N. If we are to use the “M” version, then we respectfully request a copy. If we are to use the “N” version, please so state.

Government Response: A revised TM-86-01 will be incorporated via Amendment 0002.

Question 34: Appendix C, Industrial Safety and health requirements for the Statement of Work (SOW) the instructions indicate: “The Contractor shall develop and submit a Safety and Health Plan, addressing in detail the items listed in Part II through Part III, as applicable…Referencing the company’s local procedure/document in the Safety and Health Plan is not adequate. If the company’s local procedure/document is not attached, the submitted Safety and health Plan will be returned UNACCEPTABLE.”

A) Is the Safety and Health Plan to be submitted with the response to RFP FA8533-11-R-31160?

B) If yes, where are we to include it?

Government Response: No. The Safety & Health Plan is a post-award requirement. Note that the instructions state that the “contractor,” not the “offeror,” shall submit it. Such denotes a post-award action.

Question 35: Review of the provided USAF document indicates there are missing documents, with statements such as (This TO is not complete without TO xxxx-xxxx-xx) Set list below:

12P3-2ALQ161-102-1

R-2251/ALQ-161A

SUPPLEMENTARY MANUAL MAINT

12P3-2ALQ161-122-1

KY-858B/ALQ-161A

SUPPLEMENTARY MANUAL MAINT

12P3-2ALQ161-228-2

TD-1258A/ALQ-161A

TEST PROCEDURES MANUAL -- GENE

12P3-2ALQ161-228-3

TD1258A/ALQ-161A

TEST PROCEDURES MANUAL -- GENE

12P3-2ALQ161-228-3-1

TD-1258A/ALQ-161A

SUPPLEMENTARY MANUAL -- TEST P

12P3-2ALQ161-228-3-1 4

35030-2

SUPPLEMENTARY MANUAL --TEST P

12P3-2ALQ161-228-3TP-1

TEST PROCEDURES MANUAL -- GENE

12P3-2ALQ161-232-1

435031

SUPPLEMENTARY MANUAL INTMD

12P3-2ALQ161-238-3-1

CV-3517A/ALQ-161A

SUPPLEMENTARY MANUAL --TEST P

12P3-2ALQ161-242-1

CV-3518/ALQ-161A

SUPPLEMENTARY MANUAL --MAINT

12P3-2ALQ161-248-3-1

CV-3518A/ALQ-161A

SUPPLEMENTARY MANUAL --TEST P

12P3-2ALQ161-258-3-1

TD-1260A/ALQ-161A

SUPPLEMENTARY MANUAL --TEST P

12P3-2ALQ161-268-3-1

435034-1

12P3-2ALQ161-278-3-1

C-11227/ALQ-161A

SUPPLEMENTARY MANUAL --TEST P

12P3-2ALQ161-8-1-1

AN/ALQ-161A

Government Response: The manuals listed are either (1) classified supplements that will be made available after contract award or (2) technical orders for the test procedures for the Shop Replaceable Unit (SRUs) on DATSA and not applicable or needed for proposal purposes.