Questions_and_Answers.pdf.pdf

Q&A

1. Question: Are offerors allowed to submit their proposal electronically?

Answer: Yes, quotes are to be emailed to petite.jacque.1@us.af.mil and sandra.adams.5@us.af.mil.

2. Question: What is the last date allowed for questions?

Answer: 5:00pm EST April 30, 2020.

3. Question: I didn’t see a Standard Form 1449 in the attachments on SAM.gov. Are offerors required to provide a Standard Form 1449 in conjunction with the Combined Synopsis Solicitation.

Answer: The RFQ was posted as a combined synopsis solicitation a 1449 was not posted. The contract CLIN structure identified on page 1 is how the pricing should be submitted. Please make sure to provide pricing for each option year.

4. In regards to Section 2.8.1.1 “The fully-equipped aircraft staircase, loaded to its GVWR, shall maintain a speed of 45 miles per hour (mph) on a dry, level, paved road for at least 3 miles”

a. Question: Due to flightlines and airports requiring driving speeds of no more than 15

MPH or 25 KM/H will the USAF consider reducing this speed to 15 MPH?

Answer: No. USAF Staircase Trucks are required to drive outside of bases.

5. In regards to the sections below.

a. Section 2.8.2 “The aircraft staircase shall be designed to enter (approach), negotiate (up or down), and leave (depart) a solid surface ramp having a slope of 20 degrees.”

b. Section 2.8.4: “The parking brakes shall hold the aircraft staircase motionless on a 20-degree longitudinal grade in both upgrade and downgrade directions with the transmission in the neutral position.”

c. Section 2.9.5: “The engine lubrication system shall be designed so that the aircraft staircase can be operated on a 20-degree longitudinal slope facing both up and down and on an 8-degree side slope in each direction (right and left side facing up the slope).”

d. Section 2.9.7.5.2: “The tank shall be designed so that the aircraft staircase can be operated on a 20-degree longitudinal slope facing up and down and on an 8-degree side slope in each direction (right and left side facing up the slope).”

Question: Because the ramp angle of a C-17 is no greater than 12 degrees, will the USAF reduce the angle requirements to 12 degrees?

Answer: Government will reduce longitudinal angle requirement to 15 degrees for sections given below (2.8.2, 2.8.4, 2.9.5, 2.9.7.5.2). However, must ensure vehicle is designed IAW MIL-STD- 1791 in order to meet air transportability requirements within CID.

6. Question: On the First Article Requirements a. Item 9A--Test / Inspections -- The box is checked for Contractor Testing. Item 9G-Estimated cost of government testing/inspection evaluation—It has $600,000. Please clarify if the contractor is responsible for all 1st article testing.

Answer: Contractor is responsible for all testing/verification. The estimate has been removed from the First Article Requirements. See updated FAR (R1 20200415) in attachments to RFQ.

8. Question: How many days after the award of contract would the 1st article be due?

Answer: CDRL for 1st article test report is 210 days. The 1st article test will have to be completed in time to allow for the 1st article test report to be submitted on time. There is no specific delivery. It’s up to the contractor to determine timeline.

9. Question: After approval of the 1st article, what is the expected delivery schedule for the balance of the units on the basic contract?

Answer: 1 each vehicle in 150 days after delivery order award, then 1 each every 30 days until completion of that delivery order.

10. Question: In the statement of work, 3.5.3 Disposition—The first article aircraft staircase shall be retained at the contractor’s facility, to serve as a manufacturing standard, until the last shipment.

a. When would we receive payment on the 1st article unit?

Answer: When the 1st article unit has been accepted by the government.

b. Does this mean we keep the unit for the Basic contract period or until the end of the 4 option years?

Answer: until the end of the Basic Contract Period.

11. 5. Due to unprecedented complications caused by COVID-19, this has caused delays in response time of our supply chain, as well as our purchasing and engineering departments. Would the government consider a 30-day extension to RFQ due date?

Answer: The Government will extend RFQ an additional 14 calendar days.

12. Question: 4.4.3.1 Environmental Testing

a. 4.4.3.1 High-temperature storage and operations test

b. 4.4.3.2 Low-temperature storage and operation test

To perform these tests would require a large test chamber. Our testing agent has contacted over 60 different test facilities and is unable to locate a test chamber large enough to fit a staircase truck. Does the Air Force know where we could find a test chamber that would be able to fit a vehicle with the following dimensions?

Length 306.00 in +/- 6.00 Width 94.75 in +/- 0.25 Height 126.00in +/- 0.50

Answer: To address concerns about the vehicle being too large to fit in an environmental test chamber, if the SCT fully extended is a problem, the AF is allowing to not have the staircase fully extended during environmental testing. Unfortunately, the Government cannot recommend a test chamber facility.

13. Question: On page 22 of A-A-59888B.

a. TABLE III Certifications and analyses.

b. 2.4.2 Air transportability. “Contractor air transportability analysis with ATTLA Certification.

c. Would we just be responsible to provide the Analysis and the Air Force gets the ATTLA certification?

Answer: The Air Force (AF) will coordinate certification with the contractor and ATTLA.

Contractor will require a government sponsor (AF) to start the process, then contractor will ensure all documentation is completed and sent to ATTLA. The process will be completed via email.