Q&A.docx

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Question 1: Sources Sought Synopsis document: The due date for responses to this RFI is February 22, 2020, which is a Saturday. Is this date correct?

Answer: The date has been updated to 24 February 2020.

Question 2: Par. 2.2.2: Other Government documents, drawings, and publications

a) This paragraph states that two NRDEC drawings (vestibule and vestibule door) are available at vdls.atc.army.mil. However, that website does not appear to be responding. Will the Air Force make these drawings available to offerors through a different portal?

Answer: These Army drawings are available from WNZE engineering upon request.

Question 3: Par. 3.3.2: Interior peak height

a) Does the minimum interior peak height include the plenum if the plenum is in the center of the shelter?

Answer: The draft PD indicates that the minimum interior height shall be no less than eight feet measured at the center of the shelter. This assumes the shelter is at its operating condition. If the plenum is centered, the insulation liner is installed, or other obstacles located center line; consideration will need to be designed to allow 8 feet of “headroom”.

Question 4: Par. 3.3.4: System weight

a) What is the maximum weight limit of an individual shelter component for a “crew” and how many persons are in a “crew”?

Answer: “Crew” is used in most instances as a crewmember; but when referred to as team task, in entails 6 individual crew member. Maximum lift weight limits are detailed in MIL-STD-472.

Question 5: Par. 3.3.5: Modular Design

a) This section states that the EESSS shall be designed to allow personnel in the field to extend the shelter by one or more sections to achieve overstock shelter lengths. What is the definition of a “section” as used in this paragraph?

Answer: The intent of para. 3.3.5 is to convey to the designer that additional shelter space could be added to a modular design if desired, by increasing similar structural components and more fabric. (end walls are independent) Question 6: Par. 3.6.2: Floor

a) What is the maximum weight of a 2-man lift?

Anwer: This is addressed in MIL-STD-1472, para. 5.8.6.3.1.

Question 7: Par. 3.6.3: Shelter frame

a) Who is providing the PV system for the EESSS, the USAF or the supplier of the EESSS?

b) b. If the USAF, can you send us technical information on the PV system?

c) c. Is it acceptable to the USAF to put the PV system (fly) directly on the shelter cover and frame without an exoskeleton frame?

Answer: There is no PV system with the EESSS. The structural integrity of the frame must be capable of supporting the 600lb weight of a fly (with or without PV integrated). A functional solar shade fly design must allow adequate air space between exterior shelter fabric and solar barrier material.

Question 8: Par. 3.6.4: Energy Efficiency

a) Which ambient temperatures, Threshold or Objective, will the shelter interior temperatures be tested against?

Answer: The system performance testing will be conducted to fulfill the requirements of PD19WRWNSEV04 at operational temperatures dictated by MIL-STD-810, Method 505.7, Procedure 1 and diurnal cycle A1 of MIL-HDBK-310.

Question 9: Par. 3.6.5.2: Hard door

a) Is it acceptable to offer a hard door with a foam core and aluminum skin as long as it meets the other requirements in this paragraph?

b) What is the minimum requirement for the door to be considered “insulated”?

c) What is the difference between the hard door and a modified hard door mentioned in the last sentence of this paragraph?

Answer: The shelter must contain one rigid door for routine use located on of the end walls. The idea for it to be insulated is inherent to aid in the ability to control interior climate. Any means of providing a hard door that meets the size and functional abilities of para. 3.6.5.2 is acceptable. Hard door and modified hard door are used interchangeably. A foam-filled aluminum skinned door would be acceptable.

Question 10: Par. 3.6.5.3: Vestibule

a) How many Vestibules are required with each EESSS?

Answer: Only one vestibule per shelter system.

b) Is the minimum height of 7’ in the peak of the vestibule or the side wall?

Answer: Any interior height should not be less than 7’.

c) What is a modified hard door?

Answer: To be considered the same as a hard (rigid) door.

d) Is the Vestibule required to have a floor?

Answer: Yes, the vestibule will be floored.

e) Is the Vestibule required to be insulated?

Answer: Not required to be insulated.

f) Is the Vestibule required to have lighting?

Answer: No lighting is required in the vestibule.

g) Is the Vestibule required to be packed in carry bags?

Answer: No; sorry this reference was transposed from previous shelter systems and will be removed for this effort.

h) Does the weight of the Vestibule(s) count toward the maximum weight of 1,100 pounds of the EESSS?

Answer: Yes; the vestibule is considered an integral component of the EESSS.

i) Is each end panel on the EESSS required to have a connector flap to attach to the Vestibule?

Answer: Both end panels should have provisions to allow an interface to a vestibule system (connector flap).

Question 11: Par. 3.6.7: HVAC Duct Adapters

a) Is the weight of the (2) “Y” adapters included in the weight of the EESSS?

Answer: Yes, the weight of the “Y” adapters are included in the weight of the EESSS.

b) Are (6) Y adapters required to be packed with (3) EESSS in (1) ISU-90 container?

Answer: Yes, all adapters are considered part of the system.

c) What is the required R-value for the insulated wraps needed for the Y adapters?

Answer: No R-value was specified in the PD, however the ECU design specifies a calculated insulation value of R = 4.

Question 12: Par. 3.6.10: Electrical System

a) Is the EESSS required to have an internal power distribution box with circuit breakers for the lights and outlets? If so, is the weight of the internal power distribution box included in the maximum 1,100 pound weight of the EESSS?

Answer: No internal distribution is required for the EESSS.

b) Are cables that run along the side of the shelter that minimize snagging and interference acceptable?

Answer: The PD specifically states ceiling, although whichever route minimizes interference is the goal.

Question 13: Par. 3.6.17: Hazardous environment protection

a) Are the ballistic splinter protection kits required with each EESSS or are they optional items?

Answer: This concept is stated as “shelter must be able to accommodate” protection kit. I would suspect an offeror would have verified a technology and enabled a source to provide an optional kit that meets the PDs requirements.

Question 14: Par. 3.6.18: TEMPer interface

a) Please confirm that each EESSS end panel is required to have a TEMPer tent connector flap as well as a connector flap for the EESSS Vestibule.

Answer: No, this language referencing TEMPer is being removed from the PD. The only minimum required interface adapter is for the end panel with the hard door must have a vestibule interface flap/connector.

Question15: Par. 3.6.23: Quick reference instructions

a) What are the “transport containers” mentioned in this paragraph that require quick reference instructions?

Answer: The transportation containers are the ISU-90 and/or the ISO Tricon.

Question 16: Par. 3.9.1: Transportation containers

a) Does the ISU-90 container provided by the USG include shelves?

b) If so, how many?

Answer: Containers used for ground and air transportation of EESSS will be ISU-90 and ISO (Tricon/Bicon). The design needs to account for the dimensional limitations of each container. Containers may be supplied by the offeror if advantageous to the USG. The final PD will indicate the desired mode of acquiring containers.

Question 17: Par. 4.6.4.4: Wind load test

a) What is the purpose of having the PV fly on the shelter during the wind load test since the PV fly is an optional item and will deflect wind from hitting the side of the shelter?

Answer: All testing will be conducted in a Fully Operational Capability (FOC) as defined in para. 3.4.1.

b) Will the EESSS always be deployed with a PV fly?

Answer: Only if a PV fly is required to be FOC, meeting all of the minimum requirements set forth in the PD.

c) If not, shouldn’t the EESSS be tested for wind load resistance without a PV fly?

Answer: All testing will be conducted in a Fully Operational Capability (FOC) as defined in para. 3.4.1.

d) Will the EESSS be tested for wind load against the end panels and the sides of the shelter?

Answer: Yes, ATEC TOP 10-2-175.

e) If so, are guy ropes allowed to be attached to the end panels, which create tripping hazard during blackout conditions, or only along the sides of the shelter which don’t cause a tripping hazard?

Answer: All testing will be conducted in a Fully Operational Capability (FOC) as defined in para. 3.4.1. No specific requirements on guy ropes are covered at this time. There is no “blackout condition” requirement.

f) There is no paragraph 3.7.3 in the PD. Should the reference paragraph be paragraph 3.5.1?

Answer: All wind test referenced in 4.6.4.3 show compliance to requirements to para. 3.5.1.

Question 18: Par. 4.6.4.6: Snow load test

a) What is the purpose of having the PV fly on the shelter during the snow load test since the PV fly is an optional item and, with the use of an exoskeleton frame, will prevent snow from accumulating on the roof of the shelter?

Answer: All testing will be conducted in a Fully Operational Capability (FOC) as defined in para. 3.4.1.

b) Will the EESSS always be deployed with a PV fly, including during wintertime?

Answer: Only if a PV fly is required to be FOC, meeting all of the minimum requirements set forth in the PD.

c) If not, shouldn’t the EESSS be tested for snow load resistance without a PV fly?

Answer: All testing will be conducted in a Fully Operational Capability (FOC) as defined in para. 3.4.1.

d) There is no paragraph 3.7.3 in the PD. Should the reference paragraph be paragraph 3.5.3?

Answer: All snow load test referenced in 4.6.4.5 show compliance to requirements to para. 3.5.3.

Question 19: Par. 4.6.6.3.1: Energy efficiency test set up

a) This paragraph references paragraph 3.7.8, which is not in the PD, and requires the EESSS to be tested using insulated HVAC ducting as shown in Figure 1. Is the EESSS required to include HVAC ducting with each shelter?

Answer: You are correct. Disregard reference 3.7.8. All energy efficiency testing referenced in 4.6.6.3.1 show conformance to the energy efficiency requirements in 3.6.4.

b) If so, how many insulated ducts are required with each EESSS and what are the minimum salient characteristics of the ducts?

Answer: No ducts are required with the EESSS. All ducts will be supplied with the ECU and/or 130K heater.

c) Is the USAF going to provide the climatically controlled chamber for this testing or is the EESSS supplier required to schedule time and pay for this testing in a chamber?

Answer: All testing will be performed by the offeror.

Question 20: Par. 4.6.6.3.2: High temperature test

a) This paragraph references paragraph 3.7.4, which is not in the PD. Is the reference paragraph supposed to be 3.6.4?

Answer: Correct.

Question 21: Par. 4.6.6.3.3: Low temperature test

a) This paragraph references paragraph 3.7.4, which is not in the PD. Is the reference paragraph supposed to be 3.6.4?

Answer: Correct.

Question 22: Par. 4.6.6.4: Vestibule demonstration

a) Does the demonstration of attaching vestibules to the end panels on the EESSS apply to just the EESSS 6’ x 6’ Vestibule, just the TEMPer vestibule, or both?

Answer: No TEMPer is required, only interface adapter to vestibule.

b) If a TEMPer vestibule is required to be attached to both end panels, will the USAF supply the TEMPer vestibule for testing or is it up to the EESSS supplier to source the TEMPer vestibule?

Answer: No TEMPer is required.

c) This paragraph references paragraph 3.7.6.4, which is not in the PD. Is the reference paragraph supposed to be 3.6.5.3?

Answer: Correct.

Question 23: Par. 4.6.6.5: Interior lighting test

a) This paragraph references paragraph 3.7.11.1, which is not in the PD. Is the reference paragraph supposed to be 3.6.11?

Answer: Correct.

Question 24: Par. 4.6.6.6: Legacy lighting interoperability demonstration

a) This paragraph references paragraph 3.7.11.2, which is not in the PD. Can you provide a spec sheet for the TKL light required to be connected to the EESSS electrical system?

Answer: Deleted. This is not a requirement.

Question 25: Par. 4.6.8.2: Electrostatic discharge analysis

a) This paragraph references paragraph 3.9.4, which is not in the PD. Is the reference paragraph supposed to be 3.8.4?

Answer: Correct.

Question 26: Par. 4.6.10.2: Repair kit demonstration

a) The standard field-level shelter-system repair kit for an Alaska EESSS includes self-adhesive patches for the exterior shelter vinyl, the vinyl floor, and the interior insulation panels, along with some extra doubleheaded spikes, guy ropes and guy spikes. According to our 20+ years of supplying military shelters to the US DoD and many other customers around the world, these are the only materials needed to meet the objective requirements of paragraph 3.7.1 (Erect/Strike Cycles). How is the USAF going to select up to 20 different repair tasks?

Answer: The career functional structure leaders will provide valid tasks that occur in real world erect/strike activities. These tasks will be known by the shelter provider to allow adequate preparation for repair kit inventory.