Draft RFP Solicitation Questions and Answers_Final.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 19 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- FA875021R1000
About this file
This document provides details for a federal solicitation seeking proposals for a Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) research and development contract. The Air Force Research Laboratory is soliciting proposals for an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum value of $490 million and a period of performance of 72 months. Task orders will be cost-plus-fixed-fee and focus on developing technologies to counter commercial small unmanned aircraft systems. Proposals are due in the first quarter of 2021. The North American Industry Classification System code is 541715 and it is a total small business set-aside. At time of award, the successful offeror must be able to provide approximately 20% of proposed personnel with TS/SCI clearances. Foreign participation is excluded at the prime contractor level. The solicitation will be posted on beta.sam.gov and questions about the pre-solicitation notice or draft RFP should be directed to the identified contracting officers by January 22, 2021.
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Other files for this federal contract opportunity
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| RFP Solicitation Running Questions and Answers.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Updated Pricing Excel Template C-sUAS.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| RFP Solicitation Running Questions and Answers.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| FA8750-21-R-1000 RFP Release 13 APR 2021.pdf | ||
| Pricing Excel Template C-sUAS.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| FA8750-21-R-1000 Draft RFP.pdf |
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Text version
Sheet1
| # | Comment / Question | Government Response |
| 1 | Why is there a need for TS/SCI on this project? | There are many technical areas within the scope of the effort that will require this level of clearance. |
| 2 | Is there a pathway to obtain new clearances within the scope of this contract? | Yes, the DD254 will be classified up to TS/SCI allowing performers to pursue new clearances for performance under this effort. |
| 3 | What is the best way for us to propose our existing solutions to this problem? | If pre-award: Through submission to the Request for Proposal (RFP) or teaming as discussed at Industry Day. |
If post award: The expectation is to include research of all possible solutions to a problem set. This effort is focused on the development and transition of C-sUAS capabilities across the entire kill-chain. Presentation of existing solutions throughout contract performance is expected and should be coordinated with the Government PM for potential consideration.
| 4 | Is the intent to receive one proposal for all of the SOWs included with the RFP? It may be possible to propose to the first SOW to be awarded, but to propose for following efforts could not be accurate until the results of the previous efforts are known. | The intent is to receive proposals in accordance with the instructions in Section L. One proposal consisting of four volumes for the IDIQ, which covers aspects from the base IDIQ, task order 1 and sample order 2. |
| 5 | Related to the above, is it acceptable to propose for the IDIQ and the first SOW only (Attachment 2)? | No, we are requiring proposals in accordance with the instructions in Section L. |
| 6 | Is the Draft-RFP properly marked? Does this imply that we have to protect the entire RFP as CUI? Is it expected that the entire RFP response (proposal) is CUI? | The draft RFP contained erroneous markings. The SOW and the Work Description for TO 0001 do NOT contain CUI. Document markings have been updated accordingly in the RFP. |
| 7 | Is there a timeline for when Task Order 2 will be awarded? | There is no intent to award the sample order 2, it is just a sample for pricing purposes. The second real task order to be awarded is unknown at this time. |
| 8 | Is it anticipated that, during the proposal phase, teams will need to request access to classified information and that portions of the RFP and proposal response will be classified? If classified information is needed for proposal, how is it communicated and what resources are offered to the proposal response teams by the program? | No classified material is expected to be needed to propose to the current task orders. |
| 9 | Are their specific performance metrics associated with the functionality of the system that will be used to assess the performance of the capability? Is it intended that those are generated in the execution of task order 1? | There are no additional requirements beyond what is in the RFP. |
| 10 | Is there a CONOPs document that can be shared to define the mission requirements? For example, rules of engagement and human on the loop requirements? | CONOPS are developed based on the user and mission where these solutions are intended to be used, so no general CONOPS will be applied to this evaluation. |
| 11 | Task Order 1 (4.3 and 4.4): As part of this effort, does AFRL plan to provide system specifications for baseline or existing hardware, software etc.? | Not for the proposal, but during contract performance, AFRL will work with performers to identify system specifications, performance metrics, and key performance parameters. |
| 12 | Please provide clarification on whether the Offerors must have appropriate clearances at the time of proposal submission or at time of award? The Draft RFP says it is eligible at the time of submission and Beta.Sam says it is eligible at time of award. | The RFP will state that Offerors must have eligible staff with the appropriate clearances at the time proposal submission. This ensures that the offeror can begin performance at time of contract award. |
| 13 | How will proposals be evaluated or scored for the Base vs the Task Orders. Do we need a full team for the base SOW or can we bring people on per Task Order? | Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria within Section M. Only awarded task orders require performance as the Base SOW is an aggregate of requirements that can be drawn from for individual task order awards. |
| 14 | Please confirm that the CLINS on the contract Section B represent all possible CLIN structures for delivery orders that may be awarded. | The CLINs within Section B of the RFP represent all of the possible CLIN structures that may be awarded on task orders. |
| 15 | FFP CLINs 0003, 0007 and 0011 are indicated as “FIRM FIXED PRICE” for the contract type and paragraph F indicating applicability for Firm-Fixed-Price Level of Effort. As this is largely a development effort, is the intent to award some orders as FFP and others as FFP Level of Effort? If some are to be awarded as just FFP, please provide a rationale. | Because this effort is to span across six (6) years there may be a need to award a task order on an FFP basis depending on the requirement this is why the FFP CLINs are included. Currently we do not anticipate awarding orders as FFP at this time. The FFP LoE language within the FFP CLINs types will be removed in the Final RFP. |
| 16 | Is this contract for a specific activity as in 1 action or 1 specific task, or is this a contract that may be used to fund multiple types of tasks that may or may not be related? | This contract is expected to execute multiple types of tasks for C-sUAS capabilities that span across the entire kill chain. |
| 17 | Related to the question above IF this contract is for multiple types of effort can the contractor bring new potential tasks to the owner of the contract for possible integration and funding into this existing contract. | The Government determines the requirements to be fulfilled through task orders. The awarded contractor may discuss future requirements with the Government as long as they are within the scope of the contract. |
| 18 | Will this overall contract have a ceiling amount? | As stated in RIK-L006 the total amount ordered under the basic contract will not exceed $490.4 million. |
| 19 | There is effort in two foreign countries; Will export licenses be required? | Yes, export policies and directives will be required to be followed throughout contract performance. |
| 20 | There is effort in two foreign countries; If so will each country require an export license | Each export consideration will be carefully reviewed by the Government Foreign Disclosure Office for export license requirements. |
| 21 | There is effort in two foreign countries; Will these licenses be for permanent exports? | Each export consideration will be carefully reviewed by the Government Foreign Disclosure Office for export license requirements. |
| 22 | There is effort in two foreign countries; Will these licenses be for technology or hardware exports? | Each export consideration will be carefully reviewed by the Government Foreign Disclosure Office for export license requirements. |
| 23 | The SOW for Task Order 1 is extremely broad but the Draft RFP point towards procurement and fielding of a specific product or system. Are there plans to release additional product or system requirement documents/system architecture documents in order to provide additional details? For example, will specific MIL-STD specs for environmental, EMI, safety, Security systems engineering, anti-tamper, COMSEC, Network Cybersecurity, Environmental, etc. or other be required? | It is expected that throughout the period of performance of this contract that numerous capabilities/products/systems will be created, and the details of those efforts will be identified on an order-by-order basis. |
| 24 | Why was the detail dropped, and how will we be evaluated, on Task Order 1 or the Umbrella SOW? | Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria within Section M. |
| 25 | Why does the umbrella SOW have more technical areas of interest? For example, acoustic, directed energy, etc. versus Task 0001 which is mostly EW, cyber, and an interceptor? Will another task come later for those solutions, or should they be proposed and executed on Task 0001? Or is there no interest in those that didn’t make it into Task 0001? | The intent of this procurement is to develop, transition, deliver, and sustain C-sUAS capabilities that will be utilized across the entire kill chain. All technical areas are in play, the first task order is scoped for the two areas identified based on customer requirements and available funding. Task orders will be released as requirements are received. Task 0001 is just an example of current technical areas of interest. |
| 26 | Attachment 3 – Is this document a SOW or is it a supplement for the IDIQ contract? The title of the attachment indicates both. Also, the document appears to contain FAR clauses that are normally seen in a contract rather than a SOW. | This document is meant to be a supplemental requirements document for the IDIQ contract. |
| 27 | Will details of “left-of-launch” be provided via other unclassified or via classified means? If the latter, is classified development/test anticipated? | "Left-of-launch" is defined as capabilities that can deployed and executed prior to the sUAS taking flight. However, this term is also used for capabilities that could pivot away from C-sUAS missions to other missions, such as Cyber operations. It is expected that some components of these efforts could be classified (i.e. development, description). |
| 28 | Can deconfliction be done a priori or does it need to be addressed dynamically? | Depending on the type and complexity of the solution being developed and the data that has been gathered prior to deconfliction operations, deconfliction can be performed a priori or dynamically. |
| 29 | Are solutions that address detection, identification, and tracking absent D5 capabilities of interest to the Government? For tracking, does the Government expect sensor suites to remain fixed or can they be autonomously self mobile (e.g., use a UAV sensor platform to track a sUAS)? | Yes, the Government is interested in novel solutions that can be used across the entire C-sUAS kill-chain to include D5 capabilities. Mobility of sensor suites for tracking will be determined by the customer needs / mission requirements on a task order basis. |
| 30 | Will performers be given access to the “selected Joint/AF GOTS C-sUAS tactical C2 solutions” mentioned in the solicitation? | The Government will provide performer's access to selected Joint/AF GOTS C-sUAS tactical C2 solutions as required to accomplish any task order. |
| 31 | Are man-in-the-loop or man-on-the-loop solutions required for COA execution? | This is dependent on they type of sensor/effector being developed and the specific customer CONOPS. For C-sUAS systems deemed to be weapon systems, man-in-the-loop or man-on-the-loop is a requirement for system operation. Both are acceptable approaches. |
| 32 | Do the systems need to be official Programs of Record or can they be fielded, operational systems? | No, the systems do not need to specifically be official Programs of Record. |
| 33 | Are solutions that use other, existing heterogeneous sensor suites (e.g., combination of optical and RF) of interest? | Yes, the Government is interested in novel solutions that can be used across the entire C-sUAS kill-chain to enable effective C-sUAS operations. |
| 34 | Must any sUAS platforms used for development or pre-deployment testing be US manufactured? | As FAR 52.225-13 and DFARS 252.225-7972 are included in the RFP, yes the contractor is restricted on what countries they can purchase equipment from. Additionally the contractor must comply with all current National Defense Authorization Acts and DoD Policies. |
| 35 | Are actual flight tests planned or does the Government anticipate using hardware-in-the-loop simulation(s) instead? | The Government expects that both actual flight testing and simulations may be utilized on task orders awarded under this contract. Testing would be proposed by the offeror. |
| 36 | Reference Sentence: These capabilities are to be used in combating Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)—and others leveraging COTS technology—presently being used by our adversaries in asymmetric warfare against U.S. military personnel and materiel. |
Question: When the government talks about sUAS in the objectives and requirements are they limiting those sUAS to only UAS Group 1 or does industry need to account for other UAS Groups? For reference, here is the breakdown:
Group 1, 0-20lbs, < 1,200 AGL Group 2, 21-55lbs, <3,500 AGL Group 3, < 1,320lbs, FL180 (high)
| Group 4, >1,320lbs, FL180 (high) | The Government expects Groups to generally fall within groups 1,2, and 3. | ||
| 37 | Facility Clearance – will the offering company must have an active facility clearance or must be able to meet all requirements for an award of facility clearance? Will it have to be TS or can you have a Secret with ability to meet TS once contract is awarded. | The offering company must have an active Top Secret facility clearance at the time of proposal submission. | |
| 38 | Personnel Clearance – RFP stated “At time of award, the successful Offeror must be able to provide approximately 20% of proposed personnel to be TS/SCI cleared and assigned at time of award, with graduated increases in proportion over time.” Will the 20% of proposed personnel with TS/SCI be identified by SSN in the proposal as company employees? | The 20% of proposed personnel with TS/SCI does not have to be solely employees of the prime and can be represented by the entire team (prime and subs). | |
| 39 | Will there be any CMMC (Cyber Security Model Certification) requirements as Draft RFP is stating requirements for CUI protection IAW NISPOM and RMF? | There are currently no CMMC requirements. If CMMC requirements arise than DFARS 252.204-7021 will be added to basic contract. | |
| 40 | Government Defined Direct Labor Categories – Will you allow DAU Certified PM Level for PMP certification? | DAU Certified PM Level III certification can be used in place of PMP certification under this solicitation. The Labor Category Minimum Qualifications Document will be updated to reflect this change in the Final RFP. | |
| 41 | Is there any opportunity to use operational and technical experience to reflect as past performance on this proposal? | The proposer can identify operational and technical experience throughout their proposal as needed to strengthen their response but the Government will only evaluate offerors proposals based on the evaluation criteria set forth in Section M of the RFP. | |
| 42 | In section L of the draft RFP, there is a reference to a single award. Is there any consideration to making this a multiple award to encourage an increased diversification of technology solutions as well as to diversify the risk associated with single performer? | There is a need for a single system integrator to perform as the prime contractor, thus requiring a single award. | |
| 43 | It is our understanding that the Army has been designated as the Joint Program Office for Counter sUAS programs and that they will be down-selecting “best of breed” systems to counter small drones. Would prototypes developed under the AFRL C-sUAS program need to be deconflicted with other services to ensure that the services are not duplicating each other’s efforts and eventually be integrated into these existing programs of record? How does the AFRL C-sUAS program intend to do this? Wouldn’t having multiple performers help in extending AFRL’s reach into companies that are supporting the programs for other services? | All AFRL C-sUAS efforts are deconflicted with JCO priorities and internal Program Objectives and Milestones. AFRL works closely with the JCO and service program offices to ensure synchronization. The goal of every task order will be to transition capabilities to the Warfighter, and where applicable, integrate solutions into a system-of-systems or program of record. Since this is a task order contract, it is acceptable that the Prime contractor engage with multiple sub-contractors to support various task orders. | |
| 44 | Sample Order has a period of performance of 72 months, but CLIN 0001 completion is the end of 24 months and CLIN 0003 completion is at the end of 12 months. Please clarify the period of performance for the effort. | CLIN 0001 will be updated for the full 72 months of performance. CLIN 0003 is correct at 12 months of performance. Five (5) additional option based CLINs will be added at 12 months of performance each to cover the full 72 months of performance under the Sample Task Order 2. | |
| 45 | Section RIK-L011(j), line item 12, our computer usage costs are indirect costs and not tracked by individual contracts. Please specify how we should provide the requested information. | As noted in paragraph (j)2, line items can be omitted if they do not pertain to the offeror's proposal. | |
| 46 | Does the government intend to provide any documentation on existing requirements definitions and/or current systems to the winning contractor? | It is expected that throughout the period of performance of this contract that numerous capabilities/products/systems will be created, and the details of those efforts will be identified on an order-by-order basis. | |
| 47 | Reference: Section L page 5 of 14, Sample 0002 | ||
| Question: Sample 0002 refers to Attachment No. 8, Paragraph 4.0 of DRAFT Work Description entitled "C-sUAS Command and Control, RF and Interceptor System (O&M/PROC)" dated 14 SEP 2020. However, Attachment 8 is dated 20 NOV 2020. Please advise if Section L should be updated to reference 20 November 2020. | Yes, it will be updated to reference 20 NOV 2020. | ||
| 48 | Reference: Section L page 10 of 14 (j) | ||
| Question: This section refers to a Cost Pricing template. Please provide the template, or provide clarification on where it can be located. | The cost pricing template will be available with the release of the official RFP. | ||
| 49 | Reference: Section L page 6 of 14 (c(2)) | ||
| Question: Are Task Order 1 and Task Order 2 Management and Technical responses included in the overall Management 30 page and Technical 75 page Technical limits? | Yes. | ||
| 50 | Reference: Section L page 4 & 5 of 14 (2 & 8) | ||
| Question: The overall period of performance for Task Order 2 is 72 months. Delivery for CLIN 0001 and CLIN 0003 is specified at 24 months and 12 months respectively, each, after order effective date. Which CLIN should months 25 – 72 be applied to for costing and schedule purposes? | CLIN 0001 will be updated for the full 72 months of performance. CLIN 0003 is correct at 12 months of performance. Five (5) additional option based CLINs will be added at 12 months of performance each to cover the full 72 months of performance under the Sample Task Order 2. | ||
| 51 | Will the Final RFP offer specific threat cases and target sets, and exclude all others? | No specific threat cases or target sets will be provided in the Final RFP. | |
| 52 | Will C-UAS be a consideration beyond the targeted platform(s) to externally controlling entities and elements such a Manned-UnManned Teaming (MUMT), Mission Planning Management Systems (MPMS), and/or Single Ground or Airborne Controller? | AFRL defines a "C-sUAS System" to include the sUAS, controller, connected device for operation (i.e. phone, tablet, etc.), signal extender, and any hardware/software used in the operation of the sUAS. | |
| 53 | Does the Government have any preference on a Single System Integrator within a Prime/Sub or JV construct or a Consortium Team? | We intend on making a single award to a single offeror. The Composition of the offeror's team is up to the offeror. | |
| 54 | Paragraph RIK-L001 - FOREIGN PARTICIPATION (OCT 2020) states no foreign national Primes are allowed. We are interested in using a foreign national subcontractor in a design and coding role. The subcontractor is not a foreign government entity nor wholly or partially owned by a foreign government. Work would be done outside of the United States, but NOT as a FFP contract. Are there any prohibitions on that type of participation? They also make use of commercial foreign-manufactured hi-res radars for C-sUAS systems, for which they develop and test rapid sensor placement plans. Their participation is NOT dependent upon the use of foreign radars, but is there a prohibition on purchase of such to use in this effort? | Requests of this nature will be reviewed and decided upon on a case by case basis. It is likely that foreign participation will only be considered for work on unclassified requirements. There will be a prohibition on foreign participation if the work to be accomplished will be classified. |
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