ASTRO Virtual Industry Day QandA.pdf

Question Answer

Will the slides and recording be available to the proposers?

Yes, the slides and recording will be available. Not sure if recording file will be compatible but we will definitely post the slides.

What is the relationship between ASTRO and

SILVERSWORD?

ASTRO is more focused on Operation & Modernizations. SILVERSWORD is currently on hold but there could be an integration piece that would need to be coordinated and conducted on the ASTRO contract.

Will the TS-SCI requirement flow down to subcontractors?

Yes the DD254 will flow down if required.

What, if any, are the synergies with SOR?

Are there expectations that both sites work together or completely separately?

While there are synergies that are achieved at a technical level, the sites are pursuing two separate contracts so no work/performance is expected to happen at SOR via ASTRO contract.

Will a list of industry attendees to this conference be released as well?

Since this request was made several times throughout the conference (and no one objected), the list of attendees will be attached to assist in possible future teaming arrangements.

Does the Government have a data set available for use in demonstrations of capabilities, if not what is the scope of data to be collected with reference to "space objects"?

The Government is not planning on providing any data sets. That said, the data sets we suggest you refer to are data sets common across the SDA community. For example, Imagery data, non-resolved data across broadband, spectral, hyperspectral, hypertemporal, passive RF, thermal, Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) and Infrared (IR). Also Metric type data sets which are positional type data sets. Example: Being able to take an observation and create an orbital state, not just keplairian orbital states but non-traditional orbital states including cislunar type orbital states. We may be able to provide a list and some examples in the final RFP but not a full data set or list of examples.

Are there any OCI concerns between this ASTRO contract and the AMOS BOS Contract?

We have not identified any OCI conflicts as of yet. The BOS contract is a Base Operations Contract and does not do any deep dives into experimental equipment mods or upgrades. BOS deals more with roads maintenance, generator inspections and repairing and installing electrical panels etc. That said, there are touch points, for example, when new equipment needs to be installed, the BOS contractor is responsible for the crane operation or integration into the electrical power panels as they are certified to conduct these types of activities for the observatory. There will also be touch points with regards to Base IT Communications and Mission IT support. In all of these cases the Government will facilitate the contractors working together. If you are submitting a proposal be cognizant of the OCI provisions in the RFP. If you have an OCI concern please identify.

Will the lease of the Lipoa Parkway Site be conducted through the BOS or the ASTRO contract?

The lease of Lipoa Pkwy do not fall under ASTRO or SILVERSWORD. The Government handles the lease for the Lipoa Parkway site.

With the expected level of projects, is there restrictions of personnel on site?

There may be restrictions due to large projects that restricts the number of personnel on site as well as COVID restrictions or other Safety reasons. In these cases, we would work with the contractors to prioritize and de-conflict work schedules. Additionally, there is a safety time restriction of 12 hours for personnel working on the summit. Personnel are only allowed to work 12 hour shifts on the summit.

Suggestion: Partnerships may be enabled and enhanced by releasing the attendees list.

The Government will take this suggestion under consideration.

Will you be holding a site visit? Due to the Pandemic we will not be holding a site visit. We are currently looking into doing a virtual tour of the site and currently working with Security and our PA staff to see if it is possible.

What is the expected Acquisition timeline? We are still working updates to the RFP. We expect to release it within the next 3 months. For real-time up-to-date changes please register/check with SAM.gov to receive notifications of changes regarding ASTRO. We are planning to tie everything ASTRO related to the same acquisition number on SAM.gov. This will insure you will not miss any updates to the Acquisition.

Will there be office and technical space on site for the primes and subs and will the subs be required to have a consistent presence on the island?

The Government will be providing office and technical space for the prime contractor. The subs will be handled on a case by case basis and will be dependent on the prime contractor's needs from the subcontractor expertise and whether hands on expertise is required or is telework an option (which will be worked out between the prime and the subcontractor).

Is the data collected available over classified networks off-site?

Yes, there is data on various systems including unclassified data in the Unclass Data Library (UTL). We can look into getting the information out and what steps are needed to provide access to the data to ALL the bidders. A clarification is that the data that is out there is radiometrically calibrated already so we would need to clarify between raw and calibrated data if there is raw data out there on specific sites.

What is the current mechanism for proposing experiments against strategic experiments priorities and who ranks and approves the experiments?

The Government works with various entities that might want to come in and propose an experiment. Typically those entities would need a Government focal point to engage the Government personnel at the site.

Then as far as the strategic priorities go, we are part of AFRL Directed Energy so there is a strategic plan called the CTC strategic plan which outlines priorities for the research at the site. We are blended Operations and R&D. We also get our direction from the Space Force. The process for approval works through the Government. If it is a large financially funded project, we take it to the RD tech council to get approval through the directorate.

16 Will you be setting up a bidders Library? Yes, it will be included in the final RFP.

Is the Certified Laser Safety Officer a Key Position? And what are the other listed Key positions for the contract?

We may look into adding the Laser Safety Officer as a Key Position. In the second part of the briefing, there is a list of positions currently being considered as Key positions.

Are AFRL and the Space Force satisfied with their ability to get the most important experiments implemented and transitioned?

We are never satisfied and want more opportunity to develop and transition more quickly into the SPGO. Some of those opportunities include: How can we develop a prototype capability? Standard Operations and procedures? Better ICD's? etc..

Are strategic priority documents mentioned (CTC) available to bidders?

We are planning to include unclass strategic documents in the bidders library

Is the award date calendar year of fiscal year Q2.

All the dates are based on the Government fiscal year which begins in October. The current anticipated award time is Q2 FY22 but that may slip to the right.

Feedback of on the draft RFP's is August 2nd or AUG 6th?

August 6th.

Is there a list of prioritized/desired/planned modernization projects available or is the contractor to anticipate the desired mods?

The Government does not have a complete list, however we do have a dream list. The current acquisition strategy is for a 7 year contract, so the dream list will change over that timeframe as requirements arise. There are projects like the LWIR camera replacement, the replacements of the 1.2meter & 1.6meter domes, EOL equipment upgrades, Visiting experiments coming in, and expansion onto the summit through the STAR project which will be an array of 1 meter class telescopes. The list is long and the government will prioritize the projects.

What ODC's do you anticipate? The Government plans to baseline the ODC's based on past expenditures.

Baseline ODC's will be non-fee baring. We are not expecting offerors to propose ODCs and provide Bill of Materials (BOMs) as support. This will help the Government stay on track with the very tight acquisition timeline for ASTRO.

How will the Government evaluate offerors technical breadth and depth for the TO 3 if we only provide the Basis of Estimate (BOE) for a single project?

The requirement for the BOE to establish the Basic-Mission Support Tasker (B-MST) and "bank" CLIN is separate from the technical evaluation. For TO 3, please review and respond to Sub Factor 1. The response to the technical sub-factors will provide the Government insight into your technical capabilities to execute this contract.

Does there have to be four past performance write-ups from us and from each of our critical subs?

Please be sure to adhere to the Past Performance requirements in Section L and M of the final RFP. Currently, those sections require each offeror/joint venture member complete a separate FACTS Sheet for four

(4) active or completed contracts (with at least one year of performance history) in the past five (5) years from the issuance date of the RFP.

Additionally, each critical subcontractor included in the offeror's proposal is required to submit FACTS Sheets for four (4) of their most recent and relevant contracts. A critical subcontractor is defined as an entity (subcontractor and/or teaming member), other than the Offeror itself, that would perform more than 30 percent of the overall effort, based on the sum of the price proposed for each contract line item.

Will funding other than 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 be used?

Yes, we anticipate receiving R&D, O&M, and possibly procurement funds based on customer funding and requirements. R&D funds are not restricted to 6.1-6.3 since this is an RFP and not a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA).

Will you be conducting one and one meetings with offers?

Due to the tight acquisition timeline the Government does not plan on holding one on one meetings. However, the Government plans to reserve the right to hold discussions per the final RFP.