Questions Received After 13 Nov 2009.pdf

H92222-10-R-0004 MASS Questions Received After 13 Nov 2009 And Government Responses

25 November 2009 Page 1

1. Since the solicitation was actually posted on Nov 5th and the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend is immediately before the due date of Nov 30th can you extend the proposal due date until Dec 15th?

This will give us the sufficient time needed to complete our proposal and finish up the PDM's.

ANS: No additional amendments will be made to extend the closing date at this time.

2. Are the PDM's that must be provided with our proposal required to be Berry Compliant? We understand that the final products provided under this contract must be Berry Compliant.

ANS: Yes, the PDM’s submitted are required to be Berry Amendment compliant.

3. Does the Berry Amendment apply to the latex neck seals, wrist seals and waterproof zippers used on the MASS & L-MASS? These are not textile items and typically made of rubber, polyurethane, latex rubber which is then glued to the MASS & L-MASS. Specifically does the latex neck seal, wrist seals and waterproof zippers have to be made in the USA, can they be sourced from a Trade Agreement compliant country and installed on the suit in the USA?

ANS: The Berry Amendment does not apply to latex.

4. We see on page 145 of the RFP the ship to location for the submission of the PDM's but we did find the ship to location of the technical and price proposal? Can you please confirm where to send it?

ANS: In accordance with the solicitation, Product Samples shall be delivered to the location identified in FAR 52.212-1 para (d). Amendment 01 revised provision 52.212-1(b), Submission of Offers, that written proposals are to be submitted to the address located in Block 9 of the SF1449 or via email to griffi1@socom.mil and frederl@socom.mil .

5. Do we need to provide 5 PDM samples of the MASS and 5 PDM samples of the L-MASS suits?

ANS: IAW with 52.212-1 para (d) Product samples, 5 in each proposed configuration must be submitted.

6. Does the government intend to award delivery orders in such a way as to ensure continuous production of the suits based on the required delivery schedule indicated on page 123 of the RFP?

ANS: No, continuous production is not guaranteed or anticipated.

7. If there is a break between deliveries orders exceeding two or three months will the government allow a 60 day ramp up period to acquire the materials start the production process again?

25 November 2009 Page 2

ANS: Offerors are provided an opportunity to propose an alternate delivery schedule IAW FAR 52.211-8 of the solicitation.

8. Item 8 of the SOW specifies that the face fabric must be capable of being printed in a subdued color or pattern dyes and pigments as specified by the Government within 30 days of award. Is this a one time requirement to establish the color/pattern for all future delivery orders or could this be invoked at any during the life of the contract?

ANS: No, this may not be a one time requirement. In the event we require a color/pattern change, the Government will work with that vendor to meet mission requirements. IAW 52.212-1 (C) 4, there should be a statement from the manufacturer that confirms the proposed fabric is capable of being printed with pattern dyes and pigments. IAW with SOW para 8, face fabric must be capable of being dyed with a subdued color as specified by the Government within 30 days of award.

9. If the government chooses to incorporate a new color, pattern or pigment for the face fabric during the course of this contract, will this result in an ECP and will there be sufficient time to implement it?

ANS: Yes, an Engineering Change Proposal will be required. The Government will work with the vendor on timelines to implement the color change. However, the vendor should propose a realistic schedule.

10. Is there a specific NIR reflectance requirement for the face fabric of this RFP?

ANS: No, there is no Near Infrared requirement for the face fabric in this RFP.

11. The SOW calls out a garment weight of <5lbs for the MASS and <4lbs for the L-MASS suits, what size suit is this required for?

ANS: The SOW Table 1: Material Performance Criteria has been amended to reflect the weight is for a size large suit.

12. We have been told by YKK that their waterproof zippers are not Berry compliant even though they are made in the USA. Apparently some components are from overseas. They advised us that we had to request a Domestic non-Availability Determination (DNAD) waiver from you for their zippers. This obviously concerns us given your answers in your Q&A document you posted today.

As far as we can determine YKK is the only domestic USA manufacturer of waterproof zippers and they are not Berry compliant, is this acceptable?

ANS: This question is under review by the Government. The need for a Domestic Non-Availability Determination has not been established for this RFP.

13. Do we need to request a Domestic non-Availability Determination (DNAD) waiver from you for their zippers?

25 November 2009 Page 3

ANS: The Government will determine the need for a “Domestic Non-Availability Determination” after all offerors proposals have been received and evaluated.

14. Since there are no waterproof zippers that are Berry compliant would a trade agreement compliant zipper be acceptable?

ANS: The Government will research this matter and if deemed necessary, provide a response at a later date.

15. Please advise how many copies of our proposal should be submitted, we did not find any indication within the solicitation.

ANS: One copy of each proposal is sufficient to fulfill Government requirements for this RFP.

16. We are writing to request your consideration of extending the close date of H92222-10-R-0004 from Dec. 8, 2009 to Jan. 30, 2010.

ANS: No additional amendments will be made to extend the closing date at this time.

17. On the Solicitation, it asks for pricing regarding spare part wrist seals and neck seals, but does not ask for the cost of replacing these items. Yet on the zipper replacements, it specifically asks for the cost of replacing the zipper. The way it is written, it asks for the cost of buying a seal, not sending the suit in and having the manufacturer replace the seal. Is this correct?

ANS: The intent is for purchase and replacement of each spare part, not just the purchase of one part.

The RFP will be amended to clarify.