Attachment_5_-_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

HSCG23-16-R-MNQ080 Attachment 5: Questions and Answers

Question Number

Question Answer

On attachment 1, page 2, paragraph a, section iv, there are references to several water penetration tests involving fuel, deet, etc. Is there any guidance or test procedures on how these tests should be performed?

These test procedures shall be completed in accordance with the standards found in

ASTM D3393.

I did not see any reference to the Berry Amendment. Can you please confirm that this is not invoked?

The Berry Amendment is not included in this solicitation, however, FAR 52.225-1 is included.

3 Is there a specific type or grade of "vivid orange" that is required?

Vivid orange is a hue and is found on the color wheel. This color or a color close in hue is acceptable.

Pg. 12, (3), 52.216.19 Order Limitations, indicates maximum order of 50 of any combination of “items”. Q1a: Please clarify the term “item”; does this mean a CLIN, i.e. either a men’s suit any size or women’s suit any size? Q1b: In order to deliver up to 5000 suits in a year, deliveries would have to be approximately 416 suits per month, every month. Please clarify and confirm Order Limitations with reference to desired maximum quantity per year.

FAR 52.216-19 has been updated in the solicitation to increase the order limitations. It is anticipated that this clause may need to be updated at time of contract award.

Therefore, potential offerors should indicate viable terms based on qauntities ordered and delivery time requirements. It is difficult to determine how many suits will be ordered monthly, annually, or over the entire period of perfromance of the contract.

Requirements contracts state that the government will buy exclusively from the awardee for all dry suit requirements. The government anticipates increases in ordering during the Spring and Fall months, specifically towards the end of the fiscal year.

Pg 16, Volume II, (5) "Offerers shall include a completed, signed copy of the entire solicitation with all appropriate fill in sections completed." Q2a: Please confirm the 35 pages of the "entire solicitation” shall not be counted towards the 10 page limit for Volume II.

Correct. As stated in the solicitation, the 10 page limit does not include the compliance matrix or required documents listed in the paragraph above (1-5) to include the signed solicitation.

According to the requirements document a minimum of two thigh and two calf pockets should be provided. Can you please provide the list of items that the USCG personnel intent to carry in each of the pockets? This is important in order to match the pocket type and size to the desired equipment to be carried.

Crewmembers generally store the neoprene hood in the calf pockets. Other pockets could potentially carry cold weather gloves, neoprene hood, or other miscellaneous items.

Should a Hood and/or gloves (neoprene or other) be supplied with the suit? How often would a USCG crewman be expected to wear a hood and/or gloves (if at all)? Are the hood and gloves stored on the suit (if so where)?

No, the hood and gloves are supplied by the USCG and are worn as needed depending on the weather conditions.

Page 15 of the solicitation states that a Maximum of 3 references are required. Page 16 states that the offer shall submit 3 references for completion. Are three references necessary or can it be less than three as the Page 15 statement eludes to (i.e. 2 references)?

Page 15 of the solicitation has been amended to read, "..at least three (3) references…"

9 Is there a Maximum weight on the dry suit?

Materials are usually between 5.8 to 7.2 ounces per square yard (OSY) with an average of 6.3 OSY.

10 What is the Coast Guard Test Protocol for this Dry Suit?

All testing procedures can be found in the solicitation under FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items

11 What is the ASTM Standard for the high wear material on the Suit?

There are strength measurements such as grab break , PPT and wet flex after abrasion which can be used.

Has the Coast Guard determined the Breathability percentage on the Base Suits Base Material?

Please refer to ASTM E96 - Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials

What is the MM (millimeter) Waterproof rating required for the suit?

This is a Suter test method developed and designed by the Alfred Suter Company.

There are many varieties of suter testing.The MM test is just how many MM of water can be stacked on top of the fabric before it bursts. The more important tests are Mullen tests using the suter tester and usually done with contaminants such as DEET or JP8. ASTM-D-751-95 (A1) / MIL-C-44187C

What is the Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate of the Base Suit Material requirement?

The Coast Guard has no standard and will evaulate per the technical capability evaluation criteria.

Will the USCG provide any preference for Small Businesses located in a Hubzone?

No preference will be given to HUBZone Small Businesses.

Are knee pads required with the reinforced knees or just reinforced knees?

Just reinforced knees.

Is any type of neck collar required? If so, what is the intended purpose for the neck collar?

A neck collar is not required but may be proposed as part of the suit.

In regards to relief zippers is it the USCG’s desire to have a male suit with a front relief zipper and a female suit with a rear drop-seat relief zipper or just one unisex suit with both relief zippers?

Male suit with a front relief zipper and a female suit with a rear drop-seat relief zipper

Would the USCG accept a neck & wrist seal to suit attachment method/bond that is equal to or better than a taped attachment method, which also allows for improved field replace ability?

Yes, as long as it has no issues with leakage.

In regards to SOLAS tape are any or all of the following locations considered acceptable? Arms, shoulders, upper chest & lower neck area.

All are considered acceptable.

Would the 30 day ARO apply to USCG AUX orders? The USCG AUX dry suit volume is extremely low and there would be added costs of holding significant USCG AUX inventory to support 30 day ARO for all USCG AUX orders.

The 30 day RDD is perfered, however contractors can provide an alternative delivery schedule for the AUX suits if desired.

In regards to Order Limitations could you please define “the same ordering office” and the time range for a “series of orders”? We are trying to determine if the contract holder received 10 orders in a single day, each order being from a different USCG small boat station/cutter/ANT, with a grand combined total of 95 suits would all 95 suits be required to be delivered w/in 30 days? An ordering day like that with heavy order volume throughout that same week could equate to a total suit ordering volume of several hundred suits in a week.

"The same ordering office" refers to an individual station, cutter, etc. Refer to Question 4.

Will an initial ramp-up time be allowed in regards to deliveries? Dry Suit raw materials often have long lead times, so it could take 2-4 months to reach full capacity solely due to the volume of raw materials required to support such a contract.

This is under consideration.

What is the estimated timeline for when the Delivery Order for the evaluation dry suits will be placed?

The order for the evaluation dry suits will be placed within 30 days of solicitation closing. See amendment to instructions and evaluation sections for timeframe of delivery.

How will the pricing be evaluated between the base period and the option years?

FAR 52.217-5 EVALUATION OF OPTIONS (JUL 1990)

Except when it is determined in accordance with FAR 17.206(b) not to be in the Government's best interest, the Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement.

Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

What will be the evaluation process for testing Technical Subfactor 4

- Durability (zippers & wrist/neck seals)?

The evaluation process for Technical Subfactor 4 - Durability will last the entire winter season. The zippers shall be able to open and close the dry suit without coming off track and the seals shall not tear while donning and doffing (pg 20).

Our understanding is that there is pending legislation that would change some of the obligations for a small business in a small business set-aside. Currently, the regulations require that the small business must perform at least 50% of the cost of manufacturing, not including materials. The pending legislation would require that 50% of the value be completed by a small business. Is there any potential for this pending legislation to be applied to the contracts resulting from the current USCG dry suit solicitation? If so, how would the change in requirements be implemented?

The regulations in place at the time the solicitation was posted apply.

Clarification is needed on p19 of the RFP. There is a statement that the evaluation team will be provided a suit and the next sentence states the will be a DO for at least 5 suits from capable vendors.

Does the one suit for the evaluation team come out of these 5 suits?

The evaluation team will consist of at least four (4) USCG crewmembers. Each crewmember will be provided one (1) dry suit from each purchase order. *Please note the applicable updates in the evaluation section in this amendment.

29 Can the 5 evaluation samples be in black? Yes, as long as the material is the same just a different color.

30 We assume a suit does NOT need to be provided with the proposal?

Correct. Purchase Orders will be placed at a later date, provided your proposal is considered responsive. *Please note the applicable updates in the evaluation section in this amendment.

The vapor permeability standard does not have a pass/fail level. Is there a minimum level required?

Refer to Question 14.

On page12- Order limitations- this seems confusing when compared to the max CLIN callouts. There is no way to get to the maximums in the CLINS with a max limitation of 50 suits in 30 days? Can you please clarify this?

Refer to Question 4.

On page 7- delivery schedule- will there be allowances on the first DO to go beyond the 30 days? Reasoning- only the incumbent would have enough material in stock to meet a quick start up demand. Anyone else would have to assume great risk to stock supply material not knowing if they would even win. This seems to be an unfair advantage to the incumbent. If the Coast Guard truly would like competition, we respectfully ask that the first DO be extended to 180 days.

Refer to Question 23.

On Attachment 1: USCG Drysuit Requirements Document, it states:

xviii. Loops at waist for retention of a law enforcement belt. The loops must be able to accommodate a 2 1/2" wide belt and be of a 'side release' style. Does that mean the belt loops incorporate a side release buckle?

Yes

On the RFP page 2 Item 10001 is USCG Men's Dry Suit sizes Small, Medium, large, Extra Large and Double Extra Large. Item 10002 is USCG Women's Dry suit sizes Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large and Double Extra Large. Are these two items the same sizing, the only difference is the men's will have a convenience zip, and the women's will have a drop seat zip? Or can the design and sizing vary, as long as we meet the USCG Dry Suit Requirements Document (including sizing to fit the 5th percentile female to 95th percentile male as described in ASTM F1166-07(2013)?

The only difference between the male and female suit is the zipper location.

We would like to ask for a (15) day extension to the due date of the proposal (possibly 30 days depending on the above answers).

The solicitation due date has been extended to 31 May 2016. Refer to solicitation amendment.

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