Amendment_5.Question_and_Answers.pdf

FULL PROPOSAL Q&As - FOR SOLICITATIONS:

HSHQDC-14-R-B0011 & HSHQDC-14-R-B0012

All questions that were received before 12pm EST on September 23, 2014 are addressed below.

Duplicate questions were omitted. Questions are listed below in black font and the government’s response is noted in red. The purpose of this Q&A is to clear up any ambiguity in the RFP.

Submitted questions that do not have relevance to this procurement will not be addressed.

1. For the human-portable active interrogation system, who are the likely customers?

Would any deploy these units in foreign countries? How many human-portable AI systems would be involved (10’s, 100’s, etc.) for the larger-scale deployment envisioned?

For RTA-01, DNDO is seeking proposals for improving detector materials that could be used in stationary/re-locatable, mobile, and/or human-portable systems. The Offeror should propose on the basis that this is a research project.

2. For RTA-03, do cost savings in the non-procurement portions of the total lifecycle cost (operation, maintenance, training, etc.) count toward the 50% target? If so, do you have suggestions on how to quantify that (e.g., reduced operator dose, reduced shipping/export regulations, or elimination of training for radioactive materials) for the proposal to your satisfaction?

Per the RTA-03 topic, “Proposals are sought for methods, techniques, and processes to significantly reduce the procurement, operational, maintenance, and total lifecycle costs of existing or near-term N/R detection systems without compromising the performance of such systems.” It is up to the Offeror to determine the best method to quantify the savings for the proposal.

3. Organizational of Conflict of Interest Disclosure (4.1) This section requests bidders provide a OCI Disclosure statement, however, the instructions for preparation of Volumes I through III do not address the OCI Disclosure Statement. Would it be acceptable to include the OCI Disclosure Statement in Volume II - Supplemental Data?

Using Volume II is acceptable.

4. The instructions for Volume III - Cost Proposal are limited to MSEXCEL format only.

Our cost proposal would normally consist of an Acrobat pdf file containing the pricing narrative AND a separate MSEXCEL file containing the detail cost breakdowns, detail travel worksheets, rate calculations, etc.. The MSEXCEL file will include the pricing with formulas but it typically lacks the detailed text narrative, including explanation of basis of estimate for the various cost elements, how we apply our direct/rates, audit points of contact, etc. Can we provide pricing narrative in Volume II - Supplemental Data, assuming we stay within the allowable page count?

Using Volume II is acceptable as well as placing text in a separate MSEXCEL tab. Embedding files into the MSEXCEL spreadsheet is not encouraged.

5. Is the use of COTS tools, in combination with unique tools developed under this contract such as radiation detection research and development tools, an acceptable technical approach to meeting the stated needs?

COTS tools that may federate with unique tools developed under this solicitation are an acceptable approach provided that approach allows for implementation in open system federations. The offeror should describe how the COTS tool would be integrated with these unique tools. The offeror should detail how the combination of these tools would be licensed, modified, and distributed within an open federation.

6. If the intent is to follow a spiral software development approach in the proposed effort with incremental delivery of each new version of the tool in each phase of the proposed effort along with training in its use for DNDO personnel. Is this Management approach acceptable to DNDO?

A project plan and/or proposed statement of work that includes spiral development are acceptable to DNDO, provided it is sufficiently described and beneficial to the tool products.

7. Can computer time be made available at DoE/DoD HPC facilities as GFE if a key feature of technical approach is the use of HPC to perform relevant calculations.

The offeror is strongly encouraged to make use of computational resources available to them, particularly if High Performance Computing (HPC) is a key feature of their proposed technical approach. While the offeror may arrange use of computational resources at DoE or DOD as part of the approach, DNDO does not have High Performance Computing available to support these activities as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE).

8. Are the Cover Sheet and Quad Chart examples Section 8 of the “FINAL.ER.Solicitation.pdf” document available in MS-WORD format, or some other format that can readily be edited?

See attachment w/editable version.