Phased_Array_Q A's.pdf

Question 1: Are the following mandatory for this project?

6.4. Security Clearance and Special Access Requirements.

All positions on this task order require a minimum of a SECRET clearance as granted by the Personnel Security Management Office-Industry (PSMO-I).

6.5. Facilities Clearance (FCL)

The contractor must have a valid FCL at the SECRET level. Interim FCLs are acceptable provided they are not expired. FCL procedures and security guidelines for adjudicative requirements are outlined in DOD 5220.22-M FCLs and Interim FCLs must be awarded by the Defense Security Service (DSS) Facility Clearance Branch.

Answer: Yes these are mandatory due to the possibility of dealing with security clearance cargo.

Question 2: If we do not presently possess a Secret Facility Clearance will the Government sponsor us for this project?

Answer: USTRANSCOM currently does not sponsor contractors for their clearance.

Question3 : Can a subcontractor be sponsored by a prime with an existing Facility Clearance? If so, will the Government accept a proposal if the final Facility Clearance (for the subcontractor) is still “pending”?

Answer: A subcontractor can be sponsored by a prime with an existing Facility Clearance. The Government does not have privity of contract with a subcontractor. The prime contractor’s Facility Clearance will flow down to the subcontractor. However, all personnel will be required (if applicable) to have security clearances.

Question 4: Performance Work Statement (PWS) Para. 1.3.3. states, “The contractor shall confirm the software to be used is listed on the Air Force Evaluated/Approved Products List (AF/EPL)”. Can the Government please provide the AF/EPL for review?

Answer: The Government is working to see about providing a copy of the approved list. Once available, the Government can provide it.

Question 5: PWS Para. 1.3.5. states as a specific requirement, “The passive RFID hardware should be installed to allow for 100 percent tag reads for all bays.” It is our experience with the physics of RF, variance in tag locations on assets, and when the orientation of the tags cannot be controlled, no system can guarantee 100 percent read rates. Therefore, we don’t believe that establishing 100 percent as the minimum standard during day-to-day operations is realistic and recommend reducing the standard to a lower (yet still stringent) standard. Over time, where labeling and packaging policies can be updated to provide more controlled packing and pallet loading procedures that would help with controlling the position and orientation of RFID labels, close to 100 percent tag reads may be attainable.

Answer: For this to viable for the Air Force, this needs to stay as close to 100% as possible.

However, in order to account for inaccurately placed tags, the PWS is updated to read “at least 95% accountability”.

Question 6: PWS Para. 1.3.5. states as a specific requirement, “Once passive RFID tag reads are captured, the system should be able to store, transmit, and record the data so that users can compare with data in GATES”. Can the Government provide a list of data elements they expect to match?

Answer: The Government would match Tag ID with TCN.

Question 7: PWS Para 4.2 states “The period of performance for this effort shall….be completed no later than 15 Sept 2015.” Is this completion date firm? If so, what is the government’s goal date for contract award/start?

Answer: The Government will push to have the 15 September 2015 date as a fairly firm date, but this date may change due to the length of the source selection process. The source selection process will also have an impact on the award date but the Government’s intent is to have this awarded by the end of July 2015.

Question 8: To assist in developing a realistic fixed price proposal, would the government provide drawings of the aerial port Special Handling/Security Cage area where the pRFID system will be installed?

Answer: Due to the sensitive nature of the warehouse, the Government will not provide drawings of the actual warehouse. However, the warehouse is set up with multiple enclosed bays throughout with a total warehouse square footage of approximately 15,000 sq ft.