QA_Amendment0001.docx

Draft Solicitation M67854-16-R-5009 Q&A Advanced Battery Charger (ABC) Amendment 0001

Q1. 3.1.14 BATTERY SECURITY. Are there any quantifiable performance parameters for this requirement?

A1. A shipboard vibration test will be performed and batteries will then be checked to determine if they still have electrical contact with the charger.

Q2. 3.1.14 BATTERY SECURITY. Does this requirement apply only to batteries, radios containing batteries or both?

A2. This requirement applies to batteries. Meeting this requirement for batteries with radios attached may be considered valued added.

Q3. 3.2.1.1 DISPLAY CONTENTS, NON-SMART BATTERIES.

Please define the battery initialization test in this section.

SOC: Please define the procedure and parameters for determining SOC for a non-smart battery.

SOH: Please define the procedure and parameters for determining SOH for a non-smart battery.

A3. Battery initialization test is when the charger is checking the battery to determine the type and whether or not it should be charged. The SOC and SOH determination procedures are up to the proposer.

Q4. 3.2.2.3 SOFTWARE/FIRMWARE UPDATE

Please confirm that a software driver for the ABC can be on the CD with the firmware and installed onto the PC.

What is the minimum revision of Windows that the PC is running?

Are there any restrictions on using native Windows application software to install ABC firmware?

A4. 3.2.2.3 has been reworded to clarify that no files shall need to be installed on the PC. The minimum operating system on the PC will be Windows 7. Any native Windows applications that are desired to be used will need to be discussed post contract award.

Q5. 3.2.6 HUMAN INTERFACE VISABILITY

Please define the equipment position relationship to the human eye for the verification procedure.

A5. Assume the ABC is sitting on a 3 foot high surface and the Marine’s eye height is between 59 and 69 inches high.

Q6. 3.7.4.2 FAULT RESET

Are breaker faults excluded from the automatic reset requirement?

A6. Yes.

Q7. Is the contractor responsible for MIL-STD-810G, MIL-STD-461F, MIL-STD-1332, and MIL-STD-1275E testing, or is the government PVT intended to perform that testing?

A7. The government will perform this testing however the contractor is responsible for ensuring that their system will meet the performance specification when the government performs its testing.

Q8. In M-5.0, it would be helpful to specify the “quantities used for each CLIN” for evaluation since it is an IDIQ. For adapters, are “not separately priced” bids allowed for battery adapters whose function is already met by another adapter (i.e., PRC-148 and 152 batteries use one adapter)? Is quantity discount pricing requested?

A8. In Section M, the following language will be updated:

“M-4.0 Price. Price will be evaluated, but not rated. The Government will evaluate each offeror’s proposed price to determine reasonableness.

a. The Government will establish a, “Total Evaluated Price to the Government” for each offeror by multiplying the offeror’s proposed price for each CLIN listed in Section B and random evaluation quantities used for each CLIN; the sum of these will determine the total evaluated price to the Government.”

Additionally, Offerors may submit quantity discount pricing, also known as Stepladder pricing.

Q9. CLIN 0004 seems to be the only place for pricing non-recurring work such as meeting support, testing, or product development. Is this the appropriate place for including the price of those items?

A9. CLIN 0004 is not to be used for product development costs. Please note that CLIN 0004 and all SLIN's thereunder are not to be separately priced. The RFP specifically states that no price is to be entered for CLIN 0004 or for any of the SLIN's thereunder. All costs must be included as part of your unit price for CLINs 0001, 0002, 0003, 0101, 0102, 0103, 0201, 0202, 0203, 0301, 0302, 0303, 0401, 0402, 0403, or the SLINs under these CLINs.

Q10. Reserved A10. Reserved Q11. Are the two AC power cables as specified in 3.1.15.9 and 3.1.15.10, and the upgrade cable in 3.2.2.2 included in system weight A11. The definition of “ABC Case” in 6.1.5 will be updated to include only one power cable in the weight. One AC power cable, specified in 3.1.15.9, shall be included in the system weight.

Q12. 3.1.15.9 and 3.1.15.10 imply that a system running on 90-250VAC would require two different 10ft AC power cables. Since each 10ft SOOW AC power cable weighs approximately 1 lb, is it possible or preferable that the system contain a single AC power cable plus an adapter to meet the NEMA 5-15P to NEMA 6-15P requirement?

A12. That would be an acceptable method of meeting the requirement.

Q13. In 3.2.1, would it be acceptable to indicate a fault on the main screen and have the user navigate to a second screen to provide the fault details?

A13. Yes Q14. In 3.2.1, are there specific labelling requirements on the user interface e.g. cycle count is “CC”?

A14. There are not specific labelling requirements, however; any abbreviations used should be understandable to a common user.

Q15. 3.2.1.4 and 3.2.1.5 seem to be in conflict. The graphical symbol is required to display an accuracy of 20%, but 3.2.1.5 requires State of Charge to be within 5% for smart batteries. Could you clarify?

A15. 3.2.1.4 gives options for presenting the SOC. If the segmented block display is chosen and the battery is at 23% SOC, either 1 or 2 segments could be illuminated as both would be within 5% of the battery SOC. However, if the battery SOC is 26%, two segments must be illuminated as anything else would not meet the 5% accuracy. If the numerical display is chosen, it must be accurate to within 5% of the SOC.

Q16. Performance Spec

3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.15.9

Does the size and weight of the ABC case include adapters, or is it assumed the adapters are counted in the common adapter kit case weight?

A16. No. See 6.1.5.

Q17. Performance Spec

3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.15.9, 3.4.6, 3.4.7

Is the USB upgrade cable included in the weight of the ABC charger or common adapter kit?

A17. The USB cable is not included in either weight.

Q18. Performance Spec

3.1.8, 3.1.8.1

Do the ABC charger case and common adapter case need to stack with each other?

A18. No

Q19. Performance Spec

3.4.2.1, 3.1.4

In section 3.4.2.1 of the Performance Specification it states “the common adapter kit shall include as many adapters of each battery type as may be simultaneously installed for charging in the ABC.” Should the guidance of section 3.1.4 follow here so it’s not “as may be simultaneously installed” but “up to 8 batteries (16 for AAs and AAAs)?”

A19. No. If additional batteries are able to be installed in the system at one time but need additional adapters, those adapters shall be included.

Q20. Performance Spec

3.1.1, 3.1.15.9

Should the weight of the ABC case include the AC input connector?

A20. Yes. This will be clarified to only include the weight of the AC input cable specified in 3.1.15.9. See 6.1.5.

Q21. Is there a solar charging requirement? The application and specifications seem to suggest that interoperability with fielded or future PV energy sources would be a beneficial requirement with no substantial increase in cost or performance specifications. A suggested specification is to be operable with solar panels with an open circuit voltage up to 60V (for AISPCA compatibility).

A21. This is not a requirement.

Q22. If solar charging is included as a specification, the Maximum Power Point Tracking efficiency should be specified (similar to how it is currently specified in past procurements like UBC). A suggested specification might be: When charging from a PV source the solar utilization efficiency (based on the standard EN50530 test B.3) must exceed 95%.

A22. This is not a requirement Q23. Based on the anticipated design review meetings and procurement schedule, what is the anticipated lead time from contract execution to the required first article delivery?

A23.

Q24. In certain configurations there are up to 8 batteries being charged simultaneously. Is there an intent regarding whether all batteries should be charging simultaneously, or if they can be sequenced (as long as it adheres to the charge time requirements)? For example, if the charging wasn't simultaneous, and 8 radios were being charged, certain users might recover their radio after a certain period to find that no charge has been put into their battery.

A24. Sequential charging is acceptable. The method and order in which batteries will be charged shall be clearly stated in the Operator’s Manual.

Q25. Do the 10 foot cables count against the case weight and volume specification in 3.1.1 and 3.1.2?

For a 1000 W input at 22V the maximum current of 53 A is required. Two 8 AWG conductors are need for the power and return line. A 10 foot, 5 conductor, 8 AWG, cable weighs approximately 5.7 lbs, or nearly 30% of the total weight specified in 3.1.1.

A25. The definition of “ABC Case” in 6.1.5 will be updated to include only one power cable in the weight. One AC power cable, specified in 3.1.15.9, shall be included in the system weight.

Q26. Why is the cable in paragraph 3.2.2.2 specified for USB 3.1 Specification Standard –A rece ptacle and the receptacle in paragraph 3.2.2.1 is specified for USB Type-C?

A26. The system side receptacle is USB Type-C. The PC will only have USB Standard A receptacles so the cable provided must connect between these two receptacles.

Q27. Does paragraph 3.2.3 mean that the ABC must be able to operate under all environmental and weather conditions?

A27. No, a clarification will be made to the specification Q28. Does the available power need to have the required voltage limits? That is the DC input power must be between 22V and 32V and The AC input power be between 90 and 250 VAC and have the required interface cable?

3.3.9. Power utilization. The ABC shall use all available input power up to the system’s maximum power input (see 3.3.4) if batteries are available to accept charge and the maximum safe charging rate of all installed batteries has not yet been reached. (T=O) A28. The system should be able to meet this requirement at all voltages in the required input voltage windows.

Q29. Does the “it” in Paragraph 3.2.2.3 refer to the ABC or the PC?

3.2.2.3. Software/firmware update ability. The ABC shall be able to accept software/firmware updates via CD-ROM loaded on a PC. It shall not be required to install any files on the PC for this update to occur. (T=O)

A29. This has been reworded to clarify this requirement.

Q30. Does “improper battery” include primary batteries of the same size and shape as re-chargeable secondary batteries?

A30. Yes Q31. Can the Marine Corps provide specifications for the BB-0150/U, Conformal wearable battery?

TABLE I. Batteries to charge.

BB-2590/U

BB-2590 BGHT

BB-390B/U

6140-01-490-4316 6130-01-630-4288 6140-01-490-4317 Common

A31. No Q32. Please confirm that CLINs 0002AB through 00002AH are for Common Adapter Cases of varying sizes, not actual batteries.

A32. . Confirmed. CLINs 0002AB through 0002AH are for the adapters for each specified battery type. Each of the SLIN definitions will be updated to add the word "adapter".

Q33. Please confirm that CLINs 0003AA through 00003AL are for Special Adapters of varying sizes, not actual batteries

A33. Confirmed. CLINs 0003AA through 0003AL are for the adapters for each specified battery type. Each of the SLIN definitions will be updated to add the word "adapter".

Q34. What is the difference between common adapter cases and special adapters?

A34. Common adapters are those that are included in the common adapter kit (CLIN 0002). Special adapters are those that are not included in the common adapter kit. There is no other substantial difference between the types of adapters. In the Performance Specification attachment# 2, Table I, delineates which adapters are common (and part of the common adapter kit) and which are special.

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