171221_PC_Gen_III_Industry_Day_Questions.docx

1. Is there a specification indicating how loose the fabric piece needs to be for the tube?

a. The dimensions and constructions for the tube attachments are specified in the patterns. Per the Presolicitation Notice, potential offerors must request the patterns via email from Katy Hurd at kathryn.hurd@usmc.mil with a copy to Lucas Kinkade at lucas.kinkade@usmc.mil.

2. Is the small business participation plan in reference to past efforts or the proposed efforts?

a. The Small Business Participation Plan shall summarize the Offeror’s Business Participation Goals for the total contract requirement.

3. Is the blended price for all ordering period and sizes?

a. Yes. Offerors shall propose a single blended unit price for all sizes and ordering periods.

4. Will the Carrier contractor be responsible if the Soft Armor contractor is late on deliveries?

a. No. In the event the delivery of the Government Furnished Property (GFP) is delayed, the Carrier contractor will not be penalized for late delivery of complete systems.

5. Is the system going to be delivered fully assembled?

a. The PC Gen III contract will include Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) for to deliver complete, fully assembled systems as well as CLINs for each component. The CLIN for the complete system will include: One Outer Vest Assembly (Front Outer Vest, Rear Outer Vest, Load Bearing Panel, Rear Cummerbund Adapter, 2 Shoulder Straps); One Inner Vest Assembly (Front Inner Vest, Rear Inner Vest); One Outer Cummerbund Assembly ( Two Outer Cummerbunds and Two Tube Adapters); One Inner Cummerbund Assembly (Two Inner Cummerbunds); Two Side Plate Pockets; One Harness; One Individual Repair Kit; Integrated Soft Armor Inserts (Two Base Vest Inserts, Two Side Plate Pocket Inserts); One Quick Reference Guide.

6. Is there a separate CLIN for the load bearing panel?

a. Yes, the solicitation will include a separate CLIN for the load bearing panel.

7. Is the soft armor cummerbund part of the assembly?

a. No, the soft armor cummerbund is not part of the complete system, but the solicitation will include a separate CLIN for the soft armor cummerbund.

8. Can you clarify language on front and back of the soft armor to identify them as either panels or inserts?

a. The Government refers to the soft armor as “inserts.”

9. Can you be clearer about lot sizes? Does 1200 units represent a full set or individual units equaling 6000 sets?

a. The Government will clarify lot sizes in the final specification

10. Are there patterns available?

A: Yes. Per the Presolicitation Notice, potential offerors must request the patterns via email from Katy Hurd at kathryn.hurd@usmc.mil with a copy to Lucas Kinkade at lucas.kinkade@usmc.mil.

11. Will the cummerbund be each or a set?

a. The unit of issue for cummerbunds will be “each.”

12. Are the areal density level ratings subjective?

a. The Government will evaluate areal density in accordance with Section M.

13. Can we submit multiple solutions?

a. No. Per Section L, Offerors may ONLY submit one proposal in response to this solicitation.

14. Can you clarify how technical factors will be ranked?

a. Per Section M, the Subfactors under Factor 1 are listed in descending order of importance. Technical Performance is significantly more important than price. The importance of price as a factor in the final award determination will increase with the degree of equality in the non-price factors of the proposal.

15. In the section of the PC Gen III Detail Specification where it lists hard armor testing, are you providing the plates for us to perform testing?

a. The Government will not provide hard armor, testing in conjunction with hard armor is not a part of the source selection evaluation or FAT.

16. If there is a failure with the soft armor in conjunction with the hard armor, is that negatively reflected on the soft armor company?

a. Testing in conjunction with hard armor is not a part of the source selection evaluation or FAT.

17. Is there flexibility to increase sample size of FAT testing?

a. No.

18. Is there significance given to manufacture capability?

a. Per Section M, the Subfactors under Factor 1 are listed in descending order of importance. Technical Performance is significantly more important than price. The importance of price as a factor in the final award determination will increase with the degree of equality in the non-price factors of the proposal.

19. Will past performance be solely based on PPIRS 0-100 score card?

a. No. The Government will evaluate Past Performance in accordance with Section M.

20. What is the hard and soft armor overlap?

a. The soft armor shall provide 1/2” overlap.

21. Is there any consideration for multiple soft packs?

a. No.

22. Will there be another round of questions post solicitation?

a. Yes. There will be a question and answer period after the Government releases the solicitation.

23. Do we plan on making it a frag only system?

a. No.

24. Can the government further refine the requirement for thickness and areal density?

a. The Government anticipates a ballistic areal density threshold of 0.88 psf and an objective of .75 psf. The Government anticipates a thickness threshold of 0.30” and an objective of 0.27”.

25. When will the solicitation be released?

a. The Government anticipates solicitation release in January/February 2018.

26. When will the performance specifications for the soft armor be released?

a. The performance specifications for the soft armor are included in the PC Gen III Detail Specification. The Government provided a draft version of the PC Gen III Detail Specification as an attachment to the Presolicitation Notice.

27. What carrier/nylon is required or preferred?

a. Refer to the PC Gen III Detail Specification.

28. What is the target price for the soft armor?

a. The Government may provide a Rough Order of Magnitude for the soft armor in the final solicitation.

29. Can this be a small business set aside program?

a. Both the PC Gen III and the Soft Armor solicitations are total small business set asides.

30. Can DXF drawings be provided for the parts?

a. At this time, PC Gen III patterns are only available in Accumark.

31. Will vendors be able to obtain tubes from First Spear?

a. First Spear has advised the Government that it intends to make First Spear Tubes available for sale to industry for all acquisitions conducted on behalf of Marine Corps Systems Command.

32. Are you using 612 material for the laser cuts? Is the material a directed source?

a. Refer to the PC Gen III Detail Specification.

33. Will the size tariffs be broken down for size demand and colors?

a. The size tariffs and colors will be defined in the final solicitation.

34. Does the yoke and collar have the same ballistic specification as the rest of the vest?

a. Yoke and collar are not included in this effort.

35. Are you precluding awarding both contacts to one company?

a. No.

36. Will there be instructions on shipping GFP from soft armor vendor to carrier vendor?

a. Yes, delivery schedule, inspection and acceptance will be detailed in the final contract.

37. Will there be serialization and carry through details?

a. Serialization requirements will be defined in the final solicitation.

38. Are there packaging requirements?

a. Packaging requirements are defined in the Section 3.7 of the Statement of Work and Section D of the solicitation.

39. Are there specific instructions on how to store GFP?

a. Other than the applicable clauses in the contract, there are no specific instructions on storing and safeguarding the Government property in the contractor’s possession.

40. How far out is the MP cummerbund prototype demonstration model?

a. The requirements and patterns for the soft armor cummerbund will be provided in the final solicitation.

41. Is the Government looking for a QRG and training video?

a. Section 3.10 Technical Publications. The Contractor shall deliver a PC Gen III System, consisting of the carrier and soft armor, Quick Reference Guide (QRG) that provides the user with information necessary to use and care for the PC Gen III system properly.

42. Is the First Spear tube system required or can we use a different system?

a. Equivalent systems are allowed and must demonstrate conformance to requirements for the quick release fastener as specified in the PC Gen III Detail Specification.

43. How can we meet all the small business sub categories criteria? What happens if we are unable to meet them?

a. Please refer to Section M.2.3 Factor 3: SB Participation Plan, paragraph 2, for language specific to Small Business Participation Plans and how to address failure to meet the objectives.

44. Are there any specific performance requirements for the laser cut? Or is it specific to the material?

a. Requirements for the laser cut are provided in the PC Gen III Detail Specification.

45. Are there proprietary materials used?

a. Brand name items are called for in the Detail Specification (e.g. First Spear Tubes), but are not required if proposing an equivalent as defined in the specification.

46. Will we provide a test sleeve for the soft armor insert compatibility?

a. Yes, refer to Section L.8 Request for Samples.

47. Are you requiring any third party testing?

a. No. Third party testing is not required. However, if an offeror submits a proposal and source selection samples made from alternative ("or equal") material not specified in PC Gen III Detail Specification, the offeror MUST provide supporting data for ALL characteristics contained in PC Gen III Detail Specification. Supporting data provided by the offeror may be third party testing.

48. Are you limiting places of performance for FAT testing?

a. FAT must be conducted at Aberdeen Test Center, Aberdeen MD.

49. If there are multiple places of performance, will there be multiple FATs?

a. Yes, multiple FATs would be required since different production lines are used. See Section 3.6 of the Statement of Work.

50. Will there be other opportunities to see the model of the carrier?

a. The government anticipates providing vendors an opportunity to view the carrier in person after solicitation release. In addition, the government will provide photographs of all carrier components with the questions and answers. Photographs of the soft armor cummerbund will be released with the final solicitation.

51. How will you look at past performance for a company that hasn’t been a prime previously with this type of equipment?

a. Major Subcontracts can be submitted as past performance, see Section L.3.2.3 Volume II – Past Performance for further information.

52. Do the ballistics have to pass LAT before they are integrated

a. Yes, ballistic inserts will be integrated after successful completion of LAT.

53. Does the carrier have to pass LAT before they are integrated?

a. No, soft armor can be integrated prior to the carrier LAT.

54. Is there a requirement for a deltoid protector?

a. No. There is not a requirement for a deltoid protector.

55. How many times does the ESAPI Plate Insertion Verification need to be conducted?

a. ESAPI insertion shall occur twice for each plate pocket within a system (4 plate pockets: Outer Vest Rear, Outer Vest Front, Inner Vest Rear, Inner Vest Front); once with gloves and once without gloves.

56. Is the NIJ lab the sole location for LAT and source selection testing?

a. Source selection testing for ballistic performance will occur at an NIJ-certified laboratory, to be specified in the final solicitation. Ballistic testing for LAT shall be conducted IAW Section 3.6.3 of the Statement of Work.

57. Can you clarify if there will be any angle shots?

a. The Government will provide clarification in the final PC Gen III Detail Specification under the Ballistic Performance Verification section.

58. For the lot acceptance testing, are you taking account for the extra small short to make sure all the shots will fit?

a. The Government will provide clarification in the final PC Gen III Detail Specification in the Ballistic Performance Verification Section.

59. Is the MP armor going to be lot tested with the rest of the armor?

a. The Government will provide clarification in the final PC Gen III Detail Specification in the Ballistic Performance Verification Section.

60. How many times will flexibility be tested?

a. The Government will provide clarification in the final PC Gen III Detail Specification in the Ballistic System Operating Performance Verification Section.

61. Will the ballistics for the cummerbund be tested on the end item?

a. The Government will provide clarification in the final PC Gen III Detail Specification in the Ballistic Performance Verification Section.

62. Does the USMC require that each ballistic layer be water repellant?

a. The Government will provide clarification in the final PC Gen III Detail Specification in the Ballistic Performance Requirements Section.

63. In the detail specification, section 4.10.9.2 calls out testing be performed at 0, 30, and 45 degrees but in the V0 shot pattern section only 0 and 30 degrees are required. I believe the 45 degree should be removed from this section?

a. 45 degree obliquity has been removed from the final PC Gen III Detail Specification.