RESPONSE_TO_REQUEST_FOR_INFORMATION.docx

RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) WITH REGARD TO SOLICITATION: N00019-15-R-0001 FOR THE AIRBORNE LOW FREQUENCY SONAR (ALFS) IMPROVED SONAR CABLE

1) Is the solicitation seeking terminated sonar cables (with connectors on each end), or simply 2,550 foot lengths of unterminated (raw) cable?

The requirement is for raw cable.

2) If the answer to 1) is terminated; please provide the requirements or details of the terminations.

Not applicable

3) The Solicitation/RFP is watermarked “DRAFT”. Does the Government anticipate releasing a final RFP?

An official Solicitation/RFP was released on 26 November 2014 to both the FedBizOpps.Gov website: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=0ef7955fc501cb3f23d25c913d536e0f&tab=core&_cview=0

And the NAVAIR Open Solicitations Website: http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.OpenSolicitations

An updated version of the document will be uploaded to remove the “Draft” watermark from the documentation.

4) Section 3.6.1.1 and 3.6.1.2 of the Performance Specification (Attachment 2) state that the cable shall meet the requirements described in the “NAVAIR OPERATIONAL TEST PLAN FOR THE ALFS IMPROVED CABLE”. Will this document be provided?

No, this document will not be provided. The requirements for the cables and any testing which will be performed have been provided.

5) Section 3.2.5 states: The cable shall be resistant to damage caused by abrasion and friction heating due to surface contact during high-speed (<= 10 m/s) reeling operations.

What is the surface being referred to? The funnel? The cable wipers? What duration of contact is expected during high speed raise or normal lower?

The Improved ALFS Sonar Cable shall be resistant to damage caused by abrasion and friction heating due to surface of the wiper nut, a smooth polished metal, for the duration of contact typical for a high speed raise of 2,550 foot of cable.

6) Section 3.2.13 states: The service life of the cable under any combination of operation and storage conditions shall be a minimum of 60 months, with a goal of 120 months.

How many dips are expected during this period? What is the definition of service life? Can the cable be re-terminated during this period?

NAVAIR estimates there will be a range of 0 to 240 dips during a 120 month period.

NAVAIR seeks explanation from Respondents regarding any life limiting characteristics the responding cables may or may not have. The Government does not intend to provide specifications with regard to service life.

Yes, a cable can be re-terminated during the period.

The Respondent shall provide the expected or designed length of time that the cable will perform to the required specification for cable that is stored, used operationally, or subjected to a combination of both, clearly indicating the performance-limiting factors for each condition or combination of conditions.

7) Page 1: The word “Draft” is written on this page. Block 5 (Date Issued) is blank, is this the final RFP?

The “Draft” has been removed and document uploaded. This is the final RFP document.

8) Page 11, 68, 93: Option Item 0103 and 0104 are referenced here but are not identified in Section B (Supplies/Services) or in Section C (Descriptions and Specifications)?

Amendment N00019-15-R-0001-0001 to the RFP/Solicitation will address these issues.

9) Page 12: CLIN 0002 contains a POP that is in the past.

Amendment N00019-15-R-0001-0001 to the RFP/Solicitation will address this issue.

10) 20 Pages for a cost volume appear insufficient, considering that the proposal Adequacy Checklist (PAC) is 7 pages, a Forward Pricing Rate Agreement (which is required as part of PAC) is approximately 12 pages, and the PAC requires other artifacts, that make 20 pages impossible to achieve. Please consider increasing the page count.

Amendment N00019-15-R-0001-0001 to the RFP/Solicitation will address this issue.

11) Section 3.2.4 of the Specification states “the cable’s outer jack must allow for application of paint (M85285-1-H-17925) for optical sensor synchronizations purposes”. We would appreciate you providing the specification of the paint pattern. While the specification does not explicitly require delivery of a painted sample, we believe we will reduce project risk by having our 1 foot sample painted. The specifications lack sufficient detail to paint the 1 foot sample for the optical sensor.

Painting of the 1 foot sample is not required under the specifications for this requirement, nor will the requirements be revised to include the requirement.

Currently there are two (2) marks painted on the cable for optical sensor synchronization purposes a three and a half (3.5) inch and a six (6) inch mark.

12) Is it possible to go see one of the existing cables? Our reason for asking is to view the termination method. While the specification does not require the cables to be terminated, if we understand your current design, we believe we will reduce project risk to show how our cable design can meet the same interface.

NAVAIR, at this time, has no intention of provided a sample of the current cable. The Improved ALFS Sonar Cable is a requirement for raw cable.