Att__8_-_Solicitation_QA_NSW_11M_SSC_8-19-13.doc

N00024-13-R-2215

August 19, 2013

Attachment 8-Solicitation Questions and Answers

Question 1: The FBO Notice and some RFP Section I clauses indicate that this is a Small Business Set-Aside acquisition. Could you please clarify to what extent a Small Business offeror may include components or services provided by large businesses in its proposal?

Government Response 1: Per solicitation clause 52.219-6 (d) Notice of Total Small Business Set Aside, A Small Business concern submitting an offer in its own name shall furnish, in performing the contract, only end items manufactured or produced by small business concerns in the United States or its outlying areas. For the purpose of this solicitation, the NAICS code for the end item is 336612 with 500 employee size. For subcontracting, please refer to 52.219-14 Limitation on Subcontracting, services or supplies, the small business shall perform at least 50% of the work, not including the cost of materials. This clause will be checked under 52.212-5 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 2013) to provide clarity to offerors on the subcontracting limitations. You can also refer to FAR Part 19.502-2 (c) Total Small Business Set-Asides for information on SBA Waivers or exceptions for non-manufacture components such as Engines and navigation.

Questions 2: 042-3: Is there an estimated quantity of boats that will be shelved before being placed in service?

Government Response 2: Boats for this program are not normally stocked to maintain an inactive inventory. Once the boats have been accepted, they are made available to the operational command for issue.

Question 3: 070-3a: Does the trial weight include the passenger gear and if do which gear weight?

Government Response 3: No. See revised Section 070-3a for requirement.

Question 4: 070-3b: Does the trial weight include the passenger gear and if do which gear weight?

Government Response 4: No. See revised Section 070-3b requirement.

Question 5: 070-3a: Is the mission gear weight to be used in the design hoisting load?

Government Response 5: Yes. See revised Section 070-3a requirement.

Question 6. 070-3b: Is the mission gear weight to be used in the design hoisting load?

Government Response 6: Yes. See revised Section 070-3b requirement.

Question 7. 083-1: What is the estimated yearly operation hours for both platforms?

Government Response 7: 1,560 hours per boat.

Question 8. 150-1a: Is the windscreen to hinge independent of the T-top?

Government Response 8: Yes.

Question 9. 150-1a: Is the T-Top required to support a particular load and weight outside of the radar, lights and antenna?

Government Response 9: No.

Question 10. 150-1a: Is the T-top intended to be used as a walking surface?

Government Response 10: No.

Question 11. Is a walk around cabin acceptable?

Government Response 11: A "walk around" cabin style is not prohibited by the specification; however, the cabin must be capable of meeting all minimum requirements, including 070-4b, 150-1b, 150-2b, 150-3, and 150-4. The hull must also meet gross dimension requirements of 070-1.

Question 12. 070-2: This water separator requirement is unclear. Is this intended to be an air-conditioner?

Government Response 12: No air conditioner is required. Air separator is only required to remove spray and runoff from the ventilation inlet.

Question 13. 330-4 Infrared Lighting. This item calls for the use of the Hoffman Engineering IR Illuminator when operating with night-vision goggles. Upon further review of this solicitation, we don't see where any additional NVIS compliance is required. Generally when using night-vision goggles we are required to comply with NVIS compliance by using filter overlay material and NVIS compliant bilge indicator lights, warning lights, etc. Please confirm that NVIS compliance is not a requirement for this contract.

Government Response 13: “NVIS” is not a requirement for this solicitation.

Question 14. Item 313-1 Batteries: “Batteries shall be installed in close proximity to main distribution panel.”

In our particular boat design, this would place the batteries in the console in the open configuration and in the cuddy trunk for the cabin configuration. We generally install batteries in the aft rigging compartment where there is ample space and wireway access to power the main distribution panel. All wiring is sized per IEEE standards. Is there a particular reason that aft installation of the batteries would not be acceptable? Batteries are securely installed as required, but the further forward the batteries are installed the more impact they incur under heavy seas at speed.

Government Response 14: The requirement as stated is an installation preference. However, per Section L of the solicitation, builders are allowed to modify non-vital requirements to state how they intend to implement an alternate solution. This alternate solution will be assessed thereafter as defined in Section M.

Question 15. The DT800 is a 'Smart Transducer' that send numerical depth and temp to an NMEA 0183 or NMEA2000 data port depending on version ordered. The DFF1 sounder requires a 'fishfinder' style transducer like the Airmar SS60 600 watt or SS164 1 kw (Furuno 556TID-LTD/12 or 20). Is the DFF1 required? If so is there a preferred transducer?

Government Response 15: Water depth and temperature must be displayed on the NAVNET system and a through hull sensor fully integrated. Per section L of the solicitation, builders may modify non-vital requirements to state how they intend to implement an alternate solution. This alternate solution will be assessed thereafter as defined in section M. Therefore, offerors may offer a navigation package without DFF1 network sounder, provided that the system displays water depth and temperature.

Question 16. Contract Line Items 1003 and 1004 (Engine and Spares) as defined as section 236 of the specifications covers 236-1 outboards engines, 236-2 Outboard Engine Rigging, 236-4 Outboard Engine Break-in and 236-5 Engine Diagnostics. Shouldn’t section 252 “Propulsion Instrument Package” be included to ensure boat cost and engine costs are completely separated during selection phase?

Government Response 16: 252 "Propulsion Instrument package" plus any other components in the specification that are applicable to the base boat and all costs associated with the frame shall be priced in the base boat CLINs 1001 and 1002. CLINs 1003 and 1004 should only include the unique costs associated with a given engine and the spares associated with the engine manufacturer per Attachment 4 of the RFP. The base boat spares should be priced under CLINs 1005 and 1006 per attachment 4 of the RFP. Depending on the engine configurations and the boat type of each of the delivery order, the Government may order any of the four possible different combinations. Other items such as hoist slings (611-2) and engine diagnosis computers (236-5) are priced separately under CLINs 1007-1009. Offerors should use the same pricing methodology for the option year CLINs.

Question 17. 078-3 Fabric Material – “Near a match in color as the surface it is mounted.” Since the surface of the boat is bare aluminum – is there a preferred color?

Government Response 17: Silver or light gray color is preferred.

Question 18. 630-1 Topside Finish - No paint above the water line. Exposed aluminum surfaces on the exterior of the boat to be glass bead blasted to a uniform natural or satin finish/texture. Are components from OEM’s that are either painted and/or powder coated acceptable?

Government Response 18: See revised Section 630-1 requirement.

Question 19. 630-2 Paint Bottom - Paint/Bottom: Black antifouling bottom paint applied below the water line in accordance with OEM recommendations. Paint to be Sherwin Williams SeaVoyage Copper-Free Antifouling Paint. Can we offer an equal paint solution to the brand specified?

Government Response 19: The Navy has extensive experience with the specified product, as well as extensive failures of products marketed as being equal. An Offeror proposing an alternative product is required to provide evidence that it meets or exceeds the quality and performance characteristics of the specified product, including military specifications.

Question 20. 150-2b Seating (Cabin) - One (1) forward facing shock mitigating seat for the coxswain, with slide track adjustment shall be installed on the starboard side. Seat shall be Shockwave G-Force Fold Up Bolster (or equal). [Builder to Specify make/model]. Space shall be provided for standing navigator position to port of coxswain seat. Bench seating shall be provided to accommodate a minimum of four (4) passengers, with the remaining two passengers seated on gunwales. Bench seating may be used for backboard requirement of Section 070-b.

Is bench seating intended to be available on both the port and starboard side aft of the coxswain seat and standing navigator position in the cabin?

Government Response 20: This decision is up to the builder to determine the best arrangement of cabin seating based upon all other requirements. The minimum amount of seating required is outline in 150-2b.

Question 21. Item 541-2 calls for SS fuel fill and vents. We are now required to comply with the new EPA requirements and our assumption is that this boat will also be required to meet the new regulations. We have been researching for a few months now for EPA compliant SS fuel fills and have not been able to source any. Does the Navy have any guidance for an EPA compliant SS fuel fill? The other issue is that all of the compliant fills are 1.5” and not 2” which the Navy generally requests. Please confirm.

Government Response 21: Where an EPA compliant fitting is not available in stainless steel, an alternate material may be proposed, including polymeric material. This specification does not require 2" fuel fill fittings. Industry standard 1.5" fuel fittings are adequate. The question references section 541-2; however, the requirement for stainless steel fills and vents in question is 541-1.