Question_for_Solicitation_N0002413R6306.pdf

Q1. We are not seeing an accurate response date anywhere on FBO or within the solicitation documents. The original response date of 7/17 is still posted. Could you please advise us as to when the new response date is based on the revised solicitation posted on 8/13?

A1. The solicitation response date has been extended to 12:30pm EST 10 October 2013 revised in amendment A0001; see Section L1.1 for more details.

Q2. Please clarify as to if responses need to be mailed or if e-mail is sufficient for responding to this

RFQ?

A2. Please see Section L1.1

Q3. Originally the Pre-solicitation identified this procurement as a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

The solicitation does not specify that this is a Total Small Business Set-Aside - is this procurement a

Full and Open with no set-aside?

A3. This procurement is 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside.

Q4. What is the closing date for solicitation N00024-13-R-6306?

A4. The solicitation response date has been extended to 12:30pm EST 10 October 2013 revised in amendment A0001; see Section L1.1 for more details.

Q5. Are there drawings for the plate?

A5. Drawings have been added to the revised Purchase Description NQ/CID 12-01B as Appendix D.

Q6. Is solicitation N0002413R6306 that is posted on FBO.gov a pre-solicitation notice or an actual solicitation due September 27, 2013? I’m unclear because a due date is listed but then there is a statement that this is not a request for proposal.

A6. The posting on 13 August 2013 is the actual solicitation N00024-13-R-6306. Please review the solicitation in full for more details. The solicitation response date has been extended to 12:30pm EST 10

October 2013 revised in amendment A0001; see Section L1.1 for more details.

Q7. Please confirm that this RFP is a Small Business Set Aside. If possible, can you please advise if it is simply a Small Business Set Aside or a Total Small Business Set Aside?

A7. This procurement is 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside

Q8. The plate specified in the attachment varies from the PD in two requirements; thickness and curvature. This plate is a multi-curve plate designed to the same curvature specification of the ESAPI requirement. This plate has been tested against the NIJ 06 threat in addition to other threats common in many theatres around the world, such as; 5.56mm x 45 55gr Ball (M193), 7.62x39mm 123gr PS Ball, and 7.62 x 51mm 149gr M80 FMJ. As a result of the NIJ certification and additional threats this plate is approximately 0.025” thicker than the upper tolerance of the plate requirement.

Is the plate, Cratus 3000SA, acceptable to be submitted for this solicitation?

A8. The federal procurement regulations and law prohibits us from directing any one offeror towards a specific technical approach in response to a solicitation. We have no intention to modify or revise to the solicitation's thickness requirements for this effort. The PD reflects the government requirements for this solicitation and will not be altered

Q9. In Solicitation N00024-13-R-6306 there are a couple references to NIJ 0101.06 Type III certification. Specifically in section L2.0/ 3.0 (pg 58) it is stated that "PDM submission shall also include NIJ 0101.06 Type III certification." Additionally in section L2.0/4.4.4 it is further stated that "Offeror shall provide NIJ certification letter for the ballistic plate proposed for this solicitation."

Given that the actual NIJ certification process that results in listing on the NIJ Compliant Products Listing requires a working timeline of up to 16 weeks of time, will it be acceptable to conduct testing that is compliant with the NIJ 0101.06 Type III certification by an independent NIJ approved test facility and provide the test data as support of the compliant performance in lieu of an actual NIJ certification?

A9. NIJ 0101.06 Type III remains an entrance criteria for an acceptable proposal.

Q10. I’m writing in regards to the, 84--The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), on behalf of PMS- 408 Anti-Terrorism Afloat (ATA), intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP)for Body Armor, Neutrally Buoyant Ballistic Plates, bid. All of the links on FBO.gov are broke. Is there another way to access these links or can I get a copy of the supplies in demand emailed to me.

A10. Due to the recent degradation of NECO, please do not utilize any links generated from that page.

Go directly to www.fbo.gov and search for solicitation number N00024-13-R-6306.

Q11. Would it be possible to arrange a phone call or a meeting to discuss?

A11. The solicitation for the plate has been posted in FBO website. Feel free to go to the website and search for the solicitation number N00024-13-R-6306 for detailed information. All questions must be in written and submitted to the Contracting Officer in accordance with the instructions provided in the solicitation.

Q12. Regarding the FBO posting today - "The purpose of this Amendment..." There was no Amendment posted nor a response to our question - will this be forthcoming?

A12. Due to the functions of FBO, the Government amended the pre-solicitation to update information.

There has not been an amendment to the actual solicitation posted on 13 August 2013. All questions submitted by 30 August 2013 are responded via FBO.

Q13. The FedBizOpps posting for this opportunity indicates it is a Total Small Business Set Aside under

NAICS 339113 but this is not included in the solicitation. Will the Government please include this in the solicitation?

http://www.fbo.gov/

A13. This procurement is 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside. The Government has added the following clause 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside. See amendment A0001 of solicitation N00024-13-R-6306.

Q14. For item number 0001AA, does the government intend to receive 60 Plates total, or 60 sets of 1

Front Plate and 1Back Plate for a total of 120 plates?

A14. The government required a quantity of 60 plates for CLIN 00001AA.

Q15. Please confirm that the Government wants a total of 128 Plates, 68 individual side Plates and 60 individual Front/Back Plates?

A15. The government required a quantity of 60 plates for CLIN 00001AA and 68 plates for CLIN

00001AB, for a total of 128 plates.

Q16. Does the Government intend to 52.215-12 Subcontractor Certified Cost or Pricing Data to apply?

A16. The following clause 52.215-12 Subcontractor Certified Cost or Pricing Data is removed. See amendment A0001 of solicitation N00024-13-R-6306.

Q17. Does the Government intend for 52.226-5 Restrictions on Subcontracting Outside Disaster or

Emergency Area to apply?

A17. The following clause 52.226-5 Restrictions on Subcontracting Outside Disaster or Emergency Area is removed. See amendment A0001 of solicitation N00024-13-R-6306.

Q18. Does the Government intend for 252.208-7000 Intent to Furnish Precious Metals As

Government—Furnished Material to apply?

A18. Yes.

Q19. Does the Government intend for 252.209-7010 Critical Safety Items to apply? If so, would the

Government fill in the applicable portion of this clause?

A19. Yes

Q20. Does the Government intend for 252.219-7009 Section 8(a) Direct Award to apply?

A20. The following clause 252.219-7009 Section 8(a) Direct Award is removed. This procurement is

100% Total Small Business Set-Aside. See amendment A0001 of solicitation N00024-13-R-6306.

Q21. Does the Government intend for 252.225-7005 Identification of Expenditures in the United

States to apply?

A21. The following clause 252.225-7005 Identification of Expenditures in the United States is removed.

See amendment A0001 of solicitation N00024-13-R-6306.

Q22. Does the Government intend for 252.227-7013 Rights in Technical Data—Noncommercial Items and 252.227-7015 Technical Data—Commercial Items to both apply?

A22. Both clauses 252.227-7013 Rights in Technical Data—Noncommercial Items and 252.227-7015

Technical Data—Commercial Items will remain in the solicitation.

Q23. Does the Government intend for 52.215-22 Limitations on Pass-Through Charges—Identification of Subcontract Effort to apply?

A23. The following clause 52.215-22 Limitations on Pass-Through Charges—Identification of Subcontract

Effort is removed. See amendment A0001 of solicitation N00024-13-R-6306.

Q24. Does the Government want 3 total CDs, with Volumes 1, 2, and 3 on each one, or does the

Government want 9 total CDs, 3 with Volume 1, 3 with Volume 2, and 3 with Volume 3?

A24. CD with each set of volumes, total of nine (9) CDs.

Q25. Can the Government please clarify the meaning of “view graph” in paragraph 2?

A25. A “view graph” in this context is a presentation file (e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint).

Q26. For the Technical Proposal, should the required information be in the order of the outline on page 57-58?

A26. Follow what is contained on pages 57-58 in the solicitation.

Q27. The solicitation requires a blank, removable label on the PDMs, and for the submission to be NIJ

06 Type III certified. However, NIJ 06 Type III certification requires an NIJ approved label which cannot be blank or removable. Please advise.

A27. The government requires offerors to submit an NIJ certified design, but does not require that PDM labels be NIJ compliant. Per paragraph 3.0 of section L, the government requests a removable label which identifies the offeror. While the actual plate label (as specified in paragraph 3.6.6 of attachment

J-1) will be required to comply with NIJ labeling requirements for First Article or production requirements, the PDM labels are required to be blank. The purpose of the blank label is to ensure that offerors understand label placement while insuring impartiality during the evaluation process.

Q28. Page 66 states that Volume 3 should be in a separate envelope. Can the Government please clarify this? If all Volumes are bound in separate binders, does the Government want Volume 3 to be in a separate package?

A28. Yes, place Volume Three (3) into a separate package/envelope, then mail with the rest of the

Volumes.

Q29. In Solicitation N00024-13-R-6306 page 61 Section L3.0 it states, Offerors shall fill in Sections I, II, and III for each customer and include as part of their proposal. Separately, the Offeror shall provide the same for the customer evaluation. Does this mean that offerors need to submit Sections I, II, and

III completely populated to each customer being used as a past performance contract? This will require offerors to complete their past performance write-ups prior to asking their customers to fill out their portion of the questionnaire and will reduce the amount of time provided to the customers to populate the questionnaire. Can Section IV of the questionnaire be sent to the customers as a standalone document?

A29. The Government solicitation requirements are clear as stated. Please follow the instructions in

Section L3.0.

Q30. Please clarify the type of set-aside, if any, governing this solicitation. The Federal Business

Opportunities posting reflects a "Total Small Business" set-aside. The solicitation document does not contain the clauses applicable to such a set-aside but does contain the clause 252.219-7009 which is applicable to doing business with the Small Business Administration under the 8(a) program.

Clarification is required in order to determine eligibility under the terms of the solicitation.

A30. The following clause 252.219-7009 Section 8(a) Direct Award is removed. This procurement is

100% Total Small Business Set-Aside. The Government added the following clause 52.219-6, Notice of

Total Small Business Set-Aside. See amendment A0001 of solicitation N00024-13-R-6306.

Q31. Would a 10x12 multi-curve plate be acceptable? We have found that the 10x12 multi-curve contours to the chest better and reduces potential pinching on the sides.

A31. Government PD requirements are clear as stated. The proposals will be evaluated in accordance with Section L and M of the solicitation.

Q32. As long as the technical requirements of the cover was met would a 1000D Cordura cover be considered an acceptable solution? We have found that 1000D Cordura covers perform as well or better than other covers at a reduced weight.

A32. Government PD requirements are clear as stated. The proposals will be evaluated in accordance with Section L and M of the solicitation.

Q33. Does the Government plan to measure Back Face Signature (BFS) for all shots or does the

Government plan to follow the NIJ testing protocol?

A33. Government will be measuring BFD for all shots on the front/back plate.

Q34. Pre-Solicitation requests neutrally buoyant plate. Ours is positive buoyant. We assume this is better for the Navy/Coast Guard. Please confirm that this will be allowed.

A34. The RFP and P-SPEC state the requirements. The source selection process will adjudicate all proposals for adequacy and sufficiency in accordance with Section L and M of the solicitation.

Q35. We use a different foam to achieve positive buoyancy than the specified OleTex CEJN 200 Foam.

Would this be acceptable with the understanding that we would still have to pass FAT and LAT testing?

A35. The RFP and P-SPEC state the requirements. The source selection process will adjudicate all proposals for adequacy and sufficiency in accordance with Section L and M of the solicitation.

Q36. Please confirm any specific requirements for small businesses? Number of employees given the Naics code, Workshare, etc.

A36. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside as defined in FAR Part 19.

Q37. My attention was brought to this RFQ from the Navy and I believe my company can meet the requirements set forth. We're presently in the middle of our National Institute of Justice certifications and have the ability to make our Patent pending Level IV armor plate buoyant. I read the requirements and it appears the Navy is seeking this armor to stop a 7.62. Our armor can withstand the standard .30-06 M2AP as well as much higher munitions. The weight will be high 6 pound range with the ability for buoyancy. If you could supply me with any additional information pertaining to this RFQ it would be helpful.

A37. Please refer to the solicitation N00024-13-R-6306 and all attachments posted to FBO on 13 August 2013 for addition information.

Q38. Can drawings of the NBBP be provided with Solicitation N00024-13-R-6306? Section L.3.0 states that offer is to provide 10 PDMs size 10x12 with their proposal however nowhere in the solicitation is a drawing provided of the NBBP. Curvature and shape data is required in order to make an accurate demonstration model.

A38. Drawings have been added to the revised Purchase Description NQ/CID 12-01B as Appendix D.