Solicitation_14R2232_Q A_Update_4.29.14.pdf

N00024-14-R-2232 Q&A

Responses to Questions for Solicitation N00024-14-R-2232

Posted on FBO: April 14th, 2014

Question 1: “Will it be acceptable for bid submittal to be sent via FEDEX instead of USPS?”

Answer 1: The Government does not have a preference of shipping companies.

Question 2: “Ref. Sol. Page 34, Delivery. Is delivery on its own bottom allowed?”

Answer 2: Yes, as long as delivery is in accordance with section C of the Solicitation.

Question 3: “The following is a quote from section 071-4 of the specification "The below deck spaces shall have a six and a half (6.5) foot minimum head height clearance that is free of all structure, cabling, and equipment. Any localized area with equipment protruding from the overhead below this height clearance shall be marked and guarded as a personnel hazard."

We understand that this clearly requires the 6.5' head clearance in all spaces under the main deck including the engine room, dive compartment and galley. Can we interpret that a small not normally accessed area such as the lazarette can be below this with clearance marked as a personnel hazard? Please confirm that this is acceptable” Answer 3: The minimum head height requirement in 071-4 does not apply to the lazarette and forepeak.

Updated on FBO: April 17th, 2014

Question 4: Dive Support Boat Specification Section 084-1, Marine Transport, requires that the boat shall be designed for marine transport and logistical launch and recovery (e.g. crane, well deck, or deck cargo transport) from decks of USN and/or Military Sealift Command (MSC)/Commercial shipping. Please advise where these design criteria may be publicly posted or, if not publicly available, could you please furnish the criteria to all bidders?

Answer 4: All specific requirements to comply with 084-1 Maritime Transport are included within the Dive Support Boat Specification (e.g. 084-2 Boat to Ship Tie downs, 611-3 Lift Fittings, etc.). Offerors can reference SWCCD-23-TM-2009/64 Rev C, "SMALL CRAFT TRANSPORTABILITY DESIGN AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS GUIDANCE" for additional guidance on how to comply with 084-1.

Question 5: The proposal submission check list indicates that an Offeror is to complete Section K. If the Offeror Reps and Certs are up to date in the SAM system are we still required to fill out Section K?

Answer 5: Offerors are permitted to print out the Reps and Certs from SAM and append to the proposal in lieu of completing Section K – Representations and Certifications.

Posted on FBO: April 22nd, 2014

Question 6: Question regarding Data Rights and the two provided attachments. Please clarify the difference between the two documents as the wording is very similar. It appears that the documents site 2 different FAR clauses. Could an example be shown to assist us with the proper completion of these forms?

Answer 6: The Offeror is responsible for identifying as a part of their proposal the data and technical information to be provided under this contract. In addition, the Offeror shall identify the technical data rights that the Offeror plans to extend the Government with the provided data.

The Offeror should identify the data provided as part of their standard process of selling boats to the commercial market and the additional information requested by the Government to be furnished as a part of this solicitation. DFARS 252.227-7015 should be referenced for commercial data claims and DFARS 252.227-7017 for non-commercial data claims.

Specifically, the Offeror shall fill out Attachment 11 with any technical data they plan to provide the Government which is considered commercial data and is normally provided to commercial customers as part of their standard commercial market boat sales. Attachment 10 shall be filled out with any additional data either required by this solicitation or the Offeror plans to provide which is not a part of the standard commercial sale. The Offeror shall then identify what level of data rights they plan to extend the Government associated with the identified data.

Question 7: It is not possible to have an ungrounded 240/120V system. All rules by all organizations require dual voltage distribution systems to have a grounded neutral. The only way they can have both 240V and 120V and have an ungrounded system is if the two voltages are generated in separate distribution systems. In that case, you can have a single or three phase ungrounded 240V system, and a separate ungrounded 120V single or three phase system. The only way to get both voltages out of a single system is a single phase, grounded 240/120V system, or a three phase, grounded 208V/120V system.

Please provide clarification to the spec for bidding purposes.

Answer 7: The requirement stands as written. Ungrounded systems have been installed on US NAVY Boats, Craft and Ships for years. Various generator manufacturers have indicated that diesel generators with an ungrounded neutral are available in most sizes and can be safely installed without grounding the neutral conductor on the craft. A good general reference for shipboard power systems is: Shipboard Electrical Power Systems (Chapter 8) by Mukund R.

Patel. (This publication talks directly to ungrounded neutral shipboard systems.)

Updated on FBO: April 29th, 2014

Question 8: If shipping the boats via water, (Ship or Barge) will the carrier need to be a US flagged ship or barge?

Answer 8: Yes.

Question 9: Please clarify 310-1. Shall the 480VAC three phase generator be of sufficient capacity to carry the entire normal boat operating electrical load, or shall it be of sufficient capacity to carry the normal boat operating 480vac three phase electrical loads only?

Answer 9: The 480 Vac generator described in Section 310-1 shall be sized based upon the 480 Vac 'low usage loads' identified in Section 320-2 and as shown on Att. 6 (Notional Dive Boat AC Power One-Line Diagram)."

Question 10: Question: Section C, Paragraph 3.7.1, Section D, Warranty Notification, Att_08_- _Offeror_Commercial_Warranty and Section E Guaranty Period appear to be in conflict with respect to the length and start of the warranty period. The contractor requests clarification of the length and start of the warranty period.

Answer 10: The guaranty (in Section E) and the commercial warranty (in Section C/Attachment

8) are separate and distinct "warranties" with different start and end dates. The guaranty starts at the beginning of preliminary acceptance of the boat and ends 8 months after preliminary acceptance. The commercial warranty for the boat and all items (Builder's Warranty) starts after the in service date (i.e., upon issuance of the craft to the fleet) and must be for at least one year but can extend longer. This is not an inconsistency in the RFP despite the fact that the guaranty and warranty overlap for a period of time.

Question 11: We agree fully that Navy (and commercial) ships have safely utilized ungrounded systems for years. However, these are usually three-phase systems, and occasionally a single-phase system. As noted in the above question, dual-voltage systems are required to be solidly grounded by all marine classification and regulatory bodies. This includes MIL-STD-1399- 300B, Electric Standard, Alternating Current. Please see the below cite from that standard:

Section 5.1.6 Power System Parameters

5.1.6.2 System voltage. System voltages are as follows (see 5.2.2):

a. 440 Vrms, 3-phase (ungrounded).

b. 115 Vrms, 3-phase (ungrounded).

c. Special service, 115/200 Vrms, 3-phase, 4-wire, grounded neutral, 400 Hz power is provided for servicing aircraft in hangars and on flight decks, and to avionics shops.

d. Special service, 115/200 Vrms, 3-phase, 4-wire, grounded neutral, 60 Hz power is provided for avionic shops.

e. Special service, 230 Vrms, 60 Hz, 3-phase, ungrounded or 230 Vrms, 60 Hz, single-phase, grounded or ungrounded. This power is provided upon request only for NATO load equipment.

f. Special service, 120/208 Vrms, 60 Hz, 3-phase, 4-wire, grounded neutral or 240/120 Vrms, 60 Hz, single phase, grounded neutral. These special distribution system voltages shall be in accordance with NAVSEA Standard Drawing 7512881 and NAVSEA Standard Drawing 7598285, respectively.

We do not have access to the book referenced in Answer 7, and would appreciate any insight as to how a dual-voltage system can be safely installed and operated with no ground.

For the specific vessel in question, we would recommend that a 240Vac three phase generator be provided, supplying a 240Vac, 3-phase panel. One branch of this panel can supply a 240:120Vac delta-delta transformer and a 120Vac 3-phase panel. One branch of this can be used to supply the single-phase 120Vac panel, with alternate supply from the 120Vac single-phase shore power. The isolation transformer (already included in the spec) on the 120V, single-phase shore power will convert the grounded 120Vac shore power to an ungrounded 120Vac supply to the panel.

As an alternative to the above, the 120Vac, 3-phase system could be eliminated entirely. With the exception of the convenience receptacles (and a few other small loads), all loads on the vessel (including lighting, and battery chargers) are readily available in 240Vac. All 120Vac loads can be supplied from the 120Vac, single-phase panel (supplied by a 240:120Vac isolation transformer). This would simplify the system significantly.

Answer 11: The 240/120 Vac single phase ungrounded power distribution system specified in this solicitation is tailored to the unique operating profile and load requirements for a Dive Support Boat. The same electrical system has been provided on another Dive Support Boat contract, with vessels delivered and currently in service, using a Cummins Onan model MDDCA generator (240/120 Vac, single phase, 60 Hz) and power distribution systems as specified. With respect to grounding, it is noted that the 240/120 Vac system is three-wire ungrounded power (L1, L2 and Neutral) with a fourth wire connected at generator chassis ground and carried throughout the system as a standard safety ground.

Builders who choose to propose an alternate approach for providing power to 240/120 Vac loads identified in the Specification and Attachment 6 (Notional Dive Boat AC Power One-Line Diagram) are referred to Section L, Volume I: Technical Proposal (Non-Price Factors), Factor 1:

Technical Merit of Design, paragraph 1, which states (in part):

“Any proposed alternative approach must meet the minimum requirement of the Specification.”

In particular, alternative approaches to providing power to 240/120 Vac loads should provide ungrounded, single phase power fed from a 240-Vac (notional) generator with appropriate alternate power feed from 480 Vac switchboard as stated in Section 320-3.