T-ATS_DDC_Draft_RFP_QA_23Nov2016.docx

1. Please confirm that DRL DI-033-09 only requires the listing of drawings specifically identified in DI-031 and DI-033. Manual, studies, calculations, reports and the like are excluded.

The Government confirms that DI-003-09 does not require the inclusion of manuals, studies, calculations, and reports.

2. DRL DI-033-09 makes reference to "Ship Equipment Drawings". Please identify the DRL that defines scope of Ship Equipment Drawings. We see no DI of that description.

Ship Equipment Drawings are not required. This change will be included in an update to DRL DI033-09, which will be issued with the formal Request For Proposals.

3. DRL DI-033-09 para 1f notes "Actual completion dates and revision dates". Is this to mean the latest revision date or a history of all revision dates for each drawing listed?

Actual completion dates should reflect the date the initial revision was issued. The revision dates should reflect the date the latest revision was issued.

4. Draft RFP Page 36, section C-3.085a, 3rd paragraph - Please confirm that the reference to "all drawings" means only those listed in DI-031.

“All drawings” means all drawings developed for the program. This includes those required by DI-031, DI-032, DI-033, and those required by Classification Society and Regulatory Bodies.

5. Draft RFP Page 39, section C-3.096, 1st and 2nd paragraphs - Please explain what the "Supplemental Agreement" is.

The Ship’s weight will be contractual and will be documented in a supplemental agreement which is a bilateral contract modification. Since the Accepted Weight Estimate (DI-046-01) will not be produced until after the contract is awarded, a supplemental agreement is used to incorporate the weight and center of gravity values into the contract.

6. Draft RFP Page 40, section C-3.098 - This section described the need for specific models and mock-ups. Will the criteria cited be incorporated into the respective COR sections?

The criteria cited will not be incorporated into the COR. The Government expects the models will reflect the contractor’s final design.

7. Draft RFP Page 40, section C-3.098, 2nd paragraph - This paragraph describes various items that the ANCHOR HANDLING MODEL is to accomplish. Why is said modeling requires as anchor handling is a part of the mature commercial vessel design being used to develop the baseline design?

The anchor handling model will help to prevent anchoring handling problems that have occurred on recent commercial ship procurements, including some ships which were based on an existing design.

8. Draft RFP Page 40, section C-3.098, Pilothouse Mock-up - To what degree is the equipment to be simulated? Are 2D representations acceptable?

Equipment would be simulated to a degree to which a ship’s Master could come into the Mock-up and be able to get a sense as to how he/she and watch standers would be able to perform their duties on the Bridge. Equipment, furnishings, and consoles may be represented by either actual or simulated equipment, furnishings, and consoles (e.g. wooden or cardboard boxes) which match the dimensions and layout of switches, controls, indicators, etc. 2D representations of equipment, furnishings, and consoles are not acceptable.

9. Draft RFP Page 55, HQ C-2-0039 - Please confirm that the reference to "working plans" means only those listed in DI-031.

Working plans are not limited to those listed in DI-031.

10. Draft RFP Page 109, paragraph 3 - The text indicates that three copies of Volume I are to be provided. The table indicates six copies are required. Which is correct?

Three copies of Volume I are required. This will be corrected in the final RFP.

11. Draft RFP Page 113 - This section indicates that compartment areas are to be listed on the General Arrangement. Is this for every compartment or only those intended for stowage of liquids or solids?

Compartment areas for every compartment are to be listed on the General Arrangement.

12. Draft RFP Page 113 - This section indicates that antenna locations are to be depicted. Several antennas are provided as GFE. Will the Offerors be provided locating constraints for each of the GFE antenna in order to accurately represent their size and locations in the proposed General Arrangement?

The Government will not be providing locating constraints for the GFE antennas. For purposes of the proposal, Offerors are required to depict only Contractor-furnished antennas. Locations of GFE antennas will be agreed to after contract award as part of the C4I Working Group mentioned in Section C-3.045h after the Government has conducted a topside analysis.

13. Attachment J-3 Page 2, paragraph 4.0 - The table in this section makes reference to "Project Peculiar Documents". We could not find a listing in the COR or Attachment J-3. Where are these PPDs listed and will the Offerors be provided a copy prior to development of their bids?

The Project Peculiar Documents are the items listed in the Government Furnished Information. This will be clarified in the final RFP.

14. Attachment J-1, COR (Version 3) section 3.202c – The first paragraph requires the monitoring the “status and operating parameters” of the transformers. Exactly what is intended to be monitored on the transformers?

It is intended that temperature for each phase of the transformer winding will be monitored as well as any other parameter which is needed to satisfy ABS for ACCU notation.

15. Attachment J-1, COR (Version 3) section 3.422 – The 2nd paragraph indicates that two searchlights are to be provided port and starboard. Please conform that the intent is for a total of two searchlights, one each port and starboard.

The intent of the requirement is to provide one searchlight on the port side and one searchlight on the starboard side.

16. Attachment J-1, COR (Version 3) section 3.422 – Is it required that the navigation lights be LED type?

Yes, navigation lights shall be of the LED type.

17. Will the T-ATS contract have a bond included?

No, Offerors will not be required to secure performance bonds, bid bonds, or similar types of surety bonds for this contract.

18. Will the Navy issue a waiver for Tier 4 emission requirements or will we be allowed to substitute the propulsion engines with Tier 4 compliant units or equal or greater power?

The Circular of Requirements (Version 3.0) requires that "Diesel engines shall comply with the emissions requirements applicable to marine engines intended for US Flag commercial vessels as well as compliance to IMO MARPOL Annex VI." Therefore diesel engines are required to comply with Environmental Protection Agency regulations, either Tier 3 or Tier 4 depending on the engine's displacement per cylinder. Offerors are allowed to substitute engines on the parent design to meet these requirements. The Navy will not waive or use the national security exemption for emission requirements on these ships.

19. How does the Navy intend to handle royalties to the owners of the parent craft designs? We assume it will be up to the bidders to negotiate the best possible arrangement and include in their pricing?

It will be the Offeror's responsibility to make all arrangements, including any royalties or other fees, with the owner of the parent design in order to use the design for this solicitation.

20. What would be the anticipated crew size and berthing requirements?

The crew size is expected to be 23 initially, and then reduced to 21 after the ship is approved to operate with a periodically unattended engineroom.

21. Would a moon pool be required to support divers/ROVs?

There is no requirement for a moon pool, and there are no support services required for the ship to embark divers or ROVs. All support services and other interfaces that the T-ATS will require to support embarked mission systems are already captured in the Circular of Requirements, Attachment J-1.

22. What type of crane is envisioned (SWL, sea state, man riding required)?

The salvage crane requirements are listed in the Circular of Requirements, Attachment J-1. Section 3.573 lists the primary requirements. Other cranes, such as general purpose cranes for stores handling, can be included as part of the Offeror's proposed ship design to provide the ship with additional flexibility, but there is no requirement for any crane besides the salvage crane.

23. How many boats required (FRC, lifeboat, work boats) vice life rafts?

A fast rescue boat is specified in the Circular of Requirements, Attachment J-1. Section 3.583a lists the primary requirements. It is the Offeror's responsibility to determine the type and number of life rafts and/or lifeboats based on the crew and persons other than crew that the T-ATS will accommodate. Any other boats that will be required to perform missions will be provided by the Navy as part of the embarked mission systems and equipment.

24. Will there be additional information on what will be specifically required for SAR, Sub Rescue, and HADR?

Other than the towing winch and associate tow equipment, the T-ATS will embark any mission systems and equipment needed to perform its mission. All support services and other interfaces that the T-ATS will require to support embarked mission systems are captured in the Circular of Requirements, Attachment J-1.

25. Will ABS class Notation CPS for IMO PSPC requirement for IMO Resolution MSC.215(82) be required?

Section No. 1 - Service Requirements, Para (c) Tank Paints, Item (2) Ballast Tanks states: "Ballast Tanks shall be coated with two coats of approved epoxy over blasted steel. Shop primers must be removed."

T-ATS Circular of Requirements, Attachment J-1 states the vessel will be designed and constructed under American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Whereas, the subject vessel is over 500 gross tons - is it the intent to adhere to IMO resolution requirements? ABS Notation (CPS) would require additional technical requirements such as Coating Technical File and Tripartite Agreement between NAVSEA, Coating Manufacture and Shipyard, etc. Additional requirements pertaining to certification of coating systems, verification procedures and inspection criteria also required. Normal ballast tank coatings would be two main coats with two stripe coats.

Please advise if the ABS Notation CPS will be required for IMO Resolution Performance Standard for Protective Coatings (PSPC).

The Government does not require the ABS Notation CPS.

26. COR (Version 3) Revision Block - The Description indicates that 3.644b was changed. No change could be found in 3.644b. However, there were changes to sections 3.663 and 3.664a that were not identified in the revision block. Please clarify.

It is assumed that this question is about 3.664b as 3.644b does not exist in the COR. The title of 3.664b was changed from “DAMAGE CONTROL REPAIR LOCKER” to “DAMAGE CONTROL EQUIPMENT STOWAGE”.

27. COR (Version 3) Section 3.436b - Is it required all accesses be monitored or only those from the ship's exterior?

Only Communications Suite accesses, egresses, or hatches are required to be monitored. If a Ship’s Office is provided then its accesses, egresses, or hatches will be required to be monitored.

28. COR (Version 3) Section 3.521 - What is meant by requiring the actuated ball valve being "located within the skin of the vessel"? The only other time "within the skin" is used clearly requires within an interior compartment. Does this mean it is to be located out of the weather?

“Within the skin of the vessel" means interior to the vessel and out of the weather.

29. COR (Version 3) Section 3.602a - States that the "frames shall be numbered from bow to stern". It is presumed that frame 0 is at the bow. During design studies the government accepted that frame 0 could be aft if that was how the parent vessel was laid out. Is the aft frame 0 no longer acceptable?

Numbering the frames stern to bow with an aft frame of 0 is not acceptable. The frames shall be numbered from bow to stern starting with 0 at the bow regardless of how the parent vessel is laid out.

30. COR (Version 3) Section 3.644b - This section requires that the Damage Control Repair Locker "be contained within the Salvage Storeroom (if provided)". Does the Damage Control Repair Locker area/volume count as part of the required area/volume for the Salvage Storeroom?

Yes, the Damage Control Equipment area/volume is counted as part of the required area/volume for the Salvage Storeroom.

31. COR (Version 3) Section 3.672d - This section has been moved from Appendix B to the COR making it a requirement. However, sections 3.573, 3.644b and 4.070c all make reference to Salvage Storeroom or Salvage Equipment Stowage with the notation "(if provided)". Please clarify.

The notation "(if provided)" will be removed from these sections in the final RFP.