Responses to Synopsis Questions.pdf

Number Question Government Response

After reviewing the sample task/delivery orders, they appear to be primarily build-to-print efforts. Yet the description of the work effort in the draft RFP SOW includes development and execution of conceptual designs, production feasibility studies, etc. Is it appropriate to respond by assuming these sample tasks represent a similar new design effort for Next Generation submarine, and respond by describing our planned engineering & manufacturing efforts to bring the design from concept through first article delivery?

The responses shall be provided as required by Section L 4.1 of the solicitation. It is not appropriate to respond for any items not requested in Section L 4.1.

In Section H of the draft RFP, clause H-209-H004 Organizational Conflict of Interest is invoked.

Paragraph (f) of this clause focuses on the ability of the performer to compete for future work related to the effort under this RFP. The sample tasks are primarily build-to-print, whereby the performer will manufacture or conduct studies under Navy supervision related to Government designed hardware. Please clarify whether or not the successful performer will be prohibited from bidding on future production work resulting from this contract?

The successful Offeror will not be prohibited from bidding on future production work resulting from this contract.

All line items in the draft RFP are listed as FOB Destination. In light of the fact that some of the manufactured components may be very large, requiring special transportation, significant risk exists for the performer during shipping. Request the Navy evaluate designating the tasks/delivery orders which contain manufacturing of large parts as FOB Origin.

Additionally, it may be more efficient to allow for local DCMA to inspect at Origin (place of manufacture).

The contractor shall be responsible for all delivery of hardware. Although unlikely, the Government may consider Inspection and Acceptance at Origin only under rare circumstances. If the Government allows for FOB Origin for inspection and acceptance, it will be identified on DO Request for Proposals.

The draft solicitation indicates the award will be negotiated (see Block 4 of SF33). Since the specific tasks/delivery orders are not known at this time, but rather several examples are included in the presolicitation notice, how will the basis of estimate (labor hours and material dollars) be audited or reviewed for cost realism by the Government without having a defined scope of work?

The reason that Block 4 is checked is to tell the Government’s internal system that the solicitation will require a proposal and is not a sealed bid. As this solicitation will result in a competitive action, please see Section M

5.0 for instructions on discussions of the initial award, to include the first order. After the contract has been awarded, the Government intends to provide Request for Proposals for each Delivery Order and negotiate those Orders as needed. Please see instructions for L.4.4 for submitting a cost volume for this solicitation.

Under Section B of the draft solicitation, the CLIN ceiling amounts are listed. Several of the sample tasks provided in the FedBizOps notice involve manufacturing large test parts which could involve significant materials/other direct costs (CLIN 0002) relative to the direct labor hours (CLIN 0001).

Additionally, some of the work may require subcontracted effort which would be funded under CLIN 0002 due to limited industrial base capabilities.

Can the ceiling amounts be shifted between CLINs such that the dollar value of the contract is the same?

For example, can bidders propose shifting dollars from one CLIN to another (e.g. reduce CLIN 0001 ceiling by X dollars, and raise CLIN 0002 by the same X dollars)?

The Solicitation has been revised to include labor, material, and ODCs (minus travel) in CLIN 0001 and travel in CLIN 0002. The fee is still applicable to labor only, but offerors may apply appropriate indirect costs (e.g., G&A and overhead) to all cost items.

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