N0016722Q0093_U00003.docx

N0016722Q0093

SECTION SF 30 BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

SECTION SF 1449 - CONTINUATION SHEET

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

The required response date/time has changed from 19-May-2022 11:00 AM to 15-Jul-2022 11:00 AM.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Table of Contents has changed from:

Exhibit/Attachment Table of Contents

to:

Exhibit/Attachment Table of Contents

The following have been added by full text:

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

QUESTION 7

Regarding “select capabilities”, what are the select capabilities on pg. 1 paragraph 2? Please define?

ANSWER: The desired capabilities are defined in section 4.1 of the minimum specifications document.

QUESTION 8

How are we to “clearly indicate” our capability to meet all specifications and requirements (page 1, paragraph 4)? Please define?

ANSWER: The Government cannot advise how a quoter is to present their capabilities to meet all specifications and requirements.

QUESTION 9

Please provide clarification on what the “features and real-world applications of the Radiation Detection System” are to be simulated (PWS, Section 1)?

ANSWER: The RDS base unit and beta/photon probe will be used to measure beta and photon radiation.

QUESTION 10

What are the established criteria for “intuitive for routine operation” (PWS, Section 4.2.1)?

ANSWER: There is no specific criteria to define this requirement. The instructor control unit should be operable by any trained Navy personnel.

QUESTION 11

Regarding status icons and alarms on the base unit, along with being remotely configurable, must they be able to be individually and remotely activated?

ANSWER: Yes. The instructor should be able to individually and remotely activate status icons and alarms for trainees.

QUESTION 12

What is the process for decontamination? And what materials, solutions, etc. are used in the decontamination process?

ANSWER: There are no specific materials or solutions for decontamination outside of regular industry standards.

QUESTION 13

Define “Associated Supplemental Data”, provide reference documentation (PWS, Section 5.2)?

ANSWER: The title of the Data Item Description (DID) in the Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) B001 is “Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Manuals and Associated Supplemental Data.” The associated supplemental data is only required if specific data is requested in the contract. Section 5.2 of the PWS does not require associated supplemental data.

QUESTION 14

Define “Objective Quality Evidence”, provide reference documentation (Page 8, Section 4.7, Paragraph 2)?

ANSWER: Any evidence that objectively shows that a requirement is satisfied.

QUESTION 15

Is follow-on funding already approved for the RDSTD?

ANSWER:

Funding is for the non-option CLIN only.

QUESTION 16

What are the criteria for “Past Performance” acceptability (Page 15, Factor 2, Technical Capability)?

ANSWER:

The quotes will be evaluated on a Lowest-Priced, Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis, past performance is not relevant.

QUESTION 17

What are the criteria for determining that “option prices are significantly unbalanced” (Page 16, PRICE Section, Subsection c)?

ANSWER:

Option prices are considered unbalanced if they are extraordinarily high compared to its counterpart without relevant justification or explanation.

QUESTION 18

Does this solicitation “exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold”? What dollar amount is the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (Page 21, Note)?

ANSWER:

The definition is located at https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-2 and is as follows;

Simplified acquisition threshold means $250,000, except for—

(1) Acquisitions of supplies or services that, as determined by the head of the agency, are to be used to support a contingency operation; to facilitate defense against or recovery from cyber, nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack; to support a request from the Secretary of State or the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to facilitate provision of international disaster assistance pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2292 et seq.; or to support response to an emergency or major disaster ( 42 U.S.C. 5122), ( 41 U.S.C. 1903), the term means–

(i) $800,000 for any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, inside the United States; and

(ii) $1.5 million for any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, outside the United States; and

(2) Acquisitions of supplies or services that, as determined by the head of the agency, are to be used to support a humanitarian or peacekeeping operation ( 10 U.S.C. 2302), the term means $500,000 for any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, outside the United States.

QUESTION 19

Please provide “Buy American – Supplies” clause for end-product definitions (Page 23, section f)?

ANSWER:

All provisions and clauses can be located at www.acquisition.gov

QUESTION 20

Do paragraphs of 52.212-3 (k1) or (k2) apply to this solicitation since no service or maintenance is being requested?

ANSWER:

Service Contract Labor Standards do not apply for supply purchases.

QUESTION 21

The Service Contract Labor Standards are not attached and we are providing notification of such per the solicitation requirement on page 29, 52.212-3(k)(3)(i).

ANSWER:

Service Contract Labor Standards do not apply for supply purchases.

QUESTION 22

Does the Headphone jack on the Base Unit need to be functional (TM 3-6665-381-13&P, Page 13)?

ANSWER: No, the headphone jack on the base unit does not need to be functional.

QUESTION 23

Since data logging feature is not required, is the Base Unit to have GPS functionality (Page 5, Section 4.3.2, Data)?

ANSWER: No, GPS functionality is not required.

QUESTION 24

Section 4.5 states “Materials requiring special handling or disposal controls (e.g., hazardous materials) shall be avoided.” Does this include nickel metal hydride (NiMH) or lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries?

ANSWER: No, this requirement does not apply to nickel metal hydride (NiMH) or lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery solutions.

QUESTION 25

Given the inability to date to acquire specific technical information (RDS operational kit, schematics, parts lists, technical drawings, software specs, etc.) we request a due date extension of proposals for this solicitation through June 6th, 2022.

ANSWER:

The solicitation will be extended in accordance with the amendment, and a Technical Data Package (TDP) is available via DoD SAFE upon request and receipt of a signed non-disclosure agreement (NDA), attachment 7.

QUESTION 26

Section 4.1.1: For the option, does the Navy actually want to change the volume level of all sounds projected from the Base Unit, or is the requirement to modify the volume level in accordance with the intensity of the radiation? In other words, if more radiation is present, the alarm is more intense?

ANSWER: The instructor should be able to modify the volume level of all sounds projected from any connected training base units.

QUESTION 27

Per answers #2 and #3 of the subject Amendment 1, Vendors are directed to contact the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the RDS directly to obtain technical information and acquire necessary component parts. It is our expectation that the RDS OEM is submitting its own proposal for this opportunity. How will the Government address this apparent unfair competitive advantage?

ANSWER:

A TDP has been made available since A1, and is available DoD SAFE upon request and receipt of a signed NDA, attachment 7. Furthermore, this is not a not sole source action, and the Government cannot restrict the OEM from participating in the small business set-aside solicitation if they are a small business concern.

QUESTION 28

As defined in the solicitation, to provide a “realistic” simulator, will the Government reconsider providing GFP for performance characterization (i.e., response time, visual and audible indications, etc.)?

ANSWER: Amendment 1 removed GFP due to not being available.

QUESTION 29

Is the RDS subject to any ITAR or related export restrictions?

ANSWER: ITAR regulations do not apply; however there are export restrictions on the TDP and technical manual in accordance with the Arms Export Control Act or the Export Administration Act.

QUESTION 30

Section 4.7 – Electronic Properties; as part of the OQE to be provided by the Vendor, will the Government accept detailed analysis to substantiate the Vendor’s claim to comply with both the HERP and HERO requirements instead of full 3rd party test reports?

ANSWER: The Government requires test data to comply with both HERP and HERO requirements. Detailed analysis alone is not an acceptable alternative.

QUESTION 31

Section 4.7 Option requirement: ANSI N42.17A-2003 requires the use and detection of a source of ionizing radiation. Is it acceptable to the Government to test the training equipment to a ‘similar-to’ test with the same general parameters?

ANSWER: The actual RDS device responds to ionizing radiation. The training simulator is intended to simulate the RDS’s response to ionizing radiation. The training simulator is not intended to respond to ionizing radiation.

QUESTION 32

Same as #31 above, Are deviances at the communication frequencies of the devices acceptable?

ANSWER: The minimum specification does specify frequency performance. It is unclear was is meant by deviances. If by deviances the offerors means loss of communication, then no, deviances are not acceptable.

The following have been modified:

52.212-2 EVALUATION--COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (NOV 2021)

(a) Basis for Award

The Government has determined that an award to the responsible Quoter that submits the Lowest-Priced, Technically Acceptable (LPTA) quote in response to this solicitation will represent the best value to the Government. Quotes will be evaluated to determine the LPTA quote based on the following factors:

Factor 1 Price Factor 2 Technical Capability/Approach

A quote must be rated "ACCEPTABLE" for each non-price factor to be eligible for award. An "UNACCEPTABLE" rating for any non-price factor will result in the entire quote being rated "UNACCEPTABLE" overall; an overall rating of "UNACCEPTABLE" makes a quote ineligible for award. A quote must contain sufficient information to enable evaluators to determine acceptability; if there is insufficient information to determine acceptability of the quote, the quote will be rated “UNACCEPTABLE” overall. Each of the evaluation factors will be rated as set forth below. Technical tradeoffs will not be made and no additional credit will be given for exceeding acceptability.

The Government will evaluate the lowest priced quote for technical acceptability. If it is not acceptable, the Government will evaluate the next lowest quote for technical acceptability, and so forth, to determine the lowest-priced, technically acceptable quote, at which point all evaluations will stop.

The Government reserves the right to request that the awardee reduce its total price, or adjust CLIN prices with no change to total price, in order to reduce administrative costs and avoid unnecessary burdens for the agency pursuant to FAR 13.002.

(b) Evaluation Factors Factor 1: Price Quotes must include a proposed price for each Contract Line Item Number (CLIN). The Government will determine prices by adding the total proposed price for all CLINS, including all options. Quotes will be ranked from lowest- to highest-priced.

Factor 2: Technical Capability The Government will evaluate the lowest priced Quoter for acceptability of Technical Capability. If the quote is not found to be acceptable, the Government will evaluate the next lowest quote for acceptability of technical capability, and so forth, to determine the lowest-priced quote that is acceptable for Technical Capability, at which point evaluators will evaluate of the acceptability of that quoter’s Past Performance.

Technical Capability evaluations will result in one of the following ratings:

TABLE 1 - TECHNICAL RATINGS

Minimum Requirements:

The following are the minimum requirements a quote must meet to be deemed acceptable for the Technical Capability factor:

1) The quoted item shall meet the specifications identified in Section 4 of Minimum Specifications.

2) The quoted item shall meet the delivery date/s stated in Section 6 of Minimum Specifications.

PRICE

Quoters responding to this solicitation are advised that, prior to award, the government may request quoters to submit information/data to support price reasonableness such as copies of paid invoices for the same or similar items, sales history for the same or similar items, price list with effective date and/or copies of catalog pages along with any applicable discounts.

QUESTIONS: Any questions in relation to this solicitation shall be submitted to George DelMoral by email at george.a.delmoral3.civ@us.navy.mil. The cut-off date for questions is 11:00am Eastern 30 JUN 2022.

See Block 8 of the SF 1449 for the due date for quotes.

(c) Options. The Government will evaluate quotes for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (Remove section if options are not required)

(d) Contract Award The Government shall mail or email a written notice of award to the successful quoter. Upon receipt, the quoter shall either commence performance, or have an authorized representative sign the award and return it to the Contracting Officer; a binding contract is formed upon the earlier of either of those actions.

(End of provision)

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