Attachment 8 - Interface Cables (810) - Sources Sought Notice Questions- Revised Answers dtd 4 April 2024.pdf

Interest Party Document Section Question Responsibility Answer

1 VPITech RDS Base unit to DT-304/PDR Interface Technical Specs

3.5.12 It is statistically improbable to meet 3.5.12. Specification 3.5.12.a and 3.5.12.b constitute step changes that are likely within the range of count rate reported at background levels. How firm is this requirement?

Technical Code

The Technical Specification has been updated to Revision C (now section 3.5.8). The requirement in Revision C allows for flexibility on the required performance on the lower ranges. Vendor may perform a baseline reciept verification test to confirm the device can meet the requirement prior to the introduction of the interface.

2 VPITech RDS Base unit to DT-304/PDR Interface Technical Specs

3.13.2

A) How firm is requirement “3.13.2 Components internal to the interface shall be accessible for depot-level repair”? B) Is the Navy anticipating doing printed circuit board level repair? To meet environmental and EMI requirements, potting materials filling the cavity of an enclosure is ideal. But it would not be repairable at that point.

Technical Code

The Technical Specification has been updated from Rev A to Rev C and the item is now section 3.11.1.

Priority shall be conceded to meeting Environmental and EMI requirements in section 3.7 of Revision C of the Technical Specification if maintainability compromises the interfaces ability to meet Environmental and EMI requirements. All components internal to the interface shall be accessible for depot-level repair unless deviation is necessary to guarantee Environmental and EMI requirements.

3 VPITech SOW

Will the selected contractor be held liable for probes or the RDS Base Unit not meeting the performance specifications, but the interface cable can meet them? In other words, will probes be verified that they have passed all required tests and comply with all specifications in the SOW when attached to an IM-265/PDQ RADIAC Meter via a DT- 685/PDQ Beta Probe Interface or connected directly to an IM-271/PD Frisker Station before they are delivered to the contractor for testing with an RDS Base Unit and interface cable?

Technical Code

The vendor can perform a receipt verification test of the Government Furnish Equipment (GFE) to establish a baseline performance and isolate deviations to the introduction of the interface. The GFE provided will be calibrated and its performance verified before loaning to the vendor. It is expected that the vendor would only be responsible for the performance of the interface. However, there are many tests in which the "system" consists of the interface and the probe. The Navy does not anticipate the DT- 304/PDR or DT-643(intentionally left blank )/PDR to contribute to failure of requirements. The vendor is only responsible for the interface but it is part of the whole “system.” If the introduction of the interface results in the system failing where it previsouly passed, the failure is attributable to the interface. We do not expect the vendor to modify the other components beyond the interface. Both probes are simple devices that primarily consist of a Geiger-Müller (GM) tube and a resistor. The Navy intends to provide known calibrated and functional GFE to the contractor, along with Objective, Quality Evidence (OQE) confirming this is the case.

Revised dtd 4 April 2024

REF #810 - Interface Cables - Sources Sought Notice Questions/Answer Questions received 12 March 2024