Q and A - N00173-21-Q-CM02 (Amendment 0001).docx

Questions and Answers (Q&A) Question 1: We offer a model competitive to the 4006G-120K-FF-10 6” listed in the proposal, and I was reaching out to determine if we would be able to offer our blackbody solution as a competitor.

Answer 1: The Government and its technical experts have thoroughly reviewed the data sheet detailing the technical specifications of the proposed competitive blackbody. As highlighted in the attached J&A, any other blackbody would not meet the Government's requirement.

Question 2: The RFP states the threshold and objective requirements for Interchangeable Lens to have three or four integrated respectively, however, we are unable to find the sizes specified for the lenses. Are the lenses the same as stated in the sources sought to be 25, 50, 100, and 200mm?

Answer 2: Please find MWIR lens parameters, including lens sizes, located in Attachment 1 – Salient Characteristics (Amendment 0001).

Question 3: Would the Government request the lenses be provided as part of the quote under the Camera line item or provided as a separate line item?

Answer 3: It can be quoted as a separate line item per lens, and the Government is open to alternative line item structures that best reflects the Offeror’s proposed solution.

Question 4: Would the Government prefer any or all lenses to be calibrated prior to delivery?

Answer 4: It is not useful for the Government’s end application.

Question 5: The MWIR sensor and blackbody are listed as directed procurement and have the associated performance specifications as part of their documentation. In order to align the system performance, clarification on the following optical path requirements are requested.

0. What Optical line of sight stability (jitter) is acceptable for the MWIR sensor?

Answer: The system performance on an aircraft should not adversely affect imaging with the FLIR A8581 per lens.

0. What is the minimum transmission of the MWIR window over the specified bands?

Answer: The system performance should not adversely affect day or night imaging with the FLIR A8581.

0. What are the lens requirements for the MWIR for focal length or FOV?

Answer: Effective Focal Length (EFL) of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mm.

0. What are the lens requirements for the MWIR for lens distortion?

Answer: Full frame imagery should be nominally flat per lens.

0. What is the MTF requirements for each lens?

Answer: Each lens' performance should not adversely affect imaging with the FLIR A8581; the system's overall MTF should be at/near the detector's MTF (i.e., detector-limited).

Question 6: In regards to the gimbal requirements, can the Roll of +/-90 degrees be performed through software by applying corrections to the imagery, such as orthorectification?

Answer 6: No, this will reduce the frame size, or the resolution of the imagery.

a. What is the underlying threshold and objective capability that this hardware requirement is tied to?

Answer: Full frame, full resolution, imaging of scene below a maneuvering aircraft.

Question 7: Is there an established not to exceed price associated with the High Angle Infrared Signature Measurement System?

Answer 7: No, the Government will conduct a tradeoff amongst the evaluation factors based on the offeror’s proposed solution.

Question 8: Would it be possible to schedule a telecon with yourself and a technical member of the team to discuss these questions in order for us to better formulate a response that aligns with the desires for the system?

Answer 8: The Government will not hold teleconferences during this stage of the requirement.

Question 9: Does the government expect there to be NRE as part of the bid to adapt the specified cameras and lenses to the gimbal?

Answer 9: Non-recurring engineering (NRE) is an acceptable solution to satisfy salient requirements of this RFQ.

Question 10: We are looking for some clarification to the discrepancies in the specifications.

1. The FLIR A8581 model is specified. This is a 3-5um f/2.5 camera. An aperture of f/4.0 is specified in some locations which corresponds to model A8583.

Please confirm which aperture size: f/2.5 or f/4.0.

1. The motorized lenses are only available as f/2.5. A mismatch between lens and camera aperture is technically feasible but has implications for image quality.

Please confirm lens aperture f/2.5 is acceptable.

Answer 10: Smaller f-numbers than f/4 will exceed the threshold requirement and are acceptable; therefore, f/2.5 is an acceptable f-number.