Industry Questions and Answers N0018926QL029.pdf

1. Technical acceptability – level of detail expected

● The RFQ notes that general statements or paraphrasing the SOW may be rated unacceptable.

What level of specificity do you expect in the quote (e.g., a sample weekly plan, a sample field scenario package, sample training report/AAR template)?

o Provide a sample weekly training schedule for the 15-hour-per-week base period.

2. Define “unmatched operational expertise / unique ability”

○ Fundamentally, this means the program will encompass the technical, operational, legal, and strategic aspects of drone initiatives so Midshipmen will fully understand not only how to operate the systems but how they fit into modern warfare across the geo-political spectrum.

● The SOW references “unmatched operational expertise” and a “unique ability” informed by real-time conflict insights (Ukraine/Israel). What specific evidence would you consider acceptable to demonstrate this (recent AARs, trip reports, published training products, partner letters, prior course materials, etc.)?

o Provide AARs, white papers, or training modules that specifically address areas such as FPV drone tactics, military uses of drones tactically (ashore or afloat), EW-resistant comms, or drone-drop munitions as seen in current events, to include

Operation Epic Fury if possible.

● How recent must “real-time” insight be to count (last 30/60/90 days)?

o Information should generally be from the last 6 months to be considered tactically relevant in the rapidly evolving UAS/cUAS space.

3. Training reports and surveillance expectations

● The surveillance approach references observation, participant feedback, and training reports.

What format and cadence do you want for training reports (weekly, monthly, per-event

AAR), and who is the intended audience?

o Standardized Weekly Status Reports summarizing the 15 hours of performance, and

Event-Based AARs for Saturday training or competitions. The intended audience would be the COR and likely the USNA ARES faculty/staff lead.

4. Validated field scenarios requirement

● The SOW requires a minimum of three validated field scenarios per semester. What constitutes “validated” (formal sign-off, defined metrics, participant feedback threshold, safety/ORM completion, after-action documentation, etc.)?

o The USNA COR and USNA ARES faculty/staff lead will validate the events and scenarios through a simple review of preparations and then observing the execution of the events. If a full semester (commonly viewed as August-December/ January-

May) is not covered by the contract, a lesser number of scenarios and events will be acceptable by the USNA COR.

5. Capstone and curriculum support – deliverable definition

● For capstone advising/curriculum updates, what are the expected deliverables (written feedback, grading rubrics, reading lists, lab guides, milestone check-ins), and what cadence do you want?

o Monthly milestone check-ins, technical feasibility assessments, and final research output reviews at a bi-weekly or monthly to align with the academic semester.

6. Partner engagement expectations (ONR/NSW/NATO/Fleet)

● The SOW states the contractor will partner with ONR, NSW, NATO forces, and fleet units.

What does “partner” mean in practice for this effort (recurring touchpoints, joint events, coordination letters, guest instructors, requirement alignment, etc.)?

o This can simply be equated to general exchanges of UAS/cUAS efforts with military context and applicability for midshipmen. Recurring touchpoints and potential guest instructors/presenters could be examples of such partnerships. If joint events are possible to schedule, that would be ideal.

● Is the Government expecting the proposed key personnel to have pre-existing experience/relationships in these areas, or is that primarily an outcome of performance during the contract?

o Yes, ideally the personnel or their parent entity has pre-existing experience or relationships in those areas to enhance the USNA training environment.

7. Travel expectations and logistics accountability

● Is travel typically performed with midshipmen/faculty, and what level of logistical responsibility is expected of the contractor (planning, accountability, expense tracking, post-trip reporting)?

o When travel occurs for the ARES team, USNA will handle midshipmen and faculty travel, logistics, and funding, while the contractor would be responsible for their own travel and expenses to match the team’s.

8. Operational availability / on-site presence (responsiveness)

● What is the Government’s expectation for on-site presence (daily, specific days, or event-driven), and is the role intended to be primarily in-person versus hybrid?

o Given the mentorship role and regular interaction with USNA midshipmen and staff, you should plan for a primarily in-person presence in the Annapolis area

● How quickly must the contractor be able to report to campus when needed (same-day / within

X hours / within 24 hours)? Is there an implied local-area requirement?

o All training will be in person, primarily at the US Naval Academy and Naval Station

Annapolis, except when events are held offsite. The 15-hour per week goal would be a weekly training plan in Annapolis, developed in advance, which should not require a rapid response.

9. Non-standard hours (workouts / Saturday Morning Training / events)

● Does performance require support outside normal business hours, including:

• early morning workouts (e.g., 0500): Rarely, but on occasion to support extended training sessions.

• Saturday Morning Training windows (e.g., 0630–1300): Yes, plan for every Saturday (to be confirmed weekly with the COR and ARES staff member), during the Academic Year.

• evenings/weekends team time and after4-5pm to include occasional overnights: Yes, the

ARES team primarily practices most weekday afternoons roughly from 1530-1730 during the

Academic Year (to be confirmed each week with the COR and ARES staff member)

● If yes, how frequently should offerors plan for these non-standard hours? M-F each week, to be confirmed each week with the COR and ARES staff members.

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10. Field time / overnight requirements

● Should offerors plan for field evolutions that extend into evenings or require overnight stays

(range time, offsite training, capstone testing events, scenario validation)?

o While not a requirement, that clearly would be of great benefit to the training environment if the event/range/training is of great value to the midshipmen. The

USNA COR and ARES staff members would ideally plan this with the offeror once in place.

● If overnight field time is required, is the contractor expected to stay with the midshipmen in the field, and how are transportation, food, and per diem handled (Government-provided vs reimbursable vs included in the labor rate)?

o When travel occurs for the ARES team, USNA will handle midshipmen and faculty travel, logistics, and funding, while the contractor would be responsible for their own travel and expenses to match the team’s.

11. Accountability / supervision during off-hours and field evolutions

● During early morning workouts, Saturday training, or field evolutions, what is the contractor’s expected level of responsibility for student accountability, safety/ORM oversight, and coordination (muster/check-in procedures, rosters, incident reporting)?

o USNA will be responsible for student accountability, oversight, and coordination.

Safety/ORM will be jointly handled for range matters, but USNA staff will always have primary responsibility for USNA midshipmen and staff.

12. Access requirements – CAC / investigation / TS/SCI

● For CAC access, what investigation level is required, and is it required at time of award or time of performance start?

o Unescorted base access will require a CAC or DBIDs, so the contractor will need one to commence work with midshipmen (performance start).

● Given that portions of the work may involve classified discussions and/or support to classified-level capstone projects, should offerors propose key personnel with an active clearance and list clearance level in the quote? If so, is TS/SCI required, and is it required

Day 1?

o TS/SCI will not be required for this position. A SECRET clearance would be the highest level needed, which matches what the students have, this will enable more fruitful discussions of current events and UAS/cUAS activities across the globe.

13. Cyber compliance scope (CMMC / 800-171)

● Should offerors assume the contractor will handle FCI and/or CUI on contractor systems?

o You will use GFE (Government Furnished Equipment) for PII/Official work.

● Will Government-furnished systems be used for PII/government information

(email/storage/tools), or is the contractor expected to provide and manage their own compliant systems? If so can this requirement be removed, since government systems, not personal ones, will be used?

o You will use GFE (Government Furnished Equipment) for PII/Official work.

14. UAS training / demonstrations (scope of hands-on skills)

● Should the contractor be capable of building and flying drones in addition to instructing and supervising students, or is the expectation limited to classroom instruction and scenario oversight?

o Lead hands-on instruction/cUAS efforts, require the contractor to be operationally proficient. You must be able to demonstrate the technology, not just supervise.

15. Reimbursables vs “outside contract” equipment

● Please clarify the boundary between minor training materials under the reimbursable CLIN and “equipment necessary for training” that requires separate quotes outside this contract.

● Is there an expected not-to-exceed range for minor materials, and what is the COR approval timeline/process?

16. Staffing construct and readiness (LPTA risk mitigation)

● While the evaluation appears to be lowest price technically acceptable, readiness and rapid integration into the Naval Academy environment are critical to avoid lost training time. How important is it to USNA that the contractor be “ready to go” on Day 1 versus requiring a longer spin-up period?

o We are seeking a ready-to-go contractor to assist with training as soon as possible to finish out the Academic Year (May) and assist with summer training (May-August).

The evaluation criteria is not lowest price technically acceptable. Please refer to

52.212-2 of the solicitation The Government reserves the right to award the contract to other than the lowest priced vendor.

● Does the Government prefer a single dedicated individual for the requirement, or is a small team acceptable (with one primary lead), and what is the approval process for personnel substitutions if needed?

o We are seeking the best possible training and best possible trainers, as well as continuity for the duration of the contract; should that equate to two persons, the

USNA COR and ARES faculty member will review the proposals and training needs and determine what works best within the scope of the contract.

17. I noticed for CLIN 3001 the dates and weeks doesn't match up. PoP for the dates are only 7 weeks but in the SOW and Pricing states 11 weeks, which one is correct? I priced it based on

11 weeks, as specified in the SOW table.

The summer training listed in the SOW “Summer Training - June 31 - Aug 15 (covers ARES activities during summer training - 7 weeks)” is correct. CLIN 3001 has been corrected.