QA Amendment 02.pdf

Question 1: Just wanted to inquire as to the reason for the NAICS code change from 541360 vs 541330?

Answer 1: The NAICS code was updated to 541330-3 because it represents a better overall fit for the specific scope, core deliverables, and technical requirements of this mission.

Question 2: Would you consider extending due date by a week?

Answer 2: The Government does not intend to extend the proposal due date. The current deadline remains necessary to meet strict project timelines and mission schedules. Due to Amendment 02 PWS change, the Government has extended the proposal submission deadline from 10:00 AM on 11 June 2026 to 10:00 AM on 15 June 2026. To maintain strict project timelines and critical mission schedules, the

Government does not intend to grant any further extensions beyond this date and time.

Question 3: I was reviewing the Ocean Floor Mapping with Long Endurance Unmanned Systems solicitation and saw that it was listed as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. Is that correct?

Answer 3: Yes, that’s correct.

Question 4: Question: 6.3 Data Quality: Is the 2K linear NM requirement inclusive or exclusive of line turns?

Answer 4: The 2000 linear NM requirement is inclusive of line turns. Offerors should make every effort to minimize data collection over existing coverage.

Question 5: Question: 6.3 Data Quality: Is the follow on to the 2K linear NM survey in the same ocean or will govt task multiple survey areas?

Answer 5: The Government intends to issue multiple task orders across distinct ocean areas. A single task order will not span multiple oceans.

Question 6: Section L states “The offeror shall complete a "Past Performance Information Form" for each reference submitted. The form is an attachment to the solicitation.”. It also states “***The Past

Performance submission is limited to 12 pages***”. Please confirm whether the “Past Performance

Information Form” is a separate attachment not counted in the 12-page limit, or if it serves as the template for Factor II past performance and counts in the 12-page limit?

Answer 6: The "Past Performance Information Form" serves as the mandatory template for Factor II submissions. The 12-page limit is inclusive of this form.

Question 7: Section L states “To demonstrate its past performance, the offeror shall identify up to three

(3) of its most relevant contracts performed within five (5) years of the solicitation issuance date. Those contracts must also reflect one (1) year of completed performance by the closing date of the solicitation.”

If we have completed a commercial contract within the last year prior to the submittal date, whose period of performance was less than a year, could you confirm this qualifies as a past performance contract for this submittal?

Answer 7: Per Section L, to be considered for evaluation, a contract must reflect a minimum of one (1) year of completed performance by the closing date of the solicitation. Contracts with a total period of performance of less than one year do not meet the minimum relevancy requirements and will not be evaluated.

Question 8: Section B states that task orders will be firm fixed price. Could the government provide a payment schedule for task orders, particularly if their period of performance exceeds 30 days? Will the government provide anticipated milestone payments for each task order e.g. for award, start of acquisition, completion of acquisition, and submission of all deliverables?

Answer 8: While the Government typically pays Net 30 upon acceptance of deliverables, specific payment schedules and/or milestone structures will be determined at the Task Order (TO) level based on the specific requirement and Statement of Work (SOW).

Question 9: Section C, 7.2 All Contractor personnel associated with this contract shall be a US citizen with National Trust credentials. Please clarify what “US citizen with National Trust” means? Does

National Trust mean the "Ability to obtain or maintain a DoD CAC/PIV-type credential" and/or is it

DHS/TSA’s Transportation Worker Identification Credential or is it a Public Trust (SF-85)?

Answer 9: The term "National Trust credentials" in Section C, 7.2 was used in error. It refers to a position of public trust, which requires a baseline federal personnel vetting investigation to establish that an individual is trustworthy to hold a national security adjacent position. Section C, 7.2 was updated through

Amendment 01.

Question 10: Section C 9.1.1 The Contractor must provide all required training, certifications, and proof of National Trust documentation to NAVOCEANO prior to Kickoff Meeting. Please define what National

Trust documentation is.

Answer 10: The term "National Trust documentation" in Section C, 9.1.1 was used in error and has been updated to align with Clause 7.2. It refers to Proof of Public Trust Eligibility / Common Access Card

(CAC) Vetting Approval. Section C, 9.1.1 was updated through Amendment 01.

Question 11: Section C 14.1 Government Rights: The U.S. Government (NAVOCEANO) shall have

Unlimited Rights to all data collected, generated, or processed under this service. This includes, but is not limited to, raw sensor data, intermediate processed data, final data products, and all associated metadata.

Please confirm “service” is defined as the bathymetric data being delivered under COCOGA.

Answer 11: "Service" implies the contractor-executed survey operations. This includes bathymetric data, associated sensor data collected during survey operations, and all resulting processed information.

Question 12: Section C 14.3 The Government intends to retain unlimited rights to all software, documentation, and data produced in performing this PWS. Please confirm this is limited to the “service” being provided similar to the Section C, 14.1.

Answer 12: This is limited to the data delivery and processing services being provided. The

Government’s unlimited rights apply strictly to any custom software, scripts, configurations, or documentation specifically produced or generated for the Government under this PWS to deliver the required data products. It does not apply to the Contractor's pre-existing, proprietary USV operating software or commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) applications. Section C, 14.3 was updated through

Amendment 01.

Question 13: Section C 6.11 The Contractor shall deliver a comprehensive Software Inventory Document

(or Software Bill of Materials) detailing all software and third-party components utilized within the solution upon delivery. The Software Inventory Document shall be delivered in accordance with CDRL

A008. Please confirm that this requirement is limited to the service being provided. As currently written, it could imply providing all Software used in the performance of the USV.

Answer 13: This requirement is strictly limited to software, firmware, and third-party components integrated into the final data deliverables and data processing solutions provided to the Government. It does not apply to the internal operating software or proprietary command-and-control systems utilized by the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) during survey operations. Section C, 6.11 was updated through

Amendment 01.

Question 14: Section L, Proposal Content - Unless completed in the System for Award Management, the offeror shall complete the solicitation’s representations, certifications and other statements of offerors.

*** This submission is not page limited, but is strictly limited to the solicitation documentation***

Can the government confirm that if an offeror has completed representations, certifications, and other statements in the System for Award Management that it is not required to complete those representations, certifications, and other statements provided with the solicitation? Since the submission is strictly limited to completion and submission of provided ‘solicitation documentation’, how may the offeror indicate that its representations, certifications and statements are completed in SAM? May Offerors be permitted to include a one-page cover letter with submission (excluded from page count limitations) that includes this information?

Answer 14: Offerors are not required to complete or resubmit any representations, certifications, or statements within the solicitation document if those specific clauses are already completed, active, and current in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Offerors are permitted and required to include a Cover Page containing the mandatory administrative details. Per the instructions, this Cover Page, the signed SF1449, and any executed Amendments constitute the required "solicitation documentation" and are not subject to standard technical volume page restrictions.

Question 15: Section L, Proposal Content - Completed Solicitation Documents/Support Documents

The proposal shall also include completed solicitation documents and additional supporting documentation described below:

- A complete and signed SF1449 (Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Products and Commercial

Services) and executed copy of Amendments, if applicable, completed by the offeror;

Can the government confirm that the completed and signed SF1449 and any acknowledged and signed amendments (if issued) should be submitted as separate standalone files with an Offeror’s proposal submission?

Answer 15: No, the Government does not require the SF1449 and signed amendments to be submitted as separate standalone files.

Question 16: CDRL A002 requires the contractor to deliver a comprehensive evidence package as proof of compliance with the CMMC Level 2. CMMC Level 2 is not required until Nov 2026 and this CDRL is not required in the PWS. Therefore, may the CDRL A002 requirement be waived? Alternatively, may

CDRL A002 only be required if specifically identified in a Task Order and/or written into the master IDIQ contract as a mandate prior to an option period?

Answer 16: The Government does not intend to waive or remove the CMMC Level 2 requirements or the associated CDRL A002 from this solicitation. Because this multi-award IDIQ contract involves the processing, storage, and transmission of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) over its multi-year period of performance, establishing CMMC Level 2 compliance at the master contract level is necessary to ensure long-term mission readiness and uninterrupted eligibility for future task order awards. PWS

6.8.4 was added through Amendment 01.

Question 17: PWS 6.2.1 The vessel needs to be capable of safely conducting deep ocean surveys for a minimum duration of 25 days. Does the 25 day duration apply to an entire deployment or just to mission

(mapping) days?

Answer 17: The 25-consecutive-day minimum endurance capability requirement applies specifically to active mission (mapping) operations and excludes any necessary transit time. PWS, 6.2.1 was updated through Amendment 01.

Question 18: PWS 6.3 The Contractor's performance will be measured by their ability to deliver a minimum of 2000 linear nautical miles of IHO compliant bathymetric data per month that has been verified by the Government. Does the 2000 LNM include turns?

Answer 18: Yes. The 2,000 LNM requirement is inclusive of line turns. Offerors should make every effort to minimize data collection over existing coverage. Please see the Answer to Question 4 above.

Question 19: PWS 6.2.3 Bathymetric coverage density shall support the generation of Bathymetric

Attributed Grids (BAG). At least 95% of all grid nodes must be able to populate at a min. 5 valid soundings. Grid size is not defined. Can the Government define required grid cell size?

Answer 19: The Government will provide the required grid resolutions with each individual task order.

Anticipated grid resolutions will generally align with the following depth thresholds:

Depth Resolution

200 – 320 8

321 – 640 16

641 – 1280 32

1281 – 2560 64

2561 – 5120 128

5121 – 10270 256

Required grid cell sizes change dynamically based on water depth. The expected grid resolution is determined by the predominant depth band within a designated survey area. For example, if the vast majority of an assigned area falls within the 2,561–5,120-meter depth band, a 128-meter grid resolution will be expected. Since these survey areas may lack historical high-resolution data, exact depth metrics cannot be estimated prior to task order issuance, and the dominating depth profile encountered during operations will ultimately govern the final grid cell size requirement.

Question 20: Section A - Will the Government publish a list of interested vendors, attendees from any industry engagement events, or otherwise provide a mechanism to support teaming arrangements for this procurement?

Answer 20: The Government will not publish an interested vendors list or industry day attendance roster for this procurement. Offerors are responsible for establishing their own teaming arrangements and subcontracting partnerships.

Question 21: Section C, 5.3 - Will an order be issued for the entire two-year period of performance or will each survey period (~25 days or more) be established as a separate order? And is there a specified number of orders that a contractor must submit a proposal for in order to remain an IDIQ holder?

Answer 21: The issuance structure of orders is dependent upon subsequent task order requirements;

however, no individual task order will exceed a one-year period of performance. There is no specified number of orders that a contractor must submit a proposal for in order to remain as a MAC holder.

Question 22: Section C, 14.3 - Has the Government considered a different data rights stance to encourage broader industry participation in this effort?

Answer 22: No, the Government does not intend on adopting a different data rights stance for this procurement.

Question 23: Section B - Please confirm that pricing information is not requested as part of the proposal response to this solicitation.

Answer 23: Confirmed. Pricing information is not required or requested at the multi-award IDIQ contract level. Pricing will be competed at the task order level.

Question 24: Section L, Factor II - Would the government consider references with less than one year of pop completed for highly relevant work that is of a shorter duration?

Answer 24: No. The Government will not consider past performance or experience references with less than one full year of completed period of performance. Please see the Answer to Question 7 above.

Question 25: Can the government confirm that commercial pricing for fixed price services will be accepted for task orders?

Answer 25: Pricing will be competed at the task order level and task orders will be issued on a firm-fixed-price (FFP) basis.

Question 26: Regarding the CMMC Level 2 evidence package requirement associated with the secure data architecture and handling of CUI, can the Government clarify the required timing for possession of the C3PAO-issued CMMC Level 2 certification?

Specifically:

Is the certification required at proposal submission, contract award, task order award, or prior to operational activation/handling of CUI associated with mission execution?

Additionally, can the Government clarify whether the Prime Contractor may leverage a subcontractor-operated compliant secure environment and support cyber infrastructure for execution of the secure data handling and delivery requirements while the Prime Contractor completes its own CMMC Level 2 certification activities?

Answer 26: To remain eligible for the base contract award, the Prime Contractor must possess a valid, current CMMC Status of at least Level 2 (Self Assessment) at the time of the multi-award IDIQ contract award. It is not deferred to individual task orders or operational activation.

Regarding the second inquiry, a Prime Contractor may not rely on a subcontractor's CMMC certification or secure environment to satisfy its own baseline IDIQ eligibility requirements. Under the Department of

Defense (DoD) CMMC framework, every unique legal entity that receives, processes, or stores

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must independently achieve and maintain the required certification level for its own information systems. Subcontractor enclaves may only be utilized to handle

CUI during task order execution if the Prime Contractor already holds its own required master-level

CMMC certification. PWS 6.8.4 was added through Amendment 01.

Question 27: Section C, 7.2 - Please confirm that “Contractor personnel associated with this contract” refers only to those personnel specifically performing the bathymetric survey portion of the effort and does not apply to all Contractor personnel, including those personnel that might be involved in other more general mission support roles.

Answer 27: The requirement for U.S. citizenship and DoD Common Access Card (CAC) / Public Trust vetting eligibility applies to all Contractor personnel who are directly or indirectly involved in the execution, management, or administration of this contract and its subsequent task orders.

This includes any corporate, engineering, or mission-support personnel who will have administrative, logical, or physical access to the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) command-and-control systems, data collection networks, raw or processed bathymetric data, or any Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) generated under this effort.

It does not apply to general corporate personnel (such as corporate accounting or general HR) who have no involvement with, or access to, the systems, data, and deliverables associated with this procurement.

Question 28: For the CMMC Level 2 (CMMC) requirement, there is a discrepancy between Section L/M

Factor I-Technical Approach, the PWS, and CDRL A002. In CDRL A002, it states that CMMC proof of compliance shall be delivered and approved by the Government prior to the system's operational use.

However, Amendment 1 modified the Solicitation to require proof of compliance with the proposal delivery. The PWS (Section C 6.8.4) requires delivery Contractor’s comprehensive CMMC Level 2 compliance evidence package and certification tracking documentation in accordance with CDRL A002.

However, Amendment 1 Section L, Factor 1, Bullet 7 & Amendment 1 Section M, Factor 1, Bullet 7 are in conflict with the CDRL, which requires verifiable proof of the required CMMC certification level via a registered self assessment, valid at the time of proposal submission.

As DFARS 252.204-7021 is incorporated into the Solicitation, Contractors are required to comply with this clause. We suggest the Government delete Section L, Factor 1, Bullet 7 & Section M, Factor 1, Bullet

7 as they conflict with the PWS and CDRL which requires the Contractor to submit CMMC Level 2 certification at proposal submission and prior to the system’s operational use or contract award.

Verifying this requirement prior to operational use as required in the CDRL A0002 via PWS Para 6.8.4 ensures the Government's requirements are fully met without restricting competition at the initial proposal stage.

Answer 27: Amendment 02 was issued to update Section L, Section M, PWS 6.8.4, DFARS 252.204-

7021 and DFARS 252.204-7025 to clarify the following compliance timeline:

• The Contractor shall achieve and maintain an active, verified Cybersecurity Maturity Model

Certification (CMMC) Level 2 (Self-Assessment) status in the Supplier Performance Risk System

(SPRS) by the contract award date of 1 August 2026.

• The Contractor shall submit the complete compliance and evidence package to both the

Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) in accordance with

CDRL A002 no later than 11 October 2026.

• The Contractor shall achieve and maintain a CMMC Level 2 (Third-Party Assessed) by 10

November 2026.

As a result of this change, the proposal due date is extended from 10:00 AM on 11 June 2026 to 10:00

AM on 15 June 2026.