SLAT 1 on 1 QAs.pdf

Sonobuoy Lot-Acceptance Testing (SLAT) One-on-One Questions & Answers

1. What is the Period of Performance?

a. The Period of Performance (PoP) will be 4 years, 364 days. No option periods.

2. Is there an estimated RFP release date?

a. Expected in the near future in FY26.

3. Is it LPTA or Best Value?

a. Best Value Trade-off

4. NAICS selected is revenue based. Hard to stay under limit for SB. Have any considerations been given to changing to NAICS to expand SB possibilities?

a. The Government has determined that the NAICS 481219 is the best-fit for this effort and will not be changed.

5. Is there an incumbent provider of this service (i.e. internal Navy or COCO operation)?

a. This is a new effort. The Navy is currently performing this requirement organically.

6. What is the required timeline from contract award to initial SLAT operational capability?

a. Refer to PWS 4.0. and Section L 4.1 - Maximum of 12 months for standup

7. How do CLINs 0003 & 0004 work?

a. Please refer to the "Extended CLIN Descriptions" in Section C for information regarding the nature of each CLIN.

8. Are billable minutes tracked from chocks-to-chocks?

a. Takeoff to landing. Only billable minutes are for SLAT operations.

9. What is the purpose of CLIN 0005?

a. CLIN 0005 is an administrative CLIN for CDRL deliverables.

10. How many days/flight hours per year are expected?

a. The expected schedule is 1 event per month for 2 weeks (14 consecutive days), 12 months a year. Daily, is one sortie that will typically last between 1-5 hours on-station. Additional days may be added to the 2-week period to make up for days lost to unexpected events.

11. Will there be an expectation for scheduled maintenance on-site?

a. Aircraft must be available for each 2-week mission support period. Outside of that, Contractor can relocate based on their needs.

12. Is it anticipated to actually fly 400 hours a year?

a. The plan is to fly everyday for 2 weeks every month. On-station times can range from 1.0 to

5.0 hours (not including transit to/from contractor base of operations).

13. Is it a set schedule?

a. Once 2 week testing period is set, no changes during event barring any unforeseen circumstances (weather, etc). If changes occur, they typically come before the event start date.

14. Will aircraft be required to remain positioned at that location full-time, or can aircraft deploy from alternate locations between SLAT events?

a. SLAT events will originate from contractor's base of operations throughout the entire monthly event.

15. Is aircraft expected to only be on-site for 2 weeks at a time or does it need to linger for certain circumstances?

a. Aircraft must be available for each 2-week mission support period. Outside of that, Contractor can relocate based on their needs.

16. Is a dedicated aircraft expected or can the proposed aircraft be made available for other work outside of this contract so long as any flight conflicts can be resolved and the Navy’s program takes precedence?

a. This contract does not require exclusive use of the aircraft.

17. Will there be any passengers?

a. No.

18. Any missions outside of SLAT operations?

a. No. SLAT missions only.

19. Weather limitations (aircraft or Government decision?)

a. Weather limitations will be based on a mix of aircraft certificate limitations and sea state.

20. Sonobuoy tuning requirement?

a. There is no sonobuoy tuning requirement for this effort.

21. What is meant by tracking of sonobuoys and data capture? Do we need to real-time feed any data from the aircraft?

a. Any tracking requested from aircraft would be for visual only. No data capture required. Data capture / electronic tracking performed at Range Control station aboard SCI. Visual tracking performed by surface vessel.

22. Sonobuoys landing within 100 yards of the drop. How is this measured?

a. Based on ship supporting testing. Dropping 100 yards off the ship. Approximate distance, not 100 yards exactly.

23. Is the government willing to accept contractor developed training and procedures specific to their own T/M/S?

a. As long as they comply with 8210 requirements.

24. Can Government facilities be made available to satisfy this basing requirement, or must the contractor provide and sustain a dedicated facility?

a. There will be no Government facilities provided for this effort.

25. Can a transition plan be used in terms of changing aircraft during PoP?

a. Evaluations will be conducted on submitted proposal. PWS speaks to changes related to airworthiness and aircraft during PoP.

26. Sonobuoy retrieval requirements?

a. There is no sonobuoy retrieval for this effort.

27. Will aircraft be public for only SLAT operations?

a. Yes. All other flights will be CAO per PWS.

28. Concerns about weight of up to 52 sonobuoys. Is maximum required or does 32 suffice?

a. 32 NATO 'A' size sonobuoys is the minimum. See RFP and attachments for final complete requirements.

29. Can launchers be leased or provided by government?

a. No, there is no opportunity for a Government provided launcher.

30. Government presence in terms of GFR?

a. Refer to PWS and 8210.

31. Can you clarify if a Pneumatic launcher is required or can alternate including a manually operated launcher be offered?

a. PWS specifies a Pneumatic system, capable of launching NATO 'A' size sonobuoys

32. What is status of GFP or is the vendor supposed to propose a solution?

a. PWS specifies a Pneumatic system, capable of launching NATO 'A' size sonobuoys. Looking for contractor solution. No GFP.

33. How do we get sonobuoys?

a. They will be delivered to the Contractor's base of operations on a daily basis during the exercise period.

34. How do we return unused sonobuoys?

a. Any remaining sonobuoys and expended Sonobuoy Launch Containers will be picked up by Government personnel at the end of the sortie.

35. GSE requirements? Loading, unloading, storing?

a. The only Ground Servicing Equipment (GSE) required will be aircraft maintenance specific equipment required to service and maintain aircraft. All GSE will be contractor provided.

36. Is it the intent of the government to deliver Sonobuoys to the contractor's facility or is the contractor to assume that they must pick them up from a government location? Would there be a requirement for long term storage on Sonobuoys (over 1 month) and approximately how many would be required to be stored?

a. Sonobuoys will be delivered to the Contractor's base of operations on a daily basis during the exercise period. There is no requirement for long term storage.

37. Launcher testing: will test articles for launch testing be provided at time requested by contractor? Will PCA/FCA location be at contractors option, i.e. home base of operations/engineering test facility?

a. Test articles will be provided by PMA-264 once notified ready. PCA/FCA can be completed at contractor's desired location.

38. What is the contract classification?

a. Unclassified.

39. Are there specific parameters for launching?

a. Specific parameters for launching are detailed in the PWS.

40. Are there ground launch demo requirements?

a. There will be both ground and flight demonstrations/testing required during the capability standup period. See PWS section 4.0 for details.

41. Can training done CAO for PAO preparation?

a. Initial SLAT specific flight training for pilots will be conducted CAO and no sonobuoys will be required to be dispensed/launched. Current requirement is for mission familiarization and procedure reviews.

42. Does the government anticipate to keep the 50 NM requirement?

a. The final range for Contractor base of operations will be specified in the final RFP.

43. What is the proposal period length?

a. The expected proposal period length is anticipated to be 45 days.

44. Is there a minimum guarantee for flight hours?

a. The minimum guarantee is specified in clause BTXT.216-9506 MINIMUM AND

MAXIMUM QUANTITIES.

45. Are there static launch requirements?

a. Please see formal RFP and attachments for final requirements.

46. Are the CMMC requirements needed at contract award?

a. An offeror that does not have a current status at the level required by paragraph (d)(1) of

DFARS 252.204-7021 (as set forth in DPC Deviation at Part 240, see DARS Tracking Number: 2026-O0025) in the DoD's Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) will be considered ineligible for award.

47. Is there a need for airspeeds, is there a desire of how the delivery and process is done? Will proposals be evaluated on proposed "advantages"?

a. Please see formal RFP and attachments for final requirements.

48. Is there a preferred location for contractor base of operations?

a. There is no preferred location for contractor base of operations as long as it meets the distance requirement specified in the formal RFP.

49. Will the Government consider a Remote Split Operations (RSO) architecture as compliant, where the Mission Control Element (MCE) and GCS are at North Island or within the 50mn radius, while the Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) is maintained at a specialized out-of-radius facility?

a. SLAT missions are required to be executed from contractor base of operations within RFP specified distance. This is based on the requirement for daily transportation, delivery, and return of sonobuoys.

50. Does the Government intend the 50 NM requirement as a hard basing requirement for the entire period of performance, or as a primary operating location for recurring SLAT events?

a. The final range for Contractor base of operations will be specified in the final RFP and is a hard requirement per Sections L & M of the RFP.

51. Previous versions referenced a 100 NM limit—maintaining that range would reduce logistics burden and improve operational flexibility. Would the Government consider returning to 100 NM or go up to 150mn to reduce cost and convivence to both parties?

a. The final range for Contractor base of operations will be specified in the final RFP.

52. Beyond the stated altitude and airspeed requirements, are there specific mission profiles the aircraft must support during SLAT events?

a. All mission profiles that are required for this effort are detailed in the PWS.

53. What is the flight pattern/altitude?

a. Sonobuoys will be launched at an altitude launched no lower than 500 feet AGL. Patterns are dependent on testing requirements and wind conditions but the contractor can expect a tight racetrack pattern within the operating area.

54. How will aircraft be tracked (radar / IFF)?

a. Aircraft will be tracked by Air Traffic Control and range controllers with standard radars, Identify Friend of Foe (IFF), and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS- B)/Out.

55. Any additional mission profiles?

a. All mission profiles that are required for this effort are detailed in the PWS.

56. Can the requirement for the COCO mission support to operate from an airfield within 50 nautical miles of Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego be expanded?

a. The final range for Contractor base of operations will be specified in the final RFP.

57. A&P rating requirement?

a. Contractor will be required to provide persons authorized to perform maintenance IAW 14 CFR Part 43

58. Aircraft with experimental certificate?

a. Please see formal RFP and attachments for final requirements.

59. Will it be 135 or 91?

a. Flight operations will be conducted IAW 14 CFR Part 91. Possession of 14 CFR Part 135 certificates are not required. Should the contractor elect to utilize 14 CFR Part 135 certificates, procedures will be accepted but must comply with all requirements.

60. Electronics required / flight patterns?

a. The contractor shall ensure all aircraft are equipped with the communication and navigation capability necessary to operate under both visual and instrument conditions IAW CFR 61 and 91 in the United States National Airspace. For flight patterns, see previous answer to question.

61. Is ownership/possession required at time of award?

a. Per Section L Part B, Volume 1, Offerors shall provide proof of ownership or a lease agreement for at least one (1) proposed aircraft by Type/Model/Series (T/M/S) as a prerequisite.

62. When do you expect budget to be approved for this requirement and have a contract awarded?

a. The Government cannot disclose details on budget and/or funding.

63. Is there a preferred launcher? Is there a launcher you want to avoid?

a. There is no preferred launcher. The Government is looking for a Contractor solution that meets the parameters and requirements in the RFP.

64. Has a RORO pallet launcher worked in the past?

a. The Government cannot provide details related to potential solutions.

65. Can we bid multiple proposals and/or options within single?

a. Per the RFP, alternate proposals will not be accepted.

66. Regarding the personnel requirements for the COCO aerial platform: Will the Government accept a Functional Crew Equivalence model for remotely piloted systems?

a. Contractor proposals will be evaluated per Sections L & M of the final RFP.

67. Will the government consider items in the PWS that are specific to manned aircraft platforms "Not applicable" if the contractor intends to use a remotely piloted aircraft?

a. All requirements of Sections L & M as well as PWS requirements must be met.

68. When is capability required?

a. Maximum of 12 months capability stand up after contract award.

69. What aircraft is currently being used to support the mission?

a. The P-3C is currently completing the mission.

70. Will all SLAT events originate from this base, or should offerors plan for forward operating locations or detachments at other Navy ranges?

a. SLAT events will originate from contractor base of operations.