4.03 Boat Operator Course Q&A Amend 2.pdf

Boat Operator Course Q&A Solicitation N0060425Q4037

Question Answer

1. Due to the tight timeline, will the Government provide the current (Course of Instruction) COI upon award, or is a new COI expected from the contractor?

UCT TWO has a COI provided by the previous contractor, Strategos Consulting, LLC. However, if a contractor other than Strategos is awarded, they may produce a better COI that meets our SOW 4.1.

No, the Government will not provide a COI. A contractor with prior experience instructing military small boat courses is expected to already possess a comprehensive curriculum and should be prepared to tailor and enhance it to align with the specific platforms identified in the SOW.

2. Are instructors required to be HRTI qualified prior to onboarding, or will qualification be obtained through the contract?

Yes, a High-Risk Training Instructor is required. Small boat handling is considered high risk.

Instructors are required to meet SOW 4.1.3. step 6.

3. To help determine sta ing requirements, could you confirm the expected number of students per course or per class cycle?

Normally a course with only one Detachment personnel will have 6-8 new divers. However, since we missed the deadline to contract the April boat operator course, the September course will have two Detachment personnel which will total 10-12 students. According to the SOW 4.1.3 the contractor will have to provide up to four instructors if they decide to take out all three of our boats and the entire class for a nighttime training evolution. The past courses, the contractors would only take out two boats with one instructor with three students on each boat. This covers a 2-hour nighttime training evolution with a 3:1 ratio student-to-instructor ratio. However, the contractor can opt to split a classroom of 12 students and perform two separate nighttime evolution. The course curriculum is not set in stone; it is a guideline so we cannot say that we will need four instructors the whole time of the 3-week course and certainly we do not need four instructors to teach PowerPoint slides on “Rules of the Road”.

The number of students will be maximum of 12 and minimum of six (6). SOW Section 4.1.3. states the contractor will provide three instructors.

4. Will the curriculum developed under this e ort remain our intellectual property, or will it be required to be turned over to the Government?

UCT will remain intellectual property of the curriculum considering the curriculum developed will be based on UCT TWO specific boats (7M RIB, 9M MERC, 36’ DS). Only four 36-foot Dive Support boats exist in the Navy, two at UCT TWO and two at UCT ONE.

5. Is there an incumbent currently performing this work, or is this a new requirement?

Previous similar requirement has been solicited and awarded in the past to Strategos Consulting LLC under contract number N0024423P0356

6. Background: Section 4.1.3 (Instructor(s) Requirement, Education and Qualifications) Qualification #12 requires instructors to hold a valid SECRET clearance for us of green gear during instruction.

Question: Will a DD254 be issued with contract award, validating contractor need-to-know for access to green gear?

Yes, a DD254 will be issued when the contract is awarded. This was accomplished with Strategos Consulting LLC on previous small boat operator contracts. SOW 4.1 COI steps 5 and 13 lists the green gear that will be utilized in the course and will be issued by S6 Comms shop.

7. Background: Section 8.1 delineates 2 small craft will be provided on the first day of training and will be the responsibility of the contractor for the duration of the training. No other gear is delineated aside from a tool kit for maintaining the craft.

Maritime safety gear is issued to each student by the S4 Supply Department. The instructors will have to provide their own maritime safety equipment. MARBAN radios are permanently mounted on all the small boats and USCG required equipment are onboard each vessel. The Pre/Post Operational Checklist annotates this which is covered on the SOW 4.1 COI step 6.

Question: Will the contractor be required to provide maritime equipment or will maritime and safety gear be included in Government Furnished Equipment (along with the boats) for the execution of the course of instruction on the water. Examples include MARBAN radios, crew safety gear (floatation), and other USCG required equipment for the duration of the exercise.

8. Should labor categories or rates be aligned with specific positions under WD 2015-5625 (Ventura County)

Yes, Contractors must follow the minimum pay stated or higher on the WD for the location specified in the solicitation.

9. Will the Government provide fuel, pier access, and/or billeting for instructors at Port Hueneme or San Clemente Island?

Yes, UCT TWO will provide fuel, and pier access through Port Harbor. There is no need to billet for the instructors.

10. Can the Government specify which two RHIBs will be made available and who is responsible for maintenance and fueling?

The 36 Foot Dive Support (DS) Craft and 9 Meter Multi Expeditionary Response Craft (MERC) will be utilized for the first two and a half weeks of the course then the 15/19 foot inflatable boats will be utilized for the remainder of the course. UCT TWO is responsible for maintenance and fueling

UCT TWO will provide the 7 Meter RIB, 9 Meter MERC, 36’ DS, and 15’/19’ CRCC. UCT TWO is responsible for maintenance and fueling.

11. Will the Government be providing a solicitation document that outlines the requirements for submission, such as a Standard Form 1449 or a Combined Synopsis? While the Government has provided documents that will assist with understanding the scope of the requirement and contract, there are no documents to provide back to the

Negative. This is a Firm Fixed Priced Requirement. Quote should include an overall cost which includes Price, delivery, determination of responsibility, and a technically acceptable quote.

Government for submission, such as SF 1449, pricing sheet, etc. is there a CLIN structure provided?

12. Curriculum Scope – SOW Section 4.1:

The SOW provides a detailed curriculum outline alongside a list of platforms (7M RIB, 9M MERC, 36' DS, and CRRC). Is the Government’s intent that each curriculum section (e.g., Communications, Engineering Systems, Navigation) be tailored and applied to each platform, or only specific modules (such as “Characteristics”)?

UCT TWO small boats (7M RIB, 9M MERC, 36’ DS, and CRRC) each have unique communications equipment, engineering systems, and navigation systems. Accordingly, the instructional content will be customized and delivered specific to each platform.

13. Operator Manuals – SOW Section 3.7– 3.10:

Will the Government provide detailed operator and maintenance manuals for each of the listed platforms to support instruction?

Yes, given that each vessel is unique to the military, the small boat operational and maintenance manuals for each vessel will be provided to ensure accurate and e ective training.

14. Instructional Hours – SOW Section 4.1.2:

Could the Government provide anticipated daily instructional hours (for both classroom and underway training) to assist in accurate scheduling and instructor workload planning?

Instructors will plan instructional hours for both classroom and small boat operator training evolutions based on an 8-hour workday, five days per week, within the framework of a three-week schedule to meet established expectations.

15. Instructor Ratios – SOW Section 4.1.2:

The SOW specifies a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio for daytime training and a 3:1 ratio for nighttime training. Can the Government confirm whether these ratios apply solely to practical/high-risk

The specified student-to-instructor ratios apply solely to high-risk small boat operator training evolutions. These ratios do not pertain to classroom instruction.

The contractor will provide three instructors. For high-risk small boat operator training, a minimum instructor-to-student ratio of 1:4 is required during daytime evolutions and 1:3 during nighttime evolutions or also to classroom instruction?

evolutions to ensure adequate supervision and safety. An individual instructor may oversee Instructor-Led Training (ILT) sessions.

16. Night Training Evolutions – SOW Section 4.1.2:

How many night evolutions are anticipated across the three-week course so we can appropriately allocate additional instructor coverage?

The number of night training evolutions will be determined at the discretion of the instructor, based on class size and the individual performance of students in meeting established expectations.

17. Training Support Equipment – SOW Section 8.0:

While training platforms are mentioned, the SOW does not explicitly state if these are Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE). Could the Government please confirm this?

UCT TWO will conduct training exclusively on the small boats specified in the SOW. Accordingly, the equipment listed in Section 8.0 are UCT TWO specific platform and are considered GFE.

18. Platform Rotation and Scheduling – SOW Section 4.1 & 8.0:

Section 8.0 notes two small craft will be provided at the start of training. Will the contractor primarily operate one type of craft, or rotate among multiple platforms? If rotated, will platform availability be set by the command or coordinated with the contractor? Is there a recommended allocation of time per platform?

The course curriculum and platform selection will be determined by the instructor, who will assess the most e ective progression for student learning. Ideally, instruction should follow a “crawl, walk, run” methodology, beginning with the less complex platform. It is recommended that the more advanced vessel, such as the 36’ DS, not be introduced at the outset of training.

19. Curriculum Review Timeline – SOW Section 4.1:

The SOW requests that all baseline course materials be submitted 60 days in advance of the scheduled start date.

Given the course start date is 08

UCT TWO can provide a curriculum based on previous small boat operator training courses.

However, a contractor with prior experience instructing military small boat courses is expected to already possess a comprehensive curriculum and should be prepared to tailor and enhance it to align with the specific platforms identified in the SOW.

September 2025 and today is early June, does the Government intend to waive this requirement for this iteration of the course, or is there a previously approved curriculum that can be utilized?

No, the Government does not intend to waive the Curriculum Review Timeline. A contractor with prior experience instructing military small boat courses is expected to already possess a comprehensive curriculum and should be prepared to tailor and enhance it to align with the specific platforms identified in the SOW.

20. Government Review and Feedback – SOW Section 4.1:

Once the initial course materials are submitted, what is the expected turnaround time for Government feedback or approval prior to execution?

Course materials and curriculum are expected to be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled course start date. UCT TWO feedback or approval will be provided within that timeframe to ensure adequate preparation for course execution.

No, the Government will not assist with pre-coordinated or sponsor letters to facilitate DBIDS. The contractor with prior experience instructing military courses is expected to be familiar with this process and may not require additional support considering DBIDS applies to all DoD establishments.

21. Post-Training Report Content – SOW Section 4.1.1:

The Post Training and Operations Report includes data on fuel usage, hours underway, etc. Will the Government provide baseline metrics (e.g., past fuel logs or underway hours) to help us gauge the expected scope and complexity of reporting?

A contractor with prior experience instructing military small boat courses should already possess relevant reports from previous performance, which can be used to reasonably estimate baseline metrics and inform their approach to reporting.

22. DBIDS Credential Processing – SOW Section 9.0:

Will the Government assist with pre-coordination or sponsor letters to facilitate DBIDS credential issuance in time for course execution, especially for instructors based out of state?

Yes, UCT TWO’s Training Department will assist with the coordination of DBIDS credentials as needed. However, a contractor with prior experience instructing military small boat courses is expected to be familiar with this process and may not require additional support considering DBIDS applies to all DoD establishments.

23. Training Interruptions / Weather Delays – SOW Section 4.1.2 & 8.0:

A contractor with prior experience delivering military small boat training should be well-versed in managing schedule adjustments due to weather conditions or Department of Defense operational

In the event of inclement weather or base operational delays, how should the contractor handle schedule adjustments? Will make-up days be permitted within the existing POP? In the event of inclement weather or base operational delays, how should the contractor manage schedule adjustments? Will make-up days be permitted within the existing Period of Performance (POP)?

delays. UCT TWO expects instructors to anticipate and assess sea state conditions along the California coast and Channel Islands using NOAA buoy data. Training should be conducted based on established go/no-go criteria, including sea state and sustained wind conditions. While safety remains a priority, exposure to challenging conditions is essential for developing proficient small boat operators. Therefore, inclement weather is not only expected but also viewed as a valuable training opportunity. Make-up days, if necessary, should be coordinated within the existing POP to ensure course completion.

24. Medical / Emergency Support – SOW Section 4.1.3 & 4.1.2:

For High-Risk evolutions conducted o shore, will any Navy medical personnel or rescue assets be on standby, or is the contractor expected to have its own medical contingency plan beyond CPR/First Aid?

Navy medical personnel or rescue assets will not be on standby during high-risk small boat training evolutions. UCT TWO expects that any contractor with prior experience instructing military small boat courses will have already developed a comprehensive medical and rescue contingency plan.

This plan should be based out of Port Hueneme, CA, and include worst-case scenario protocols, incorporating coordination with both military and civilian emergency response assets.