SSV_WC_RFP_QA41-64.pdf

Solicitation N32205-17-R-3514 Questions #41-64

41. What is the required load rating for the Baxter bolts?

Answer: The loading for the Baxter Bolts will be determined by the deck layout provided by offeror. Please review the weights/sizes of the equipment (provided in the RFP), the proposed location (provided by the offeror), deck design (provided by the offeror) and ensure all tie down equipment meets the requirements for at sea stowage.

42. Are there drawings depicting the DCS and its cradle, the interfaces between the cradle and the DCS and the cradle and the supporting ship, and the DCS lifting points?

Answer: Yes. Please see attached drawings.

43. Will MSC consider alternatives to a dry moon pool that meet the Government’s needs in some other way? If so, what are the specific requirements that having the moon pool dry is intended to meet?

Answer: No.

44. Please clarify the meaning of the following sentence in C-2.11.2: “The launch and recovery system shall have passive or active heave compensation that separates the vessel’s [sic] may be deployed on the vessel at the same. [sic]” Answer: Sea state offshore can be harsh and quite often operations must be put off until weather calms down. Extending the window of operations by developing equipment that can handle varying sea states can result in the ability to support operations in varying conditions. Dynamic positioning systems have been developed to keep vessels steady in the horizontal plane by using thrusters, but the vertical motion of the vessel can still be at large. The magnitude of the heave motion can be several meters depending on the sea state. Operations such as launch and recovery of submerged objects (ROV’s, Submersibles, etc.) and lowering subsea installation parts are especially vulnerable. It is advantageous to be able to keep the load still. A heave compensation system enables this to be done. It is used to counteract the heave of the vessel. The motion of the vessel is measured and the heave compensator provided reciprocal attenuation of this motion.

45. Is the moon pool required to be on centerline?

46. Are ACAD drawings of GFE available?

47. If the Sponsor personnel exceed 45, we will need to add additional crew to continue to meet the mission requirements. Will this be reimbursable?

Answer: See sections C-4.12.4, C-4.12.7, H-14.1, H-38.3

48. Laundry services – are laundry services in port reimbursable for linens?

Answer: Clean linens are the responsibility of the operator to provide.

49. The below sections are in conflict with respect to whether or not oily waste/slops removal, trash/garbage removal, and fresh water/ potable water are reimbursable. Please clarify. For simplicity we propose all these categories to be reimbursable whether or not an agent is used.

C-5.1 Port Services. The Vessel shall employ an agent to arrange for all port services on a reimbursable basis during this charter. Port services shall include tugs, pilots, berthing, potable water, shore power, trash and garbage removal, oily waste removal, sewage removal, hazardous materials removal, line handlers, dedicated telephone service, and liberty launch services.

H-31.1 Provisions, Insurance, Wages, Fees, and Other Expenses. The Owner shall, unless otherwise provided herein, provide and pay for all provisions; deck, engine room, and galley stores; lube oil; slop and garbage removal/disposal; fresh water; insurance on the Vessel; wages of, transportation of, and services for Master, Officers, and crew and consular fees pertaining to them in accordance with Section H-30 (Port Charges and Expenses) above. The Owner will be responsible for all port charges associated with the foregoing.

Answer: The provisions below will be included in amendment 0002.

C-5.1 Port Services. The Offeror shall provide all Port Services as defined herein either directly or through employment of an agent, on a reimbursable basis during this charter. Port services shall include tugs, pilots, berthing, potable water, shore power, trash and garbage removal/disposal, oily waste removal, sewage removal, hazardous materials removal, line handlers, dedicated telephone service, and liberty launch services.

H-31.1 Provisions, Insurance, Wages, Fees, and Other Expenses. The Owner shall, unless otherwise provided herein, provide and pay for all provisions; deck, engine room, and galley stores; lube oil; insurance on the Vessel; wages of, transportation of, and services for Master, Officers, and crew and consular fees pertaining to them in accordance with Section H-30 (Port Charges and Expenses) above. The Owner will be responsible for all port charges associated with the foregoing.

50. C-1.4 OPTEMPO – if the OPTEMPO exceeds the projected underway percentages, will additional costs be reimbursable or dealt with via a REA? Or, are changes to the OPTEMPO a risk borne by the contractor?

Answer: Fuel and Port Services are usually the only additional costs that result from OPTEMPO changes. Since these are government provided or reimbursable, there should be no additional costs borne by the contractor.

51. Pg 105, C-2.11.2, Clarify this sentence please: “The launch and recovery system shall have passive or active heave compensation that separates the vesselsel may be deployed on the vessel at the samd.”

Answer: Sea state offshore can be harsh and quite often operations must be put off until weather calms down. Extending the window of operations by developing equipment that can handle varying sea states can result in the ability to support operations in varying conditions. Dynamic positioning systems have been developed to keep vessels steady in the horizontal plane by using thrusters, but the vertical motion of the vessel can still be at large. The magnitude of the heave motion can be several meters depending on the sea state. Operations such as launch and recovery of submerged objects (ROV’s, Submersibles, etc) and lowering subsea installation parts are especially vulnerable. It is advantageous to be able to keep the load still. A heave compensation system enables this to be done. It is used to counteract the heave of the vessel. The motion of the vessel is measured and the heave compensator provided reciprocal attenuation of this motion.

52. M-2.3.2, Can the governments provide clarification as to costs that will be considered allowable within the delivery and redelivery bonus? Specifically, are vessel modifications allowable with in the delivery bonus?

Answer: Delivery and Redelivery Costs include the cost to move the vessel from its home port to the required port for delivery and redelivery costs are to return the vessel to home port or to a new place of business. Therefore modification costs are not allowable in the delivery and redelivery costs.

53. Page 32, C-3.2, States “Prior to submission of offer, the vessel shall have a facility clearance”. Page 113 C-3.2, states this requirement shall be met “Upon delivery”. Please clarify if facility security must be obtained prior to submission or prior to delivery. If the requirement is for the vessel to have a facility security clearance, we ask for this requirement to be reconsidered in light of the nearly insurmountable incumbent advantage it would create.

Answer: This is required prior to submission of offers.

54. Can the government provide information as to the type of inventory & maintenance systems that will be required to operate under this contract?

Answer: See section C-4.26

55. M-3(b), Requires submission of a Small Business Subcontracting Plan for large businesses. Can the government provide an estimate of reimbursable expenses by contract year to assist in developing accurate values for the SB subcontracting plan?

Answer: The Small Business subcontracting plan is based on the total value of the offer provided. This is not something MSC would typically provide.

56. The wage determination includes wages for union employees from MEBA, MM&P, and SIU. Are these applicable to the current vessel under contract? If not, what are the total wages and total benefits/fringes by position for the current vessel? This information is required to ensure full compliance with the SCA.

Answer: MSC cannot provide more wage guidance than is provided by the Department of Labor in the Wage Determination Attachment. If you have questions in regards to the wage determinations please contact the Department of Labor.

57. The formatting of the wage determination attachment distorts key information in the tables to the point it is not useable. Please provide a clearer wage determination attachment.

Answer: Please see Amendment 002 to the Solicitation

58. The combination of the large moonpool and 12kt speed requirement is particularly restrictive. Please consider adding alternative launching options other than the moonpool and/or reducing the 12kt speed requirement. A 9kt speed requirement would produce a more competitive response.

Answer: The requirement is 12 knots.

59. Section H-3.3 Cost of Training states that “All costs associated with successful completion of MSC required training are reimbursable in accordance with the latest DoD Joint Travel Regulations. Wages will only be reimbursable when a crewmember is not assigned to a vessel.” MSC required training that cannot be done afloat is typically handled when a crewmember that normally works on the vessel is off of their rotation.

Please confirm that it is the charterer’s intent to reimburse wages related to training for crewmembers that normally work on this contract, are part of a permanent rotation, but are on vacation during the training days.

Answer: Yes

60. Box 75 of the drytime box’s (Cancelation Fee) stipulates that this fee is for costs incurred between award and delivery of vessel and limited to … modification or conversion costs…. Further down in box 75 under the note: … Offerors who submit substantial termination liabilities will not be considered for award. Substantial liability is considered under i. an amount equal to or greater than 25% of the vessel. There is no Jones Act compliant vessel that currently meets the requirements of the RFP, therefore an extensive and expensive conversion will be required. The conversion costs will far exceed 50 % of any existing Jones Act vessels value that would be rationally offered for this solicitation.

Thus, any cancelation fee, calculated by the above criteria, will be more than 25% of the value within the first 3 years of the TC. The result of this clause will make it so an offeror would not be compensated for all of its costs incurred during conversion or, submit a noncompliant bid.

We recommend that, as with previous solicitations of this type, the conversion/pre-delivery phase be a separate line item/contract period and therefore not be included in the Time Charter pricing. This makes the conversion costs evaluated, and the Time Charter in compliance with 10 USC 2401.

Answer: At this time the Government is not changing its line item structure.

61. Are drawings or description of the size and details of the required moon pool available?

We can not locate the drawings referenced in question #4 of the clarification response.

Answer: Navy submersible vehicle weights and dimensions were provided for planning in C-2.10.1. Moonpool specifications and drawings shall be provided by the Offeror to coincide with GA's and construction details of the vessel offered in their proposal.

62. Can we get drawings or details on the deck socket pattern requirement?

Answer: Drawings and deck socket pattern arrangements will be provided by offerors in accordance with their deck configuration and GFE load plan proposed.

63. Re: communication equipment space listed in C-2.20, is a 20-ft container on deck acceptable?

Answer: This is acceptable so long as all requirements are met and no degradation of communications results due to other factors associated with the open-deck location versus an interior space in the house.

64. Do amounts added to the cancellation cost section get used in the overall price evaluation or is it only the charter rates and any delivery bonuses?

Answer: Cancellation costs are not included in the overall price evaluation.