3500_RFP_Q_AND_A.docx

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

N32205-18-R-3500

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The following are answers to questions received from potential offerors. The answers provide clarification only and DO NOT constitute an amendment to the solicitation.

1. Please confirm a crane that can lift the loaded containers is required and that it is used for repositioning on deck only, not loading or unloading the vessel dockside.

ANSWER: The OSV crane as listed on the RFP is for the repositioning of the containers (if required). The OSV containers are onloaded by a land based crane and are offloaded by SBX-1's crane(s).

2. What is the maximum TEU weight for the loaded 8 X 20 TEU's?

ANSWER: The maximum gross mass for a 20-foot (6.1 m) dry cargo container is 24,000 kilograms (53,000 lb). Subtracting the tare mass of the container itself, the maximum amount of cargo per TEU is reduced to approximately 21,600 kilograms (47,600 lb).

3. Please confirm that the 36 government personnel on board includes the force protection team & crew for SBX transiting (crew change).

ANSWER: Confirmed required capability is to adequately berth 36 persons (miscellaneous government personnel and the five contractor companies to include the mariners/security force)

4. Medical space: please confirm minimum requirements.

ANSWER: Medical space as per the solicitation is a space adequate for rendering first aid/over the counter medications.

5. What are the performance period dates for this solicitation?

ANSWER: Per the RFP, the period of performance is one year base period with three 1-year options and one 11-month option. Total length of this charter shall not exceed 59 months. The laydays are commence on 01 October 2018 ending on 07 November 2018.

6. On Page I-19 of the RFP, it states, "The Government will not consider the past performance of parent or sister companies, and will only consider the past performance of the offeror." Based on the complexity of the work and the unique vessel requirements, we believe allowing subcontractor experience in the past performance submission provides a more workable and realistic perspective on how successfully a small business offeror will perform the contract with the use of experienced subcontractors. Such a revision of the solicitation is also in keeping with the US Government Accountability Office decision in favor of allowing the evaluation of experience to consider information regarding affiliated companies. In consideration of this, will the Government consider amending the RFP allowing the use of experience for subcontractors and affiliated companies?

ANSWER: The Government will consider amending the RFP to allow contractors’ own performance and subcontractors performance, if applicable..

7. Between the months of October and March, the anticipated operational area of the OSV will routinely involve operating in severe conditions averaging 22ft seas and 40 kt winds, which far exceed the Seakeeping/Station keeping requirement of sea state 5 specified in Attachment E, Section 3.7 of the Performance Work Statement. The current solicitation's lack of defined criteria for vessels operating beyond sea state 5 for refueling and transfer operations in combination with lowest price technically acceptable award criteria will likely result in a vessel that cannot operate for many months out of the year. For a mission critical supply vessel, are extended cancellations due to severe weather acceptable to the government?

ANSWER: As per the RFP - For replenishment, Sea State 5. If adverse weather occurs during the time window (typically 72 hour window) resupply will be postponed until it is safe to conduct.

8. Apart from the Minimum Vessel Requirements listed in Attachment E, Performance Work Statement, please provide the evaluation criteria MSC will use to assess the technical acceptability of the proposed vessel's operating window in conditions exceeding sea state 5.

ANSWER: The evaluation criteria is listed in the Technical Offer Worksheet.

9. In reference to Attachment E, section 3.12 of the Performance Work Statement, please define "interior" for the purposes of determining whether berthing modules are acceptable. Does it mean not along the exterior bulkheads? Does it mean as part of the vessel's originally constructed superstructure? Or is some other meaning intended? If external berthing modules can be constructed in accordance with CFR 127.280, will the government consider this to be acceptable in meeting the accommodation requirements of this solicitation?

ANSWER: The term "INTERIOR" is defined to mean as part of the vessel's originally constructed superstructure.

10. If external berthing modules constructed to the standards of CFR 127.280 are permitted as acceptable accommodations, will a weather protected passageway leading from the external berthing modules to the main superstructure be required as an additional construction component?

ANSWER: Due to the nature of the contract and the variable weather/operating environment, external berthing modules are considered not acceptable.