18R3516_Q&A_13.docx

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

N32205-18-R-3516

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.

13. With Mandatory Vessel Characteristics – Radiated Noise Requirements:

· Item 4b. “…documentation shall be in accordance with, Det Norske Veritas (DNV) SILENT-R, para C100.”

· DNV usually requires a bottom-mounted system, as they incorporate the seabed reflection. However, the seabed contributes similarly even if the hydrophone is several meters above. We believe a lowered surface deployment should be ok if the hydrophone is within say 20m of the bottom. Both the ANSI and ISO standards strive to get the hydrophone further off the bottom to minimize the bottom reflection contributions. DNV’s measurement protocol is based on ANSI S12.64 and ISO 17208.

· Would ANSI or ISO documentation suffice, or is the DNV documentation required?

· We are seeking approval from DNV to allow for a more efficient method of noise measurements.

Answer: The DNV Silent R process or ABS equivalent is a standard the government is using to evaluate the radiate noise signature for the platform. The Government does not intend to modify the process. The burden is on the offeror to demonstrate the procedure called out in the commercial specification.

The Government must the apply same criteria to all proposers and does not want to modify the process.