19R3009_WATSON_Q&A4___53_-_82.pdf

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

N32205-19-R-3009 WATSON Operation & Maintenance

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS # 4

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

53. Corporate Viability: Reference L13; The language in this portion of the mod is confusing.

Adequate resources required is $40,000,000 and further states that this is comprised of 45 days of operating rate in FOS for eight ships and two major availabilities in a 12 month period.

Further down in the first paragraph it states that necessary resources to conduct two availabilities is $40,000,000. Please clarify what is required; 45 days of FOS operating hire rate for eight ships plus $40,000,000 for availabilities, or $40,000,000 in total or $$80,000,000.

ANSWER: See Answer to Question #2.

54. Request the government consider adding civilian government experience overseeing ship operations as a potential qualifier for the Program Manager role in section C-3.8.2.

Qualifications for Program Manager. Currently this bulleted option requirement only lists

“Experience gained while employed at a management level by a commercial ship operator.”

ANSWER: The Government determined it is in its best interest to leave the requirement as it is.

55. ROS to FOS ramp up is an extremely busy time requiring a high level of effort. Request the government consider implementing FOS wages when the first FOS crew member reports onboard. This also simplifies the payroll and billing process for the FOS crew members by establishing a single pay rate on a specific day. This provision is not included in C-1.1.4.7. Ship

Activation – ROS to FOS. It is unclear if FOS wages during transition are reimbursable under

B-1.12 Transition Costs.

ANSWER: The Government will revise Section C-1.1.4.7 to add guidance regarding transition to

FOS daily rate. The changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

56. Food costs significantly exceed $13/person/day, this is especially the case for the OCONUS locations of Diego and Saipan. Under C-1.3.2.2-In Port Visitors Meal Reimbursements and C-

1.3.2.1-Temporary Embarked Personnel (TEP), request the government consider increasing the rates to $28/person/day or make the food costs reimbursable.

57. Given the size of the key shoreside personnel team, as well as the unknown timeline for contract award, 15 days is not adequate time to submit a final list of key shoreside personnel.

There will inevitably be proposed personnel who are no longer available between bid and award.

We can certainly provide the vast majority of the team within 15 days. Recommend the government consider amending C-3.7.2.a-Contract Specific Key Shore Side Personnel to reflect this reality.

58. Section L-6 SUBMISSION OF OFFERS requires Windows 2010 compatible software. Will the government accept files in Adobe PDF format? It offers the best consistency of formatting across different computer systems and software versions.

ANSWER: Microsoft Windows 2010 compatible software includes Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word. The Government will not accept submission from offers in Adobe PDF format, because not all Government computers are able to access Adobe PDF.

59. Please provide a listing of all vessels that are currently certified for unmanned engine room.

ANSWER: All of the WATSON Class ships are currently certified for unmanned engine room operations.

60. C-1.1.4.a: - Vessel Operating Areas (pg. 56) - Discusses seven out of eight LMSRs operating area but does not mention the operating area of the 8th LMSR that is in full time ROS.

Recommend that an operating area be named for the permanent ROS ship so appropriate budgets can be devised for this ship.

ANSWER: The ROS LMSR ship is currently operating in CONUS. The government does not provide any guarantee any ship(s) will continue to operate in these areas during the contract’s period of performance. The Contract’s firm-fixed-price shall not be increased or decreased to account for cost changes due to a change in any ship(s) operational locations.

61. C-1.1.13 – Design Speed Trials- (pg.62): Recommend that a speed trial schedule be dictated for long term ROS ships since the OPTEMPO is 100% in port. This will assist offerors in building a proper budget for the permanently placed ROS ship.

62. C-1.1.22 b (pg. 63) – Cargo Hold Air Conditioning/Dehumidification. Clause requires

Contractor to “operate the cargo hold climate control systems as required to maintain compliance with required temperature and humidity limits for prepositioning cargo.” What are the requirements regarding operation and maintenance for AC/DH systems for ROS ships?

Currently ROS ships don’t complete maintenance or upkeep on the AC/DH system.

ANSWER: The Government will revise Section C-1.1.22.b to state Ships in ROS status are not required to operate with the Cargo Hold system at the temperature and humidity specifications stated in this Section for the Marine Corps or Army equipment. However, the crew shall maintain the system in good working order and perform all required maintenance prescribed in SAMM.

Changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

63. C-1.2.2 (pg. 65) – Unmanned Engine Room Operations – Recommend the government provide clarification if ROS ships are to operate in an unmanned condition once activated for sea trials or speed trials.

ANSWER: The Government will revise Section C-1.2.2. to state ROS ships shall be operated in a manned condition during sea trials or speed trails. Changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

64. C-3.5 (pg 136) – Commercial Layberth Contract – This section requires the contractor to obtain commercial layberth if requested by the government. Recommend this section be modified to reflect that all cost to acquire the berth and the berth cost themselves, be fully reimbursable by the government.

ANSWER: The Government will revise Section C-3.5. to state the daily cost for a commercial layberth will be reimbursable. However, the administrative cost of developing, issuing, awarding, and administrating the layberth contract (to include the solicitation process) will not be reimbursable. The Government may, with prior KO approval, reimburse the expenses connected to a layberth site visit prior to the commercial layberth award. Changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

65. CONTRACTOR QUESTION: – Planned Maintenance Events – RFP requires that “The

Contractor shall plan major maintenance availabilities at 30 months and 60 months after delivery for each ship.” Recommend clarification be provided if this is applicable for long term

ROS ship(s).

ANSWER: The Government needs more information to answer this question. Please ensure all questions include a reference to the Section of the contract that most applies to your question.

66. Section L-6(5) states, “Offerors shall submit three copies of its proposal on three separate sets of Compact Discs (CD). Each set (Volume I, Volume II and Volume III) shall be submitted on three CDs. CDs shall be submitted at the same time the paper proposals are submitted. The first

CD shall contain Volume I (Solicitation Package). The second CD shall contain Volume II

(Technical Proposal). The third CD shall contain Volume III (Past Performance Proposal).”

Please clarify if 3 copies of volume I are to be placed on CD 1, 3 copies of volume II are to be placed on CD 2, 3 copies of volume III are to be placed on CD 3. The instructions provided in

Section L-6(5) appear to indicate Vols I, II, III should be submitted on 1 CD (i.e. “Each set

(Volume I, Volume II and Volume III)”) and additional copies of each set of volumes are to be submitted on CDs 2 and 3.

ANSWER: The requirement is for an offeror to submit three CDs with Volume I written on each

CD, three CDs with Volume II written on each CD, and three CDs with Volume III written on each CD. Section L-6(5) will be revised in a forthcoming amendment to clarify the requirement.

67. C-2.5.7.2 - This section requires that all Industrial Assistance over micro-purchase limit of

$3,500 to be approved by the ACOR before issuing a PO. This will significantly increase contract correspondence. Please verify the requirement to have ACOR approval on all IA work over

$3,500.

ANSWER: The Government will revise Section C-2.5.7.2. to add the COR to the approval process. The FAR Micro-Purchase limits will be used as the approval threshold for this contract.

The FAR Micro-Purchase limits are subject to change and offerors are reminded to review the

FAR and Class Deviation- 2018-O0018 for the current Micro-Purchase information. Changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

68. C-5.3.10 - This section requires use of government wide shipping carriers for both domestic and international shipments. Will the cost to warehouse spares for a monthly consolidated shipment be reimbursable?

ANSWER: In accordance with the solicitation, the cost to warehouse spares for a monthly consolidated shipment are not reimbursable

69. C-2.3.2 - Requires RCA or FA subcontractor to submit a draft report to the COR and MSC

Engineering Typedesk. Requires RCA or FA subcontractor to submit the final report directly to the COR and MSC Engineering Typedesk and MSC Technical Library and requires “independent third party” to provide the final report only to MSC and not disclose its contents to any other person or entity.

What is the intent of this requirement? Is it to prevent the OPCO from receiving the final report from the RCA or FA subcontractor? What about the draft report? Is the OPCO supposed to review the work of the RCA or FA subcontractor they are directed to hire? The term

“independent third party” is confusing as well, as it is not previously used in this section. An

RCA is required by the ISM code for the OPCO’s SMS.

ANSWER: The draft and final RCA or FA will be submitted directly from the third party to the

Government and the OPCO concurrently.

70. C-2.3.3.1 - 5th bullet requires a written Operational Risk Assessment (ORA) “…whenever changes to an operational profile occur.” Does that mean a change in ROS, FOS, or RAV status?

ANSWER: The Government’s objective with this bullet is to require an ORA whenever a casualty that threatens the ships capability to perform its mission. Clarification of the requirement will be made in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

71. C-2.4.1 - This section does not specifically say when the Government will notify the OPCO about a planned OCI-E, but does state “The MLOC form will be forwarded to the Ship’s Master via email no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled OCI-E.” It also calls for the contractor to submit a universal invoice list to the MSC Ship Inspection Branch “no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled OCI-E.” How can the OPCO meet this requirement if not notified prior to the deadline to submit the universal invoice list?

ANSWER: The Government will notify the OPCO at least 30 days in advance of a planned OCI-

E.

72. C-2.4.4 - This section does not specifically say when the Government will notify the OPCO about a planned SMART, requires several submittals no later than 30 days prior to commencement of the SMART. Does the Government have a responsibility to notify the OPCO about a planned SMART?

ANSWER: The Government will revise Sections C2.4.1.2 and C-2.4.4. to change the submission requirements for the SOE to 20 days in advance of the SMART. In addition, the Government will revise Section C-2.4.4.to change the submission requirement for the MLOC to 20 days prior to the commencement of the SMART. Changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

73. C-2.5.10.1.4 - Requires one full-time PE to attend each ship undergoing availability in the first sentence. Requires two full-time PE’s for all ROH’s and mid-term availabilities. What is the difference?

ANSWER: N10: IAW Attachment A, an Availability is defined as the following: A period of time assigned a ship for industrial assistance, the uninterrupted accomplishment of inspections, maintenance, repairs, alterations, or drydocking. Types of availabilities include: Regular overhauls, drydocking availability, midterm inspection, topside availability, Underwater

Inspection in Lieu of Drydocking (UWILD), and emergency repair. To provide additional clarification, availability would also include major engine overhauls during dry-docking, and availabilities to support ABS.

74. C-2.5.10.2.4 - It is unclear whether this section requires the contractor’s Life Cycle Engineer to participate with the vessel’s primary Port Engineer in both the pre-availability inspection and the work scope conference, or only the work scope conference. Please clarify.

ANSWER: The contractor’ primary Port Engineer assigned to the ship’s availability shall schedule, conduct, and participate in an onboard pre-availability inspection and work scope conference with the Life Cycle Engineer. The MSC Government Port Engineer shall attend both the pre-availability inspection and the work scope conference.

75. C-2.5.10.4.2 - Discusses contract availability growth. The not-to-exceed cost limit of 15% mentioned in the second sentence seems to conflict with the COR/KO thresholds of $50K/$500K mentioned later. Please clarify.

ANSWER: These two paragraphs under Section C-2.5.10.4.2 are referring to two different kinds of growth during an availability. The first paragraph is referring to the initial growth work that is approved at the time the availability is awarded. This initial growth work approval is for the contractor to negotiate and accomplish change orders for growth work in the not-to exceed limit provided at the time of availability award. The second paragraph is referring to additional growth work above the awarded amount of the availability, which includes the amount for the initial growth work that is referred in the first paragraph.

76. C-3-7.2.1 - Requires all key shoreside personnel to be US citizens and possess an active

SECRET security clearance. Is this requirement to include all personnel listed in the C-3.7.2.a table, or only those who are designated in the fourth column labeled “Key(KBA)”.

ANSWER: The solicitation was revised under Amendment #2 to remove the “Key” from the title of Section C-3.7.2.a. The fourth column labeled “Key (KBA)” are the designated Key Shore Side

Personnel for this solicitation.

77. C-3.8.1.1 - Qualifications for Assistant PE (3rd bullet) state minimum of seven years’ experience…, but the same bullet for Port Engineers (C-3.8.1) state minimum of five years’ experience for this same category. Is this a typo? The Asst PE bullet should require experience less than 5 years.

ANSWER: See Answer to Question #40.

78. C-3.8.1.2 - PE training:

(1)Does previous completion of MSC Ashore CMEO course satisfy requirement for MSC PE course?

(2)Does SSPC “Fundamentals of Protective Coatings” e-course satisfy ABS-approved corrosion and coatings course? Recency?

(3)What type of “Marine Gas Turbine” training satisfies this requirement? Credit for previous completion?

ANSWER: Please ensure that all future questions submitted for this RFP only include one question per form. The answers to your three questions are listed below.

1. No, previous completion of MSC Ashore CMEO course does not satisfy requirements under this contract.

2. The 16-week PCI (Protective Coating Inspector) e-course option (3.8 CEUs) and the 5-day in-person class (3.7 CEUs) will satisfy the ABS-approved corrosion and coating course.

Either course will need to be completed once per contract.

3. Per Section C-1.8.1.a Training Matrix specifies Shipboard Primary Equipment Training

(OEM/Tech rep) must be completed once during the life of the contract. An OEM or Tech

Rep course equivalent to the LM2500 SAC/DLE Engine Familiarization course offered in

Houston by General Electric or equivalent is preferred. A self-generated course is not equivalent to an OEM or Tech rep course. Credit for previous completion is not adequate.

79. C-3.8.4 - Qualifications of Engineering Manager – final paragraph states: “Five years of the combined experience must include work as a professional engineer.” Is this intended to mean possessing a state license as a Professional Engineer”?

ANSWER: The Government has revised Section C-3.8.4 to read “Five years of the combined experience must include work that requires the Engineering Manager to possess a state license as a Professional Engineer.” Changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

80. C-3.8.8 - “The Life Cycle Manager shall have a Bachelor's degree in engineering, or project management certification…” Is attainment of a project management certification meant to be a bachelor’s degree requirement as well?

ANSWER: N10: The education requirement may be met with a degree in engineering or with a project management certification.

81. C-1.1.22.a - Refrigerated Container Maintenance – Are repair parts and other supplies for performing this maintenance reimbursable?

ANSWER: The Government will revise Section C-1.1.22.a., to state that the repair parts and other supplies needed for Refrigerated Container Maintenance is reimbursable. Changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

82. C-1.6.2.1 - Notes (3) thru (5) indicated in the Table are not listed.

ANSWER: N10: The Government will revise the table in Section 1.6.2.1. to remove the notes 3, 4, and 5. These changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

CHANGES TO PRIOR Q&As Posted to FEDBIZOPPS.

Q&A #2:

Question 29 – The Government has revised the wording to Question #29’s answer to provide the correct reference within the answer. Answer to questions #29 now reads, “The Government has removed SALTS from C-5.3.8.1 because the program no longer exists.”

Question 31 – The Government has decided to revise the wording to Question #31’s answer. Section H-

16 states crew costs for any personnel retained, at the governments direction, onboard a vessel that is waiting for an investigation interview will be reimbursable only if it is determined that the employee or contractor is not liable or at fault for the events leading up to the investigation. Section H-16 will be revised in a forthcoming solicitation amendment to reflect this answer.

Q&A #3:

Question 41. – The Government decided to revise the wording to Question #41’s answer. Section B-1.7.1 will state in the event the Government places explosives in sufficient quantity onboard any ship causing the Contractor to pay the crew a required "explosives bonus," the Contractor will be paid at the FOS ammo bonus rate. Section B-1.7.1. will be revised in a forthcoming solicitation amendment to reflect this answer.