A0002.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

30-105-04EXCEPTION TO SF 30

APPROVED BY OIRM 11-84

STANDARD FORM 30 (Rev. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

The purpose of this amendment is to provide answ ers to questions submitted by potential offerors and extend offer due date to 29 January

2021. Any questions not answ ered by this amendment shall be answ ered by w ay of a future amendment.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES

J 1 12

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

BY 19-Jan-2021

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA15C. DATE SIGNED15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of Contracting Officer)(Signature of person authorized to sign)

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., Street, County, State and Zip Code) X N3220521R4112

X 9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

23-Dec-2020

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

X The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offer X is extended, is not extended.

Offer must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN

REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE

CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(B).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

10A. MOD. OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO.(If applicable)

6. ISSUED BY

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

19-Jan-2021

CODE

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND NORFOLK

471 EAST C. STREET

BLDG. SP-64

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK

NORFOLK VA 23511

N32205 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than item 6)

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.

CODE

See Item 6

FACILITY CODECODE

EMAIL:TEL:

N3220521R4112

SECTION SF 30 BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

SECTION SF 30 - BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

The following have been added by full text:

AMENDMENT A0002

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

N32205-21-R-4112

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The following are answers to questions received from potential offerors.

1. Please advise if you anticipate that the minimum technical requirement will be amended with less crane reach and less fuel transfer capacity.

ANSWER: No. Requirements are as follows:

Crane: A knuckle boom crane capable of supporting 30 K lbs. through its full range of motion. The crane boom shall have a minimum reach of 100 ft. over the side of the hull, and the minimum height required from the waterline to the heel pin (rotational axis of the boom) of the crane shall be no less than 46 ft.

Attachment E (PWS) will be modified in the upcoming amendment to indicate crane boom shall have a minimum reach of 100 ft. over the side of the hull.

Fuel Transfer: The vessel shall be capable of conducting replenishment of fuel and materiel to ships and austere ashore facilities. The vessel shall have a total fuel capacity of 900,000 - 1,000,000 gallons and be capable of segregating the product mix of DFM and JP-5 fuels. This fuel storage calculation can include the product tanks typically installed in PSV classes of ships. The vessel shall have the ability to pump these fuels from her tanks at a rate of 750 gallons per minute or greater via a fuel riser on the aft deck.

This riser shall be fitted with a minimum of a 6-inch cam lock fitting to enable pumping fuel off the ship via a government furnished and contractor installed hose reel equipped with 2000 ft. of 6” hose.

The vessel shall also provide three (3) No. 2 diesel fueling stations on the main deck (port, starboard and astern) to support re-fueling from ship’s internal storage tanks. The vessel shall have the capability to provide fuel from internal tanks to small craft. The vessel shall provide 2.5” delivery hose that will extend

40 ft. from the vessel. Delivery hose shall have a 2.5” female cam lock at the bitter end and a 2.5” male groove lock dust plug. An assortment of reducers and adapters shall be onboard the vessel to deliver fuel to a ship with 4” deck risers. These shall be reimbursed per the terms of the contract.

2. Laydays:

a. Is there a Cancelling Layday?

b. Request a change to this date to be at least eight months after contract award. Per discussions with crane manufacturers, engineering, fabrication, installation, and testing of the crane requires additional time. Also, without a firm contract award date, we are unable to determine how much acceleration will be necessary to meet the specified layday.

ANSWER: No. Vessel must arrive in Southern CA, ready for mission no later than 15 June 2021.

3. Crane / Vessel Launch and Recovery System:

a. Is this contractor furnished?

b. Are these required to be separate devices?

c. Are either required to be man-rated? (Man rating greatly increases the Safety Factors utilized).

d. Any hook speed requirements on the crane?

e. The Launch and Recovery System can be either built to US Navy or ABS Standards, whereas the crane just specifies the US Navy standards. Can the crane be built to ABS or US Navy Standards?

f. Confirm that the minimum reach is 105 ft. from both port and starboard sides of the vessel.

ANSWER:

a. Yes.

b. No requirement for separate devices. A davit is preferred but a crane is acceptable.

c. Yes. The vessel will be launched and recovered with personnel onboard.

d. No. USCG/ABS requirements will apply. There are no specific MSC requirements.

e. The crane may be built to ABS standards but must be capable of being certified for US Navy ordnance.

f. The minimum reach is from the side of the ship closest to the crane pedestal. Attachment E (PWS) will be modified in the upcoming amendment to indicate crane boom shall have a minimum reach of 100 ft. over the side of the hull. It may be port or starboard

4. Work boat requirements:

a. Any certification or build standards to be used for the workbook?

b. What max sea state should the vessel be designed for?

c. Is there a speed requirement?

d. How many government PAX is the boat required to carry and for what distance?

e. What operational endurance is required?

f. Any requirement for minimum navigational electronic package?

g. Any environmental consideration for cabin heating and or cooling?

a. No. Performance requirements as listed in the PWS.

b. Sea State 4.

c. Vessel must maintain 3 knot hose deployment speed, with allowances for wind and tide.

d. Approximatley 10 personnel from ship to shore in support of fuel transfer operations.

e. Daylight hours when hose is deployed for refueling operations.

f. Any commercially available depth finder.

g. Cabin is not required for workboat.

5. Berthing: Are Portable Accommodation Modules (PAMS) acceptable for additional berthing as long as the 7000 sq ft minimum deck space is not compromised?

ANSWER: ABS/USCG approved accommodations are acceptable.

6. Fuel Transfer:

a. Most PSV have a max available capacity of closer to 700,000 gallons of fuel even when using product tanks.

b. We have found that USCG only allows Sub I vessels to discharge up to 20% of the DWT, otherwise, Tank Vessel certifications are required. This 20% limitation is greatly smaller than the

900,000 to 1,000,000 requirement. Have you had discussions with USCG on the ability for a non-public vessel to perform this mission as a Sub I vessel?

a. No. Minimum capacity must be maintained.

b. Yes. A national defense waiver is anticipated for USCG review and approval to perform this mission.

7. Mission Equipment:

a. Can you provide additional details on the mission equipment specified? This is needed for vessel insurance.

b. Will these items always be installed on the vessel?

a. Yes, additional details will be provided as requested.

b. No. The mission equipment will be removed after the applicable demonstration.

8. RFP Questions: Can the date for the bidders questions be extended to at least one week past the submission of answers to the first set of bidder questions? In the past, the answers by the government required clarification that could not be resolved since the bidder question period had closed.

ANSWER: Offerors will have 5 days to respond with additional questions after initial RFP question responses are posted.

9. Section VIII Additional FAR and DFAR Clauses – Please confirm that the instructions in the Special Time

Boxes starting on I-32 supersede the checked clauses in Section VIII. There are numerous clauses in

Section VIII that are checked, but not referenced in the Special Time Boxes. In addition, many of the references in the Special Time Boxes are incorrect. For example, the first instructions for FAR 52.242-18 reference (b)(2), but in section VIII the reference is (b)(3).

ANSWER: No, the instructions in the Special Time Boxes starting in Box 6 and continuin in Box 75 do not always supersed the RFP. The terms/conditions/attachments in the RFP are in effect unless they are removed or amended in Box 75 or Box 6.. In addition, Box 75 may add terms or conditions that are not addressed in the RFP and should be treated as additions to what is already in the RFP. Upcoming amendment will correct sequential clause order references in Box 75 for Part VIII.

10. Section IV (k) Supercargo – This section indicates that the Charterer will pay a $30 daily fee for food for over 10 charterer personnel onboard; whereas Attachment E, para 14 indicates that the cost of all meals is reimbursable. Please clarify which is correct.

ANSWER: Attachment E (PWS) will be modified in the upcoming amendment to indicate that the charterer will pay $30/day for personnel above 10 personnel included in the daily charter hire rate.

11. Section V(1) Contractor Security – Is contractor security required for the entire period of performance? If not, where does an Offeror enter in the per diem rate for contractor security?

ANSWER: This is not in effect and will be updated in the following amendment.

12. Attachment E Performance Work Statement – requires the vessel to provide at sea transfer of cargo. Is there a modular UNREP station identified in the Mission Equipment or does the vessel need to be modified to provide a receiving / UNREP Cargo station?

ANSWER: No. A modular UNREP station is not identified in the Performance Work Statement. The crane will be used to transfer cargo between vessels at sea.

13. Is a SOLAS certified vessel required? Attachment E does not cleary (sic) state that the vessel may visit

Foreign Ports

ANSWER: Vessel must be fully certified in accordance with ABS/USCG requirements.

14. Vessel Requirements: For the tie down points, does the entire 7000 sq ft open deck space require the tie down points in a standard ISO grid? Or does the owner install tie down points as needed / required by the charterer?

ANSWER: Yes. The entire 7000 sq. ft. open deck space requires tie downs in standard ISO grid.

15. Section 2 of the Performance Work Statement notes possible operations in Alaska. Will any Ice Class standards need to be met?

ANSWER: No.

16. Section 3 of the Performance Work Statement requires Ashore Refueling through a hose from the vessel to the beach (bladder tank). How far off shore must the vessel be when pumping to shore? What flow rate of fuel to the shore is required? Depending on the distance to be pumped and the volume of fuel required the ballast or fire system may not be adequate. Also ABS/Coast Guard requirements will not allow the fire main system to perform this function, so does MSC have an alternative solution to add to the PWS?

ANSWER: The vessel must be capable of pumping fuel ashore to a distance of up to 2000 ft. at 750 GPM.

An external, deck mounted fuel pump may be used if required.

17. Section 5 of the Performance Work Statement, Vessel Characteristics, Vessel certifications, requires a

USCG Subchapter I vessel to perform this mission. A Subchapter I vessel is limited to 20% DWT for cargo fuel which will not satisfy the volume required by the PWS. US Coast Guard has advised that they will not grant a waiver for this due to the sensitivity with respect to potential oil spills and OPA 90 requirements, which a normal OSV design will not comply with. For example, a larger OSV may have a fuel capacity of approximately 1,500,000 gallons, however operating as a Subchapter I vessel, it is limited to carrying a little over 350,000 gallons of this cargo fuel. The requirements to use a Subchapter I vessel and to be certified to transfer fuel to another vessel are in contradiction. Does MSC have an alternative solution to allow Subchapter I vessel to transfer fuel legally? If not, a different class of vessel must be used to meet this mission requirement.

ANSWER: A national defense waiver is anticipated for USCG review and approval to perform this

18. Section 5 of the Performance Work Statement, Vessel Characteristics, Dynamic Positioning, requires that the vessel must be capable of maintaining a specific heading at speeds of 1 knot or greater and station keeping within a 150 foot radius of the established position in conditions with winds up to 30 knots and seas of Sea State 5. Is vessel “best heading” acceptable to meet these requirements, or are the requirements applicable to ALL vessel headings?

ANSWER: Best headings.

19. Section 5 of the Performance Work Statement, Vessel Characteristics, Dynamic Positioning, requires that

“the vessel shall also be capable of maintaining station within a 60-foot radius of the established position in conditions up to and including winds of 30 knots and sea state 3.” Is vessel “best heading” acceptable to meet this requirement, or is the requirement applicable to ALL vessel headings?

ANSWER: Best headings.

20. Section 5 of the Performance Work Statement, Vessel Characteristics, Deck Space requires a grid of container locks spaced in standard ISO container pattern. How many containers are required to be placed on the vessel and what grid dimensions are preferred?

ANSWER: The number of containers will vary but the most common configuration will be 5, 20 ft. TEU mounted athwartships.

21. Section 5 of the Performance Work Statement, Vessel Characteristics, Electrical Power. Is clean power required? If so please state how much and to what standard?

ANSWER: No.

22. Section 5 of the Performance Work Statement, Vessel Characteristics, Fresh Water Capacity. Will the vessel be allowed to discharge Gray Water overboard, or will the Gray Water be required to be treated before discharge, or held in holding tanks and pumped shore side?

ANSWER: The vessel will manage gray water in accordance with local and ABS/USCG regulations.

23. Section 5 of the Performance Work Statement, Vessel Characteristics, Crane. Is the crane required to have

Active Heave Compensation? What sea state is the crane required to operate in offshore?

ANSWER: No. Offerors are required to move cargo between vessels in up to sea state 3. This is detailed in the RFP, Page 1, Section 3 Vessel and Crew Support Requirements. The offeror must determine their optimal crane configuration to provide the required level of performance.

24. Is the vessel required to be equipped with a loading arm to support hoses while conducting transfers at 8 knots?

ANSWER: No. Future alterations may be required.

25. Section 5, Vessel Characteristics, Water Depth, requires that the vessel “shall be able to operate safely at minimum operational water depth.” What is the minimum water depth that the vessel shall be capable of operating?

ANSWER: Vessel shall be able to operate at its designed operational water depth.

26. Section 3 of the Performance Work Statement requires that the contractor train government personnel in vessel crane operations and allow access and operation of the crane by government personnel during ordnance evolutions. Will the government assume liability for any accidents or injuries while government personnel are operating the crane?

ANSWER: No. Liability will be determined by the terms of the contract and applicable federal laws.

27. Contractor Security: Box 75, Part V (l) applies. With regards to the requirement for Contractor Security, is this reimbursable or does the contractor need to provide pricing in the response to the RFP? If pricing needs to be provided, where should the pricing elements be inserted in the response and how many days per year need to be budgeted?

ANSWER: This is not in effect and will be removed from the RFP in the upcoming amendment.

28. The RFP Critical Submission Data requires “evidence that the Offeror has the right to offer the proposed vessel. Offeror shall certify that it currently owns or is the bareboat charterer of the vessel(s). If the offeror is not the owner, offeror shall provide with its proposal a copy of the executed bareboat charter agreement with the owner. The bareboat charter must contain a period of performance ending no earlier than 5 and 1/2 years after the date of proposal submission. The bareboat charter may be contingent on award of the contract pursuant to this solicitation and may be redacted to protect pricing.

Please confirm that, if not the vessel owner, the offeror is not restricted to a Bareboat Charter (chartering of a ship whereby no crew or provisions are included) and that it may fulfill this requirement with a time charter agreement (a fully equipped and manned ship at the disposal of the lessee for a period of time), specifically using a BIMCO Supplytime 2017 vessel charter format, modified appropriately, as the hire contractual Agreement.

ANSWER: Yes, the offeror is not restricted to a Bareboat Charter and that it may fulfill this requirement with a time charter agreement. RFP Critical Submission Data will be modified in the upcoming amendment to allow time charter agreements to fulfill this requirement.

29. Please confirm that usage of Portable Accommodations Modules complying with USCG and ABS requirements is suitable to meet the requirements for embarked personnel. The accommodations are not required to be in the house

ANSWER: ABS/USCG approved accommodations are acceptable.

30. Please confirm that pricing should be based upon 10 embarked personnel, with all additional embarked personnel invoiced as a reimbursable expense in accordance with the Supercargo requirements.

ANSWER: Attachment E (PWS) will be modified in the upcoming amendment to indicate that the charterer will pay $30/day for personnel above 10 personnel included in the daily charter hire rate.

31. Vessel and Crew Support and Requirements: There’s a requirement for “at sea transfer of personnel, cargo, and pumping of water alongside or astern in up to sea state 3.” Is astern transfer required if the

Offeror can provide another transfer location and method that meet’s Government needs?

Ashore refueling is mentioned but the text in that paragraph refers to pumping saltwater. Do you plan to pump fuel ashore from the ship?

ANSWER: Yes, astern and alongside transfer of liquid cargo [water and fuel] is required. Personnel and cargo transfers will be conducted alongside. We do plan on pumping fuel ashore from the ship.

32. Ref: PWS, pg. 4 – Crane

Please confirm if the 30k lb. required minimum working load limit of the crane is intended to support launch and recovery of the Contractor-provided workboat immediately alongside the vessel’s hull (and not at 105 ft. from the hull).

ANSWER: Crane is required to support 30 K lbs. through its full range of motion.

33. Ref: PWS, pg. 4 – Crane

Please advise what minimum working load limit is required for the crane when boom/hook is positioned

105 ft. from side hull?

ANSWER: Crane is required to support 30 K lbs. through its full range of motion.

34. Ref: PWS, pg. 4 – Crane

The minimum crane reach specified in the market survey for this solicitation was 75 ft. from the side of the hull. Please advise is a crane with minimum reach of 101 ft. from side of hull is acceptable.

Additionally, please confirm that the crane is only required to meet the minimum reach from the side of the hull on one side of the vessel only.

ANSWER: The minimum reach will be amended in Attachment E (PWS) in the upcoming amendment to

100 ft. from the side of the ship closest to the crane pedestal. It may be port or starboard.

35. Ref: PWS, pg. 4 – Crane

Please confirm that a crane with a fixed boom or telescoping boom is acceptable in lieu of a knuckle boom crane.

ANSWER: Attachment E (PWS) will be modified in the upcoming amendment to indicate that knuckle boom, fixed boom or telescoping boom crane are acceptable.

36. Ref: PWS, pg. 5 – Fuel Transfer

The PWS states a total fuel capacity requirement of 900,000 – 1,000,000 gallons. Please clarify if this should be interpreted to mean that the minimum required fuel capacity is 900,000 gallons, and the maximum allowable fuel capacity is 1,000,000 gallons. If not, please advise the minimum required fuel capacity.

ANSWER: Yes. Minimum fuel capacity requirement is 900,000 gallons. Fuel capacity may exceed

1,000,000 gallons.

37. Ref: PWS, pg. 5 – Fuel Transfer

Please confirm that the total fuel capacity requirement of 900,000 – 1,000,000 gallons includes total of the cargo fuel to be transferred and the vessel’s fuel to be consumed in its main/auxiliary engines.

ANSWER: Yes.

38. Ref: PWS, pg. 5 – Fuel Transfer

Please clarify the required minimum capacity of JP-5 fuel. This is needed in order to ensure sufficient tank segregation capabilities from the DFM fuel.

ANSWER: The required minimum capacity for JP-5 is 180K gallons. When loading JP-5, due to tank configuration, total vessel fuel capacity may be lower than 900K gallons.

39. Ref: PWS, pg. 6 – Contractor Furnished Equipment

Please advise if the contractor-provided workboat is required to be precisely 35.0 ft in length, or if a workboat of shorter/longer length is acceptable provided it meets the towing pull requirement stated in the

PWS?

ANSWER: The workboat should be 35 feet in length minimum.

40. Ref: PWS, pg. 7, Paragraph 7 – Industrial and Technical Assistance

Paragraph 7 states “The Contractor shall procure and supervise all industrial and technical assistance necessary for government furnished equipment installation, vessel modifications or other tasks required for the vessel to perform its missions. The direct cost of all industrial and technical assistance shall be reimbursable in accordance with terms in this contract including the actual cost of parts and materials.”

Please clarify if the above reimbursable amounts include costs for any modifications performed in order to meet the minimum vessel characteristics specified under Paragraph 5 of the PWS.

ANSWER: Any modifications performed in order to meet the minimum vessel characteristics specified under Paragraph 5 of the PWS will not be reimbursable and should considered into an offeror’s daily charter rate.

41. Ref: PWS, pg. 10, Paragraph 15 – Food Service Operations

Please provide a copy of following documents (as referenced in Paragraph 15):

- NAVMED Form 6240/1

- NAVMED P-5010-1

- NAVMED P-5010, Charter 8

- SECNAVINST 6210.2 (Series) Quarantine Regulations

- BUMEDNOTE 6210

Additionally, the website listed under Paragraph 15.3 (www.med.navy.mil) is not accessible and unable to load the webpage.

ANSWER: HTTPS://www.med.navy.mil must be used to access.

42. Ref: Part I – SPECIALTIME BOXES – Box 6

Box 6 provides as order of precedence for the various solicitation documents. However, item 6 (1) included both the Specialtime Boxes (Part I) and Attachment E-PWS and is not clear which has precedence. Please http://www.med.navy.mil/ https://www.med.navy.mil/ clarify which of these two documents takes precedence over the other in the event of a conflict between these two documents.

ANSWER: The Special Time Boxes (Part I) and Attachment E- PWS are considered equal in terms of order precedence. If an event of conflict occurs between the two documents, please notify Military Sealift

Command.

43. Ref: Part I – SPECIALTIME BOXES – Box 75

Part X.(B).y.2 states that a bareboat charter of the vessel must contain a period of performance ending no earlier than 5 and ½ years after date of proposal submission. Please confirm that it is acceptable for such bareboat charter to terminate earlier than 5 and ½ years after date of proposal submission in the event any Contract option period is not exercised.

ANSWER: Yes, it is acceptable for such bareboat charter to terminate earlier than 5 and ½ years after date of proposal submission in the event any Contract option period is not exercised.

44. Ref: Part IV(k) – SUPERCARGO AND GOVERNMENT DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES

Part IV.(k) states “The Charterer shall pay an amount of $30.00 per day, per person, for personnel other than the 10 personnel per vessel who are included in the charter hire rate, who are staying onboard for more than 24 hours.”

Please advise if the charter rate should include the cost of accommodation and victualling for only 10 of the intended 40 embarked government personnel contemplated in the PWS.

ANSWER: Attachment E (PWS) will be modified in the upcoming amendment to indicate that the charterer will pay $30/day for personnel above 10 personnel included in the daily charter hire rate.

45. Ref: PWS, pg. 5 – COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

Please provide details of the USG secure communications equipment, any drawings or other specifications.

Request extension of offer due date to 8 FEB 2021 to enable sufficient time to adequately evaluate this requirement and price the required modifications after above additional details are provided.

ANSWER: USG secure communications equipment is portable and will be hand carried by government personnel as required. USG secure communications will not connect into the vessels infrastructure.

46. Ref: Form 1449, Block 6 – OFFER DUE DATE

We respectfully request extension of offer due date to 8 FEB 2021.

ANSWER: The Offer due date will be extended to 29 JANUARY 2021.

47. Minimum Vessel Characteristics / Contract Requirements Table:

Vessel Certifications: Requires that the vessel shall certified (sic) under 46 CFR Subchapter I and certified to pump fuel to another vessel or ashore (DFM and JP5). Pumping fuel to another vessel is not permitted under Subchapter I. Will the Government obtain a waiver from the USCG to permit vessel to vessel fuel transfers?

ANSWER: Yes, a national defense waiver is anticipated for USCG review and approval to perform this

48. Minimum Vessel Characteristics / Contract Requirements Table:

Deck Space: “The working deck shall be provided with a system of tie down points capable of securing mission equipment in various configurations. The system shall consist of a grid of container locks spaced in standard ISO container pattern. They should allow for containers to be placed adjacent to one another in either a fore and aft or athwart ships manner. The contractor will provide a certified load test of the installed container locks” For how many of each container size is the ISO lock grid required?

ANSWER: The number of containers will vary but the most common configuration will be 5, 20 ft. TEU mounted athwart ships.

49. Crane: “…the minimum height required from the waterline to the heel pin (rotational axis of the boom) of the crane shall be no less than 46 ft.” Can a minimum hook height, rather than a minimum heel pin height, be specified?

ANSWER: No. Crane operator must be located no less than 46 ft. above the waterline.

50. Vessel and Crew Support Requirements: There’s a requirement for “at sea transfer of personnel, cargo, and pumping of water alongside or astern in up to sea state 3”. Is astern transfer required if the Offeror can provide another transfer location and method that meets the Government’s needs?

ANSWER: Yes, astern and alongside transfer of liquid cargo [water and fuel] is required. Personnel and cargo transfers will be conducted alongside. We do plan on pumping fuel ashore from the ship.

51. Vessel and Crew Support Requirements: There’s a requirement for “at sea transfer of personnel, cargo, and pumping of water alongside or astern in up to sea state 3”. When pumping water astern does the receiving vessel have to be towed?

ANSWER: No. Receiving vessel does not have to be towed.

52. Minimum Vessel Characteristics / Contract Requirements Table:

Deck Space: 3. Be clear of all equipment and deck protrusions taller than 50.8 mm (2in.). Is wood plank deck acceptable deck material?

ANSWER: Yes, as long as there is a smooth contiguous deck surface.

53. Minimum Vessel Characteristics / Contract Requirements Table:

Deck Space: 7. …Removal of the bulwarks should provide at a minimum, a 10-ft x 10-ft flush deck , free of obstructions, with direct access over the side. Does the 10-ft x 10-ft flush deck area need to be steel or can it be covered with wood plank decking?

ANSWER: The 10-ft x 10-ft flush deck area can be steel or wood plank decking.

54. Business Proposal

Please confirm that the following items should be included within the Business Proposal, and if not, advise where these items should be provided:

a. Small Business Subcontracting Plan

b. Previous Five Year Voyage Itineraries

c. Purchase Price of Vessel

ANSWER: The Small Business Subcontracting Plan and the Purchase Price of the vessel should be included within the Business Proposal. The Previous Five Year Voyage Itineraries should be included within the technical proposal. The Previous Five Year Voyage Itineraries instructions in PART X (c)(1) in

Box 75 will be removed in the upcoming amendment. The Previous Five Year Voyage Itineraries instructions can be found in PART X (aa) Technical Proposal.

55. Business Proposal

Throughout the RFP, as well as the attachments provided, the Wage Determination is referred to as

Attachment H. However, in the Business Proposal instructions, the Wage Determination is referred to as

Attachment G. Please clarify.

ANSWER: The changes to the RFP are indicated in Box 6 and continued into Box 75 of the Special Time

Boxes. PART IX ATTACHMENTS AND PART X (B) INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS LONG TERM

CHARTER have been deleted in its entirely and replaced in Box 75 where Attachment H is Department of

Labor Wage Determination.

56. Business Proposal

Throughout the RFP, as well as the attachments provided, the SF-LLL is referred to as Attachment I.

However, in the Business Proposal instructions, this attachment is referred to as Attachment K. Please clarify.

ANSWER: The changes to the RFP are indicated in Box 6 and continued into Box 75 of the Special Time

Boxes. PART IX ATTACHMENTS AND PART X (B) INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS LONG TERM

CHARTER have been deleted in its entirely and replaced in Box 75 where Attachment I is Disclosure of

Lobbying Activities (SFLLL).

57. Under Part IX (f), the RFP states proposals must be submitted via email in Adobe Acrobat format. Due to the size of the data files being required and presented, and with only a 20mb max submission size, would

MSC offer the option to submit proposals via DODSafe in order to ensure all information can be submitted and received without any delay as has been an option in previous requirements?

ANSWER: All offers must only be submitted via email. With regards to the 20mb max submission size, the offer can be submitted via multiple emails and Military Sealift Command can certify all emails and attachments are received.

58. Cadet questions: Box 75, page I-16, PART IV ADD NEW SECTION requires that the ship owner/operator must carry at least 2 merchant marine cadets on each voyage at the owners expense. Are the 2 cadets included in the berthing requirements in the Performance Work Statement? If not, how many additional bunks is the contractor expected to provide, as the requirement states that “at least 2” cadets shall be carried. Who will be responsible for arranging which cadets are to ride the vessel with the maritime academies? Are the wages and associated costs for carrying the cadets reimbursable by the government?

If not, what are the wages to be paid and should the wages and costs for berthing and meals be included in attachment C, Crew Complement? Will the cadets be paying all travel costs associated with travel to and from the vessel? If not, is the owner/operator responsible for those costs as well and what are those costs, as there is no way to determine the cost for each cadet not knowing the home base for each person. Does the government assume responsibility and liability for the cadets or is the owner/operator also expected to assume liability. Will the owner/operator be allowed to include the cadets in random drug testing, covid testing, and physical exams prior to embarkation on the vessel?

ANSWER: The Cadet Training Clause only applies if the vessel is flagged in the United States and is rated at 10,000 gross tons or higher. No, the 2 cadets are not included in the berthing requirements. Cadet wages, berthing, training, subsistence, and transportation shall be solely the responsibility of the Owner.

The ship owner is responsible for all aspects of any cadets and shall coordinate with the appropriate academy as to the cadet wages, travel, accommodations, etc. The government does not assume responsibility and liability for the cadets as the responsibility and liability default to the owner per 46

U.S.C. § 51307.

59. Please clarify how the award preference for vessels enrolled in the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Program

(VISA) is handled within the framework of a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) award.

Specifically, will a technically acceptable VISA enrolled vessel be awarded the contract regardless of a technically acceptable, non-VISA enrolled vessel with a lower price?

ANSWER: Part XI (a) will be amended in a forthcoming amendment to clarify how MSC makes an award.

Award preferences under VISA will be in accordance with DODI 4500.57 Section 6.4. A technically acceptable VISA enrolled vessel will not necessarily be awarded the contract regardless of a technically acceptable, non-VISA enrolled vessel with a lower price because VISA preference is based not on vessel enrollment, but on operator participation in VISA. Please see DOD Instruction 4500.57 Section 6.4.

SECTION SF 1449 - CONTINUATION SHEET

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

The required response date/time has changed from 22-Jan-2021 01:00 PM to 29-Jan-2021 01:00 PM.

(End of Summary of Changes)