RFP N3220526R0002 - Q AND A 7.10.26.pdf

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

RFP # N3220526R0002

Underwater Hull Maintenance and Repair Services

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. “We respectfully request a three to four week extension to the current submission deadline of 18

July 2026.”

ANSWER: At this time, the Government must maintain the original submission deadline of 5:00

PM Eastern Time on 17 July 2026. Maintaining this schedule will help the Government meet the targeted award date of 10 August 2026. We appreciate your interest in this requirement.

2. “Requests a bid extension of one (1) month (to approximately 17 August 2026).”

ANSWER: The Government will extend the submission deadline, however, may only grant an extension to 22 July 2026. The solicitation amendment incorporating this extension is pending and will be published to SAM.gov when available.

3. “Please confirm whether the Government will amend or clarify the proposal instructions to allow offerors to submit evidence that their CMMC Level 2 Self-Assessment is in progress at proposal submission, provided that the offeror obtains and provides applicable CMMC UID(s), current

SPRS CMMC status, and affirmation of continuous compliance no later than award. Please confirm that an offeror will not be found nonresponsive or technically unacceptable at proposal submission solely because the Level 2 Self-Assessment is in progress, so long as required CMMC status is current in SPRS before award.”

ANSWER: Contractor is required to have CMMC level before award.

4. “Please identify which categories of contract information are expected to be Federal Contract

Information, Controlled Unclassified Information, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information, Confidential/classified information, or publicly releasable information. Specifically, please confirm marking and handling requirements for hull inspection photographs, video files, underwater inspection reports, 4790/2K documentation, cofferdam drawings, FWP packages, ship drawings, CargoMax data, and technical library submissions. Please also confirm whether subcontractors that only provide diving labor, fabrication, engineering review, transportation, or storage services must have their own CMMC UID if they do not independently process, store, or transmit FCI/CUI on their own systems.”

ANSWER: Information that is expected to be Federal Contract Information, Controlled

Unclassified Information, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information, Confidential/classified information, or publicly releasable information will be identified at the task order level. Specific instructions will be provided at the task order level for marking and handling requirements for hull inspection photographs, video files, underwater inspection reports, 4790/2K documentation, cofferdam drawings, FWP packages, ship drawings, CargoMax data, and technical-library submissions. Subcontractors are not required to have a CMMC level if they do not independently process, store, or transmit FCI/CUI on their own systems. It is the prime contractor’s responsibility to ensure subcontractors maintain the proper CMMC levels if applicable or required.

5. “Please confirm whether the Government will accept DoD SAFE, PIEE Solicitation Module, a

Government-provided secure file transfer link, or another approved secure transfer method for large proposal files and video submissions.”

ANSWER: Only email is acceptable.

6. “Please confirm whether the Government will provide same-day receipt confirmation identifying received files, file sizes, date/time received, and whether any files were blocked, stripped, quarantined, corrupted, or inaccessible.”

ANSWER: The Government will confirm receipt of proposals once they are received. The

Government cannot confirm if multiple emails are required for you to submit your proposal.

Only one proposal can be submitted. 'Email 1 of X,' 'Email 2 of X,' etc. is acceptable and will not be treated as more than one proposal.

7. “Please confirm whether offerors are required to enter pricing or any other values in workbook tabs related to Task 03, even though PWS Tasks 03, 04, and 05 are marked Reserved.”

ANSWER: Please disregard Task 03, 04, and 05.

8. “Please identify the approved method for proposing additional labor categories without reformatting the Government-provided Excel pricing files.”

ANSWER: Offerors may not propose additional categories at this time. Task 10-01 within the

PWS addresses welding services. Task 12 within the PWS addresses NDT services. However, additional labor categories may be proposed at the order level that are within scope of the contract. Revised language was provided in Section L of the solicitation.

9. “Please confirm whether offerors may include normal handling, subcontract management, material handling, procurement administration, bond/insurance cost, and profit in firm-fixed-price task order quotes for materials, travel, subcontracted services, specialty equipment, fabrication, and OCONUS support, provided those costs are not separately labeled as G&A or profit.”

ANSWER: All task orders administered from this contract will be firm-fixed price. Any other expenses that are within scope of the contract may be proposed at the order level to be reviewed by the Contracting Officer for fair and reasonableness and applicable to the terms and conditions of the contract. Please review the solicitation in its entirety.

10. “Please confirm which labor categories the Government expects to be subject to Service Contract

Labor Standards under FAR 52.222-41. Please also confirm whether the Government will provide conformance guidance for diving-specific positions not expressly listed in the wage determinations.”

ANSWER: If the offeror believes certain labor categories are not subject to the Service Contract

Labor Standards under FAR 52.222-41, the offeror may take exception and provide their reasoning to the Government. Please review the solicitation in its entirety.

11. “Please confirm the fouling condition, coating condition, access condition, and vessel-readiness assumptions that offerors should use when pricing fixed-price Task 01 and Task 02 work. Please confirm that when pre-cleaning inspection reveals excessive calcareous fouling, coating failure, paint deterioration, damaged running gear, blocked access, unsafe conditions, or other ship-specific conditions materially different from normal assumptions, the Government will either authorize additional work, cancel the cleaning with appropriate standby/mobilization compensation, or issue a revised task order.”

ANSWER: The surface area, coating type, fouling severity, propulsor configuration, pier condition, visibility, current, weather, access, tag-out readiness, and vessel condition will be addressed at the order level. Please provide prices for Tasks 01 and 02.

12. “Please confirm that the contractor will not be responsible for failure to achieve the specified finish where documented pre-existing damage, coating failure, erosion, pitting, cavitation damage, or other ship condition prevents that result. Please confirm that pre-cleaning photographs/video and diver hull inspection data sheets will be accepted as evidence of pre-existing condition.”

ANSWER: The Government recognizes that propeller damage or erosion may prevent attaining the required finish. If applicable, the Government will not hold the contractor liable.

13. “Please confirm the contractor's right to recover all reasonable, allocable, and documented costs incurred before a Government-caused cancellation, including mobilization/demobilization, travel, lodging, freight, subcontractor cancellation charges, material commitments, rental equipment, and personnel standby.”

ANSWER: Any government caused cancellation will be investigated and addressed at the order level to determine reasonable compensation for the contractor. For additional info, please direct your attention to FAR 52.212-4 Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial

Services.

14. “Please confirm that Government-caused or Government-controlled delays include base access processing delays after timely submission of required access forms, escort delays, pier access delays, ship force tag-out delays, adjacent vessel delays, unavailable ship representatives, unavailable Port Engineer/COR, crane access restrictions, force protection restrictions, and ship-not-ready conditions.”

ANSWER: Any government caused delays will be investigated and addressed at the order level.

For additional info, please direct your attention to FAR 52.212-4 Terms and Conditions—

Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

15. “Please confirm whether the ten-business-day mobilization requirement applies only to CONUS task orders or to all worldwide task orders. For OCONUS task orders, please confirm that mobilization schedules will account for visas, work permits, country clearance, customs clearance, port authority approval, JCCS requirements, host-nation restrictions, freight transit, and base/ship access processing.”

ANSWER: This requirement will be addressed at the order level due unknown variables with

OCONUS mobilization and demobilization tasks.

16. “Please confirm that OCONUS task order pricing may include visas, work permits, country clearance support, customs brokerage, carnet/temporary import costs, port authority fees, agent fees, freight forwarding, demurrage, escort requirements, local transportation, security requirements, lodging, per diem, immunization/medical requirements, and other location-specific costs required for performance. Please confirm whether customs duties, import taxes, VAT, foreign withholding taxes, or port-imposed fees will be reimbursable, exempted by the

Government, or required to be included in task order pricing.”

ANSWER: All orders administered on this contract will be firm-fixed price. However, at the order level an offeror can request an equitable adjustment for any costs that they deem should be reimbursable or address them specifically at the order level before award of any task order.

17. “Please confirm that the Government-provided travel/material value is for evaluation purposes only and does not cap the contractor's recovery of authorized task order travel, materials, subcontractors, freight, equipment rental, OCONUS support, permits, or other non-labor costs.

Please confirm that actual task order travel and materials will be priced, evaluated, negotiated, and awarded at the task order level based on specific requirements.”

ANSWER: The Government will set the ceiling of the contract for travel and materials. Travel, materials, subcontractors, freight, equipment rental, OCONUS support, permits, or other non-labor costs can be addressed at the order level and must be within scope of the contract. Please direct your attention Section L of the solicitation, Task 20 of the PWS, PWS Sections 5.2, 8.1, and 8.14 for additional information. As stated before, all task orders administered from this contract will be firm-fixed price.

18. “Please provide historical task order data, if available, for the prior five years showing number of hull cleanings, interim cleanings, inspections, cofferdam tasks, NDT tasks, coatings tasks, mobilizations, OCONUS calls, and standby/delay events by zone, region, ship class, and task. If historical data will not be provided, please confirm that offerors should rely only on the estimated quantity tabs in the Government workbooks for evaluated pricing.”

ANSWER: Please follow the instructions in Section L of the solicitation.

19. “Please confirm the transfer location, transfer date, inventory process, condition baseline, inspection criteria, certification status, missing-component process, and liability start date for all

Government-furnished cofferdams. Please confirm that if damage is identified, missing components, deformation, expired certification, unsuitable gaskets, corrosion, or other deficiencies during initial receipt/inspection, the Government will remain responsible for correction, replacement, or separate authorization of repair before the contractor is held accountable for operational readiness.”

ANSWER: These details will be addressed at the order level.

20. “Please confirm whether cofferdam storage may be performed at a qualified subcontractor or third-party warehouse facility under Contractor’s control. Please clarify requirements for indoor storage, climate control, security, insurance, lifting/handling equipment, inspection intervals, inventory reporting, maintenance records, and Government access to the storage location.”

ANSWER: That is correct. Please see PWS Section 3.0, Task 10-02.1. Specifics regarding

Cofferdam storage requirements will be provided at the order level.

21. “Please identify the expected Government review and approval timeline for PCP/FWP submissions, including initial review, comment return, resubmission, and final approval. Please confirm that task order performance periods will account for Government review/approval time and that Government-caused FWP review delays will not be treated as contractor delay. Please also confirm the process for urgent or emergency cofferdam FWP review.”

ANSWER: Specifics regarding Cofferdam FWP Government review and approval timeline will be provided at the order level.

22. “Please confirm that the Government, Ship's Force, or Principal Port Engineer will provide all vessel drawings, docking plans, hull opening details, sea chest drawings, system drawings, CargoMax data, current draft/trim/list/freeboard data, access limitations, hot work restrictions, rigging-point information, and ship-specific risk assessment inputs required for FWP development. Please confirm that delays in receiving this data will result in task order schedule adjustment.”

ANSWER: Specifics regarding Cofferdam FWP source data to be furnished by

Government/Ship's Force will be addressed at the order level.

23. “Please confirm that ABS/UWILD support, surveyor coordination, additional inspection time, additional documentation, and survey-specific reporting are not included in Task 01 fixed prices unless specifically ordered and funded under the applicable hourly task. Please confirm whether

ABS survey fees are paid directly by the Government/ship or are to be included in contractor task order pricing when required.”

ANSWER: ABS support and expenses will be provided and covered by the Government.

24. “Please confirm that weather, unsafe sea state, excessive current, insufficient visibility, contaminated water, vessel movement, active discharges/suctions, adjacent vessel hazards, port closures, lightning, force protection events, or other unsafe conditions will be treated as excusable delays and will not result in negative CPARS, price deductions, or schedule default. Please confirm that the dive supervisor retains authority to stop work for safety.”

ANSWER: Please direct your attention to FAR 52.212-4 Terms and Conditions—Commercial

Products and Commercial Services to address this issue. If there are issues preventing contract performance, the contractor is required to contact the Contracting Officer and the Contracting

Officer Representative.

25. “Please confirm whether advance ship access list requirements may be waived or expedited for urgent task orders, casualties, emergent inspections, or short-notice operational requirements.

Please confirm the process for emergency access, escort coordination, and after-hours/weekend access.”

ANSWER: These issues will be addressed at the order level when applicable.

26. “Please provide the estimated portion of work expected to involve nuclear-powered support vessels, NNPI, radiological controls, Confidential/classified information, Facility Clearance, or

DD254 requirements. Please confirm whether active Facility Clearance is required at proposal submission, prior to base IDIQ award, or only before performance of a task order requiring classified access. Please also confirm whether the Government will sponsor the awardee for

Facility Clearance if required for a future task order.”

ANSWER: These issues will be addressed at the order level when applicable.

27. “Please confirm who is authorized to issue an oral task order and what minimum information must be provided before the contractor is obligated to act, including scope, funding, location, period of performance, NTP date, task numbers, travel authorization, and not-to-exceed value.

Contractor requests confirmation that no work, mobilization, procurement, or travel is required until direction is issued by the Contracting Officer or Contract Specialist with proper authority and funding.”

ANSWER: See Section 7.0 of the PWS. All other details will be provided at the order level when applicable.

28. “Please confirm the process and required documentation for Over and Above work, including who may request it, who may approve it, when work may begin, whether email authorization is sufficient, and how schedule will be adjusted while awaiting approval. Please confirm that direction from the Port Engineer, Chief Engineer, Ship's Force, ABS surveyor, or COR does not authorize additional compensable work unless approved by the Contracting Officer or authorized task order official.”

ANSWER: Please see Section G of the solicitation.

29. “Please confirm that all deductions for late performance, deliverable rejection, or personnel qualification issues apply only to the affected task order value and not to the total IDIQ ceiling, base contract value, or unrelated task orders. Please confirm that deductions will not apply to delays or deficiencies caused by Government delay, Government-furnished information, ship readiness, access delay, weather/safety stand-down, unavailable Government reviewers, or

Government-directed scope changes.”

ANSWER: Please see PWS Section 8.7. Please review PWS in its entirety.

30. “Please define 'error' for deliverable rejection purposes and distinguish between material technical inaccuracies, missing required data, formatting issues, typographical errors, transcription differences, file naming issues, and Government-preferred edits. Please confirm whether the contractor will have an opportunity to correct non-material deliverable errors before price deduction is assessed.”

ANSWER: Please see PWS Section 8.7. The requirement remains unchanged. Please review

PWS in its entirety.

31. “Please provide all required Government templates, preferred file naming conventions, accepted media formats, email addresses, technical library submission method, photograph/video resolution requirements, metadata requirements, and CUI marking requirements for all CDRLs.

Please confirm whether quarterly raw data submissions to the MSC Technical Library may be made by secure file transfer if files are too large for email.”

ANSWER: Please follow instructions provided in the CDRLS. All other details can be addressed and clarified at the order level for specifics.

32. “Please confirm whether the Government will accept and evaluate relevant experience of proposed subcontractors or teaming partners for specialized scopes such as cofferdam engineering/fabrication, NDT, ABS/UWILD support, OCONUS logistics, and specialty coating/repair work. If subcontractor experience is acceptable, please identify what commitment documentation must be submitted.”

ANSWER: Please see Section L of the solicitation that addresses what is required for the corporate experience technical factor.

33. “Please confirm whether offerors may include evidence that questionnaires were timely requested from references if a reference fails to submit before the proposal due date. Please also confirm whether the Government will consider available CPARS, commercial references, email confirmations, or other source information where a reference does not return a questionnaire.”

ANSWER: The offeror will be rated in accordance with the criteria established in the solicitation and based on the information provided to the Government. Please see Section L of the solicitation.

34. “Please confirm the denominator offerors should use for small business participation percentages:

total evaluated price, estimated acquisition value, proposed labor total, expected IDIQ ceiling, or another Government-defined value. Please confirm whether small business participation percentages may be presented as planned targets based on estimated ordering mix rather than guaranteed minimum dollar commitments.”

ANSWER: The Government understands that these are just estimates that will be provided by offerors due to the unknown amount of work that may be required for this contract. Based on your total evaluated price, the offeror must estimate how much of that amount will be impacted by small business participation. Please follow the instructions in Section L of the solicitation.

35. “Please confirm whether the ABS Recognized External Specialist for In-Water Surveys certification must be held by the prime contractor at proposal submission, by the prime contractor before award, or by the entity actually performing ABS-related in-water survey work. Please confirm whether an offeror may satisfy this requirement through a committed subcontractor or teaming partner.”

ANSWER: The prime contractor needs to have this certification The prime contractor is being evaluated for this requirement, not the subcontractor. See Section L of the solicitation.

36. “Please provide expected NDT methods, approximate frequency, and typical ship systems/components requiring NDT under this contract. Please confirm whether underwater radiographic testing is anticipated, and if so, whether task orders will address radiation safety, permits, exclusion zones, ship/base coordination, and regulatory approvals.

ANSWER: NDT methods are addressed in PWS Section 3, under Task 12. All other details will be provided at the order level.

37. “Please identify all minimum insurance requirements expected for diving, marine general liability, ship repairers legal liability, pollution liability, workers compensation/USL&H, Jones

Act/maritime employer liability, automobile, crane/rigging operations, professional liability for engineering, and property coverage for GFP cofferdams. Please confirm whether the Government expects waiver of subrogation, additional insured status, or specific coverage limits.”

ANSWER: See FAR 52.228-5 Insurance-Work on a Government Installation and FAR 52.212-4

Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services for details.

38. “Please confirm that port closures, named storms, severe weather, force protection conditions, customs holds, host-nation restrictions, vessel unavailability, war/civil unrest, government shutdown/access restrictions, and transportation disruptions will be treated as excusable delays where they prevent performance despite contractor diligence.”

ANSWER: See FAR 52.212-4 Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial

Services. Also see Task 19 within the PWS.

39. “Please confirm whether any anticipated task orders are expected to be DPAS-rated and whether offerors must have DPAS procedures in place before award. Please also confirm how priority rating flow down will be communicated to subcontractors and suppliers at the task order level.”

ANSWER: Please see Section H of the solicitation. The prime contractor is responsible for all communication with their respective subcontractors.

40. “Please confirm whether offerors may include proposal assumptions and clarifications that do not take exception to the solicitation, provided the offeror agrees to comply with the solicitation terms and conditions. Please identify where such assumptions should be placed: Volume I cover letter, Volume IV price narrative, or another section.”

ANSWER: Please follow the instructions in Section L of the solicitation. Any assumptions or clarifications should be addressed during the questions and answers timeframe. Any additional assumptions or clarifications can be included in the same section as your exceptions.

41. “Will the Government please provide Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement (PWS) immediately so that offerors can understand the full scope of work, technical cleaning standards, task structure, and geographical zone definitions required to accurately complete the pricing matrices and proposal?”

ANSWER: The PWS was included as an attachment, Attachment 1, included with the solicitation on SAM.gov.

42. “Will the Government provide a populated version of Attachment 9 detailing the specific quantities, types, descriptions, serial numbers, certifications, and current condition of all

Government Furnished Property (cofferdams and maritime equipment) that will be provided to the contractor? Please also clarify the transfer process, inspection timeline, and liability start point for GFP items.”

ANSWER: A list of cofferdams was provided as an attachment, Attachment 9, included with the solicitation on SAM.gov.

43. “Will the Government issue CDRLs for the Condition Found Reports (CFRs) and Ship Access

Lists to formalize their submission requirements, including format, frequency, distribution list, and acceptance criteria? If these are intended to be submitted under existing CDRLs, please identify which ones and provide any required templates or instructions.”

ANSWER: CFRs will be addressed in accordance with the over and above process established in

Section G of the Solicitation, if over above and work is applicable to the requirement, which will be determined at the order level. If a CDRL is necessary at the order level, the contractor and government can bilaterally agree to establish a CDRL at the order level or base contract level.

44. “Would the Government consider revising the CDRL A007 submission timeline to specify

"business days" rather than "calendar days," or otherwise provide additional margin (e.g., 3-5 business days) for the full review cycle, including transit and potential resubmission?”

ANSWER: This requirement will remain unchanged.

45. “Please provide the minimum crew size and makeup as a base requirement and also broken down per task for each scope of work (e.g., Task 01 Hull Cleaning, Task 02 Interim Cleaning, cofferdam evolutions, inspections, NDT, etc.). Please specify required positions (Dive

Supervisor, working divers, standby diver, tenders, support personnel) and any task-specific additions or reductions.”

ANSWER: This is a performance based contract. MSC will not instruct you on crew sizes and makeup.

46. “The Ordering Period Pricing sheets do not contain estimated quantities on the “Estimated QTY

(06-20)” tab for tasks 10-01, 10-02, 18-01, and 19-01. The calculation for Task 10 on the “Ext

Price (06-20)” tab only includes the Task 10-02 price from the “Price Task 06-20” tab . Please confirm how these tasks will be included in the overall price evaluation

ANSWER: This has been corrected and the solicitation has been amended to provide revisions to

Exhibit B – G. Please use revision one of the pricing sheets for ordering period one – five and the six-month option.

47. “Task 11-03 is on the pricing sheet, but it is not listed in “Attachment 1 - UWH IDIQ

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)”. Please confirm if this task will be a requirement.”

ANSWER: Task 11-03 has been removed from the revised pricing sheets.

48. “Please confirm whether the four-foot minimum freeboard requirement is absolute for every cofferdam task or whether MSC N7/Ship's Force may approve documented alternatives where vessel configuration, repair location, or operational condition prevents four feet of freeboard.

Please confirm that the Government/Ship's Force is responsible for vessel loading, ballast, trim, list, and operating condition necessary to meet required freeboard.”

ANSWER: During repairs, ships must maintain watertight integrity to a level four (4) feet above the maximum calculated draft this serves as the baseline safety threshold to ensure watertight integrity during critical hull and mechanical invasive repairs.

Operational Responsibilities: While the technical threshold is established, operational deviations due to vessel configuration, repair location, or loading conditions controlled by Ship's Force must be formally documented and routed to MSC N7/Ship's Force for engineering review and formal approval of alternative compensatory measures.

Ship's Force/Government retains ultimate responsibility for the vessel's stability, ballast, trim, list, and overall loading condition to safely facilitate these repairs.

49. “Please confirm whether cofferdam FWP checklist diver competency requirements apply only to cofferdam installation/removal tasks and not to all hull cleaning, inspection, NDT, coating, and general diving tasks. Please confirm whether equivalent Navy, IMCA, ADCI, or other commercial diving qualifications will be accepted. Please also confirm whether installation-count and recent-installation requirements must be met by each diver individually, by the dive supervisor, or by the assigned cofferdam installation team collectively.”

ANSWER: All divers working under this contract shall at a minimum meet the requirement outlined in the PWS. PWS outlines certs from the Navy as well as acceptable commercial dive schools. Additional cofferdam specific diver competency, such as cofferdam – specific experience requirements will only be required for task orders that require cofferdam work.

50. “Please confirm whether the Professional Engineer must be licensed in a specific state or jurisdiction, or whether a U.S.-licensed PE in any state is acceptable for federal/MSC cofferdam design deliverables. Please confirm which deliverables require PE signature/seal, including cofferdam drawings, gasket design, securing devices, fasteners, rigging plans, internal sealing blanks, welding procedures, calculations, and FWP attachments. Please also confirm whether

Government-provided standard cofferdams require new PE calculations or only verification of applicability and condition.”

ANSWER: PE stamps are not state dependent, PE/Registered design professional needs to have demonstrated knowledge in this field and have an active license. The Solicitation has been amended to include Registered Design Professional requirements within Task 10-02, Section 3, of

Attachment 1 – Performance Work Statement.

51. “Please confirm that MSC ownership applies to contract-specific deliverables and fabricated cofferdams paid for under this contract, and does not transfer ownership of contractor's pre-existing tools, templates, standard operating procedures, proprietary calculation methods, trade secrets, or background intellectual property. Please confirm how contractor’s should mark pre-existing proprietary data included in proposal or performance deliverables.”

ANSWER: Please refer to 252.227-7990 Technical Data—Commercial Products and Commercial

Services (DEVIATION 2026-O0036) and 52.215-1 Instructions to Offerors-Competitive

Acquisition within the solicitation.

52. “Please confirm whether task orders will identify all port-specific environmental restrictions, discharge permits, biofouling capture requirements, waste disposal requirements, coating restrictions, hydraulic-fluid requirements, local Navy policy, and hazardous material/waste reporting obligations. Please confirm that environmental controls beyond standard

NSTM/NAVSEA requirements may be separately priced at the task order level.”

ANSWER: It’s the responsibility of the contractor to identify those additional costs and include them in the task order quotes.

53. “Please confirm the required retention period, post-contract disposition, CUI marking, access control, and transfer method for inspection photographs, video files, raw data, sketches, hull survey data, reports, and technical-library submissions. Please also confirm that Contractor may protect proprietary software, templates, databases, and internal QA tools used to generate deliverables.”

ANSWER: Contractor shall maintain inspection, videos, photos, survey finds, deliverables, etc.

for the duration of the contract. Contractors shall provide the deliverables to the government as required in the PWS. Please refer to 52.240-93 - Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor

Information Systems, 252.204-7012 - Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber

Incident Reporting, and 252.227-7990 - Technical Data—Commercial Products and Commercial

Services (DEVIATION 2026-O0036) within the solicitation. Discussions about data ownership and CUI markings, access control, and transfer methods can be addressed at task order level if clarity is needed.

54. “Will the Government update Attachment 7 to provide the missing draft (in feet) and Wetted

Surface Area (WSA in square feet) data for all ship classes? If exact values vary by loading condition, please provide typical or maximum draft and corresponding WSA values used for planning purposes.

ANSWER: The Solicitation has been amended to revise Attachment 7 - Ship characteristics to provide a minimum (lightship) and maximum draft. Draft range will be estimates, draft is dependent on operation conditions that vary frequently. WSA is to be calculated from draft. For cofferdam work the draft and WSA can be provided at task order level.

55. “Could the Government please clarify which specific ship classes apply to this contract and reconcile the discrepancy between the technical reference data in Attachment 7 and the classes listed in the Pricing Matrices? Please confirm the correct designations (e.g., T-ATF 166 vs. T-

ATF 168; T-AKR 302 vs. T-AKR 300) and, if the matrix classes differ from Attachment 7, provide updated or supplemental technical characteristics data (including draft and WSA) for the classes that require pricing.”

ANSWER: The Solicitation has been amended to revise Attachment 7 - Ship characteristics and

Exhibit B - G Pricing sheets. EMS, T-ATS, T-AGS, T-AGOS 25 classes are being constructed and are not under MSC ownership yet. We will not require pre-pricing for those vessels. If/when they are delivered to MSC the contract can be modified to add pricing for these vessels. See

Section 2 of the PWS.

56. “In the event of a conflict between OSHA/ADCI commercial diving standards and the U.S. Navy

Diving Manual (NSTM-081), what is the order of precedence for civilian contractors executing this scope? Please confirm that OSHA and ADCI standards govern where they provide a higher level of safety or are more stringent, and that the contractor will not be held in default for complying with applicable federal OSHA regulations.”

ANSWER: In the event of conflict, the standards and regulations that have a higher level of safety shall govern.

57. “Will the Government revise FWP Checklist item 5.4.2 to reference the formal "Maximum

Calculated Draft (MCD)" to eliminate ambiguity in establishing the critical safety freeboard boundary? Please confirm that all freeboard calculations and FWP approvals will be based on the official Maximum Calculated Draft.”

ANSWER: Ship will provide draft at a task order level for FWP development.

58. “Can the Government clarify the monitoring requirements for single-valve protection? Does the

"7-day interval" in the FWP checklist apply only to idle periods when no work is being performed, and is a continuous roving watch strictly required during active cofferdam work and diving operations? Please provide clear, reconciled language for both the specification and the

FWP checklist.”

ANSWER: While Section 10.7-002-ALL does call for a “roving watch during work”, it does not call for a continuous time period. There is not conflict in time interval between the stated documents.

In addition, Section 10.7-002-01-ALL (FWP Checklist) does not name the contractor as the cognizant personnel but as possible choice (e.g.). Checklist also delineates Ship’s Force as the responsible party. SMS Form 2.1-004-04-ALL, MASTER’S APPROVAL FOR SINGLE

VALVE ISOLATION FROM THE SEA, also calls for rover designation during work without specified time interval.

59. “Could the Government please provide the complete, corrected text for paragraph 3.3.2 regarding the Master's Approval SMS forms? Please confirm the exact administrative process, required forms, approval authority, and timing for single-valve isolation operations.”

ANSWER: The completed FWP must be provided to the Master for review and acceptance.

Anytime a repair will be conducted with only one barrier to the sea (single valve protection), SMS form 10.7-002-01- ALL "Authorization for Repairs Involving Single Valve Isolation"

(record 4.2) and SMS form 2.1-004-04-ALL "Master's Approval for Single Valve Isolation"

(record 4.3) shall be completed and submitted to the master for approval.

60. “Could the Government clarify the required submission frequency for CDRL A009? Should the

Cofferdam Tracker be submitted only "as required" (e.g., with each cofferdam evolution) or on a strict monthly basis regardless of activity?”

ANSWER: Cofferdam Tracker spreadsheet shall be updated monthly. The Solicitation has been amended to revise Exhibit A – CDRLs.

61. “Will the Government issue a revised Exhibit A to correct administrative omissions and inconsistencies in the DD Form 1423 blocks across all CDRLs (particularly Blocks 12, 13, and

Authority references)?”

ANSWER: The Solicitation has been amended to revise Exhibit A – CDRLs.

62. “Will the Government issue a corrected FWP Checklist (SMS Checklist 10.7-002-01-ALL) to resolve duplicate and out-of-sequence item numbering?”

ANSWER: Government will correct later. Error noted.