Attachment LA-3 Answers to Industry Final RFP Questions.pdf

Date

Received

Proprietary (P) or Non-

Proprietary (NP) Question

Reference Page # SOW Para.

Government Answer

1 4/9/2024

NP

Sec.L, Para. 3.0, Hyperlinks states, "The offeror shall not use hyperlinks in proposal volumes.: Please confirm that the use of MS Word's live cross-references from one section to another section in the same document are permissible.

Model Contract, Section L 58 3.0

Yes, within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, the Government has updated Sec.

L, Para 3.0 so that an offeror may use Microsoft Word's hyperlinks/live cross-references from one section to another section within the same document. However, the offeror shall not use hyperlinks across different documents within its proposal volumes.

2 4/9/2024

NP

What is the mezzanine flooring made out of? Can the drawing be provided? 16200037-009 N/A Drawing

The mezzanine flooring is made of aluminum. Yes, within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-

24-R-0007, the Government has updated Section J, Attachment 3 ,GFI List to include the

Mezzanine manual and drawings as ID No. 48, 51, and 52.

3 4/9/2024

NP

Has the IOS solution been deployed on RHEL 9 yet? Should the contractor assume that the OEM provided applications and development tools will work out of the box for the "latest version of Red Hat

Enterprise Linux available at CDR, with full support that exceeds 48 months from RFT"?

PRF 19 3.1.10.1.2.h

No, the IOS solution has not been deployed on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (RHEL 9). Per paragraph 3.1.1 of the PRF, the contractor will need to verify existing applications and development tools to retain full functionality with the updated operating system (OS) so as to not degrade the baseline trainer functionality.

4 4/9/2024

NP

Does the current contract already have an active ASTi cyber security / Software and IA Maintenance

Subscription on contract? Or should the effort (and cost) be included to upgrade the ASTi system to the

"latest version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux available at CDR, with full support that exceeds 48 months from RFT"?

PRF 19 3.1.10.1.2.h

No, the current Contractor Operation and Maintenance Services (COMS) contract does not already have an active ASTi cyber security / software and IA Maintenance Subscription on contract. Yes, this proposal should include the effort and cost to upgrade to procure an ASTi cyber security / software and IA Maintenance subscription, because there is no way to meet the PRF 3.1.10.2 requirement without initiating active maintenance support.

5 4/9/2024

NP

Can the Government provide the existing MCAT TP as part of the bidder's library? SOW 230027 47 3.2.12.4

Yes, within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, the Government has updated

Section J, Attachment 3 - GFI List to include the MCAT Test Procedure (TP) volumes as ID No.

39-43.

6 4/9/2024

NP

Can the Government provide the existing MCAT Training Program Structure Document (TPSD) as part of the bidders library?

SOW 230027 65 3.2.13.13.1

Yes, within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, the Government has updated

Section J, Attachment 3 - GFI List to include the TPSD I/O Training Course as ID No. 44 & 45.

7 4/9/2024

NP

Can the Government provide the existing MCAT I/O training courses as part of the bidders library? SOW 230027 65 3.2.13.13.1

Yes, within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, the Government has updated

Section J, Attachment 3 - GFI List to include the existing MCAT Training Program Structure

Document (TPDS), Instructor/Operator (I/O) Training Courseas ID No. 44 & 45.

8 4/9/2024

NP

What is the quantity of current spares for all systems? SOW 230027 43-44 3.2.7.3.1 The Government will provide the quantity of current spares following contract award.

9 4/9/2024 NP What is the quantity of current spares for all systems? SOW 230027 43-44 3.2.7.3.1 The Government will provide the quantity of current spares following contract award.

10 4/9/2024

NP

SOW, Para. 3.2.4.10.2, line item "b." states, maintain the source code with the DVCS software that is provide with the trainer

Q1: Is there a subscription or purchase cost associated with the DVCS?

Q2: Does DVCS have any limitations imposed by the creator of the software on use by other

Contractors?

Q3: Are there other software version control tools that are compatible with the DVCS software?

Att.1 SOW 35 3.2.4.10.2

R1: The subscription and cost associated with the DVCS would be determined by the selected

DVCS solution. Paragraph 3.1.2.2.5 of the PRF contains the DVCS requirements.

R2: DVCS is not a specific software but type of software configuration management tool that uses P2P approach to version control, as opposed to the client–server approach. The limitations would be determined by the specific licenses of the selected solution.

R3: Yes, there are other software version control tools that are compatible with the DVCS software.

11 4/9/2024

NP

Are Request for Action (RFA) procedures a USMC-specific set of procedures? How do we determine what these procedures are?

Att.1 SOW 40 3.2.7.2.1

No, there is no USMC-specific set of Request for Action (RFA) procedures. Per paragraph

3.2.7.2.1 of the SOW, the contractor shall brief the Government on their processes/procdures to show how the RFAs will be captured and assigned during the execution of each In Progress Review (IPR).

12 4/9/2024

NP

In SOW, para. 3.2.12.10, the alpha numbering starts with "d." then switches to "a.", "b.", (1), (2), (3), then back to "e.". Are there any activities/tasks missing in this alpha list related to Testing Suspension, or is the list complete?

Att.1 SOW 48 3.2.12.10

No, this is a formatting error. The "d." and "e." should not be there, all intended activities/tasking are present. The formatting error will be addressed as part of any future

SOW revisions.

13 4/9/2024

NP

What design data (flight test, aero models) exists for the three flight models? Are the models validated, e.g., is there a QTG?

Att. 2 PRF 12 3.1.1.8

There were no flight tests conducted or aero models created for the initial development of the MCAT flight models. The models were contractor-developed and were further tuned with Subject Matter Expert (SME) input. There was no need to validate the flight models beyond SME input, and there is not a Qualification Test Guide (QTG).

14 4/9/2024

NP

Is the requirement for encryption FIPS 140-3 validation or compliance? It is stated both ways in different places.

Att. 2 PRF 20 & 21 3.1.10.1.4 & 3.1.10.1.8

The Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-3 encryption requirement is for both compliance and validation. PRF paragraph 3.1.10.1.4 is to ensure that you are using

FIPS 140-3 validated crytographic modules, while PRF paragraph 3.1.10.1.8 is to ensure that you can use a combination of things to ensure and validate FIPS 140-3 compliance.

Within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, PRF paragraph 2.2.2 has been updated to correct the link to the FIPS 140-3 reference document. This link matches the following:

https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/FIPS/NIST.FIPS.140-3.pdf. An official revision to the PRF will be done at contract award to denote this change.

15 4/9/2024

NP

We would like to request clarification on heat load table as the total listed is different than the total calculated. What is the correct value that should be used? Total listed on table is 189,228 BTU/hr.

Total calculated is 165,576 BTU/hr.

ID No. 1 TFR 16-17 Table 4 - MCAT Electrical Equipment Requirements

The total is incorrect, but the rest of the figures for Heat Load in Table 4 are accurate. Within

Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, the Government has updated the Section J, Attachment L-1 Table and will provide the amended version. The contractor should use the values on the amended table as the final, verified values of Heat Load.

16 4/9/2024

NP

Is the current GPWS solution a stimulated aircraft box or is it simulated entirely within the host software?

Att. 2 PRF 11 3.1.1.7 The current Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) is simulated entirely within the host.

17 4/9/2024

NP

Is the Host and IOS software based on the Veraxx toolset (VIOS, MACCE)? Att. 2 PRF 15-16 3.1.2.2.2 - 3.1.2.2.4 Yes, the Host and IOS software contain MACCE and VIOS.

18 4/9/2024

NP

The MCAT solicitation, N6134024R0007, is a FFP contract with a target price of < $20m and we would not expect EVMS to required, is this correct?

CDRL B002, DI-MGMT-

81861C 1.3.2., SOW

230027

19 3.2.1.1

Yes, Earned Value Management System (EVMS) is not applicable to the MCAT MP requirement since it will be a firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract. In accordance with DFARS

234.201(1), DoD applies the earned value management system requirement for cost or incentive contracts and subcontracts valued at $20,000,000 or more.

19 4/9/2024

NP

Will the Government provide audio recordings of any new or updated tones? PRF 11 3.1.1.7 No, the Government will not be providing audio recordings of any new or updated tones.

20 4/9/2024

NP

What is the mezzanine flooring made out of? Can the drawing be provided? 16200035-009 N/A Drawing

The mezzanine flooring is made of aluminum. Within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-

0007, the Government has updated Section J, Attachment 3 -GFI List to include the

Mezzanine manual and drawings as ID No. 48, 49, and 50.

21 4/9/2024

NP

Unit 8 is listed in Table 3 but is listed as "not in design" on document ID No. 25 note 3. Is unit 8 used? ID NO. 2 - TRF 16 Table 3 No, Unit 8 was removed from the design during the baseline MCAT contract (N61340-12-D-

5116-0002), and is not used.

22 4/9/2024

NP

Has the TEn been deployed on RHEL 9 yet? Should the contractor assume that the OEM provided applications and development tools will work out of the box for the "latest version of Red Hat Enterprise

Linux available at CDR, with full support that exceeds 48 months from RFT"?

PRF 19 3.1.10.1.2.h

These questions are not applicable to the MCAT modenization requirement. The Tactical

Environment (TEn) has been updated under a separate contract effort and is not being modified in any way as part of this requirement.

23 4/9/2024

NP

What does the government mean as one electronic copy in the below statement? Is the government looking for one zip folder that will have two volumes in it – the technical and price volumes? Please also note section L does not contain a section 4.1 and section 4.1 is referenced more than once.

“Offerors shall submit each Volume of the proposal as one electronic copy. The offeror shall submit all electronic copies of the proposal to the address provided in paragraph 4.1.”

RFP Section L 4.0 59 of 69 4.0 - Proposal Volume

Within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, the Government has updated Section L, Part A, 4.0 to specify that the offeror shall submit one electronic copy of the Price volume and one electronic copy of the Technical volume utilizing the instructions provided in Section

L, Part A, 6.3.

The Government does not restrict the use of a zip folder within its RFP. However, the offeror should consider the capabilities and limitations of the PIEE solicitation module in determining whether to utilize a zip folder or any other submission formats.

Additionally, within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, the Government has updated Section L, Part A, 4.0 so that it accurately specifies that Section L, Part A, 6.3 contains the correct information as to where electronic copies of the proposal shall be submitted as opposed to Section L, Part A, 4.1.

4/9/2024

NP

Does the government want a cover letter as stated in the following section:

“VIRUS FREE ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION

The offeror is responsible for ensuring that its electronic proposal is virus free. The offeror shall certify, in its proposal cover letter, that all electronic proposal information delivered throughout the evaluation

(e.g., original proposal submission, responses to evaluation notices, Final Proposal Revisions) are virus free and free of malware. The offeror shall specify the anti-virus software, version, and virus definition used to check the data. The offeror shall specify the methodology – including anti-malware software

(product, version, version date) used to check the data and verify the submitted media is malware free.”

If so, is it necessary for the Price Volume to have the following:

“c. Include a statement specifying the methodology – including anti-malware software (product, version, version date) used to check data and verify the submitted media is malware free.”

Can the Government Clarify that this information is needed in a cover letter and in the Price Volume?

RFP Section L 3.0 58 of 69:

Submissio n

3.0 Proposal

Format/Virus Free

Electronic

Yes, the offeror shall certify, in its proposal cover letter that all electronic proposal information delivered through the evaluation (e.g., original proposal submission, responses to evaluation notices, Final Proposal Revisions) are virus free and free of malware.

Additionally, within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, the Government has removed the requirement within Section L, Part B, 2.3 Administration to include a statement specifying methodology - including anti-malware software (product version, version date) used to check data and verify the submitted media is malware free. It is now only required to be provided in the offeror's proposal cover letter.

4/9/2024

NP

The Government is asking for offerors information for the Proposal Volume outlines to facilitates a one-for-one comparison between the information presented in Section L. Offerors are also to complete the

Cross Reference Matrix noting that columns can be added – the Cross Reference Matrix notes for

Section L as “1.0 TECHNICAL FACTOR Section B”, and for Section L “1.0”. The RFP in Section L, PART B does not have a 1.0 TECHNICAL FACTOR Section B – it references: “PART B: SPECIFIC

INSTRUCTIONS, VOLUME 1: TECHNICAL” the same is mimicked for Section M.

How would the Government like offerors to reference Volume 1: Technical for the Volume Outlines and in the Cross Reference Matrix --- OR was including 1.0 on the Cross Reference Matrix an error?

RFP Sections L 4.0, Part B and Section M- Part B

58,59-60,62,674.0 Proposal Volume, Part B (both Section L and M)

Within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, the Government has updated the Cross

Reference Matrix (CRM) within Section L , Part A, 4.0 to remove the 1.0 reference row. This will not need to be referenced within the Offeror's CRM.

4/9/2024

NP

Can the government confirm that last in the Table on L-1 attachment could be a 1 as opposed to the referenced 3? (Highlighted the column and quantity in question)

Unit 9 Power Distribution Table | 120 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 3 | Mult.| 81 | 81

L.1 - Table of Heat Loads for Trainer Electronic

Components

1 of 1 TABLE: Last Row - Unit 9 – Power Distribution Panel 2

The "3" in the Table is correct. The error is in the Voltage AC (VAC) column. This should state

208 VAC, not 120 VAC. Within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, the Government has updated the Section J, Attachment L-1 Table to reflect the correct VAC value.

4/9/2024

NP

Can the Government please provide the Operations & Maintenance Manuals for the training device?

Bidders Library/GFI N/A N/A Yes, within Amendment 0001 of RFP N61340-24-R-0007, the Government has updated

Section J, Attachment 3 - GFI List to include the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) manuals as ID No. 46 & 47. It should be noted that there are two manuals, one for the containerized variant and one for the fixed installation variant of the MCAT. These manuals are largely exact copies of one another, with minor variations due to some dissimilarities with how the systems are deployed.

4/9/2024

NP

Please provide the heat load for the Display System or identify where this is included in attachment L-1?

Additionally, is the personnel head count accounted for in the heat load, if so where?

Attachment L-1 N/A N/A The Display System heat loads are captured within the figure for Unit 1 in the Table. The personnel head count is also accounted for in this figure, and calculation was made assuming a head count of 5 personnel (4 students and 1 instructor).