Q-As Membrane Nitrogen Generator.pdf

Q&A’s N64498-20-R-4017

Question #1:

Amendment 0002 Page: 5 of 7 Section: L, VOLUME II: FACTOR 1 – TECHNICAL, SUBFACTOR B – Test Plan for First Article Testing Text: “If an offeror’s proposed GNG unit previously had undergone a successful First Article Test and was approved, a copy of that successful First Article Test report shall be provided to meet the requirements of this subfactor.”

Question: The total page count of Volume II is limited to 30 Pages (Reference “PROPOSAL CONTENT AND ORGANIZATION”). The First Article Test Report conducted on the RIX NGEN is many times that. Do you want the entire FA Test Report submitted with the proposal, or simply a reference to the approved test report and perhaps a copy of the approval letter?

Answer: A reference to the approved test report and a copy of the approval letter will be sufficient.

Question #2:

Amendment 0002 Page: 4 and 6 of 7 Section: L, VOLUME I AND VOLUME V

Question: Please clarify what you desire in Volumes I and V. It appears that you are requesting the completed SF Form 33, solicitation, offer and award documents in both of these sections.

Answer: As stated in the solicitation, provided the information that is requested in Section L for Volume I and Volume V.

Question #3:

Base Solicitation Page: 24, 28, and 35 Section: C, Subsection 3.26, 4.6.2, and 6.3 and CDRL A003 Comment: The above sections reference MIL-HDBK-1890 as a performance requirement for brazing.

This handbook is a guidance specification covering inspection of welds. It specifically states in the Forward:” 2. This handbook is for guidance only. This handbook cannot be cited as a requirement. If it is, the contractor does not have to comply.” Further, this specification does not apply to brazing.

Question: Are welding procedures in accordance with NAVSEA S9074-ARGIB-010/278 and qualified to S9074-AQ-GIB-010/248 and Brazing procedures are IAW NAVSEA 0900-LP-001-7000 acceptable?

Answer: Yes.

Question #4:

Base Solicitation Pages 4-5, Section B, Schedule, Item Descriptions

Question: What is the difference between Item 0002, “Initial Membrane Nitrogen Generator”, Item 0005, “Membrane Nitrogen Generator 2” and Item 0006, “Membrane Nitrogen Generator 3)? Are the Generator 2 and Generator 3 simply options 2 and 3?

Answer: CLIN 0005 and 0006 are Option CLINs.

Question #5:

Base Solicitation Page: 19 of 112 Section: C, Subsection 3.14 Text: “Flow meters shall be two-wire differential pressure cell transmitter type, employing a rupture proof bellows design. Flow meters shall have a LCD indicator and shall generate a 4-20 mA output. Meters will read in inches of water or pounds per hour and shall be accurate to within plus or minus 4 percent of actual flow measurements. Normal operating readings shall be indicated within the middle one-third range of the indicator. The indicator shall be installed on a common instrumentation panel and/or the PLC display and measure, as a minimum, the production rate of the system in SCFM.”

Question: The Navy has previously approved a turbine style flowmeter for the GNG, which is a self-contained, stainless steel flow meter. The flow meter contains an LCD indicator, and sends a 4-20 mA signal to the PLC. The flow meter is accurate to ±4% of the actual flow (24 scfm) and is configured to report the discharge flow of the NGEN-30S to the PLC. Is this type of flowmeter acceptable?

Answer: If the turbine style flowmeter meets the same form, fit and function as what is described in the solicitation, it is acceptable.

Question #6:

Base Solicitation Page: 25 of 112 Section: C, Subsection 3.33.1 Text: “System drawings shall be provided in Auto Cad format. Other formats may be acceptable with NAVSEA written approval.”

Question: Is .pdf format acceptable for drawing submittal?

Answer: Yes.

Question #7 Base Solicitation Clause: L-215-H004 INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRICING OF CONTRACT DATA REQUIREMENTS

LIST (NAVSEA)

(OCT 2018)

Question: Does the Navy actually want the price groups completed for each CDRL, and if so, which Volume of the proposal does the Navy want that pricing information included in? Volume I or Volume V, or both? (See also question regarding contents of Volume I and Volume V in previous questions.)

Answer: The Navy wants price groups completed for each CDRL. The pricing information should be included in Volume V.

Question #8 Base Solicitation Attachment 1, Small Business Subcontracting Clause: Block D4 of the spreadsheet says: “Input total proposed contract amount. This amount must be equal to the total amounts proposed under Section B for all CLINs”.

Question: As the solicitation requires providing tiered pricing by year for the hardware line items, what contract value, line item value, option value, or other basis should be used in block D4?

Answer: Block D4 Total Contract Value ( TCV) would be the total of the highest prices for each CLIN.

Question #9 Base Solicitation Pages 4 and 6, Section B, Line Items 0003, 0004, 0007, 0008 Page 41, Section 8.0, Travel Text: “All travel shall be approved by the COR and Contracting Officer before travel occurs. Approval may be via the Technical Instruction (TI). In accordance with the TI instructions, before initiating any travel the Contractor(s) shall submit a detailed and fully burdened estimate that includes the number of employees traveling, their expected travel costs for airfare, lodging, per diem, rental car, taxi/mileage and any other costs or actions requiring approval. The travel estimate shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and Contract Specialist. Actuals cost, resulting from the performance of travel requirements, shall be reported as part of the Contractor's monthly status report. The reportable cost shall also be traceable to the Contractor's invoice.”

Question: Line items 0003, 0004, 0007, 0008 are listed in the schedule as “FFP” or Firm, Fixed Price.

We would assume that the Contracting Officer would either issue a separate delivery order, or would otherwise direct travel at the time it was desired. But as the line items are Firm Fixed Price, what relevance would providing a breakdown or estimate of the cost, or the actual costs for the line items?

Answer: As the line items 0003, 0004, 0007, 0008 are FFP and the payment amount does not depend on resources used or time expended, a breakdown or estimate of the costs do not seem necessary.

Question #10 Base Solicitation CDRL List Question: What CDRLs are to be waived or deleted if FA Testing is waived? Will pre-existing CDRL documentation have to be provided for previously submitted and approved CDRLs?

Answer: If the proposed GNG unit previously had undergone a successful First Article Test and was approved and the FA Testing is waived by the Government, the Contractor shall deliver a copy of that successful First Article Test report that is identical or substantially identical to that previously accepted by the Government under contracts such as N65540-13-D-0020. If FA Testing is waived, CDRL A010 - First Article Test Plan for Gaseous Nitrogen Generation System – is to be waived.

Question #11 Base Solicitation CDRL List Question: What recurring documentation, Test Reports, Test Data, ECP’s, Waivers, Deviations, ect. will be required to be delivered with each unit? Are CDRLs contemplated for delivery of that documentation?

Answer: The following documentation will be required to be delivered with each unit: Technical Drawings, RMAAA and FMECA Reports, Maintainability Demonstration Test Report, Membrane Testing Report, First Article Test Documentation and Test Report, Shock Test Report, Technical Manual, Planned Maintenance System.

Question #12 Page 15 of 112: Statement of Work, para 3.5.3: “Hatchable: The nitrogen production system shall be capable of fitting through a hatch opening measuring 66 x 26 inches ”

Question: What does this statement imply? Does this mean that any individual component in the system has to pass through a hatch size of 66 x 26 inches? This is not possible depending on the type of equipment required. If this clause is not applicable, is there a different hatch dimension applicable?

Answer: Any individual component in the system has to pass through a hatch size of 66 x 26 inches.

Question #13 Page 18 of 112: Statement of Work, para 3.9: “Air from suitable oil free air compressor”

Oil free air compressors have base mounted oil reservoirs, which are not conducive to operation with the indicated ship’s motions (pitch and roll). This would demand a scavenge pump and reservoir which would add to size and weight- the unit will not fit in the dimensions 147”Lx 48” W x 90” H.

Oil free air compressors are multistage (at least two stage for the pressure required for N2 generation) and they tend to have very high discharge temperatures; this makes Cu-Ni and Titanium unsuitable for direct cooling. Cu-Ni is not rated for the high temperature and Titanium is prone to thermal shock cracking due to the steep gradient. This would demand a closed loop cooling system with an interface heat exchanger with sea water. This would add to size and weight - the unit will not fit in the dimensions 147”Lx 48” W x 90” H.

Question: 1) Is Oil free air compressor a mandatory requirement? Oil injected screw compressors are best suited for operations on ships and can use direct seawater cooling. A properly designed filtration system can remove oil for use in membranes to provide oil free nitrogen. This would make the system compact.

2) Are the dimensions 147”Lx 48” W x 90” H, the maximum allowed? It may be required to increase the dimensions to build a system, which meets the specifications. If allowed, what are the maximum dimensions we can use?

Answer: 1) Oil free air compressor is a mandatory requirement. The Government is NOT interested in oil injected screw compressors for this buy. 2) Dimensions 147”Lx 48” W x 90” H are the maximum allowed.