Attachment 2_ Questions_Answers.pdf

FRCEAST Answers to solicitation questions

The requirement owner and acquisition specialist have coordinated together and reviewed all the questions. Please see all responses from FRCEAST in red.

1. Airtight Seal Requirements Can the government clarify tolerances or testing method for the required “airtight seal” between the booths and the aircraft wheel wells and nose?

FRC East response:

per 3.3.1 New Potable Blast Booth System section, C. It states (Each Booth shall have rubber gaskets that mate up to the C-130 wheel wells with an airtight seal. Contractor to provide description of gasket material and durometer of seal at the time of proposal to show how their gasket will provide an airtight seal.)

A leak test will be added to section 4.7 to state that the seal will be checked by a manometer to check for any leaks around the seal.

2. Multi-Angle Sealing Does the government require the sealing interface to accommodate slight variations in aircraft configuration (nose vs. wheel wells)? Should the sealing system have any flexibility, such as a skirt or conforming edge?

FRC East response:

Variations are significant between the right, left, and nose wheel wells. Seal should have flexibility to conform to the nose and wheel well contours.

per 3.3.1 New Potable Blast Booth System section, C. It states (Each Booth shall have rubber gaskets that mate up to the C-130 wheel wells with an airtight seal. Contractor to provide description of gasket material and durometer of seal at the time of proposal to show how their gasket will provide an airtight seal.)

3. Single vs. Multiple Units Can one set of mobile blast and paint booths be used across all three areas (nose, left wing, right wing), or does the government require simultaneous operation at each site?

FRC East response:

No, the contours are different between the nose, left wing, and right wing. Also, the government requires simultaneous operation for the aircraft.

Please see below paragraph in SOW:

3.3.1.1 New Portable Blast Booth Media/Dust Recovery/Ventilation Unit Contractor shall provide Three (3) Media/Dust Recovery/Ventilation Units, one for the Nose blast booth, one for the Right blast booth, and one for the Left blast booth. Ventilation unit shall be a cross-draft design with minimum 100 FPM face velocity. Ventilation unit shall meet or exceed ANSI 29.7 as per requirements of NFPA33;

Chapter 7.5.2. Ventilation unit shall meet EPA requirements for Method 319 Ventilation.

4. Containerized System Compliance Would a containerized, mobile system — including internal dust collection and recovery systems — meet the intent of the “mobile trailer-mounted” requirement?

FRC East response:

Dust collection and recovery systems are to be standard VOC/Media collection systems per OSHA guidelines. Collection of materials may be collected in 55-gallon drums.

5. Self-Propelled vs. Towable Mobility The SOW indicates that units must be mobile and mounted on all-wheel steering trailers with pintle hitches. Is the government expecting towable carts only, or is there any requirement or advantage to being self-propelled?

FRC East response:

There is no requirement for self-propelled as well as no advantage.

3.3.1 New portable Blast Booth System, section B, it states (The C-130 Blast booths shall be mobile mounted on heavy duty casters with wheel locks that will hold personnel and all of the painting gear.

Each booth shall have a pintle hitch mount. Casters shall be of the type that can traverse uneven pavement. Each booth shall have manual leveling jacks on all four corners to raise it so it can mate up with the aircraft.)

The vendor needs to comply with the above requirement.

6. Trailer Steering Requirements Clarification Can a custom-built dual-axle trailer with caster support meet the intent of “all wheel steering,” or is a specific military standard for all-wheel steering required (e.g., independent axle movement)?

FRC East response:

Yes, a custom-built dual-axle trailer with caster support will meet the intent of “all wheel steering. The turn radius must be able to maneuver in the dimensions given in the SOW and the trailer must be rated for the load bearing weight on the trailer.

7. Trailer Specification Preferences Is there a preference for a specific model, brand, or NSN for the military-grade trailer, or is compliance based purely on function and performance?

FRC East response:

Compliance is based purely on function and performance

8. Trailer Maneuverability Requirements Are there minimum maneuverability expectations or turning radius requirements we should design to?

FRC East response:

The maneuverability expectations are that the trailer is all wheel steering and can maneuver per the dimensions given in the SOW.

9. Military Transport Compatibility Does the trailer need to be C-130 transportable or meet any additional military standards for transport/tie-down?

FRC East response:

No, it does not, units will only be transported around the facility not transported inside aircraft.

10. Shared Trailer Usage Can the blast booth and recovery/ventilation unit be mounted together on one trailer, or must they be kept separate as described?

FRC East response:

They must be kept separate. There is not enough room under the aircraft stands to accommodate a single unit.

11. Future Quantity / Expansion Is this solicitation intended to procure a single set of equipment for FRCE only, or should bidders anticipate the possibility of future repeat orders?

FRC East response:

Intention is to procure a single set.

12. Alodine Wash Details Can the government clarify specific chemical composition, application method, or disposal requirements for the Alodine wash process? Is a proprietary wash process acceptable if it meets the same corrosion treatment goals?

FRC East response:

No, another proprietary wash is not acceptable.

13. High-Density Particle Separator Is the AFG Dense Particle Separator (blast section) a required make/model or performance type? Are alternative technologies with equivalent separation efficiency acceptable?

FRC East response:

Alternative technologies with equivalent separation efficiency is acceptable as long as the collection system can be mounted on the trailer.

14. Power Supply Variance The solicitation notes 460V ±10% 3-phase power is available. Is this supply consistent across all installation zones, or should we design for broader voltage protection?

FRC East response:

This supply is consistent across the facility.

15. Compressed Air Quality Assumptions

Will the contractor be required to provide its own self-contained compressed air systems (including dryers and filters) for all booth operations, or will the government supply compressed air to the units? If so, should the contractor assume worst-case air quality and build-in drying/filtration to OEM standards?

FRC East response:

The government will supply compressed air. Contractor shall assume worst case so if any drying or filtration is required it shall be provided by the contractor.

In paragraph 3.7.4 Compressed Air Connection, it states, (The existing compressed air pressure available at the Government facility fluctuates between 83 to 93 psi. The contractor shall assume that all compressed air qualities to be of the lowest quality that is useable as compressed air. The Contractor shall make provisions to filter, dry, humidify, lubricate, amplify, and regulate the Government supplied compressed air to meet the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) compressed air requirements and recommendations.)

16. Interfacing With Aircraft During Painting How does the government envision access for masking and taping while booths are sealed to the aircraft?

Are partial detachments allowed mid-process?

FRC East response:

The SOW requires an airtight seal, which does not include any masking or taping. Based on the SOW, the government is not expecting any masking and taping except for the Paint Test in 4.7.3.

17. Calibration Protocol Support The solicitation references NAVAIR 17-35TR-04 calibration formatting. Will the government provide example calibration procedures during the design phase if requested?

FRC East response:

FRCE can provide NAVAIR 17-35TR-04 calibration formatting. Class D certification is to be by the contractor initially with delivery of the system, and ongoing certifications will be by FRCE.

18. Sounds requirements 84 dB is very quiet, especially for a AFG “destoner” style of dense particulate separator and typically available vibratory classifiers, other dense particulate separation techniques are quiet enough to meet this requirement, is the 84dB requirement going to apply to DPS processes?

FRC East response:

The 84 DB is required by SOW and OPNAV M-5100.23, Chapter 18. In the requirement below from the SOW, the 84 decibels are not required when the equipment is in operation status. See highlighted below.

In paragraph 3.1.4 Audible Noise Level, it states, (In accordance with OPNAV M-5100.23, Chapter 18, audible noise emitted by the equipment shall not exceed 84 decibels (dB), measured on the “A” weighted scale of a standard Type II sound level meter, at the operator's work position or any point at a distance of three (3) feet from the equipment. Noise generated by the work piece shall be excluded in determining compliance of the equipment with the 84 dB requirements.

19. Can a smaller pressure vessel be used?

FRC East response:

No.

20. Is the blast equipment required to be on-board the rolling cart, or can it be remote? Will the blast equipment and DPS be held to the same maximum dimensions as the enclosure?

FRC East response:

No, trailer does not need to meet the same maximum dimensions as the booths. The blast equipment must be on-board the rolling cart as the entire system will be moved throughout or facility from plane to plane.

21. Is the media recovery for the paint unit NESHAP filtration or is there some other media recovery?

FRC East response:

Media recovery must meet NESHAP regulations.

B. Documentation & Delivery

22. Manuals and CDRL Review Cycles Given the volume and number of CDRLs (manuals, calibration procedures, POA&M, ATP, etc.), will the government provide a technical point of contact for interim reviews prior to formal submission?

FRC East response:

Yes, the project manager and TPOC will be the contacts.

23. Technical Data Format Are there government-preferred software platforms or formats for CAD drawings, manuals, and ATPs beyond AutoCAD 2015 and Word?

FRC East response:

No, there are not any other preferred formats.

24. Software Registration Keys If the booth system uses Allen Bradley PLC software, does the government require perpetual licensing or OEM-delivered install media?

Perpetual licensing registered to FRCE and provided on a dongle.

C. Contract Timing

25. Period of Performance Can the government confirm the required period of performance(s) (from award through final acceptance)? Is there a specific completion deadline or delivery schedule?

FRC East response:

Contractor must keep period of performance as provided in the RSQ contract. 1 year after the award.

26. One additional note between final design approval and delivery is approximately 6 weeks. This can be a tight turnaround depending on factory workloads at the time. Is the six week window after final design approval mandatory to meet timelines?

FRC East response:

Yes, the six-week window is mandatory.

D. HDPS Specific Questions

27. Alternative Dense Particle Separator Consideration The SOW specifies an “AFG Specifically Build Dense Particle Separator.” Would the government consider an alternative system — such as VES’s aerospace-specific HDPS — if it meets or exceeds performance specifications for particle separation, airflow, filter efficiency, and blast media reclaim rates?

FRC East response:

Yes, the government would consider if it can meet or exceed the specifications of the AFG Specifically Build Dense Particle Separator.”

28. Evaluation Standards for HDPS

Will the government require specific testing data, case studies, or published specifications to validate HDPS performance during evaluation? Is there a minimum separation efficiency, airflow rate, or reclaim standard bidders must meet?

FRC East response:

The separation efficiency must meet the AFG Specifically Build Dense Particle Separator system. Class D breathing air must be 35 CFM to the individual operator. Airflow rate is per standard OSHA VOC collection guidelines.

29. In the Section 3.6.2, the contractor must provide a POA and Milestones. Will the Government require compliance to TO 1-1-8 section 2.12.12 for the entire system and DPS after delivery and monthly? How long after delivery does the government need testing results of the DPS system showing compliance?

Testing will be evaluated with testing of C-130 aircraft.

Prepared by: FRCEAST Acquisition Program Specialist