Questions for Industry.pdf

Common Armament Tester - Fighter (CAT-F) Draft RFP Questions for Industry

Schedule

1. What would be a realistic timeframe to go from award to begin delivery of Operational Level (O-level) tester and all software and hardware TPSs? Please explain your reasoning.

a. F-16

b. F-15

c. A-10

2. What would be a realistic timeframe to go from award to begin delivery of Intermediate Level (I-level) tester and all software and hardware TPSs? Please explain your reasoning.

a. F-16

b. F-15

c. A-10

Production

3. How many CAT-F testers does your company recommend for Developmental Testing &Evaluation (DT&E)?

a. O-Level tester DT&E

b. I-Level tester DT&E

4. How many CAT-F testers does your company recommend for Operational Testing &Evaluation

(OT&E)?

a. O-Level tester OT&E

b. I-Level tester OT&E

5. Is there a minimum quantity of testers needed to maintain production lines while minimizing start up times or would your commercial business allow you to smooth any dips in Air Force ordering?

Requirements

6. Please provide your company’s thoughts regarding the biggest technical risks and challenges associated with this project.

7. With the information provided are you able to provide a contractor SOW and realistic IMS (Program Schedule) to execute the scope of the contract? If not, what additional information is needed?

8. Are there any specific requirements in the SRD/SOO that will drive cost disproportionately?

9. Are there any requirements that require further clarifications? Is anything too ambiguous?

Logistics

10. What process and/or implementation plan would be utilized to execute the familiarization and fielding requirement of this effect?

11. What metrics do you use to support government assets post-warranty (i.e. conducting analysis of repairs, provide reports that will aid the government in sustainment period (i.e. MTBF, MTBR, calibration, etc.))?

12. The Government is interested in incorporating a standard warranty. What would be an estimated cost to the Government if the Government requests a two year/2,000-hour (whichever comes first) warranty? Would the cost of the warranty be rolled into the production unit cost?

13. The Government is interested in incorporating an extended warranty. What is the cost breakdown by coverage for the extended warranty, is it based on per unit, all units, and/or additional hours?

Digital Engineering

14. Please share the names and uses of any modeling tools and processes your company utilizes, not just by engineering, but also by program management, configuration and logistics managers, finance managers, and contracting across the product life cycle (idea conception through termination of product).

15. Do the modeling tools currently in use by your company utilize Unified Modeling Language (UML), Systems Modeling Language (SysML), or Lifecycle Modeling Language (LML) standards?

16. What is the data file format for models used within your tool(s)? Is it compatible with XML Metadata Interchange (XMI)?

17. As this acquisition may utilize a high percentage of commercial components, commercial subsystems, and contractor owned, “pre‐developed” sub‐systems (i.e. control system, associated logic, firmware, etc.; converters/inverters; etc.), what portions of digital engineering, and in particular, what portions or tenants of Model Based System Engineering (MBSE), does your company feel are most applicable?

18. What does a CAT-F Digital Model mean to your company?

19. What are your thoughts on the use of the CAT-F Government Reference Architecture for this program? Do you believe this will drive any additional costs or schedule delays?

Contracting

20. Do you anticipate using significant subcontractors? What aspects do you plan to use subcontractors for? What percent of total cost would be through each significant subcontractor?

21. The USAF is considering the option to perform a down select prior to completion of all testing.

At what point, would you consider to be the most appropriate/advantageous to perform this down select? (PDR, CDR, etc.)

22. What level of data rights would industry be willing to provide the Government for T.O.

distribution for the operational level tester--unlimited, limited, Government-purpose?

a. Would the associated data rights come with a cost to the Government?

b. Would industry be open to separately pricing out the data rights on a separate CLIN?

23. Does the Draft SOO or the Draft Sections L&M contain any vague requirements or unrealistic requirements?

24. Are there any questions you wish to present to the Government that require a Government response in order for you to propose on the RFP? If so, please provide a list of questions as part of your response.

25. Do you have any feedback with regards to an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract and the utilization of a down select strategy?

26. What level of documentation do you believe would be appropriate to provide in a bidder’s library?