FinalClarificationRequest.docx

Final Clarification Request Question: Regarding the Manufacturer Test Data Sheet (Section J – Attachment 4), Instrumental (15’) Velocity Parameters – Target Velocity / Acceptable Velocity Data: For “Lowest acceptable velocity” and “Highest acceptable velocity”, does the Government want the lowest and highest acceptable average of a 10-shot group or the lowest and highest individual shot velocity within a 10-shot group?

ANSWER: THE GOVERNMENT IS REQUESTING THE LOWEST AND HIGHEST ACCEPTABLE VELOCITY FOR INDIVIDUAL SHOTS WITHIN A 10-SHOT GROUP.

Question 2D: If invited to participate in Phase III; is it acceptable for offeror to deliver only 2,500 rather than 3,000 cartridges from the same Lot/ day code as delivered in Phase I?

ANSWER: NO. AS DOCUMENTED ON PAGE 114 OF THE SOLICITATION, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO FIRE 3,000 ROUNDS OF EACH FRANGIBLE AMMUNITION SAMPLE REMAINING IN PHASE III.

Question 2E: If invited to participate in Phase III may offeror deliver 2,500 cartridges from the same Lot/ day code as delivered for Phase I and 500 cartridges with all components except the brass cartridge cases form the same Lot/ day code?

ANSWER: YES. THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE THAT THERE IS NO INDUSTRY STANDARD TO DEFINE LOT/DAY CODES. IT WAS THE INTENT OF THE GOVERNMENT TO ACQUIRE SAMPLE AMMUNITION THAT IS CONSISTENT AND UNIFORM THROUGHOUT THE SAMPLE. ONCE AN AWARD HAS BEEN MADE UNDER THIS SOLICITATION, THE REMAINING AMMUNITION SAMPLES FROM THE WINNING OFFEROR BECOME THE PERFORMANCE STANDARD FOR THE PRODUCT DURING THE LIFE OF THE CONTRACT. AS SUCH, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE AWARDEE TO HAVE A CONSISTENT SAMPLE OF AMMUNITION IN WHICH TO REFERENCE. IDEALLY, THIS “REFERENCE AMMUITION” WOULD HAVE AS FEW VARIATIONS AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING CONSISTENT COMPONENTS AND, IF POSSIBLE, THE SAME EQUIPMENT OPERATORS. THE GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS THAT PRODUCT SOURCING HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT IN PART DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. AS SUCH, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT PREFERS THAT ALL SAMPLE AMMUNITION BE FROM THE SAME DAY/LOT CODE, THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALLOW OFFERORS TO SUBMIT PHASE III SAMPLE AMMUNITION FROM MULTIPLE DAY/LOT CODES.