W15QKN15R0240_Draft_FBO_Posting_Update_0001_Narrative_11_19_2015_Updated_12_03_2015.docx

W15QKN-15-R-0240 Draft Solicitation Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) Update 0001 Narrative

1. The purpose of this draft solicitation FBO update 0001 is multifold. Except for the changes set forth in paragraphs 2. Thru 4. listed below, all other terms and conditions of W15QKN-15-R-0240 Draft Solicitation remain unchanged.

2. The closing date for acceptance of W15QKN-15-R-0240 Draft Solicitation questions has been extending to 17 Dec 2015.

3. The US Army Contracting Command – New Jersey has made a determination that the solicitation will be a 100% Small Business Set-Aside (SBSA). All terms and conditions associated with a 100% SBSA will be incorporated into the solicitation when issued.

4. The following interested parties’ questions and the Government’s answers are incorporated:

A. W15QKN-15-R-0240 Draft Solicitation and Technical Data Package (TDP) Contractor Questions Set #1

1. I read in the solicitation Executive Summary that the TDP for this requirement is restricted U.S. DOD contractors only. As our company is a Canadian Military contractor that currently supplies the U.S. Army, through an OEM, with add-on armour for the Stryker vehicle, whether we would be able to gain access to the TDP for the purposes of quoting this opportunity.

Response:

Solicitation W15QKN-15-R-0240 will be issued as a 100% small business set-aside for US businesses. A Canadian firm or any foreign-owned firm could be considered a SB if it manufactures the item in a facility in the U.S. (contributing to the economy through payroll, rent, taxes, etc.). The firm, including the employees of all its affiliates worldwide, would need to be under the applicable SB size standard. The TDP Distribution D is in effect and would have to be complied with by any firm receiving a copy of the solicitation W15QKN-15-R-0240 MLRS IAC Modification Kit TDP.

2. a. It appears that both the cabin and chassis of the current vehicles are to be disassembled and then modified (machined/welded) per drawings 12555410 and 12555406, rather than having either fabricated from scratch, as the TDP does not contain enough info to make these parts from scratch. Is this correct?

Response: No. This solicitation does not include any requirement to disassemble cabs or chassis. All items designated as reuse will be disassembled from legacy cabs and chassis during IAC installation by the Government at a Government depot. The IAC cab structure is a new weldment.

b. Is the intent of the program office to have the winner of the contract perform this disassembly work, or will the cabs and chassis of the current vehicles be provided as GFE to the company performing the work?

Response: No. All disassembly and rework of reuse items will be performed by the Government. Current vehicles will not be provided as GFE to the company delivering the IAC Mod Kits.

c. Can you please provide insight on if the GOVT will be accepting and answering questions and/or considering an Industry Day for this opportunity?

Response: The Government is responding to questions about the draft RFP. An Industry Day is being considered but is not scheduled at this time.

3.a. The TDP assembly drawing identify many components and assemblies that are installed during manufacture. How many of these are GFE?

Response: Installation of IAC Modification Kits will be performed by the Government at a Government depot facility.

b. If these components are not GFE, can we be provided with a vendor list so that we can procure from the same vendors?

Response: It is incumbent upon the bidder to identify suppliers/vendors for IAC Modification Kit items (other than those items defined by Source Control Drawings) that the bidder does not plan to manufacture in-house.

c. If GFE items and equipment are to be provided, will installation instruction be provided?

Response: This solicitation does not include any requirements for installation of IAC Modification Kits.

d. The assumption is that the vendor bidding on this TDP package will be providing quotes with quantity breakdowns, for the manufacture of parts and assemblies from raw materials to completely equipped and tested production articles, including all GFE components with installation instructions. Is this a correct assumption?

Response: This solicitation does not include any requirements for installation of IAC Mod Kits.

B. W15QKN-15-R-0240 Draft Solicitation and Technical Data Package (TDP) Contractor Questions Set #2

1. What is the timeline for this opportunity?

Response: Assuming that received bids meet the Government’s requirements, the Government plans to award a contract in late 2016. The contract will have a base year with four one-year options.

2. Is a scale model available for the IAC?

Response: If the Government decides to host an Industry Day, an EMD vehicle with IAC will be made available for general inspection. No measurements of the EMD vehicle would be permitted.

3. Since the FAT is not due until 365 days following award will progress payments be considered during that time?

Response: Note, this is a question for the KO. The PMO would not object to such payment provisions.

4. To what extent will radiography testing be required?

Response: The number of welds, which ones are inspected and the frequency of radiographical quality inspections for welds is provided in The Technical Data Package (TDP) Drawing 12556360 Welded Cab Assembly and associated document 12472301 Ground Combat Vehicle Welding Code - Aluminum, TACOM. Vendor(s) should also be informed that in order to meet the total requirements of Drawings 12472301 Ground Combat Vehicle Welding Code - Aluminum, TACOM and 12479550 Ground Combat Vehicle Welding Code-Steel, TACOM for certified welders, the process by which certification is obtained may require a radiographic examination of weld coupons for certain weld types to achieve welder certification.

5. Who will be responsible for any necessary ballistic testing of the IAC?

Response: The Government is responsible for all System Level (either IAC Cab and/or M270A1 IAC Launcher Level) ballistic or other Live Fire Testing and/or sub testing, and will schedule and fund appropriate testing events to be conducted per Live Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) IPT oversight. The vendor(s) is responsible for all ballistic testing required to meet certification requirement(s) of either Drawing 12472301 Ground Combat Vehicle Welding Code - Aluminum, TACOM or 12479550 Ground Combat Vehicle Welding Code-Steel, TACOM (certification of welders and welding types/weld schedules, etc.); material certification(s) of all opaque armor materials (Aluminum, and Steels, used in kits) per the respective MIL-STD requirements for that material; and the ATPD-2352 Purchase Description Transparent Armor for the Ballistic Glass (First Article Testing and Production Quality Control Tests).

C. W15QKN-15-R-0240 Draft Solicitation and Technical Data Package (TDP) Contractor Questions Set #3

1. The draft solicitation encourages potential offerors "to submit potential quantity range breaks that could result in savings; for example: 1-10, 11-25, 25-1 10".

Since price sensitivity is highest in the low quantity ranges, Company Name encourages the Army to structure in accordance to the following quantity range breaks:

For the Army to structure a solicitation that results in significant savings, issuance of a long term Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with progress payments promises to offer savings of 25% or more over a contract that issues multiple delivery orders by fiscal year over several years. There are numerous parts on this program that have a relatively low unit cost in comparison to their setup production costs to produce and inventory management of excess parts throughout the production program. This structure would allow the contractor to setup and run all quantity needs for many of the parts upfront where variable costs and inventory costs are low. With this approach the Army would benefit from high volume production pricing on many of the components that will not be dependent on the yearly release quantities. Issuance of an IDIQ for all 181 kits followed by yearly release orders would provide the Army “Best Value” for this program.

Response: The Army takes many aspects of the program into consideration when making the decision on the quantity ranges. Your information is appreciated.

2. Company name also provides here some comments that would help the Army achieve its most competitive pricing from industry regarding the Technical data Package.

a. The Draft TDP was provided as hundreds of files that were not organized into sub-kit folders. This required an extensive amount of time to organize the data in preparation for the solicitation. Once the Army has the full TDP, if it can be provided to indust1y in bundles by each sub-kit as separate folders then indust1y will be able to more efficiently develop its cost proposal. The result to the Army will be higher fidelity cost proposals and more competitive pricing that results from decreased cost risk to the contractor.

Response: See response for statement 1.

b. If the final TDP could be provided as an amended draft solicitation the Army will obtain more competitive pricing than it will if industry only has the standard 30 days to respond upon provision of the final TDP.

Response: See response for statement 1.

c. Upon review of the TDP, it appears there are several Army Ordinance part numbers (numbers that begin with 12) that are missing from the provided data package. Many of these appear to be items that are on the vehicle today that are planned for replacement or are carryover part numbers from predecessor MLRS and/or other Army vehicle programs. Company Name's offering will be most competitive if drawings are provided for all Army Ordinance part numbers.

Response: See response for statement 1.

d. There are several inconsistencies between the various TDP artifacts starting with the top level kit and the corresponding top level drawing structure. Company Name acknowledges that the full TDP will be provided once it is ready. If the Army wants a list of these drawing inconsistencies Company Name is will to provide an itemized list upon request.

Response: Each company may decide what to submit in response to the draft solicitation. Your information is appreciated.

D. W15QKN-15-R-0240 Draft Solicitation and Technical Data Package (TDP) Contractor Questions Set #4

1. Is the Government still accepting questions at this time?

Response: The Government will accept questions on draft solicitation W15QKN-15-R-0240 thru Friday, 11 December 2015.

2. If so, and in the case where questions are specific to the ITAR and NDA restricted TDP, what form of medium must industry use to ask questions? Is email ok, or is there a different mechanism that industry must use to transmit questions on ITAR/NDA restricted content?

Response: Questions specific to the ITAR and/or NDA restricted TDP can be submitted via email but each restricted question must be marked that your company thinks the question is restrictive and the specific reason for the restriction. If the Government does not agree with the restrictions or does not understand the restrictions being implied then the Government will contact the company prior to answering and/or posting the question(s). If no understanding can be obtained as to the limitations of the stated restrictions then the Government reserves the right not to answer and/or post the question and answer as an update to the W15QKN-15-R-0240 draft solicitation Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) posting.

E. W15QKN-15-R-0240 Draft Solicitation and Technical Data Package (TDP) Contractor Questions Set #5

1. It appears that both the cabin and chassis of the current vehicles are to be disassembled and then modified (machined/welded) per drawings 12555410 and 12555406, rather than having either fabricated from scratch, as the TDP does not contain enough info to make these parts from scratch. Is this correct?

Response: The RFP seeks only to have the contractor produce (“fabricate from scratch”) the new cab kit. (Drawing Number from Todd?) No work on the chassis is required or sought.

2. Is the intent of the program office to have the winner of the contract perform this disassembly work, or will the cabs and chassis of the current vehicles be provided as GFE to the company performing the work?

Response: There is no disassembly work required by the contractor, nor will the contractor require and GFE from the current vehicles to produce the IAC kit.

3. Can you please provide insight on if the GOVT will be accepting and answering questions and/or considering an Industry Day for this opportunity?

Response: Yes, The Government is till accepting answers and answering questions. No Industry Day is planned.