Questions_and_Answers_Round_3_M1061_W15QKN-17-R-0041.docx

Questions & Answers Rounds 3 M1061 W15QKN-17-R-0041

33) Is there a possibility to include an Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clause for aluminum and tungsten for this 5 year contract?

Response: There will be no Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clause included in this solicitation.

34) The price of the Fragmentation Insert (13008598) is sensitive to the Tungsten commodity pricing. Would USG consider including the Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clause for Tungsten to the solicitation?

Response: There will be no Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clause included in this solicitation.

35) Reference PE DISC, Drawing 13008581 - Is 0.15mm the correct dimension for the thickness of the PE Disc?

Response: Yes, the dimensions on the PE DISC, Drawing 13008581 are correct.

36) Reference W15QKN-17-R-0041, page 83, paragraph L.3.4, Oral Presentations (Volume I) Would USG consider incorporating Video Teleconference (VTC) or any other remote means as an option for presentation of oral technical proposal.

Response: The USG does not wish to have VTC or any other remote means of access for the technical oral presentation.

37) Previous clarification to question 21 and 31 response: The Government has responded to question 21 in the Round 1 questions with “Progress Payments will not be included at this time” and Performance Based Payments are also not allowed. What type of payments should be assumed?

Clarifying Response: Progress Payments will not be offered during the solicitation stage and will not be discussed prior to contract award. After contract award and when a formal request from the Offeror is received, the U. S. Government (USG) will address progress payments on a case by case basis and only if that offeror has an approved accounting system according to USG requirements.

38) A specific item required for this solicitation is proving to have a long lead time. We were able to source CONUS HMX for the PBXN-110 of the HE unit with lead times between 12-18 months. This renders delivery of FAT rounds after 300 days of award impossible, the likely scenario is between 450 and 650 days, depending on delivery. OCONUS sources are available but have longer lead times. If we present a bid with delivery of FAT rounds 450-650 days after award, will it be considered?

Response: The current Delivery of FAT rounds will remain at 300 days as called out in the solicitation as there should be various suppliers that can meet this lead time for the HMX.

39) The following is included in Section L of the subject RFP:

L.3.4.3.2 At the scheduled presentation time, the PCO will review the ground rules of the oral presentation with the Offeror. Immediately before the presentation, the PCO will give the Offerors the previously provided overhead images (slides) in a CD format for the Offeror to use during the presentation. Each Offeror will be required to only use this set of CDs that was submitted with the Offerors proposal. No other material or revisions to the slides or hardcopies will be permitted.

Question: Will the speakers be allowed to bring their Speaker Notes to the briefing?

Response: Briefing notes will be allowed for the presenter however, they may not be shared or shown to the evaluators.

40) Reference drawing 13019323, Container, Ammunition, Fiber, POLYLAM PA181 and NOR R14K2012/140926. The following questions related to the label referenced in Note 8 of the drawing identified above.

a) Does the container manufacture have to have a cert for each layer? 3 total -i.e. cert for the paper the label is made of, cert for the color of the flood coat, and a cert for the ribbons that manufactures use to print the Lot numbering on each label before it is applied to the cans.

Response: The requirements for the label (equal or better than MIL-PRF-61002, Grade B, composition b AND gloss level less than 30) apply to the finished product (i.e. label substrate and ribbon for printing). So, all certifications should state that the printed labels or the substrate (when printed with the required ribbon) that they supplied meet the gloss and levels required for adhesion, UV light, condensation, and abrasion when tested in accordance with MIL-PRF-61002B. The container manufacturer can test and supply a certification for any data that is missing from the certification from the label manufacturer, i.e. gloss.

b) Or, will we need to use a single cert for the label if the container manufacture prints the lot numbers on the labels?

Response: In the case the container manufacturer prints the labels, the container manufacturer must supply certification stating that they certify that the label substrate was “printed with the required ribbon” which meets the MIL-PRF-61002 and gloss requirements as stated in certifications from the label manufacturer.

As an alternative,

a) Can the container manufacturer utilize a certified hand held gloss meter to be included in the AIE certs that can read on a 40-60degree angle horizontal to the container as the label is applied? During the FAT’s if the labels are tested on site and pass the gloss requirement, will USG accept the cert even if the cert does not state the label’s gloss level or include test data from the manufacture of the label?.

Response: A certified gloss meter to be included in the AIE certs is acceptable proof that the printed label meets the gloss requirement. Note, per the TDP, the actual measurement angle should 60 degrees.

b) Must the cert still state the label meets the MIL-PRF-61002 requirement even if the cert does not state the requirement for the gloss level?

Response: The container manufacturer must supply proof that the both the MIL-PRF-61002 requirements and gloss requirement are met. As such, the label manufacturer can supply a certification that the printed labels or the substrate (when printed with the required ribbon) meet the gloss and levels required for and adhesion, UV light, condensation, and abrasion when tested in accordance with MIL-PRF-61002B. OR The container manufacturer can test and supply certification that the printed labels or the substrate (when printed with the required ribbon) meet gloss and the levels required for and adhesion, UV light, condensation, and abrasion when tested in accordance with MIL-PRF-61002B. OR Total proof of adherence to requirement could be a combination of certification/test from both manufacturers.

c) Will the test be done before the labels are applied to the containers or after because, if it is after they are applied then you have to have a meter that can conform to the container to capture the entire labels surface? Most meters will only read flat surfaces so the label will need to be tested before it is applied to the can but after it has the lot information printed on it.

Response: The USG recognizes meters are designed for measurement on a flat surface. As such, label samples should be tested for gloss on a flat surface before being applied to the containers.