TWC_PA_Amendment_2.docx

W15QKN-18-R-01HZ Thin Wall Casting (TWC) Project Announcement Amendment 2

The purpose of this amendment is to: (1) post the following Questions and Answers for the TWC project announcement; and (2) amend Part IV, Section B.2.b paragraph (under Answer 1) as follows:

Question 1: In Part IV, section B.2.b it says, "The offeror shall provide test results from an independent laboratory indicating they can meet the above requirements in Part II section A2 and Part II section 4C." Section A2 does not discuss something that an independent laboratory normally provides. There is no section 4C that we can see. The numbering scheme is UCAlpha.Number.LCAlpha.

Section A3 discusses various things that labs provide and we have examples in house. They include:

Is this what is being referred to?

Answer 1: Both Part II Section A2 and Part II Section 4C references are incorrect. Therefore, Part IV, Section B.2.b paragraph is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

"The offeror shall provide test results from an independent laboratory indicating they can meet the above requirements in Part II section A.3."

Question 2: On November 16th we completed our Phase II audit for AS9100 Rev D. We were recommended for certification. That means we will be certified in the next few weeks. We are not allowed to claim we are certified to AS9100 until we have the certificate in hand. We would like to be sure this is known without running afoul of ANAB. Any suggestions?

Answer 2: AS9100 certification is not a requirement for this project announcement. If the offeror chooses to include their November AS9100D audit results in their white paper, they can simply state they are currently an AS9100C certified entity with a AS9100D certification status as "recommended for certification" with formal notification pending from the ANAB.

Question 3: Finally, the matching funds. We are a small family owned foundry founded in 1869. Revenues around 5 million. We want to be a bigger family owned foundry. This is why we sought AS9100 certification. But it means that coming up with 16 million dollars over the next five years will be a stretch. We have a lot of borrowing power because we have a very solid balance sheet and good cash flow, but probably not that much unless we grow a lot. Can you offer insight on that and how we should best address it in the white paper?

Answer 3: Part II, Section E.3.a and 3.b provide guidance for the offeror on how to address cost shares not meeting the 50% threshold.