M724A2 question responses (11-18-2020).pdf

M724A2 question responses:

1. Q: Pg. 77, L.2.3.1.b - “One (1) Original paper copy and five (5) electronic CD copies of the proposal volumes, as reflected in D.3.” - Instead of D.3, does the Government mean proposal volumes as reflected in L.3.1?

A: Yes, this is correct.

2. Q: Pg. 77, L.2.3.1.b - “One (1) Original paper copy and five (5) electronic CD copies of the proposal volumes” - Given the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and the heightened sensitivity with regards to travel to hand deliver a hard copy proposal as well as the COVID-19 related delays being experienced by package delivery companies (FedEx, UPS, etc.), will the Government consider accepting proposal submissions via DOD SAFE instead? Alternatively, will the Government consider an initial submission via DOD SAFE to establish compliance with the RFP followed by a hard copy delivery at a later date?

A: The following information will be added to the RFP:

NOTE: Offeror shall request DoD Secure Access File Exchange (SAFE) Site Drop-Off Link (via https://safe.apps.mil ) from Contracting Officer and/or Contract Specialist no later than 7 calendar days prior to proposal submission deadline.

This language will replace the submission requirement contained in the question.

3. Q: Pg. 77, L.2.3.1.b - “The Price Factor shall be contained on a separate CD from non-price Factors. Price breakdown, when applicable, will include MS Excel spreadsheets with formulae intact.” - Can the Government confirm that Volume III, Price requires only one (1) single-write CD-ROM and that no hard copy is required?

A: A CD or hard copy is not required. It should be provided electronically with the remainder of the proposal.

4. Q: Pg. 88, Section M C.4.1 Factor 3: Price; Pg. 70, L-22 252.215-7009 Proposal Adequacy Checklist #5 Pg. 67, L-16 52.215-20 Requirements for Certified Cost or Pricing Data and Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data - “If the Government determines that adequate price competition was not obtained and/or if the total evaluated price cannot be deemed fair and reasonable, the Government reserves the right to request cost or pricing data and to evaluate such data utilizing the proposal analysis techniques delineated in the FAR 15.404-1 as deemed appropriate.” “FAR 15.408 Is an Index of all certified Table 15-2, cost or pricing data and Section I information accompanying or Paragraph B identified in the proposal provided and appropriately referenced?” “FAR 15.403-1(b) Are there any exceptions to submission of certified cost or pricing data pursuant to FAR 15.403-1(b)? If so, is supporting documentation included in the proposal? (Note questions 18-20.) - In the Evaluation Criteria, the USG states cost or pricing data may be requested if total evaluated price cannot be deemed fair and reasonable and that data will be required to be certified if adequate competition does not exist and none of the exceptions in FAR 403-1(b) apply, which is standard for openly competed solicitations. However, FAR 15.403-1(b) and FAR 15.408 from the Proposal Adequacy Checklist request CCOPD with submission of the proposal.

A: If certified cost and pricing is required, it will be requested after a determination is made.

5. Q: Pg. 78, Section L.4.1.1.c - IMS - Will the USG accept the IMS in Microsoft Project format instead of Microsoft Word?

• And in order to allow for inclusion of sufficient detail, would the USG consider not counting the IMS towards the 75 page limitation for the Technical Factor?

• If the USG will not allow the IMS to be excluded from the 75 page count, will the USG consider allowing Offerors to include the IMS on 11x17 sheets?

• Please confirm that the IMS should include the Base Year.

A: It’s acceptable to use Project for the IMS. Can be 11x17 in hardcopy if they prefer, but should remain within page limit. There is no reason why the base year should be excluded.

6. Q: Pg. 1, Price Matrix - Will the Government provide Attachment 0009 in Excel format with formulas intact?

A: The attachment is all the Government can provide.

7. Q: Attachment 0009, Page 1/ Section M - “The total evaluated price will be computed by summing the weighted evaluated prices computed from the unit prices proposed in the Price Matrix in Section J of the solicitation.” - Will the Government provide the weights for each range in Attachment 0009 Price Matrix as listed in Section M of the RFP?

A: No, the weights are an internal Government calculation used only for calculating a realistic total evaluated price, and will not be provided to offerors.

8. Q: Page 6 - “The contractor shall send the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) prior to award to the Contracting Officer and a copy with the first delivery of supplies…” Will the USG please clarify whether this requirement applies only to the cartridge level and not the subcomponent level?

A: Cartridge level is fine.

9. Q: Page 15, C.3.1.2 - “The Government will provide 37,262 lbs. of M14 Propellant…as GFM within 90 days after contract award. These GFM propellant lots…will be provided as GFM propellant for OP1 only.” - The GFM propellant quantity being provided for OP1 will not be sufficient to cover the max range quantity (3400 rounds) based on drawing nominal propellant quantity listed on the cartridge assembly drawing (5.40 kg or 11.905 lbs per cartridge). If the stated quantity of GFM propellant is not sufficient to meet the award quantity, will the Contractor be responsible for obtaining additional new or recap M14 propellant? If so, will propellant blending be permitted across multiple manufacturers?

A: The Government does not intend to purchase more than 2600 cartridges in the first order.

10. Q: Attachment 0008 - Page 1 - GFM Cartridge Case Quantity of 3400 - The GFM Cartridge Case quantity does not allow for attrition/component testing if max range quantity is awarded. Will the USG please clarify if additional cartridge cases will be made available beyond the 3400 if the max quantity is ordered?

A: Yes, additional cartridge cases could be provided if necessary.

11. Q: 105mm M724A2 Cartridge DTL-13029931 - M11 Copper Crusher pressure gages are required for pressure testing compliance in the cartridge DTL. - Will the designated Proving Ground for Lot Acceptance Testing be responsible to provide the LAP facility with M11 gages for installation during cartridge assembly? Can the pressure requirement for Conformance Verification be accepted during Charge Verification/Metal Parts Testing (CV/MPTS) prior to the Deliverable Lot rather than with the LAT which will be randomly sampled upon completion and would require some disassembly to install pressure gages? Is there a drawing or specification that be provided which details the M11 gages?

A: M11 gages will not be provided to the LAP facility, but will be provided/installed at the Proving Ground. Yes, pressure will be measured at the CV/MPTS, but is not measured at the

LAT.

12. Q: SOW Sections C.8.1 and D.8 - POP Test Overtest Requirements - SOW sections C.8.1 and D.8 include conflicting POP test overtest requirements (20% vs 10%). Will the USG please clarify which one applies?

A: 20% is correct.

13. Q: Attachment 0010 - Section 6, MSE - Will the USG consider removing the MSE/MSA requirement from this solicitation and reverting to the previous standard AIE clause? The MSE/MSA implementation and requirements will require significant additional analysis of cost and schedule impacts, particularly for the sub-tier supply base.

A: No, this is a new and separate contract and the previous AIE Clause no longer exists.

14. Q: Attachment 0010 - Section 6, MSE - If the USG will not consider replacing the MSE/MSA requirements, will the USG consider a phased-in, tailored approach over the life of the IDIQ, in decreasing order of precedence by characteristic class?

A: No, there's no need for historical data to implement MSE so there should be no need to phase in.

15. Q: Attachment 0010 - Section 6.h - In accordance with the included table, it appears that MSA will NOT be required in conjunction with MSE. Please confirm this interpretation is correct.

A: Correct - MSA is an option but not required.

16. Q: Technical Data Package (TDP) Combination of Adopted Items (COAI) for Cartridge, 13029938

- Does the USG have a preferred supplier for the following PNs?

• PN 12910247- LINER

A: These parts should be sourced from a qualified supplier.

• PN 10522799- CASE, CARTRIDGE, 105MM, M128A1, B1 • PN 12929393- CUSHION,

WINDSHIELD BOURRELET PROTECTOR

A: These parts should be sourced from a qualified supplier

17. Q: Will the USG consider providing GFE (gun system, gun components, etc.) to a third party test range for ballistic component level testing?

A: No

18. Q: Section F-9 - IUID - We request that the Government remove the Item Unique Identification and Validation (IUID) requirements of this contract per DFARS 252.211-7003. This requirement is not feasible for ammunition as accomplishing this would be an arduous task. Also, the addition of an IUID tag might affect the performance of the round.

A: This can be removed.

19. Attachment 0009 - Page 1 - Since the USG is providing refurbished cartridge cases and M14 propellant for OP1, are Offerors required to price CLINs 0003 and 0005 without the GFM components?

A: Yes.