Attachment 0014- Question and Answers 003.docx

Question 1: After award, would the Mk19 program office sponsor the winning entity for access to military facilities, such as Redstone Arsenal ranges and the Redstone Test Center, for testing of the weapon?

Answer 1 : Testing should be conducted in the Contractor Facility. For access to test ranges / Government facilities, the contractor is responsible for coordinating any / all acceptance activities. If formal sponsorship is required, the Program Office will assist, but the contractor is required to contact the test facility and coordinate ALL activities needed to contract with the test agency for the acceptance test services. Another alternative is to use a commercial test organization for these services, NTS located in Camden, AR.

Question 2: Are there any specifications / criteria for the packaging of the Mk19 for delivery to U.S. GOV?

Answer 2: The Technical Data Package (TDP) contains the Special Packaging Instructions (SPI) for the completed end item. The TDP also contains SPIs for each of the individual parts contained in the Spare Parts Kit and Barrel. There is also a SPI for complete Spare Parts Kit included as part of the RFP, in the Special Packing Instructions and Statement of work in the solicitation.

Question 3: Are all rounds for testing/qualification/verification provided as GFE?

Answer 3: Yes all acceptance test ammo is being provided as Government Furnished Material (GFM).

Question 4: MIL-G-70790 (AR) Section 4.5.14 Reliability (b) Reliability test firing schedule (1) directs to “Expend 192 rounds in the following manner at the start of the test, and following rounds 1, 152, 2304, 3456, 4608, and 5760,” then proceeds with a description of 192 rounds of varying configurations. As it would not be possible to fire the prescribed 192 rounds between round 1 and “152” is it correct to assume that “152” is a typographical error and should in face be 192? This assumption is further validated as the remaining listed rounds are also divisible by 192.

Answer 4: “1,152,” is a typographical error and should be replace with “1152” (One thousand one hundred and fifty two). This would be 6 (six) cycles of 192 rounds.

Question 5: Solicitation section L.4.1.2 Subfactor 2: Quality Assurance Plan b) directs the Offeror to “…provide details describing the effectiveness of proposed Quality Management System…” to include but not limited to “…quantifiable data demonstrating the efficacy of the Offerors described quality management system. Details supporting the adequacy of the Proposed processes to document and control the manufacturing processes with respect to their impact on performance, safety, and storage life expectancy shall be provided.” The call of the question appears to bias heavily towards the incumbent, as the incumbent would be the only Offeror able to provide quantifiable data related to MK19. Will quantifiable data from be a similar program be an acceptable substitution?

Answer 5: Yes, quantifiable data from a similar 40MM Grenade Machine Gun or similar Machine Gun.

Question 6: Will the IMS (Integrated Master Schedule) be included in proposal page count?

Answer 6: Yes, it will be included in the proposal page count.

Question 7: Has the USG procured MK19’s that have met all the requirements of MIL-G-70790 Answer 7: USG have procured MK19’s that met MIL-G-70790 and Technical Data (TDP included in the solicitation)

Question 8: w/Amendment 3 or is this a first time requirement?

Answer 8: USG have procured M19’s that met MIL-G-70790 w/amendment 3.

Question 9: Will MK19’s provided as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) meet the requirements of the TDP and MIL-G-70790 w/Amendment 3 provided as part of this solicitation?

Answer 9: USG will not be providing MK19s as Government Furnished Equipment. Refer to updated Statement of Work section C.4.1.5.

Question 10: MIL-G-70790 w/Amendment 3 does not require a maximum allowable wind speed when performing accuracy testing at an outdoor shooting range. Is this an oversite or should it be assumed that accuracy testing is required to be performed at an indoor shooting range?

Answer 10: USG requires an indoor shooting range when firing the MK19 for accuracy testing. However, Contractor/Vendor can submit a test plan for an outdoor shooting range for USG approval.

Question 11: In lieu of the M3 Tripod with Carriage and Cradle Mount, does the USG own TDP for an existing approved live fire testing fixture that can be provided?

Answer 11: The USG does not own any technical data for a live firing testing fixture. Contractor/Vendor can submit a live fire testing fixture for USG approval.

Question 12: Will the USG provide M3 Tripod(s) and Carriage and Cradle Mount(s) as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)?

Answer 12: Per the Statement of Work, the USG will not provide a M3 tripod, Carriage and Cradle. Contractor/Vendor can submit a texting fixture for USG approval.

Question 13: As part of this solicitation, does the USG own MK19 inspection gaging designs that can be provided?

Answer 13: The USG does not maintain any inspection gaging for the MK19.

Question 14: Ammo quantity clarification: we are unable to resolve ammo quantity and test schedule for both FAT and LAT

a. LAT: paragraph 4.5.14 Reliability

i. The test schedule quantities for 4.5.14.b. (1) work

1. The sum of all rounds equals the specified 192 round

ii. The test schedule quantities for 4.5.14.b. (2) do not work

1. The sum of all round also equals 192, however…

2. 6,600 round (as specified in 4.5.14.b (2)) is not divisible by 192 (6600/192 = 34.375), so what test schedule would the remaining 8 rounds follow (192 x .375 = 72; 72 – 32 – 16 – 16 = 8 remaining)? Also, this would result in the testing to end mid way through a test cycle.

Answer 14: Contractor/Vendor shall fire 34 cycles of 192 rounds and continue to fire remaining 72 rounds per 4.5.14.b (2) ( i.e. (2.1) 32 rounds single shot, (2.2) 16 rounds single shot, (2.3) 16 rounds burst, (2.4) 8 rounds burst) Question 14 Continued: FAT: Table II of MIL-G-70790 states that 25,344 rounds will be expended during FAT Reliability testing.

iii. Note 4/ states, “Quantity represents the number of rounds required to complete firing cycle as specified in paragraph 4.5.14” (see quantities above).

Answer: Contractor/Vendor shall fire cycles of 192 rounds and continue to fire remaining rounds per 4.5.14.b (2) ( i.e. (1.1) 10 rounds single shot, (1.2) 10 rounds single shot, (1.3) 10 rounds single shot…)

Question 15: Drawing 12997555 Test Method 804 states, “RECEIVER LIFE TEST (FIRST ARTICLE ONLY) ASSEMBLE THE RECEIVER INTO THE MACHINE GUN AND MOUNT ON A CARRIAGE AND CRADLE ASSEMBLY (DWG. 5830052), INSTALLED ON AN M3 MOUNT. LOAD 32 LINKED M385E4 ROUNDS AND FIRE THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE UNTIL THE 25,000 ROUNDS ARE EXPENDED”. The quantities specified in this note match paragraph 4.5.14.b. (2) and the method is conforming to paragraph 4.5.14.b. (2). As with the LAT schedule, 25,000 is not divisible by 192 and results in eight rounds that are not accounted for. Also, this results in ending midway through a testing cycle. Which test do the final eight round follow?

Answer 15: Test Method 804 only applies for the procurement of spare receivers.

Question 16: According to the 25,344 rounds listed in Table II of MIL-G-70790, there are still 344 rounds remaining if the test methods according to drawing 12997555 are followed. Where are these accounted for?

Answer 16: Test Method 804 does not apply for this solicitation.

Question 17: According to the 25,344 rounds listed in Table II of MIL-G-70790, there are still 18744 rounds remaining (25,344 – 6,600 = 18,744). Where are these accounted for?

Answer 17: First Article Inspection, Reliability demonstration requires the contractor/vendor to fire 25,344 rounds. Quality Conformance Inspection, Reliability demonstration requires the contractor/vendor to fire 6,600 rounds. Two different tests conducted at different time.

Question 18: Table I of MIL-G-70790 lists 2 units for the reliability demonstration for FAT. This would result in potentially 50,000 rounds as each receiver must have a minimum life of 25,000 rounds.

Answer 18: Table I requires two (2) MK19s, each MK19 shall fire 25,344 rounds for the reliability demonstration.

Question 19: There appears to be a conflict between Table I of MIL-G-70790, Table II of MIL-G-70790, paragraph 4.5.14 of MIL-G-70790, and drawing 12997555. Please provide clarification.

Answer 19: Drawing 12997555 test method 804, only applies for the procurement of spare receivers. It does not apply in this solicitation.

Question 20: Can the Due date of proposals be extended 30 days? Due to abnormal delays related to COVID-19 pandemic, subcontractors related to unique and special processes are responding in unusually slow fashion. In order to submit the most accurate and meaningful response, we respectfully request additional time.

Answer 20: Due date is extended to 31 August 2021