XM919 IAM Industry Day3 COMBINED Questions - USG Response - FINAL 31-OCT-2023.pdf

XM919 Individual Assault Munition (IAM) Solicitation W15QKN-23-R-0089

Questions from Industry (Submitted for Industry Day 3, held on 14-15 June 2023)

1. What is the Government’s definition of Load, Assemble and Pack (LAP) in the US? Does this definition include fill, mixing, casting and loading of the warhead?

Answer: The definition of LAP is Load (load munition into the tube - does not include the pouring of energetics), Assemble (the system as a whole with all external furniture attached) and Pack (package for shipment). LAP does not require the pouring, filling, or casting of energetics into the warhead. All of these activities must be performed at a location or locations within the continental United States

(CONUS).

2. Please clarify the location of the Lot Acceptance Test (LAT). Does the Government require LAT to be performed in the United States?

Answer: The XM919 IAM contract will include a clause which allows for testing at Government facilities at Government rates and Government priority for testing. The contractor has the option to conduct LAT at their facility or alternate test facilities in the United States in accordance with contract requirements. If the contractor is manufacturing overseas in Ordering Periods 1 and 2, LAT may be performed, in accordance with contract requirements, at a test facility outside the Continental United States (OCONUS).

3. Will the Government give a higher technical rating if Load, Assemble and Pack (LAP) is fulfilled in the United States prior to the Ordering Period 3 contract requirement?

Answer: Exceeding a requirement in the solicitation may be considered a strength in accordance with Section M of the XM919 IAM solicitation.

4. If production starts in Ordering Period 1, OCONUS and then moves stateside, would the Physical Configuration Audit (PCA) and First Article Test (FAT) clause be triggered. If so, will the Government pay the cost since LAP in the United States by Ordering Period 3 is a contract requirement?

Answer: If the Offeror’s proposal necessitates an additional PCA and FAT, the Government would pay the cost of these activities IAW the applicable Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) established under the contract.

The Government may, in its sole discretion, tailor or waive the requirement. However, a proposal that requires an extra PCA and/or FAT may increase the evaluated cost and may increase schedule risk to the Government IAW Section M of the XM919 IAM.

5. Can data rights be offered with limitation to ensure competitors cannot access? There are a few competitors in the world and losing tech data to a competitor may be untenable.

Answer: Offerors’ data rights proposals should follow the instructions in Sections L and take into account the evaluation criteria in M of the XM919 IAM solicitation. The Government desires no less than Government Purpose Rights, so any limitations that would provide a license less than that would be evaluated accordingly. In the future, if the Government shares Government Purpose Rights data with a third party, the applicable NDAs would be signed for the use of that data.

6. Does the Physical Configuration Audit (PCA) CLIN include the measuring and the hardware? Or will hardware be under ancillary item?

Answer: The PCA cost is for labor only. The PCA hardware which will be measured and can be returned to the production line after it is measured.

7. Will the contract include a Production Verification Test (PVT) Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) to procure test units? Are the PVT hardware units considered production representative? Will PVT happen prior to FAT?

Answer: Specialty PVT hardware items (e.g., round with live fuze/inert warhead for specific testing) will be procured under the ancillary CLIN for specialty items. Full up systems (XM919 IAM Tactical, XM922 SCT or Sub-Caliber tracer ammunition) for PVT are procured under the respective “production” CLIN(s). PVT will happen prior to FAT.

8. How does the Government plan on providing the system assessment test data to contractors for use in support of proposal submission?

Answer: Contractors seeking to have access to relevant Government testing data generated with test articles procured under separate Contracts/Agreements must contact the assigned Contracting/Agreements Officer under the separate Contract/Agreement. Release of any test data is pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Contract or Agreement. Whether Contractors use such information for the XM919 IAM proposal submission is within the Contractor’s discretion.

9. Does the Government plan on including a currency clause in the contract similar to the previous contracts?

Answer: The Government will consider inclusion of a currency clause.

10. Would the Government consider selecting a system that does not currently meet the twenty

(20) year shelflife requirement?

Answer: Request For Proposal (RFP) Sections L & M as well as the Interim XM919 IAM Performance Specification provide the systems performance and storage life requirements.

11. Has the Government considered pre‐planned product improvements to get to the objective requirements?

Answer: Product improvements may be implemented as needed, based on assessment of systems performance and emerging or future threats.

12. Would the Government consider selecting a sight that is powered by a non‐standard U.S.

Army power source?

Answer: The sight must utilize a commercial off-the shelf commonly available battery.

13. Would the Government consider providing vendors with 9mm sub‐caliber ammunition for qualification of the XM922 SCT?

Answer: The Government does not plan on providing Government Furnished Material (GFM) for this contract.

14. Can the Government clarify the confined space requirement?

Answer: The confined space requirement utilized the Fire From Enclosure room size 12' x 15' x 7' which includes one standard door and one standard window opening. Additionally, Blast Overpressure is tested IAW ITOP 4-2-822, Toxic fumes is tested IAW ITOP 02-2-622 and FFE tested IAW ITOP 05- 2-517A.

15. Will the Government use data that is not submitted in the offerors’ proposal?

Answer: The Government can only evaluate the data provided in the offerors’ proposal.

16. In order to meet the Government timeline we would have to begin sourcing long lead items.

Please clarify if we can do so prior to completion of Physical Configuration Audit (PCA)?

Answer: Business decisions to meet anticipated contractual requirements are made at the sole discretion of the offeror.

17. Will Delivery Order 0001 require the Contractor to first execute a Physical Configuration Audit (PCA) on the XM919 IAM, the XM922 SCT, and the Tracer Ammunition Cartridge Production Verification Test (PVT) hardware? There is no CLIN for subcaliber ammo PCA.

Where should PCA for subcaliber ammo be priced?

Answer: There is not a PCA for the SCT Ammo. A PCA is required for the XM919, the XM922 and the Field Handling Trainer (FHT) only.

18. Will the USG provide a Best Estimated Quantity (BEQ) in the final RFP for this five year IDIQ procurement?

Answer: Government has not provided a Best Estimated Quantity (BEQ) in the final solicitation.

19. The requirement for a First Article whenever there is a lapse in production for a period in excess of 90 days seems overly stringent and may drive costs. AS9102B para 4.6.f.6 requires a new first article after a lapse in production of two years. Recommend updating this requirement to align with AS9102B.

Answer: A FAT will be required when there is a lapse in production in excess of 1 year.

20. Our understanding is that subcomponents of the end item can be transported from OCONUS via NON-US Flagged vessels. Is this also the USG's understanding of regulations?

Answer: Yes, IAW FAR/DFARS and applicable waiver process/reporting requirements.

21. Can the government provide the long-term plan for IAM beyond the 5 year contract?

Answer: The Government does not intend to elaborate on any plans or requirements outside of this XM919 IAM solicitation.

22. P.9 Section 3.5.16.5.2. Overall Exterior. Exterior Color Change: The XM919 IAM Performance Specification overall exterior color scheme requirement has changed to incorporate the Operational Camouflage or shall be produced in earth tone colors not darker than Coyote 498 but not lighter than Tan 499. Will the USG remove the MIL-STD-709 to meet the new user requirement?

Answer: No, MIL-STD-709 requirements are applicable. MIL-STD-709 is in reference to the color coding (band) of the exterior of the XM919 (e.g., orange for tracer). Since the XM919 is a High Explosive (HE), a yellow band (FED-STD-595/33538) around the ammunition and the barrel of the weapon per MIL-STD-709 (Table II) still applies.

23. Please explain when the delivery schedule requirements will be established.

Answer: Please see the various CLINs for delivery information. Additional Delivery Order requirements, including schedule, will be determined on an order-by-order basis.

24. P.18 Engineering Services. Please confirm that the unit of measure for this FFP CLIN is hours. Will need to read the SOW to determine how these CLINs will be authorized.

Answer: The FFP CLIN for Engineering Services is in Hours and reflected in the Price Matrix.

25. “For Lot size 1 through 100 a Lot Acceptance Test (LAT) will be conducted.” Would a LAT apply to any quantity purchased?

Answer: Yes - LAT will be applied to any LOT quantities purchased. For smaller lot sizes (1-100) the Government will work with the contractor to maximize testing efficiencies and quantities, and possibly combining it with another larger lot and test it all together. If that is not possible, then an adjusted LAT with decreased testing quantities may be considered.

26. P.79 C.5.0 First DO. Please confirm the first DO will only contain PCA, LAT and FAT.

Answer: The first Delivery Order will include PCA, LAT, FAT and PVT Hardware. PCA, FAT and LAT for the XM919 IAM Tactical and the XM922 SCT. It will also include LAT and FAT for the SCT Tracer Ammunition.

27. P.80, #5 Spare Parts. Please confirm that the Spare Parts CLIN is menu pricing for the USG to order spares as it sees fit during performance and not a requirement for offerors to price the total amount of spares to be purchased as 1 LOT.

Answer: Yes. The Spare Parts CLIN is menu pricing.

28. P.80, C.5.1.1 #6 Ancillary Parts. Please confirm that the Attachment 8, Pricing Matrix, reflects all the parts called out in #6 on p.80.

Answer: The Pricing Matrix has been updated to reflect all parts called out in Item 6) Ancillary Parts.

Note: Additional rows may be added as needed for any additional ancillary items proposed.

29. P.83 C.5.3.6 PCA. Please confirm that the PCA is only required for year 1. Thereafter, the USG has the option to conduct PCA. If this is correct, the USG should add language on Hardware deliverables that the due date will be determined from the end date of the FAT CLIN (as HW cannot be initiated until PCA and FAT completion).

Answer: PCA will be required for year 1. The Government reserves the right to execute PCA on other occasions, namely for change in place of performance. End dates/delivery dates will be identified on an order-by-order basis.

30. P.88 C.5.7.11 Training. Please expand this section to state the duration and location of the training and any required CDRLs to specify training material.

Answer: This Training will be a topic for the Post Award Conference and addressed at that time.

31. P.138 L-13, Requirements for Cost or Pricing Data. Request this clause be removed, as this is a competition not subject to certified cost or pricing data.

Answer: Certified Cost and Pricing Data, or Other than Certified Cost and Pricing Data may be required for modifications or if Adequate Price Competition is not achieved.