Small Caliber DDI QA 24APR2020.pdf

W52P1J-20-R-0023 Small Caliber DDI Questions and Answers 04/24/2020

Due to multiple questions and concerns from Industry, the Government would like to clarify the intent behind including advisory and informational dimensions in the TDP. Any dimensions in the drawing package annotated as 'advisory' or 'reference' will not be evaluated and are not required. These dimensions are provided in an attempt to provide a starting point for Offerors to meet the required Performance Specifications. Only dimensions with tolerances will be physically inspected and evaluated under this Solicitation, in strict compliance with Sections L and M.

Question 1: Due to COVID-19, is there any way we can get this solicitation extended?

Answer 1: Please see block 11 of the SF-30.

Question 2: Due to the current situation as it pertains to COVID-19, social distancing, etc. and the complexity of this opportunity, has the Government considered or will the Government consider extending the date of submission for this opportunity at least 14-21 days? As a small business, our organization wants to be fully prepared and proactive as it pertains to allocating our resources.

Answer 2: Please see block 11 of the SF-30.

Question 3: Production of the bid samples has been slowed due to the COVID-19 virus and the various stay-at-home orders being issued around the country. For this reason we are requesting an extension of 30 days to the current due date of April 28.

Answer 3: Please see Block 11 of the SF-30.

Question 4: 0.047 dimension for flutes does not correspond with the flutes shown on the drawing and does not appear correct. Please advise.

Answer 4: The 0.047 dimension (radius of the flute) is an advisory dimension. An Offeror can make flutes any size, as long as the design meets all the Performance Specification requirements.

Question 5: For all three dummy bullets: If flutes are machined, the ends of the flutes will have full radiuses. Is this acceptable?

Answer 5: Yes. All flute dimensions are advisory.

Question 6: The dummy bullet drawings do not include a tolerance for the projectile diameters. (i.e. 0.511 diameter for .50 cal). Can the Government either provide drawings of the projectiles or provide min/max diameter specifications for this feature?

Answer 6: The Bullet Drawings for each caliber will be provided as reference material via DOD SAFE to those data custodians of companies that have already received TDP approval. The requested diameter tolerance can be found on these drawings: 5.56mm - 9342869 - M855 Bullet Drawing, 7.62mm - 8595669 - M80 Bullet Drawing, and Caliber .50 - 7553098 - M33 Bullet Drawing.

Question 7: We understand that 400,000 is the guaranteed minimum quantity. Is the projected quantity of 1 to 3 million total for the 5 year duration stated in the pre-solicitation notice still applicable?

Answer 7: The Government’s estimates are reflected in Attachment 0001 – Proposal Price Matrix via quantity ranges and assigned weights. IAW paragraph 9 of Section A in the RFP, the weights established in the price matrix are for evaluation purposes only. They are not a guarantee of quantities to be awarded.

Question 8: Solicitation states that POP testing is required. This is not normally applicable to inert items. Please confirm.

Answer 8: Performance Oriented Packaging (POP) is not required for these DDI items. This narrative has been removed from the Solicitation.

Question 9: Is an EPA Clause possible due to the increased amount of metal in these items as compared to the two piece DDI?

Answer 9: EPA is not a possibility for this Solicitation due to no specific metal being required.

Question 10: Can the Government increase the page count from 10 to 20 pages for the Technical Volume?

Answer 10: Yes, the page count is hereby increased from 10 to 20 pages. Section L has been updated to reflect this change.

Question 11: The top-level drawings Note 2 states the color is "approximately silver color 17178." However, the MIL-PRF's state in 3.4.4.2 'shall be in accordance with MIL-STD-709 and SAE-AMS-STD-595/17178 (Silver-Gross)." Please confirm that the approximate on drawing supersedes the shall on specification.

Answer 11: The DDI cartridge needs to be visually distinguishable from the standard combat cartridge. As long as the DDI cartridge is a shade of silver it will be considered acceptable. In this case the drawing should be considered as superseding the specification.

Question 12: ECP R19S2221, which provides updates to the performance specifications, is included on the TDPLs for the 7.62 and .50 cal DDI rounds, but is not listed on the 5.56 TDPL.

Should this ECP be added to the 5.56 TDPL, and if so, can the appropriate NOR be provided?

Answer 12: ECP R19S2221 should be applied to all 3 calibers and will be provided in its entirety via DOD SAFE to those data custodians of companies that have already received TDP approval.

Question 13: ECP R19S2221 adds weapon compatibility to the First Article Test requirements.

Will the use of the Armaments Center be permitted for this portion of First Article Testing, or will storage and maintenance of Government Furnished Equipment be required for this effort?

Answer 13: Yes, Section A paragraph 4 has been amended to include First Article Testing.

Question 14: Critical Defects - Scenario: The winning contractor, with three separate production lines, under the single awarded contract is running the line simultaneously. Would a critical defect shut down on the 5.56 line also shut down the other two lines, if the Root Cause was a universal risk to all three lines?

Answer 14: The Government will not entertain scenarios as part of the Q&A. An operational shutdown will occur if one or more of the following is observed: a Critical Defect is found past the Designated Point of Inspection, a Critical Defect generation equals or exceeds applicable CPOA threshold, a Critical Defect occurs through an undocumented failure mode, and/or a

Critical Defect occurs with no approved CPOA. In all these instances, the process that caused the critical defect and any additional processes affected by this failure mode will be shutdown.

Question 15: Will the Government provide the exact test procedure which will be used to evaluate the bid samples in the weapon compatibility and durability tests? Specific information of interest is weapon orientation (i.e. will the weapon be horizontal, muzzle slightly down, muzzle slightly up, vertical, etc), whether the weapon will be in a fixed mount or held by hand, and for the rifles, how many rounds will be loaded into a magazine at one time.

Answer 15: 1. Machine guns: Fixed mount, horizontally for all weapon types. Information regarding the rounds is outlined in Sections M.4.2.2 and M.4.2.3. All Offeror's rounds will be evaluated the same and in strict compliance with Sections L and M.

2. Rifles: Fixed mount, horizontally. Information regarding the rounds is outlined in Sections M.4.2.2 and M.4.2.3. All Offeror's rounds will be evaluated the same and in strict compliance with Sections L and M.

Question 16: The prints for 7.62mm are not showing the geometry of the item, so manufacturers cannot convert to CAD.

Answer 16: The Government would like to confirm that the geometry of the round is not included intentionally, as this is a Performance Specification.