Attach 0003 ACE Vendor Questions_FINAL.xlsx

ACE Vendor Q's

b. Key areas of past performance should focus on successful delivery of a textile product of equivalent complexity described above to a customer, preferably a combat vest, police tactical vest, or equivalent. Describe what was built and whether the product was delivered on time. Emphasis should focus on in-house manufacturing capability, not the ability to contract the manufacturing out to other vendors.

c. Key items of past performance should emphasize manufacturing of comparable textile product in-house and meeting quality/cost/schedule objectives for past performance contract.

d. For past experience in the last five years, one contract example of a comparable textile product is sufficient. Rating criteria are specific to section L with evaluation factors listed in section M.

e. For past performance, a reference to or copy of the contract used as proof, and a receiving report demonstrating delivery of product under that contract was accepted by the customer would be acceptable demonstration of past performance. If the item delivered is not a vest, an explanation of why the product should be considered of equivalent complexity as a substitute example should accompany the past performance example.

As we are working on a bid for the above solicitation and noticed a possible error in the Materials List.

AR/PD 13-02, TY I, Tan 499 Ballistic Material System

Note 3) Solucote 1013 is no longer available. The company was bought out and now it is #1103.

Also, 1050955-16

They do not make the Part in the 1/8" Thickness as on the Specification Sheet.

Please verify electronic submitted proposals are expectable by the 1700 Local time on Friday 01 Dec, 2023.

2 1005833-41 MALE BUCKLE HALF, (BLACK)

2 1005833-37 MALE BUCKLE HALF, (COYOTE)

4 1005833-35 FEMALE BUCKLE HALF, (COYOTE)

There are two more harnesses on the vest with buckles covered by drawings 1081562 and 1081563, both used by installation drawing 1081482 for the front harness strap assembly.

Drawing 1081562 uses two buckles:

2 1005833-37 MALE BUCKLE HALF, (COYOTE)

Drawing 1081563 uses one buckle for each side, left and right, so even though the drawing shows one per side, there are two per vest, so I’ll depict two below:

2 1005833-35 FEMALE BUCKLE HALF, (COYOTE)

And last, there is a back harness strap assembly drawing 1081486:

1 1005833-39 FEMALE BUCKLE HALF, (BLACK)

1 1005833-37 MALE BUCKLE HALF, (COYOTE)

When you look at the ACE price input workbook, we are asking for pricing in quantity ranges of 1-1000, 1001-2000, 2001-3000, 3001-4000, 4001-5000, and 5001-6000 per year.

Each vest would use one set of the above parts, essentially, seven buckle pairs not all matching in color. Your quotes to all vendors should reflect the above quantity pricing sets per year for five years out for those specific parts.

ACE VEST/HARNESS Assembly (1081468-N-<SIZE>);

POUCH KIT (1081469-N-1);

EXTRACTION CARABINER (1081535-1);

EXTRACTION STRAP (1006032-N-1).

1) a reference to "Adjusted range pricing shall be retroactively applied to all hardware quantities ordered within any 30 day period." (page 3, section A-5)

2) Hardware Updates / ECPs (p95 s3.9)

3) "The contractor shall include a schedule that demonstrates how the contractor shall meet the requirements of the contract and complete deliverables to include hardware and data." (p95 s4.1.1 and s4.1.2)

4) "Equipment, including special inspection equipment (SIE) and special test equipment (STE), shall be validated prior to use for delivery of hardware." (p96 s5.3)

5) "b. Hardware evaluation." (p96 s5.5 "Pilot Line Validation Report")

6) "The contractor shall successfully complete FAI/FAT prior to submitting hardware for Government acceptance." (p97 s5.6)

7) "The contractor shall maintain historical records for the technical data for hardware items, reflecting all change and non-conformance actions." (p98 s6.2)

8) "The contractor shall package for preservation, handling and shipping all hardware items IAW ASTM D3951, Standard Practice for Commercial Packaging." (p98 s7.1)

9) "The Government will provide the serial number start point during start of work or at delivery order award. The serial number for each designated piece of hardware shall be assigned in increasing numerical sequence." (p98 s7.3.2)

10) "All hardware that has been accepted by the government shall be shipped from the contractor's facility…" (p98 s 7.5)

11) "In the CLIN narrative the offeror shall fill in the blanks under Unit Price column with Firm Fixed Pricing for all price ranges for all hardware CLINS." (p119, sL-3 D)

Can the Government please clarify whether “units required for performance testing” would be considered as part of the delivery order quantity (and therefore the quantity that would be shipped would be less than the quantity ordered”)?

Can the Government please clarify whether “requirements validation” is synonymous with “validate conformance to the requirements” as used in paragraph 5.3 of Section C of the solicitation?

ACE Vest / Harness Assembly PN 1081467-1-X: Qty 4,000 over all sizes (BEQ total is 3,200) ACE LPU Assembly (LPU-42/P) PN 1081668-1-1: Qty 3,200 (BEQ is 2,400) Aviation Holster Assembly PN 2-4-1027-X, Type III, Class 4: Qty 4,000 over all sizes (BEQ is 3,100) Mouthpiece Cover PN 1081549-1-1: Qty 3,200 (BEQ is 2,400) Bottle Pouch PN 1081761-1-1: Qty 3,200 (BEQ is 2,400) EAWIS Basic Pouch PN 1081760-1-1: Qty 2,000 (BEQ is 1,600) Extension Tether PN 1081572-1-X: Qty 1,900 over all sizes (BEQ is 1,400)

I have a question about Part 1050955-114 on the above Solicitation. (Style is unknown)

The Materials and Components Sheet 1050955 shows:

1050955-114 MIL-L-11075, TY III, Oval Loop, Welded, 1-3/4 x ½, Coyote Tan

The Cummerbund Assembly 1081471 shows:

1050955-114, Ring, Oval, Steel, Welded, 1-3/4 x ½ (Steel is Type III)

The PD1006011 shows:

MIL-L-11075, Loop, Oval, Brass, (1050955 ref. -114) (Brass is Type I)

Please advise of the correct Type, Style and Color for 1050955-114 on this Solicitation.

My Vendors and I are confused on what part to quote. 1050955-114, Ring, Oval, Steel, Welded, 1-3/4 x ½ (Steel is Type III) Answer is correct, the part is steel, PD is incorrect. 4-4-24 - PD has been updated to correct the part number.

To complete Volume 3 (Responsibility Matters) I need to sign the first page of the RFP and all amendments. Can you please forward those to me?

2. That is correct.

3. That is correct.

4. Amount was entered as an "estimated cost" based on current market values.

4A) The transportation cost estimates were provided with the intent for all vendors to use the same shipping costs so transportation is not a factor in evaluating price. Offerors should use the pricing estimates so these costs are not factored into the bid pricing comparison.

4B) The estimated costs are provided for bidding purposes only. The vendor will identify shipping costs when destination addresses are provided by the Government at the time an order is made.

We have another item to discuss.

The Magnetic Closure (1081493) used on the ACE Assembly is made in China. This is not a Berry Compliant Part as I understand.

The Suggested Source is Amazing Magnets and their Part# is on the Material Specification Sheet.

Is the offeror required to fill this section in? We are populating the “Ordering Period (#)” prices for each quantity break on the left side of the document, but it is not clear which of these values would go into UNIT PRICE and AMOUNT. Below is a picture with the field I am asking about, highlighted.

(1) For contracts, in accordance with paragraphs (c)(1), (2), (3) and (6) of this clause-- [ ] By the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end of each subsequent option period;

or [ ] By the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract.

(2) For orders, in accordance with paragraphs (c)(4) and (5) of this clause, by the end of the performance period for the order.

intend [ ] [check applicable block] to use one or more plants or facilities located at a different address from the address of the offeror or respondent as indicated in this proposal or response to request for information.

(b) If the offeror or respondent checks “intends” in paragraph (a) of this provision, it shall insert in the following spaces the required information:

Place of Performance (Street Address, City, State, Zip Code:

Name and Address of Owner and Operator of the Plant or Facility if Other Than Offeror or Respondent:

“Evaluated Pricing: The Evaluated Pricing (EP) will be calculated by the Price Team using Government estimated quantities and the offerors proposed pricing. The Total Estimated Price will sum the ACE CLINs, FAI/T CLINs, and Component Parts CLINs pricing as calculated by the Price Team.”

Our question is on the process for evaluating prices on sized items, for example CLIN 1001 – 1005 (ACE Vest/Harness Assembly). The Best Estimated Quantities on page 2 of the solicitation show the following for CLIN 1001 – 1005:

The solicitation also directs, on page 3, that "Offerors must propose one singular unit price for ALL sizes of the ACE Vest/Harness Assemblies. The unit price may vary by quantity but not by size."

If we take the BEQ listed above and incorporate them into the pricing worksheet, they will align with the following quantity break tiers:

CLIN 1001: 1 - 1,000 Quanty Break Tier CLIN 1002: 1 - 1,000 Tier CLIN 1003: 1,001 - 2,000 Tier CLIN 1004: 1 - 1,000 Tier CLIN 1005: 1 - 1,000 Tier

However, if the BEQs for each size are added together, it totals 3,200 units, which would correspond to the 3,001 – 4,000 “tier”.

Our question is whether the Government's evaluation will use 'tiered' pricing for each CLIN (i.e. would add the respective tier pricing for each) or will the Government sum the best estimated quantities for these sized items and evaluate the price level based on that totaled tier (i.e. for the example above evaluate based on the 3,200-unit tier).

Under a waiver, a firm can supply the product of any size business without regard to the place of manufacture. This waiver is based on NAICS code We are having a difficult time locating the above parts.

The MIL Spec. is:

A-A-55126, CL 1, OCP Loop in 3/4" and 1-1/2" widths.

This material does not appear to be available in OCP from any Vendors. Since it appears that this is not very visible, would it not be more feasible to go with the Tan 499 that is more readily available and used many places on the ACE System? The two materials are called out on drawing 1050955. The first is 1050955-110, part number A-A-55126, CL 1 FASTENER TAPE, LOOP 1 1/2 WIDE, color OCP which is in turn used on drawing 1081510, find number 11. On this drawing, 1081491 calls out multiple find numbers for 1050955-50, which is TAN 499. The webbing on that same drawing, part number 1050955-89, is also TAN 499. Find number 32, fastener tape hook, part number 1050955-23 is also TAN 499. Find number 23, part number 1050955-22, fastener tape loop, is also TAN 499. The only fastener tape loop part number I see which is OCP is the 1050955-110.

The second is drawing 1050955-111, part number A-A-55126, CL 1 FASTENER TAPE, LOOP, 3/ 4 WIDE, color OCP, used on drawing 1081491, find number 11. On this drawing, I'm seeing no other fastener tape that is OCP either. As example, 1081491 calls out multiple find numbers for 1050955-50, which is TAN 499. The webbing on that same drawing, part number 1050955-89, is also TAN 499. The elastic cord is black.

Given the other webbing used on the same part is TAN 499, we would be willing to approve an RFV after contract award for the TAN 499 alternative color just for these two parts given the negligible impact on spectral signature this amount of material would have on the vest.

We have additional questions related to the pricing, specifically the relationship section A-4 and section L-3 C.

A-4 reads: “Suggested Range quantities are provided; however, the contractor may propose alternate quantities if more economical pricing is possible.”

L-3.C provides the requirements that the offeror include “the solicitations size, schedule pages, fully filled in at each of the range prices and at each of the line item levels. In the CLIN narrative the offeror shall fill in the blanks under Unit Price column with Firm Fixed Pricing for all price ranges for all hardware CLINS. In addition to Section B, the offeror shall complete Section J Attachment Price Input Workbook W58RGZ-23-R-0068_09 Feb 2023 Tab: ACE Prices”.

Can the Government please advise how and where an offeror might offer alternative pricing per Section A-4?

Per FAR 19.505 Limitations on Subcontracting and Nonmanufacturer Rule, an exception may only be made “once the contracting officer determines through market research that no known small business manufacturers, processors, or producers in the United States or its outlying areas can reasonably be expected to offer an end item meeting the requirements of the solicitation”.

Reference: FAR 19.505 Limitations on Subcontracting and Nonmanufacturer Rule

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