Attachment 0008 Government Answers to Offeror Questions.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 23 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- W909MY-22-R-0009
About this file
This solicitation seeks proposals for an Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract to produce a new Small Tactical Electric Power 3-kilowatt generator. The Army intends to award up to three fixed-price contracts, each not to exceed $7.5 million, to support four phases of design, prototype development, and testing. Two of the three awards are initially set aside for small businesses. The development effort aims to produce a generator rated at least 3kW, operating on JP-8 fuel, and weighing less than 308 pounds, to meet requirements outlined in the Purchase Description. Offerors must submit proposals by July 25, 2022. Successful completion of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase makes contractors eligible for a noncompetitive follow-on production contract.
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Sheet1
| Question Number | QUESTION | Final Government Response 7/11 |
| Contracting Officer note that applies to all answers: These answers accompany and form part of Solicitation Amendment 0001. These answers have the same force and effect as the Solicitation amendment itself. Like the solicitation itself, any challenges to these answers must be raised/brought prior to the due date for proposals. Also, Offerors are cautioned to rely only on the actual RFP and these Q&As for the actual RFP. Offerors should not rely on any prior Draft RFP nor any Q&As related to the Draft Q&A. | ||
| 1 | RFP W909MY-22-R-0009 Section L.5 does not include a requirement for Attachment 4 Small Business Participation Commitment Template.xlsx to be provided with the proposal. Is it the Government's desire that Offerors provide Attachment 4 with the proposal? If so, does the government desire Offerors to submit Attachment 4 as a separate file? | Attachment 0004 (titled "Small Business Participation Commitment") is the Government-provided template for the Small Business Participation Plan required by Section L.5 of the Solicitation. Offerors shall complete and provide Attachment 0004 as a stand-alone file in Excel format. Offerors may also provide a narrative Small Business Proposal Volume (in Word or PDF) that includes any additional Small Business related information required by the Solicitation but that the Offeror is otherwise unable to include within Attachment 0004. For example, the narrative portion of the small business volume might include the subcontracting plan required for large businesses; copies of agreements with small business subcontractors; explanations as to why the Offeror is unable to achieve any specific small business goals; etc. The Government will consider information contained in the Offeror’s Attachment 0004 and the Offeror’s narrative proposal, and Offerors are not required to provide the same information in both files. An Offeror is welcome to provide the same information in both places if they believe this will aid in understanding, but the Offeror then bears the risk of inconsistencies within its proposal. |
| 2 | RFP W909MY-22-R-0009 Section L.5 Volume 5 subsections 5.1-5.3 Items 1-6 includes requirement s for information that significantly overlaps with Attachment 0004 Small Business Participation Commitment Template.xlsx. Does the Government desire this information to be submitted in both Attachment 4 and narrative? | See Answer 1 to Question 1, above. |
| 3 | The Attachment 0004 Small Business Participation Commitment Template references a certified letter as one method to verify the subcontractor’s socioeconomic status. Typically, subcontractors attest to their socioeconomic classification by way of a self-certification letter. Did the government intend to specify a self-certification letter rather than a certified letter to verify the subcontractors’ socioeconomic classification? | Yes, a self-certified letter signed by the subcontractor is an acceptable method to confirm the subcontractor's socioeconomic classification (with the exception of Hubzone status, which requires a valid SBA certification.) |
| 4 | RFP W909MY-22-R-0009 Attachment Exhibit A CDRL C001 is mislabeled as C0001. | The Government has provided updated CDRLS with Solicitation Amendment 0001 in order to correct this numbering issue. |
| 5 | RFP W909MY-22-R-0009 Section M C. Evaluation Approach contains two sections numbered M.2.1 and M.2.2 on page 52 of 55. “M.2.1. The Technical Factor is divided into the following two Subfactors, which are of equal importance” and “M.2.1 Subfactor 1: System Design.”; |
“M.2.2. Each Subfactor will be evaluated and assessed findings which shall be characterized as Strengths, Weaknesses, Significant Weaknesses, and Deficiencies, utilizing the following finding definitions” and “M.2.2 Subfactor 2: Management Approach”.
| Would the government please update Section M so numbering is not duplicated? Our recommendation is to simply eliminate the first reference to M.2.1 and M.2.2 and also M.2.3. | The Government has provided an updated Section L and M as part of Solicitation Amendment 0001 in order to correct this numbering issue. | ||
| 6 | RFP W909MY-22-R-0009 L.2.3.4 IMS requires Offerors to “The Offeror shall provide an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) which includes the Offerors proposed plan to meet the SOW and Purchase Description requirements. The IMS shall include all contract tasks, reviews, and deliverables, as well as procurement of long lead items.” A comprehensive IMS will consume a significant number of pages. a. Would the Government allow Offerors to submit the IMS in Microsoft Project as a separate file attachment, not included in the 40-page count? b. If not, can we use 11 x 17 foldout pages for the IMs and can we have those pages excluded from the page count in a separate Appendix? | MS Project files are NOT acceptable. Word Document or PDF files are the only acceptable file formats for the Technical Proposal Volume. However, Offerors may include the IMS required by Section L.2.3.4 of the RFP as an appendix to Technical Proposal Volume. If the IMS is included as an appendix, the IMS appendix pages will not count against the 40-page limit for the Technical Proposal Volume and may be formatted as either 8.5"x11", or 11"x17" pages. In sum, while the page limit for the Technical Proposal Volume remains 40 pages, Supporting Data (L.2.2.6), and the IMS - if placed in a separate appendix (L.2.3.4) - will not count against the Technical Volume page limit. | |
| 7 | Background: The solicitation references the Tactical Microgrid Standard – Tactical Ground Power (TMS-TGP). Question: Is the draft version dated 19 April 2021 still the current version of this standard? If not, can the current version be provided? | The latest version of the draft TMS-TGP standard is dated 6 May 2022. This standard has been provided with along with these answers and shall have the same force and effect as it was an attachment to the SOW and PD. Should this standard be revised again, the Government reserves the right to incorporate and make contractually binding the most recent version of the TMS-TGP. | |
| 8 | Background: PD Paragraph 3.2.1 uses the term “reconnectable.” Question: Does “reconnectable” refer to a physical reconnection at the output lugs to interchange between the 1-phase 2 wire, 120V and the 1-phase 3-wire 120/240V output options? | It can or any user method to achieve the required power, i.e. a toggle switch. | |
| 9 | Background: PD Paragraph 3.2.1e states “All in one power source selectable to 28VDC, 120VAC 1PH 50/60Hz 2-wire, or 120/240 VAC 1PH 50/60Hz 3-wire, where AC has selectable frequencies as well” as an Objective requirement. Question: Is the requirement to provide both DC and AC power simultaneously or more than one form of voltage simultaneously? | The objective is to have a power source that can provide the various voltages and frequencies, but none are required to be provided simultaneously in this objective. The user would select AC or DC, and when AC is selected, the frequency can further be selected for 50 or 60Hz, or maybe even 400Hz (not mentioned). 3.2.1 of the PD will have added the following just prior to the colon: "at the appropriate load terminals, as applicable, separately (not simultaneously)" | |
| 10 | Background: PD Paragraph 3.28.1.1 addresses National Security Exemption from Engine Emissions Standard. Question: Is the engine required to meet EPA Tier 4 standards? | No, Offerors are not required to propose a solution that meets EPA Tier 4 requirements. However, the Government does desire a design that does meet Tier 4 requirements. As such, the Government has added an Objective sentence to PD 3.28.1.1 which now states (as of Solicitation Amendment 0001): "No exemption shall be required in accordance with 40 CFR 1068.225 (O)." Note: PD 3.28 instructs that the engine shall be of the latest design(s) to limit obsolesce risk and having the latest available engine technology to start with. | |
| 11 | Background: PD Paragraph 3.35.6 states, “A complete feeder box accessory shall include all cables, cable schematics, and grounding (6.4.13) accessories with grounding rod (3.35.6.8) for each.” Question: What cables are required in the feeder box cable set? | PD paragraph 3.35.6.6 discusses the 6 cables that are required as part of the feeder box accessory. | |
| 12 | The Purchase Description (PD) refers to the document TMS-TGP - Tactical Microgrid Standard–Tactical Ground Power. Please provide this document as it is integral to the design and operation of the set and necessary to develop our proposal in response to the solicitation. | The latest version of the draft TMS-TGP standard is dated 6 May 2022. This standard has been provided as an attachment to solicitation Amendment 0001, and shall have the same force and effect as if the TMS-TGP standard was an attachment to the SOW and PD. Should this standard be revised again, the Government reserves the right to incorporate and make contractually binding the most recent version of the TMS-TGP. | |
| 13 | In February 2021, in response to a number of questions on the draft RFP, the Government answered “Vendors must realize that the Tactical Microgrid Standard (TMS) is in its infancy stage, and not all aspects of TMS have been defined to this date.” Please describe the current state of the TMS including the TMS data Model, reference implementations, software library, and certification tools. | The latest version of the draft TMS-TGP standard is dated 6 May 2022. This standard has been provided as an attachment to solicitation Amendment 0001, and shall have the same force and effect as if the TMS-TGP standard was an attachment to the SOW and PD. Should this standard be revised again, the Government reserves the right to incorporate and make contractually binding the most recent version of the TMS-TGP. | |
| 14 | Does the government expect the units delivered in the EMD phase to implement any part of the TMS standard? If so please provide some guidance as to the capabilities that are required to be implemented by the EMD units. | All requirements in the PD (including TMS compliance) are required for the units delivered in the EMD phase. | |
| 15 | For the set rating (3.2.1), is 28VDC output required to be provided together with AC, i.e., both AC and DC outputs are provided at the same time? When both AC and DC output are provided at the same time, what’s the expected power rating of each? | The objective is to have a power source that can provide the various voltages and frequencies, but none are required to be provided simultaneously in this objective. The user would select AC or DC, and when AC is selected, the frequency can further be selected for 50 or 60Hz, or maybe even 400Hz (not mentioned). 3.2.1 of the PD will have added the following just prior to the colon: "at the appropriate load terminals, as applicable, separately (not simultaneously)" | |
| 16 | For parallel operation, when the bus voltage is already set up, for another set to be parallelly linked, what’s the required time duration for 2nd set to finish the synchronization and parallel process? | It should synchronize within 30 seconds. 3.35.1 of the PD will have added: "Paralleling shall occur within 30 seconds of initiation." | |
| 17 | RFP W909MY-22-R-0009, Section L, Paragraph L.4.2 states “Recency. A recent effort is defined as one that has been awarded and/or had performance occurring during the past five years from the original issue date of this RFP”. Question: If an Offeror was awarded a contract with a period of performance (PoP) through 2020, however the actual completion date was outside of the five year from original issue of the RFP would this contract be considered recent? | This competitive source selection requires "recent" past performance, which the Government defines as including either a contract award or actual performance occurring during some portion of the five years preceding the original issue date of this RFP (10 June 2022). Thus, regardless of what a contract's originally awarded POP might have been, if the contract was awarded more than 5 years ago and no actual contract performance occurred between 10 June 2017 and 10 June 2022 (5 years prior to the RFP release date), that contract would not constitute recent past performance. | |
| 18 | Are the Feeder Box and the various power and remote cables required to meet the same MIL-STD-461 requirements as listed in PD section 3.15 as for the generator unit itself? | Yes, PD 3.15 applies to the set and all accessories. Details of how it will be tested can be found in PD 4.8.6. | |
| 19 | Background: The STEP 3kW Generator Purchase Description paragraph 4.8.1 states that the tests for "HEMP, 2417 CBRNCS, Road Transportability, and Reliability, Endurance, and Maintainability Demonstration 2418 tests." Shall be completed at a Government installation. Question: Will the Government be charging the offeror to complete this testing? If so, can the fee amount be published to support pricing model development? | All tests which are required in Section 4 under this contract will be conducted by the government at government expense during Phase 4. This language remains for other uses of this PD in which some tests may be conducted by the contractor. | |
| 20 | Background: The STEP 3kW Generator Purchase Description paragraph 4.8.4 prescribes the Railroad Impact Test. Question: Are Government facilities available for conducting this test? If so, can any Government fee be published to support pricing model development? | All tests which are required in Section 4 under this contract will be conducted by the government at government expense during Phase 4. This language remains for other uses of this PD in which some tests may be conducted by the contractor. | |
| 21 | Will an extension be granted? | No extension is being granted by the Government at this time. Proposals remain due before 2:00 p.m., local time at Ft. Belvoir Virginia, on 25 July 2022, as stated on page 1 of the Solicitation. Any additional requests for extensions should be submitted in writing (email to the KO and KS), prior to the due date for proposals, with a justification explaining the effect that granting/not granting the extension is likely to have on the Offeror. As indicated by Solicitation Section L.1.3., the Government may not answer additional question received after 15 July 2022. |
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