AoI 0016 Metal Cleaning and Finishing Question and Answer.docx

1. Scope and eligibility: May we submit an independent response limited to abrasive metal cleaning and related surface preparation, and be considered for an award covering that scope under the specialized-contractor approach described in Section 1.3?

Yes. Offerors may submit an independent response for the specific portion of the requirement they can perform.

1. Component DMWRs and technical information: Please provide the applicable DMWRs for the components, including current revisions and associated drawings/specifications. We also request the latest available scope, component or part list, materials, dimensions and weights, estimated quantities and lot sizes, and existing coatings or contaminants to be removed. Please advise on the process for obtaining any technical documents that require controlled access.

Applicable drawings, specifications, DMWRs, and other detailed technical information will be provided during Phase 2, as applicable.

1. Process and acceptance requirements: What cleaning methods, final surface condition/profile, inspection and acceptance standards, and contractor qualifications apply specifically to the abrasive-cleaning work?

Chemical Cleaning: The contractor shall employ a chemical-cleaning process capable of removing, at a minimum, 99 percent of paint from metal surfaces. The contractor shall use a paint stripper that does not attack the base metal including but not limited to steel and aluminum. The contractor shall use a paint stripper found not to be corrosive to ferrous or aluminum materials and does not leave a residue or oil film on parts.

Abrasive Cleaning: Types of media required may include but are not limited to, sand, glass bead, aluminum oxide, walnut hull, steel shot, or other suitable media that achieves the required cleaning results without damaging the part or base material.

Inspection and Acceptance Standards: Upon completion of the Abrasive Cleaning process, parts/material shall be free of scale, paint, and corrosion products. The contractor shall ensure that parts are free of warpage, distortion, and excessive material removal and that they are free of dust, silt, powder, and any other contamination.

Upon receipt from the contractor, the Government will conduct a 100 percent inspection to verify that the parts and materials meet the applicable requirements. Parts or materials rejected due to insufficient cleaning shall be recleaned by the contractor at no additional cost to the Government. Parts or materials rejected due to warpage, distortion, excessive material removal, or other damage will be reviewed by the Government for further disposition.

Contractor Qualifications can be found within the AoI Announcement and the referenced documents.

1. Turnaround and logistics: How would the seven-working-day turnaround requirement apply to a cleaning-only scope? Please also clarify pickup/delivery, preservation/packaging, and transfer responsibilities if subsequent finishing is performed elsewhere.

Material for Chemical/ Abrasive Cleaning would be held to the strict 7 day turnaround time as specified in the AoI Announcement with the day of contractor pick-up from the designated ANAD pick-up/drop-off point being the first day. Efforts should be made by the contractor to minimize environmental effects on the cleaned material. Material will be picked-up from and dropped-off to the designated point at ANAD. Further finishing requirements would be determined by ANAD after receipt from the contractor and the material would be forwarded as required.

1. Submission requirements: For the Phase 1 Solution Brief due October 28, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CDT, please confirm how the technical and rough-order-of-magnitude pricing requirements should be addressed for a cleaning-only response, including an acceptable pricing basis if detailed part and volume information is not yet available.

For the Phase 1 Solution Brief, offerors should provide a description of their relevant capabilities, including available equipment, facility capacity, tank or blast-room sizes, and demonstrated experience performing similar work.