Questions and answers SIS 14MAY2026 Updated.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 17 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- W911QY-26-S-SBIS-01
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers document for the Shipboard Isolation System (SIS) prototype solicitation W911QY-26-S-SBIS-01, issued by the U.S. Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 4022. The document addresses 47 inquiries organized by topic areas including access and ports, Berry Amendment compliance, decontamination, documentation, environmental protection, filter specifications, funding, integration and compatibility, partnering, power and battery requirements, procurement process, production quantities, scheduling, size/weight/portability, system design, system features, testing and certification, usage and shelf life, and waste management.
Key technical requirements clarified include: exhaust filters must meet HEPA-equivalent filtration performance of 99.97% or greater at 0.3 microns, inlet filters require minimum MERV rating of 5, individual components must not exceed 50 pounds with total system weight not exceeding 200 pounds in stored configuration, storage containers must be watertight and accommodate a 26-inch width passage, battery backup duration of 60 minutes is required, the system must encapsulate an entire hospital bed with patient, and D-ring attachment to ship deck must accommodate multiple D-ring configurations with estimated combined load capacity of 1,000 pounds at dynamic acceleration of ±0.8g with 3:1 safety factor. The Government will conduct all MIL-STD testing and decontamination protocol validation post-delivery; vendors are not required to perform these tests prior to Phase I prototype delivery. All prototypes must be Berry Amendment compliant with materials manufactured domestically in the United States. The SIS program is funded but may be impacted by continuing resolutions, and cost is an evaluation factor with follow-on production authority available without further competition following Phase 2.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Questions and answers SIS 13MAY2026 Updated.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| SIS FINAL SOO 05May2026 FINAL.pdf | ||
| Questions and answers SIS 05MAY2026.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| SIS Call for Solutions (CFS) 05MAY2026 FINAL.pdf | ||
| Questions and answers SIS.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| CPE CBRND Industry Day_BCIS-PPTS-SIS_1-1 Attendeees_18MAR26.pdf | ||
| Call for Solutions (CFS) SIS - Final DRAFT 11MAR2026...docx | DOCX document | |
| SOO SIS_Final Draft 11MAR2026..docx | DOCX document |
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Text version
SIS
| Category | Program | Question | Answer |
| Access & Ports | SIS | Do the interior and exterior removable arm port covers have any additional requirements? | No |
| Access & Ports | SIS | Will sizing spec be provided with min/max requirements for the utility ports (cables/hoses)? | Yes. See final Statement of Objectives |
| Berry Amendment | General | What is required for Berry amendment compliance? | This is the statute itself. Primary Law (U.S. Code): 10 U.S.C. § 4862 - "Requirement to buy certain articles from American sources; exceptions". |
| Berry Amendment | General | What if our initial deliverable is non-Berry compliant, with the promise that our final version will be? | It is in the best interest of the government for the Prototypes to be Berry Compliant. The prototypes will undergo testing to validate their performance. This testing would need to be replicated in the event of a change in the material composition between prototype and production. The replication of this testing is an unacceptable cost to the Government in both dollars and time. |
| Berry Amendment | SIS | Could the Government clarify if the filter may be manufactured outside the US, or must be manufactured in a TAA country, or must be manufactured in the US? | Depends on the material composition of the filter used. “If the filter is a covered "fiber," "fabric," or " textile” (per DFARS 225.7002-1), then the Berry Amendment applies and the filter will need to be manufactured domestically in the United States”. The fact that a country is a Trade Agreements Act (TAA) qualifying country does not provide an exception to the Berry Amendment. Therefore, if the filter falls under the Berry Amendment, it cannot be sourced from a TAA qualifying country either. |
| Berry Amendment | SIS | ||
| Decontamination | General | Include disinfection process? | Probably. |
| Decontamination | General | Decon Interaction – Single use? | System still need to be decontaminated outside of the system. |
| Documentation | SIS | Will a copy of Test Plan, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 54 No. RR-17, 30 December 2005 be furnished? | No the test plan will not be provided. A copy of the referenced document can be downloaded at https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5417.pdf |
| Environmental Protection | SIS | To clarify the watertight requirements, will the SIS have the requirement of being watertight or only the storage containers? | The storage containers must be watertight. There is no watertight requirement for the system, but must pass the liquid containment requirements. |
| Filter Specification | SIS | Could the Government confirm whether the intent of the P-100 requirement is HEPA-equivalent filtration performance of 99.97% or greater at 0.3 microns, rather than NIOSH P-100 respirator certification specifically? Would exhaust filtration certified to EN1822 H14 be acceptable? | See SOO KPP 7: Filtration Efficiency: The requirement for the exhaust filter is HEPA-equivalent filtration performance of 99.97% or greater at 0.3 microns; however, inlet filters shall have a a minimum MERV rating of 5 as stated in the SOO. In addition, the preference is for a filter in the DoW inventory: https://www.nsnlookup.com/dla/webflis |
| Filter Specification | SIS | Would the Government clarify if the intent of the NIOSH P-100 requirement is for the level of particulate filtration effectiveness, or if being oil-proof is critical for the expected use environment? | The requirement for the exhaust filter is HEPA-equivalent filtration performance of 99.97% or greater at 0.3 microns; however, inlet filters shall have a a minimum MERV rating of 5 as stated in the SOO. In addition, the preference is for a filter in the DoW inventory: https://www.nsnlookup.com/dla/webflis |
| Filter Specification | SIS | We have seen multiple drafts of this document - does SIS require a MERV / ASHRAE rated filter or a NIOSH P100-standard filter? | The requirement for the exhaust filter is HEPA-equivalent filtration performance of 99.97% or greater at 0.3 microns; however, inlet filters shall have a a minimum MERV rating of 5 as stated in the SOO. In addition, the preference is for a filter in the DoW inventory: https://www.nsnlookup.com/dla/webflis |
| Filter Specification | SIS | Will a filter system with ASZM-TEDA and HEPA filtration be acceptable for use instead of the NIOSH P-100 certified filters? | The preference is not to have carbon in the filter. The requirement for the exhaust filter is HEPA-equivalent filtration performance of 99.97% or greater at 0.3 microns; however, inlet filters shall have a a minimum MERV rating of 5 as stated in the SOO. In addition, the preference is for a filter in the DoW inventory: https://www.nsnlookup.com/dla/webflis |
| Funding & Budget | General | Are projects considered funded requirements? Or will they be impacted by continuing resolutions? | The SIS program is considered funded. However, could be impacted by continuing resolutions. |
| Funding & Budget | General | If selected for funding, what categories of offeror’s product development expenses are allowed? For example, engineering & design changes to meet military requirements, prototype costs, tooling costs, testing needed for FDA 510K (or De Novo) application, FDA-consultant fee, and marketing expenses. | As this effort will be awarded as an Other Transaction (OT) agreement, it is not subject to the specific cost principles of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). However, all proposed costs must be considered reasonable and directly allocable to the work required to perform the prototype project as defined in the Statement of Objectives (SOO). The Government will evaluate proposed costs as part of its overall best-value determination. |
| Funding & Budget | General | Is cost a factor? | Answer: Yes, it is included in the evaluation criteria. At the end of phase 2 there will be a separate production phase without further competition. |
| Integration & Compatibility | Common | Does there need to be Interoperability between the BIQ programs systems? | Yes, SIS will be in BCIS, and on a ship. PPTS will be on a litter then brought into the BCIS and SIS. |
| Integration & Compatibility | SIS | What attachment point styles are available or expected across the relevant ship classes (e.g., hook, strap, bolt, pin)? | SIS must allow the ICU bed to be attached to the D-rings embedded in the ship deck |
| Integration & Compatibility | SIS | What is the expected location, spacing, or range of locations and spacing of D-ring attachment points on the ship deck? | There is no standard spacing or arrangement of D-rings. Vendor solution will need to be flexible enough to accommodate multiple configurations. |
| Integration & Compatibility | SIS | What ICU bed types and sizes will be used? | See Statement of Objectives for NSNs of beds |
| Integration & Compatibility | SIS | Would the Government accept a securing solution that attaches to the bed frame itself rather than requiring direct deck attachment, provided it meets the stability requirements? | SIS must allow the ICU bed to be attached to the D-rings embedded in the ship deck |
| Integration & Compatibility | SIS | Will a standard layout of D-Rings on the ships deck be provided to insure the most optimum placement of anchor points on the device? | There is no standard spacing or arrangement of D-rings. Vendor solution will need to be flexible enough to accommodate multiple configurations. |
| Integration & Compatibility | SIS | D Clips secure to ship? All system to be attached to ship? Bed/Patient or system? | Bed; we are looking for vendors to provide ideas. |
| Partnering | General | Is partnering preferred? Will networking list be provided for the attendees from Industry Day? | Preferred yes, but not a mandatory requirement for all offerors in all circumstances, partnering is a foundational element of the 10 U.S.C. § 4022 authority and this specific acquisition strategy. Offerors should view the formation of diverse teams, especially those involving Non-Traditional Defense Contractors (NDCs) and small businesses, as a key strategic element for a successful proposal. A list of attendees will be provided. |
| Partnering | General | Is the Offeror required to propose a family of solutions by teaming up with the other vendors? | No. There is no requirement for an offeror to propose on all three systems (BCIS, PPTS, and SIS), nor is there a requirement to team up with other vendors for the specific purpose of creating a combined "family of solutions." "Family of Solutions" is an Opportunity, Not a Requirement. |
| Power & Battery | SIS | Could the Government confirm whether battery backup and a 200 lb package weight limit are threshold or objective requirements for the SIS, and if so, what is the minimum required battery backup duration? | Threshold - req 200 lbs for system. Battery backup duration - 60 minutes (See SOO Attachment 1 (KSA 5) ) |
| Procurement Process | General | What is the preference for the solution? System or Components? | We are not integrating, we want a complete solution. |
| Procurement Process | General | Is this being procured via the CWMD OTA? | No, this is being procured via the Army Open Solicitation and will be a direct agreement with vendors, not a consortium. |
| Procurement Process | General | Under AOS what constitutes a “significant participant”? | The Government's definition of "significant participation" is intentionally qualitative, not quantitative. There is no specific dollar threshold or percentage of contract value that automatically qualifies as 'significant.' the Government will make a business judgment on a case-by-case basis. A contribution will be considered "significant" if it is material to the success of the prototype project. The focus is on the substance and importance of the NDC's contribution, not just its price. |
| Procurement Process | General | Will the CFS allow for the production contract? | Yes, it will allow for follow-on production without a Justification and Approval for other than full and open competition. |
| Production & Quantity | SIS | What are the anticipated / projected quantity requirements for SIS in production quantities and over what period of time? | See section 2 (Follow-on production authority) of the Statement of Production |
| Schedule & Timeline | General | When will the final CFS be posted? | After the 01 April deadline and after all questions have been taken into consideration so that a final CFS/SOO can be established. |
| Schedule & Timeline | General | When are questions due? | Varies. 1 April 2026 is the last deadline. |
| Schedule & Timeline | General | When are submissions Due? | Mid-May at the latest. |
| Schedule & Timeline | General | What are the differences between the dates identified in the Draft Call for Solutions (CFS) for the Questions due date and the date identified on Sam.gov? | All due dates for questions and proposed solution proposals will be identified in each final Call for Solutions. |
| Schedule & Timeline | General | What will be done with the questions submitted during Industry Day? | The questions will help ACC get their ducks in a row and responses will be provided to all vendors via Sam.gov. |
| Schedule & Timeline | SIS | At what point in the Phase process will the number of required prototypes be decided? | Will be finalized when the Call for Solutions is distributed. |
| Schedule & Timeline | SIS | Can the same number of prototypes outlined in Phase 1 be utilized for Phase 2 or is this a second set of assembled prototypes? | The plan is to acquire new systems for Phase 2. |
| Size, Weight, & Portability (SWaP) | General | Weight limit? Expectation with patient? | For PPTS the 2 man carry/lift is referencing the unmanned system. |
| Size, Weight, & Portability (SWaP) | SIS | Could the Government confirm this interpretation in writing? Specifically, could you confirm that the 50 lb threshold in Table 1 applies per individual components and not to the total assembled system weight? | any one component must be no more than 50 lb, but total system must meet req of no more than 200 lbs in its stored configuration including storage containers. |
| Size, Weight, & Portability (SWaP) | SIS | Could the Government confirm whether the 26-inch width measurement for storage containers is the usable clear passage width exclusive of the corner radius? | Yes. |
| Size, Weight, & Portability (SWaP) | SIS | Is this implying that the SIS will not be in place in a semi-permanent fashion? If so, what is the frequency in which the device will be set up / broken down? | It is not anticipated that it will be in place in a semi-permanent fashion. The frequency is unknown. |
| Size, Weight, & Portability (SWaP) | SIS | Weight? Per piece or system? | any one component must be no more than 50 lb, but total system must meet req of no more than 200 lbs in its stored configuration including storage containers. |
| System Design | Common | Does the system need to be soft or hard? | The evaluation criteria will guide which solution fits our needs. |
| System Design | SIS | Which is correct, a solution that encapsulates an entire hospital bed OR a solution that encapsulates a patient on a bed? | A solution that encapsulates an entire hospital bed inclusive of the patient. |
| System Features | SIS | Is it required that the SIS device be enabled in such a way that the data is digitally recorded/connected or will manual recording from a built-in display suffice? | There is no recording requirement. |
| System Features | SIS | If a smaller solution is acceptable, will the air exchange criteria of 60 CFM be adjusted? | Air changes per hour = flow rate / interior volume |
| Testing & Certification | General | Bio Protection/Govt testing? | May say in the SOO, we are not reiterating all the requirements in the brief, refer to the individual systems documentation. |
| Testing & Certification | SIS | Could the Government confirm whether completion of MIL-STD testing is expected prior to Phase I prototype delivery, or if a contractor may propose a test plan for completing these certifications as part of the prototype effort? | Completion of MIL-STD testing is not expected prior to Phase I prototype delivery, and contractors are not required to propose a test plan. All official MIL-STD testing will be conducted by the Government post-delivery. While vendors are not required to provide test results, the Government will accept them and utilize a risk-based assessment for any vendor-provided test results. All such data must be independently validated by the Government before it can be used for official determinations. |
| Testing & Certification | SIS | MIL STD Testing? Do you require vendors to perform this? | No. The Government does not require vendors to perform MIL-STD testing for the Phase I prototype effort. All MIL-STD testing and certification activities will be performed by the Government following the delivery of the prototype. Should a vendor choose to submit their own test data, the Government will conduct a risk-based assessment and perform its own mandatory validation of that data. |
| Usage & Shelf Life | SIS | How many uses are required for SIS solutions? | There is no defined requirement for number of reuses, but is expected to last for the duration of its shelf-life. The vendor should provide an assertion of the number of uses they believe the system will sustain. |
| Waste Management | SIS | Is the goal of the SIS to have a liquid containment system implemented within the device? If so, what specs need to be met? | No dedicated liquid containment system is required; however, the SIS must still be able to hold 6 liters without leaking. |
| D-RING LOAD RATING | SIS | Could the Government provide the minimum load rating or pull strength specification that D-ring attachment points are rated to across the relevant ship classes? | Assuming each ICU bed uses two D rings, the load rating is sufficient to secure the bed, along with the patient and medical equipment, with an estimated total weight of about 1,000 pounds, when subjected to a dynamic acceleration of plus or minus 0.8 g, while also accounting for a minimum safety factor of 3 to 1. |
| DECONTAMINATION PROTOCOL | SIS | Will the technical evaluation include an assessment of whether each offeror's proposed SIS has an existing, documented decontamination protocol validated against 9% calcium hypochlorite/seawater solution as referenced in the CFS? Or will Phase 1 be the first opportunity to develop and validate that protocol? | The Government will conduct Material Testing during Phase I to ensure that the material doesn’t degrade. The vendor does not need to develop any decontamination protocol. |
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