W911RQ21R0009 QUESTIONS AND RESPONSE II.docx

W911RQ21R0009 QUESTIONS AND RESPONSE II

Q1. The Basic Drawing - Note 8 on 12358464 - H calls out Finish DWG 12350824 - does the USG intend to make this drawing (DWG 12350824 ) available to contractors as it was not available to download with the other technical documents.

R1. The Finish DWG 12350824 pertains to the painting and finish of the completed wheel. Contractors are NOT required to finish the wheel. This is to only supply the steel portion of the wheel.

Q2. CDRL A0001 (Page 9 of the solicitation document) seems to be missing from the list of documents and is referenced in several places. Will the USG make this document available?

R2. CDRL A0001 is in reference to the Certificate of Conformance. The Government will post it with the rest of the documents on SAM.gov.

Q3. As I understand it, this request is for a steel blank – however the Basic DWG 12358464 – H calls out a rubberized part. For the good of the order, and 100% clarity, is it correct that the USG intends to only purchase a steel blank to be vulcanized at RRAD?

R3. This is to supply the steel portion of the wheel only, DISC-12358464-1 and PLATE-12358464-2 (Assembled), as noted on sh 2. Rubber is NOT required, RRAD will be vulcanizing the rubber to the wheel and finishing it.

Q4. The suspense for this RFP is June 29, 2021 @ 1400 hrs. – this is a very short suspense for an RFP leading to contract with this potential magnitude and term. I mention this because very serious consideration must be given due to the instability of the steel markets and supply chain issues that are yet unresolved globally. Would the USG Consider additional time for contractors to prepare their bids?Traditionally, an RFP such as this would have a 30-day suspense.

R4. The Government is aware of the instability of the markets which is why this will be a Fixed Price – Economic Price Adjustment contract based on steel indexes ONLY. However, the Government MAY consider amending the date out, but that determination will be made by 29 June 2021 prior to the time closure and the amount of responses/requests submitted at that time.

Q5. Since the inserts will be in the white/unpainted-coated – what preservation, if any should be applied for transit?

R5. There is no requirement for preservation of the wheels. RRAD would like to prevent as much rust as possible and the previous contract suppliers placed Kraft paper in-between layers and shrink wraps the pallets. They are stored inside at all opportunities to reduce the rust opportunities. They will be cleaned prior to coating by an enclosed metal shot abrasive system.

Q6. As a US Small Business, can we offer the end product manufactured in an approved foreign country – the US Small business (us) would be the prime?

R6. In Accordance with 252.209-7004, “ the Contractor shall not enter into any subcontract in excess of the threshold specified in Federal Acquisition Regulation 9.405-2(b) on the date of subcontract award with a firm, or a subsidiary of a firm, that is identified in the Exclusions section of the System for Award Management (SAM Exclusions) as being ineligible for the award of Defense contracts or subcontracts because it is owned or controlled by the government of a country that is a state sponsor of terrorism.”

So they shall have a Cage Code and their information located in SAM and in good standing in the SAM database.

The foreign country shall be an Qualifying Country, meaning, a country with a reciprocal defense procurement memorandum of understanding or international agreement with the United States in which both countries agree to remove barriers to purchases of supplies produced in the other country or services performed by sources of the other country, and the memorandum or agreement complies, where applicable, with the requirements of section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776) and with 10 U.S.C. 2457. Accordingly, the following are qualifying countries:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, & United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Nonmanufacturer Rule will apply. The approved foreign country would also need to be a small business in accordance with the Small Business Administration.

Q7. Since this is an unfinished part, and is not a useful assembly until RRAD Vulcanizes and paints – what Markings shall be applied?

R7. Stamp the following on the inside of the road wheel: 19207- 12358464 in 1/4" letters to signify the Part Number of the item.