NexGen_UAS_PH_II_QA_6_Jul_2018.pdf

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Questions and Answers Broad Agency Announcement: W911W6-18-R-0005

Call Number: W911W6-18-R-0011 Next Generation Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Technology Demonstration

Conceptual Design and Technology Assessment (CDTA)

Issued By:

ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND - REDSTONE

BUILDING 401 LEE BOULEVARD

FORT EUSTIS, VIRGINIA 23604-5577

Date: July 6, 2018

Item Reference/Location Question Response

1 Call

Section A-9 (h)

Referenced section requires a draft of the Program Management Plan to be included in the technical volume.

Does the draft Program Management Plan count toward the Volume I 40-page limit?

The draft PMP will not count against the 40 page limit.

2 Call

Section A-3(a)

Referenced section states that “the Government intends to directly choose Phase III demonstrators from Phase II concepts…”. Does this mean that there is a planned “down-select” from the Phase II awardees?

The Government does intend to choose one or more demonstrator(s) depending on such factors as: available funding; government schedule constraints; degree to which Phase II design meets objective performance specifications;

and assessed technical risk to achieve TRL 6 of critical enabling technologies by FY23. However, the Government does not offer any guarantee and this intent does not commit the U.S. Government to future contracts.

3 Call

Section A-8

Referenced section requires, at a minimum, Government purpose rights (GPR) to all technical data, deliverables, and computer software to be delivered. This section also states that it is the Offeror’s responsibility to acknowledge or take exception to the requirement for at least

Yes, the Government will consider a limited rights addendum to the GPR final report that includes the detailed substantiation of the objective aircraft design containing that limited set of data. However, the offeror needs to be very specific on what is pre-existing and how it applies to

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Government purpose rights. Since much of the technology offerings are likely based on existing proprietary items, will the Government consider a limited rights addendum to the GPR final report that includes the detailed substantiation of the objective aircraft design containing that limited set of data?

the approach, and concur that limited rights pertains only to that portion.

4 Call

Section B

This section appears to have a dual purpose. Section B-1.a in conjunction with the System Performance Specification (SPS) describes the design specifications for the desired objective aircraft. The rest of Section B appears to be a description of the detailed information expected to be delivered from the Conceptual Design and Technology Assessment (CDTA) contracted work. Is this a correct interpretation of Section B?

Yes. Although the specific aircraft capabilities/ requirements are still being refined, Table B-1 provides key Objective Aircraft attributes to allow initial configuration definition and sizing for proposal purposes. The refined and complete description of desired attributes and capabilities will be provided as GFI following award. The remainder of Section B-1 describes the content of the final data deliverable describing the baseline Objective Aircraft that meets the specified capabilities.

Section B-2 describes design excursion conditions and data deliverable.

Section B-3 describes requested information regarding the technology assessment and proposed demonstration plan for key enabling technologies needed to achieve stated vehicle performance goals.

5 System Performance Specification, para 3.2.5

Referenced SPS paragraph requires the NexGen UAS to interface with the “Scalable Control Interface IAW TBD”.

Will the Government provide a description of the Scalable Control Interface and if so, when is that expected to be available?

The Government is requesting conceptual level aircraft designs that meet the desired attributes listed in Table B-1.

The System Performance Spec (SPS) is a draft document subject to change, including requirements, descriptions, and reference data. An updated SPS will be provided as GFI at/after award, however, offerors will not be expected to account technically for “TBD” items in the SPS.

Regarding SCI specifically, the NexGen UAS TD program team does not expect that SCI requirements will significantly affect vehicle design considerations. An SCI Capability Development Document is anticipated in the FY21 timeframe.

System Performance Specification, para 3.3.8.11

Referenced SPS paragraph specifies the avionics system weight. Is a more detailed weight allocation available, breaking out the Comm, Navigation, Processing, and Installation systems within the avionics group? Are the BLOS transmitter and receiver included in the Comms Relay weight (31 lbs)? Is the Comms Relay weight included in the Avionics Comm weight?

The Government is requesting conceptual level aircraft designs that meet the desired attributes listed in Table B-1.

The System Performance Spec (SPS) is a draft document subject to change, including requirements, descriptions, and reference data.

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7 System Performance Specification, para 3.3.12.2

Referenced SPS paragraph states that the airframe shall be ballistically tolerant to a single RPG or MANPADS impact as a non-tradeable requirements. Offeror is not aware of any current Army aircraft that are tolerant to those threats. Please clarify the definition of “tolerant”.

Will the Government accept alternate forms of vulnerability reduction to those threats?

The Government is requesting conceptual level aircraft designs that meet the desired attributes listed in Table B-1.

As stated above, the System Performance Spec (SPS) is a draft document subject to change.