Questions_From_Industry_Dated_24Aug17.docx

1. If a radiation producing device such as a backscatter or transmission X-ray unit is proposed what is the size of the radiation exclusion zone? Can the exclusion zone exceed the working dimensions of the unit?

Answer: It cannot have a radiation exclusion zone that is not contained within the working dimensions of the unit and must be in accordance with ANSI 43.17 Radiation Safety for Personnel Security Screening Systems Using X-Ray or Gamma Radiation.

2. If a radiation producing device is proposed is the vendor responsible for setting up a radiation safety plan?

Answer: Yes.

3. Is it a requirement to provide Radiation Dosimetry Badges (and quarterly monitoring services) for users if proposing a radiation producing device such as a Backscatter or Transmission X-Ray unit? This is to cover Radiation Worker Safety as officers observing “Customers” will be in close proximity to the scanning area.

Answer: Must be in accordance with ANSI 43.17 Radiation Safety for Personnel Security Screening Systems Using X-Ray or Gamma Radiation.

4. If a radiation producing device is proposed is it a requirement that the system track any dosage for each “customer” scanned? This speaks to radiation safety and tracking annual exposure limits as there is a limit per person depending on dosage.

Answer: Yes it does need to have a way to track dosage for regular “customers” scanned. It must fall in accordance with ANSI 43.17 Radiation Safety for Personnel Security Screening Systems Using X-Ray or Gamma Radiation.

5. What is the maximum radiation dosage per scan allowed?

Answer: 0.25 µSv (25 µrem) in accordance with ANSI 43.17 Radiation Safety for Personnel Security Screening Systems Using X-Ray or Gamma Radiation

6. If a radiation producing device is proposed is the vendor responsible for providing required shielding? If so does it have to stay within the maximum footprint of the unit while maintaining visibility of the person being screened?

Answer: Yes. They are required to provide shielding that maintains the radiation within the working dimensions of the unit.

7. If a radiation producing device such as backscatter or transmission x-ray unit is proposed does the vendor have to include the cost of required quarterly radiation surveys in their proposal? If so for what duration of time?

Answer: Yes they will need to include cost of quarterly radiation survey. for the first year of service.

8. In the specification you mentioned that automatic detection is required, but does the government want the ability to also look at the raw image as needed via remote operator work station located in an adjoining room?

Answer: Yes. The government does want the ability to look at the raw image if needed. The units need to come with the ability to do both.

9. If solution uses a remote operator station what is the distance from the unit to the operator station? This question is to better understand the cable length required, and if a vendor has to run any cabling or if pre terminated receptacles for CAT6 will be in the room for the unit and in the room for the operator station eliminating the need to run cabling.

Answer: If the operator station is not attached to the scanner then cabling will have to be run/provided for it. It will not be more than 20 feet away.

10. Is it a requirement to have an operator workstation in another room to address privacy concerns?

Answer: Yes. But we also need to have the capability to view the ATR at the unit.

11. There was a question that was posted on positioning, and the answer stated that the intent is to have the “customer” in one position, scanned and then leave the area. We would like clarification if it is acceptable for the “customer” to ride a moving conveyor belt or moving platform?

Answer: No. The “customer” needs to remain stationary during the scanning.

12. The RFQ states an U.S military base for delivery, is the government handling shipping from FL to Cuba?

Answer: Yes the government is handling shipping from FL to Cuba.

13. Please clarify that the intent is to conduct the installation after delivery or if there will be a gap in time between these events do to site preparation?

Answer: The plan is to conduct installation upon delivery of the equipment…there is a chance that there will be a small gap between delivery and installation.

14. Please clarify the intent is to have training completed onsite after installation? Again this is to identify any gaps in between the installation and training requiring a 2nd trip to the location.

Answer: Yes training is to be conducted onsite and it can be done upon completion of installation or in conjunction with installation.

15. Please clarify if the training for the 2 staff members on maintenance is to be done onsite or if those staff members can travel to a CONUS based location for training?

Answer: The maintenance training can be done in CONUS.

16. Please clarify that if all training is done onsite there is a mechanism for a vendor to ship training items such as laptops and other needed to and then from the location after training is completed.

Answer: Yes depending on the size there would be a difference in route but there is the capability to ship training assets.

17. In the operator training session please confirm that Image Interpretation training for the staff is a requirement?

Answer: Yes image interpretation training is a requirement.

18. Offer Due Date - Please advise if there is a maximum file size for attachments to electronic deliveries of proposals.

Answer: No Maximum file size.

19. Offer Due Date - Please extend the due date to 01-Sep-17 Answer: Due date of quotes not change.

20. Shall provide training for 2 government personnel to be able to provide field maintenance support on the systems;

4. Please provide additional detail regarding training (Salient Characteristics Items #9/10).

Answer: The required training is to teach the use of the equipment.

5. Government’s plan to address additional training (user/maintainer) due to personnel movement/loss of trained personnel.

Answer: None - We interpret these responses as removing the original requirement for “maintenance training.” Please confirm or clarify further.

Answer: Maintenance training is still required.

21. Able to screen for contraband and threats hidden under a person’s clothing. Detect both metallic and non-metallic objects, such as guns and knives, plastic and liquid explosives, composite weapons, drugs and other hidden threats and contrabands. Are there target threat weights and types for each of these contraband items? Are there desired or required probability of detection and false alarm rates for each of these threat categories? Overall?

Answer: The equipment will be used to detect a range of threats including metallic and non-metallic objects, such as guns and knives, plastic and liquid explosives, composite weapons, drugs and other hidden threats and contrabands. Each of these materials/objects have different thresholds (size, mass or volume) that would represent a threat. The specific requirements for each object category/type is security sensitive information.

22. Equipment shall come with software that utilizes a generic outline of a person and uses Automated Target Recognition that highlights detected anomalies on the screen image of the individual’s silhouette. Is ATR mandatory? While ATR has been developed for applications in aviation security the probability of detection (Pd) and probability of false alarm (Pfa) requirements have been driven around high passenger throughput demands. That is, that a lower Pd is deemed acceptable to achieve a minimally invasive Pfa and getting passengers through a checkpoint quicker (i.e. time invested per passenger is measured in a few seconds). The operational demands of passenger screening checkpoints, under the direction of TSA especially, have put a premium on throughput and Pfa to the detriment of Pfa. For high security applications, where throughput demands may be significantly less and divestment rules more strictly enforced (lower Pfa), Pd can be demonstrated at a much higher level than any available ATR solution by using on-screen image analysis with a human operator. Trials with our Full Body Scanner’s superior raw image quality have demonstrated that with image inspection times of less than one minute (while not ideal for an airport but perfectly reasonable in high security applications) extremely high detection rates can be achieved. We therefore ask that the ATR requirement be removed. We can provide points of contact to obtain this restricted report upon request.

Answer: The ATR requirement is mandatory and will remain however; we also want the capability to view raw data. See above on Pfa and Pd requirements.

23. CLIN 0001 requires delivery within 60 days ADC - Would the government consider 90-days ADC given the BAA requirement under DFARS 252.225-7001? Alternatively, would the government consider TAA instead of BAA?

Answer: The 60 days is estimated, follow the instructions on the last sentence in Addendum to 52.212-1. Since the items are to be shipped to an address in the United States, BAA applies.