W91CRB-23-R-5035 QandA 21NOV2023.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

U.S. ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND - ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND

6515 INTEGRITY COURT, BLDG 4310

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD 21005-3013

REPLY TO

ATTENTION OF

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS – SOLICITATION W91CRB-23-R-5035

QUESTION #1: Will the Army accept "equal to” options for these helmets for this RFQ?

ANSWER: The delivered product is the trademark branded Ops-Core FAST ballistic helmet in the specified colors, sizes, and quantities listed, and meet the production, quality, and quality control standards of the Ops-Core brand manufacturer.

Note: CECOM SAMD understands that Gentex Corporation holds the trademark for Ops-Core brand helmets and assumes that any product labeled as Ops-Core that is not authorized for distribution by Gentex is not considered an Ops- Core brand product.

QUESTION #2: Can we supply helmets Made in India? If so, will there be any exemption on local taxes?

ANSWER: The helmets in question will be subject to restriction(s) of the Berry Amendment (10 U.S.C. 2533a and 2533b) so sourcing Indian-made helmets wouldn’t work for this acquisition. See DFARS 252.225-7012.

QUESTION #3: If procured from India, do we still need to deliver to Indira Gandhi Intl Airport or it needs to go to COL. Singh in Sena Bhawan, New Delhi?

ANSWER: see answer to Question #2.

QUESTION #4: If sourced outside of India, will there be an exemption in Import Duty?

ANSWER: See – FAR 52.229-6.

QUESTION #5: On the RFQ, there is no specs sheet for the helmets requested can you please sent that to us or the part #’s?

ANSWER: see SOLICITATION W91CRB-23-R-5035: SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

QUESTION #6: Can we ship these to a consolidation point in the USA instead of directly to India?

ANSWER: see SOLICITATION W91CRB-23-R-5035:

• SECTION A - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION, paragraph 4;

• SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

QUESTION #7: Can you provide detail to the below line item three?

1. Who will be end user - No feedback required

2. Is this a specific requirement - No feedback required

3. Protection Level - Require feedback

ANSWER: Required protection levels are cited in the Gentex Ops-Corps web-site. Required helmets must pass the following standards:

U.S. ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND - ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND

6515 INTEGRITY COURT, BLDG 4310

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD 21005-3013

• Modified and Abbreviated Family of Tactical Headborne Systems, dated June 30th 2017 Ops-Core Performance Specification FAST SF PS-1228

• NIJ Standards: NIJ 0106.01 with NIJ 0108.01 Level IIIA (9mm FMJ @1,400 ft/s) Threats

4. Ammunition - No feedback required.

QUESTION #8: Can we provide a helmet cover for the helmet in order to meet with the Multicam, Ranger Green and Ranger 499 color requirement?

ANSWER: No. Ops-Core FAST helmets include external features permitting the user to attach various accessories (such as front night vision optics mounts, side rails for other items.) It is anticipated that applying a helmet cover in order to provide the necessary color schemes may interfere with these features.

QUESTION #9: All color are ok except multicam because for such a small quantity multicam color is not possible but alternatively we can offer helmet cover in multicam. Is this acceptable?

ANSWER: No. See answer to question 8, above.

QUESTION #10: Can you please share detailed specification because I’m sure there must be more parameter like weight, dimension, type of suspension system from inside etc.

ANSWER: See SOLICITATION W91CRB-23-R-5035: SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

QUESTION #11: After being awarded, will I be the party facilitating the export/shipment or will that be scheduled and done through DCMA?

ANSWER: See SOLICITATION W91CRB-23-R-5035:

QUESTION #12 While reviewing the solicitation requirements, we would like to know more about the Delivery Process. Where should we deliver the products? In order to better reflect our best offer in the proposal.

ANSWER: See SOLICITATION W91CRB-23-R-5035:

QUESTION #13

a. How would you like the proposal submitted?

ANSWER: See SOLICITATION W91CRB-23-R-5035:

• SECTION A - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION, paragraph 14

b. Is there an incumbent? If so, what is the contract number and contract value?

ANSWER: The helmets are commercial items and at the current time it is unknown how many vendors will be providing proposals.

U.S. ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND - ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND

6515 INTEGRITY COURT, BLDG 4310

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD 21005-3013

QUESTION #14 I wanted to inquire if there is a possibility for us to submit our bid with a helmet similar to the Ops Core model specified in the RFP. Despite the RFP's specific mention of the Ops-Core helmet, we have identified a USA-made performance-equivalent helmet manufactured by High End Defense Solutions. We firmly believe in its ability to meet the required standards and have successfully presented it as a cost-effective alternative for the Ops-Core helmet.

ANSWER: See answer to question 1, above.

QUESTION #15 Would the customer be open to alternatives? Attached is the helmet we would like to spec

in. Please let me know if you have any questions or need anything else from me, thank you!

QUESTION #16 How, if at all, you wanted ITAR to be handled for this solicitation. We cannot seem to get a straight answer on whether or not it’s even applicable.

ANSWER: The system is being procured under U.S. Government laws related to Foreign Military Sales (FMS). Under FMS cases, an approved Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) serves as a valid export license, and it’s relationship to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), for the material being procured.

QUESTION #17 Can you please advise if solicitation W91CRB-23-R-5035 for Ops-Core FAST SF Ballistic High Cut Helmets is listed as a brand name-only requirement or if equivalents will be accepted given they meet the provided specifications listed in section 3 of the Statement of Work?

QUESTION #18 Is this a BRAND NAME ONLY solicitation? Or will you consider OR EQUAL items if we can provide full product material and testing to demonstrate capabilities?

QUESTION #19 It has come to our attention via conversations with OPS-CORE, the manufacturer of the ballistic helmets, that there are manufacturing changes to the helmets that are different than what is being called out in the RFP. Please see below:

Section 3.1, Pg 10, calls out the use of the Skeleton Rail. Can the language be changed?

“All items shall include a 4-point chin strap, right-eye dominant clip, modular bungee shroud with carabiner clips to improve night vision goggle retention and stability, and skeleton rail.”

By the time this order ships the skeleton rails will have been replaced with the new PowerPath rails. The PowerPath rails will be incorporated on all Gentex FAST helmets – going forward and are an improved rail system over the skeleton rails. Please advise if this is acceptable.

ANSWER: see SOLICITATION W91CRB-23-R-5035: SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

Follow up by the vendor to question #19:

“The solicitation has an error in section 3.0 Requirements, subparagraph 3.1.

3. REQUIREMENTS

U.S. ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND - ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND

6515 INTEGRITY COURT, BLDG 4310

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD 21005-3013

3.1 Requirements for Hardware. The contractor shall deliver three-hundred sixty (360) Ops-Core FAST SF Ballistic High Cut Helmet Systems to the Government of India. All items shall include a 4-point chin strap, right-eye dominant clip, modular bungee shroud with carabiner clips to improve night vision goggle retention and stability, and skeleton rail. All hardware shall be supplied from new production. The contractor shall deliver the required items in the following sizes, colors, and quantities:

COLOR SIZE QTY

- Ranger 499 (Sand) Large 45 This should be Tan 499 per line 0001AE

- Ranger 499 (Sand) Medium 45 This should be Tan 499 per line 0001AB

- Ranger Green Large 45

- Ranger Green Medium 45

- Multicam Large 90

- Multicam Medium 90 This would be a good time to have them change the verbiage in paragraph 3.1 from Skeleton Rail to Powerpath rails. We can’t ship the skeleton rails in Ranger Green as they are out of tolerance on the vertical rail. All new helmets are being built with the Powerpath rail.

QUESTION #20 Regarding solicitation W91CRB-23-R-5035 I wanted to know is this a brand name only bid or a brand name equal bid for these helmets? I didn’t see that in the provided documents.

QUESTION #21 On the Ranger 499 color is that Tan color or Coyote color?????

COLOR SIZE QTY

- Ranger 499 (Sand) Large 45

- Ranger 499 (Sand) Medium 45

- Ranger Green Large 45

- Ranger Green Medium 45

- Multicam Large 90

- Multicam Medium 90

U.S. ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND - ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND

6515 INTEGRITY COURT, BLDG 4310

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD 21005-3013

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

QUESTION #22 Thank you for the updated information. I know you worked hard to research and answer everyone's questions in a timely manner, I can only assume how many unique respondents there are. With that said, I have reviewed the Q&A and updated solicitation and I am not surprised there were many who had a similar question as I.

Unfortunately in the updated solicitation and the Q&A there is no definitive answer to the question. The solicitation is written that can still be inferred either way due to the fact that it states in the title of the solicitation and your response to Question 1 that Ops Core is just a brand name of ballistic helmet, however in the body of the SOW it states to deliver ops core helmets but then switches language to state helmets that meet the salient requirements. Therefore any non-branded helmet that meets the requirements should be sufficient to meet this solicitation without an expressed statement of BRAND ONLY. There are many American made products that meet or exceed Ops Core brand helmets characteristics but in the end it is up to the discretion of you the contracting officer and the familiarity of the end user with American quality products. So the one question that still needs to be answered is: Will you except a ballistic helmet other than Ops Core brand as long as they meet the minimum specifications listed in the statement of work?

ANSWER: see SOLICITATION W91CRB-23-R-5035 UPDATED 21NOV2023: SECTION C -

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

QUESTION #23 Do you know if Gentex OpsCore is classified as a small business? Do you know if they intend on bidding this directly? For the sake of not wasting hours of our time this would be good information to know. Please forward the FAR pertaining to small business classification that is being utilized in the contract. I believe the standard is 500 employees or less.

ANSWER: Gentex is the manufacturer/supplier. See FAR 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS.

QUESTION #24 Is Gentex Corp listed as an interested party?

ANSWER: Gentex is the manufacturer/supplier.

QUESTION #25 Do you intend to award the contract to more than one contractor? I.E. split the order by line item?

Lowest price per line item or will their only be 1 awardee?

ANSWER: The Government intends to evaluate all offers prior to award. No determination has been made.

QUESTION #26 Are you certain 100% that funds are actually in place for the goods? Do you have a budget threshold that was determined when performing market research prior to publishing this RFP?

ANSWER: Funding is an internal matter.

QUESTION #27 Finally if we elect to respond what pages do you need us to return?

ANSWER: Please see solicitation W91CRB-23-R-5035. CLIN pricing is required.

U.S. ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND - ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND

6515 INTEGRITY COURT, BLDG 4310

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD 21005-3013

QUESTION #28 Since it appears that Ops-Core is the only brand that is being allowed for this solicitation can you please provide a brand name justification for these helmets.

ANSWER: Brand name justification is an internal document, and it has been approved.

QUESTION #29 Was there any material changes to the solicitation? I cannot find a list of amendments on the updated solicitation.

ANSWER: Please see SAM.gov for latest Q&A and Solicitation W91CRB-23-R-5035 UPDATED 21NOV2023.

QUESTION #30 Also do you require any special labeling like RFID? Is the ship to location in the united states?

ANSWER: Since the shipment isn’t going through any U.S. Government consolidation points RFID is not required. See

SOLICITATION W91CRB-23-R-5035: SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE.

The Government will not answer any additional questions.

Date Offers Due: 29 November 2023 02:00PM EST.