QUESTION 8 - 12 W91CRB-26-R-A006 SAPI 27 March 2026.pdf
PDF 100 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- W91CRB-26-R-A006_SAPI
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers (Q&A) document from a federal solicitation for a 100% Small Business set-aside and 8(a) HUBZone contract opportunity related to the USASAC Worldwide SAPI (body armor plates) program.
Key contractual terms include: progress payments cannot be authorized, and all payments will be made upon shipment only; mobilization of raw materials cannot be enacted as an early milestone. Regarding testing requirements, proposal data samples (34 PDM units) can be tested at either the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center (ATEC) or any NIJ-approved independent ballistic laboratory, with the offeror responsible for all testing costs per updated Attachment 10 (Section L&M, dated March 24, 2026). Completion of testing is a mandatory requirement for proposal submission and cannot be waived. For dimensional measurements, the solicitation requires use of the ATOS Blue Light Triple Scan Camera or substantially equivalent technology at the government's discretion; use of substantially equivalent technology by an NIJ-approved lab is acceptable. The document clarifies that there is no pre-approved list of specific laboratories for this opportunity; any NIJ-approved lab meeting the technical requirements is acceptable. The government will not provide funding for testing, and bidders must budget accordingly for all sample testing and certification activities prior to proposal submission.
View the file
Other files
Show all 22
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
8. As this is a 100% Small Business set-aside, and 8a Hubzone, will progress payments be authorized? A. Specifically FAR 32.007 and (FAR 32.001, 32.102, 32.113).
B. Can "mobilization of raw materials" be enacted as an early milestone?" (pg. 1)
Answer 8: A: Progress payments cannot be authorized.
B: No, all payments will be authorized upon shipment.
9. Regarding PDM Samples and Test Report, page 6 (Source Selection L&M); The PDM samples (34) are to be delivered to ATEC, with report returned prior to submission date.
We read the relevant sections to mean that the initial 34 MUST go to ATEC for non-destructive attribute certification and 19 will go through ballistic testing. It goes on to say that we should allow enough time for a 2nd round of ballistic testing if we are not satisfied with the ATEC tests at a NIJ Lab or ATEC.
There is a tremendous backlog at the Aberdeen Army Test Center, and apparently, no test slots are reserved to support the USASAC Worldwide SAPI program PDM testing. Can the government provide authorization for EITHER U.S. Army ATEC OR NIJ-approved independent ballistic lab testing? We are not confident that PDM testing can be accomplished in time and ATEC is quoting using "Foreign Military Sales - FMS" rates.
Answer 9: Testing for proposal data can be from either U.S. Army ATEC or an NIJ-approved independent ballistic lab.
10. If the government allows PDM testing to be conducted by NIJ-approved lab, please provide those labs who have been authorized by government, specific to this opportunity?
Answer 10: There is no list of specific labs that have been approved for this specific opportunity. Any NIJ-approved lab would be acceptable.
11. Please define "who pays" PDM testing, government or industry? ATEC "cannot issue a test [contract] to industry without knowing who is paying". ATEC is quoting using
"Foreign Military Sales - FMS" rates.
Answer 11: The offeror is responsible for all testing costs. Please see updated Attachment
10 – Section L&M 24 March 2026.
12. We have been in contact with ATEC and they have told us that they cannot perform the test requirements before the submission deadline, This is further complicated by requiring the ultraviolet test that only ATEC can perform.
Since the PWS requirement is to have the sample report submitted with the proposal and
ATEC cannot support that timeline, we would like to recommend you amend the PWS to reflect the plates having been delivered to ATEC vice ATEC having produced the report as they cannot meet that schedule due to their current backlog.
Answer 12: Completion of the testing is a requirement for proposal submission and cannot be waived. Per response to Question 9, testing can occur at an NIJ-approved lab. In accordance with Section L of the solicitation, “Dimensional measurements shall be taken utilizing the ATOS Blue Light Triple Scan Camera or substantially equivalent technology, in the Government's discretion.”. Use of substantially equivalent technology for this testing, which should be able to be provided by an NIJ-approved lab, is acceptable.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .