15R0001_questions_and_answers.pdf

Questions & Responses W91ZRU-15-R-0001

All Questions were answered by the 196th INF BDE CST Training Director Raymond Toves

1. Section 1.0 exercise dates total 5 days, Section 4.0 outlines 10 days of labor activities, and Section 8.3 requires 7 days of preparation, and.

Please clarify the delivery timeline.

Section 1.0 outlines the week of execution. This involves my inspection of the target site and to allow for any adjustments (Monday). We kick off the event on Tuesday (up to 12 hrs long), reset/reconstitute on Wednesday, day two iteration on Thursday, cleanup on Friday. Section 4.0 involves time for the contractors to build target sites. Section 8.3 is what I allow the contractors to prepare the site(s). Given the type of venues we use, most of the facilities are abandoned sites that need the likes of an electrician, plumber, and carpenter to prep to further allow the specialists (chemist, microbiologist, etc.) to set up their specialized labs.

2. Section 5.3 and 5.4 – Is the AAR due within 7 days following the CTE or

TPE portion of the delivery?

Yes. Contractor has no more than 7 days after the event to produce an AAR package.

3. The PWS for the 94th CST requires delivery of Exercise Scenario Summary no later than 16 January 2015 (IAW Section 5.1 and 5.4). With that timeline, what is the expected award date for this contract?

I would like to have the contract awarded as soon as possible to allow contractors to develop a plausible scenario. If feasible, shortly after the New Year.

4. Section 8.3 – Please specifically identify what preparation the contractor must complete at the target site.

The contractor is expected to assemble a fully functional chemical, biological, radiological (can be in the form of an RDD), and explosives labs.

5. Section 2.2 – Specifically, which role play position(s) must be filled by personnel “fully trained in HAZMAT operations to the level of “Technician”.”

All positions are required to have the "Technician" certifications. The positions also add to the expertise as the contractor is also expected to provide an AAR after the event. If they are not Technician certified, then they cannot provide input.

6. Section 1.0 – For the training locations Tamuning and Anchorage, please identify the specific location of the target site/place of performance

(i.e., military installation, private location, other government installation, etc.)

Because of what Sections 1.0 and 3.0 state, I pick the towns, and based on their expertise and survey, they select the sites through their coordination's.

7. Are the local CST’s able to dispose of small quantities of precursor and simulant chemicals or do we need to plan for disposal?

It is expected that the contractor's dispose of all precursors utilized upon completion of the event.

8. Are the CST’s prepared to handle real world CB agents or should we plan on simulants? Are exempt sealed sources adequate (referred to as button sources) for Rad scenario or do higher curie count sources need to be provided?

We never create weaponized real world CB agents. We typically use precursors to the actual CB agents in labs to allow the CSTs to use their ability to analyze. As far as the ALS, they are prepared to run these precursors. Regarding the Rad scenario, the higher curie count, the better. I've found button sources to be too weak (even if you "stack" them) to allow the CST to properly use radiological sweeping techniques.

If the survey team find these weak sources, they could easily say it is a non-threat. Only exception would be in an RDD manufacturing lab.

9. Can we have chemicals and training props shipped to the training CST prior to the exercise or do we need to locate another place to ship to that is local to the exercise?

With prior coordination with the CST, contractors may ship with specific instructions to the CST not to open anything.

10. Collective training event – besides local CST, are there any other organizations involved in these exercises?

Yes, but only for the CTE scheduled for Guam in January. The 94th is involving Homeland Security and local first responders.

11. 24hr event, will there be a handoff to another team, notional break in action, etc? Are the training days realistically expected to run 24 hours long ? Or would a more appropriate exercise planning time be 12-18 hours?

Will these exercises take place on two separate days or will we be conducting only one single day of training?

We have had events last 24-36hrs. This is only expected for the 94th CST event in January because of it involving more agencies and an additional CST. When we execute a lengthy event, we also plan for a relief in place/transfer of authority (RIP/TOA). For the 94th TPE (Feb), 103rd CTE and TPE (Aug/Sep), it will be strictly a 12-18 hour event and will be two separate days (Tue/Thu) of the execution week.

12. What heavy equipment operations are envisioned? In Section 3.2 there is discussion of site adjustments including building construction, and inoperative vehicle movement. It is difficult to forecast the cost associated with these items without having knowledge of the site to be used.

We have required the use of a backhoe operator and flatbed CDL operator in the past. Envisioned plan is to use these operators in the event for the 94th in Jan 15 to assist in replicating a VBIED event.

13. Will we be provided a copy of the National Guard Mission Essential Tasks outlined in the DTMS Civil Support Team Unit Task List Mission Essential Tasks dated Jan 13 or any other evaluation criteria needed?

This is a prerequisite IAW the PWS. Section 2.2. Contractors must have the past experience.

14. Are the training sites being provided by the government, or are they to be provided by the contractor? If the site is to be provided by the government, where is the site and what are the facilities already there?

Refer to question 6.

15. Section 4.0 discusses the period of performance, and only discusses two days of exercises, yet there are requirements for 4 different hazards that must be part of the scenarios, can several of these hazards be combined into one single scenario or do we need to run 4 separate scenarios.

They may be combined. I recommend a chem/bio day and a separate rad/explosives day.

16. Section 1.0: Reference the training locations noted (Tamuning, Guam and Anchorage, AK), will the government consider an alternative proposal that demonstrates a value proposition for both significant cost savings and enhanced training results, which would involve Military Air Lift of the CST packages to Robbins Air Force Base, GA, for each training evolution?

At this point, no. Military airlift in my past experience has not been reliable for training purposes.

17. Section 2.1: Reference the RIP procedures, and assuming the teams will be exercising independently, with whom does the CST plan to execute RIP?

This action is only expected for the 94th event in Jan 15 with the 51st

CST.

18. Section 8.2 & 8.5: Please specify the “Maritime environment” requirement, or indicate what non-maritime environment(s) / “WMD target sites” would be acceptable in meeting the delivery requirements (ie, residential, commercial, transportation, transit, etc).

Because it's a "Special Provision", we are not involving maritime conditions for any of the events. As far as the "WMD target sites" are concerned, they need to be plausible. I don't need an MRE box with the words "BOOM" written on it. It must be realistic in nature. All target sites will include at a minimum, functioning laboratory setups and intelligence documents that round out the "why" regarding the terrorists activity.

19. Section 8.3 (94th CST): Reference the 24-hr continuous exercise, does the CST expect to solely maintain that continuous operating period, or is there another team with which they will execute RIP procedures?

Refer to question 11.

20. Section 8.3 (103rd CST): Reference the 36-hr continuous exercise, does the CST expect to solely maintain that continuous operating period, or is there another team with which they will execute RIP procedures?

21. Section 8.3: If the CSTs are operating solely, will the government consider allowing other CSTs in the geographical area to participate in the training in order to facilitate appropriate RIP/TOA training?