GRAPE CALL 003 Amendment 03 Questions and Answers

ADVANCED RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT (ARA): CALL 003

NAICS Code: The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 541715 and the small business size is 1,000 employees. Federal Agency Name:
Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL/RXMZ Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Energy Office ARA Title: Energy Office -- Government Requirement for Advanced Power and Energy (GRAPE) ARA Type: Call 003 -- Amendment 03; Questions/Answers
ARA Number: FA8650-18-S-5008
Question #

Reference
ARA - Amendment 5; page 18

Question Subject
Validity Period

ARA - Amendment 5; page 7

Applicable FAR Clauses

ARA - Amendment 5; page 7

Applicable FAR Clauses

ARA - Amendment 5; page 7

Applicable FAR Clauses

ARA - Amendment 5; page 7; Call 0003
pg 2
Call 0003 SOO - Section 12 Special
Instructions; page A-7

Type of Contract

Insurance

Call 0003 SOO - Section 4 Description of Critical Load Clarification – Work; page A-5
Radar and C2 Infrastructure

Call 0003 SOO

Operational Duty Cycle

Call 0003 - Section IV pg 8 ; ARA
Amendment 5 Section IV. Para. 3.
Section a.,b.,d (pages 1621, 27) Section K requirements. Call 0003 - Section VI CALL Proposal and Due Date
Submission Instructions; pg 9

Question
There is currently extreme volitility in the pricing of equipment and materials needed for this project in the market. For example, copper prices have varied 15% just in the last 30 days. Given this volitility and the potential impact of tarriff changes, which are foreseeable but unquantifiable, there is extreme risk on the contractor and subcontractors. Accordingly, vendors/subcontractors are extremely hesitant to provide quotations which are valid for a duration of 180 days. Would the Government consider a shorter validity period? Will the Government consider an offer on a CPFF basis that includes an Economic Price Adjustment provision? The benefit of this is the ability to bid more competitively under volitile conditions.
Would the Government provide a list of applicable FAR Clauses should a CPFF award be made?

Government Response
Due to the typical timeframe of receiving
proposals, evaluating, and routing through our
clearance processes, it is challenging to
deviate away from a proposal validity of 180
days, especially when options come into play.
However, terms and conditions will be
negotiated after an offeror is picked.

The appropriate FAR clauses will be provided
during the negotiation process and will be
agreed upon with both parties before
inclusion in the final award.