MODIFICATION
D -- RFP for long-range tracking and identification of vessels at sea
- Notice Date
- 8/12/2003
- Notice Type
- Modification
- Contracting Office
- DHS - Direct Reports, United States Coast Guard (USCG), Commanding Officer, USCG Operations Systems Center, 600 Coast Guard Drive, Kearneysville, WV, 25430
- ZIP Code
- 25430
- Solicitation Number
- 24-03-G33TWV987
- Response Due
- 8/18/2003
- Archive Date
- 9/2/2003
- Point of Contact
- Kathy Klein, Contract Administrator, Phone (304) 264-2566, Fax (304) 262-5997, - Kathy Klein, Contract Administrator, Phone (304) 264-2566, Fax (304) 262-5997,
- E-Mail Address
-
kklein@osc.uscg.mil, kklein@osc.uscg.mil
- Description
- Questions and Answers are as follows: 1.Earlier this year, Amver investigated the feasibility of automated reporting. Were the technical requirements successfully met in the tests that were conducted? Answer: Yes, the technical requirements were successfully met in the tests that were conducted. 2.Is the Coast Guard willing to pay for the cost of the position reporting? We are not sure whether this comes under the definition of ?software? as used in the Request for Proposal (RFP) mandatory requirement. Answer: Position reporting does not come under the definition of ?software? as used in mandatory requirement #11. 3.Regarding the ?firm fixed unit price estimated quantity contract?, we may not know precisely how many vessels will be customers, particularly if we are active in successfully securing additional customers for Amver. Answer: The ?fixed unit? would refer to price per delivered report. We recognize that the message traffic will vary. We want to see a firm, fixed report cost for each CLIN period proposed. 4.How would we deal with variability in (1) number of vessels that may use automated reporting, and (2) number of times a day that reports could be submitted? Answer: (1) As long as the vessel is identified by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) number within the standard Amver format, Amver will not have a problem. If a service provider has hundreds of vessels, we do not want the specific automated reporting time of all vessels to be the same. (2) Currently Amver receives from 1 ? 4 reports a day for some vessels that are reporting weather observations. If the vessel is not reporting weather observations, then 1 position report per 24 hours is sufficient. 5.As a follow-on to the question about pricing, and in view of these uncertainties, would the Coast Guard (CG) consider pricing that reflects a fixed component plus a variable component tied to the number of customer vessels/number of position reports per day? Answer: We will not consider a fixed component plus a variable component. 6.Iridium maritime equipment is one of the ?other? types of shipboard equipment that can generate acceptable Automated Position Reports (APRs). Would it be possible to e-mail the format required for the APR, as indicated in the mandatory RFP requirement? Answer: The established format is available upon request from the U.S. Coast Guard Contracting Officer. 7.Who will pay for the polling, the CG or the vessel? Answer: No firm decision has been made at this time. 8.What is the projected number of vessels that will participate in this tracking program? Answer: Since AMVER is a voluntary system used solely for Search and Rescue, we will not state any projections on number of vessels. 9.Please provide any socio-economic requirements/benefits for this solicitation. Answer: This solicitation is full and open competition. There are no socio-economic requirements/benefits. 10.Request that the solicitation response date be extended beyond August 18, 2003 to allow for a high-quality, compliant proposal. Answer: Proposals are due no later than 5 PM, Monday, August 18, 2003. No further questions will be accepted. 11.Is the management of the Amver website that accepts APRs part of the RFP scope? Answer: No 12.What are the systems the Contractor is expected to receive input from?Inmarsat, GPS, AIS, Others? Answer: There are no restrictions and no specific system(s) will be dictated in receipt of Automated Position Reports (APR?s). However, the APR?s must be provided to Amver via email in the standard IMO format. 13.What forms of Inmarsat is Contractor required to use, be compatible with, or from which APRs will be accepted? Answer: Again, APR?s must be provided to Amver via email in the standard IMO format in plain text with no attachments. The method it is received from the ship does not matter. 14.What is the equipment or system definition of a ?suitably equipped vessel? as denoted in the RFP? Answer: The Coast Guard is not imposing any particular equipment standards on the ship. However, the report must accurately reflect the required data for the ship. 15.Is the Contractor required to process inputs currently being received via Amver/Seas compressed message, JF radio telex via USCG, HF radio, telex, or telefax? Answer: No 16.APRs sent via Amver/seas compressed message appear to go NOAA. How do they get to Amver? Answer: NOAA/NWS forwards the stripped weather OBS to AMVER via email in our standard format. 17.Is each APR report sent to Amver based on data for a single ship update only or can APRs be bundled or batched for multiple ships and sent as a single e-mail report. Answer: Amver will work with the service provider. If the service provider uses bundled/batched multiple ship reports, it will be acceptable, provided the IMO format is used. 18.If the Amver program is voluntary, how is the requirement for an APR every 24 hours enforced with participating ships? Answer: There is no enforcement for providing APR?s. Those vessels participating in AMVER realize that reporting at least every 24 hours increases the response/assistance capabilities of Amver resources. 19.Are there any information assurance requirements, and if so, what are they? Answer: There are no specific security requirements for delivery of reports to Amver. 20.There are two dates listed in the RFP, 15 August and 18 August. Which is correct and binding? Answer: See Question 10. 21.From which shipping companies or vessel tracking service companies is the Contractor required to solicit Automated Position Reports (APRs) and vessel position information? Answer: Amver is a voluntary system and does not mandate APRs from shipping companies or vessel tracking companies. The Coast Guard is always looking for ways to expand the participation of ships in Amver. 22.Does the Coast Guard have existing agreements to get data from satellites? If so, will we be able to leverage existing Coast Guard resources to obtain data via satellite going forward? Answer: Among the many current methods to obtain reports for Amver is the ?Amver/SEAS? compressed message software for reports from ships via Inmarsat-C and then delivered by email. This was created in support of the Amver system and the gathering of weather data by NOAA. This option is available to companies that would be willing to make the needed software changes at their land earth stations, make contractual arrangements with the Coast Guard and NOAA, and assist in developing their own user base. 23.What are the existing processes for getting data from ships/shipping companies into the Amver database? Answer: All PRs come into the Amver system via email, Telex routed via AT&T, or HF routed via Coast stations. Faxed reports are emailed from the Amver fax server to amver.com. Amver also exchanges report information daily with JASREP, AUSREP, and CHILREP. 24.Does a specification exist for Amver database inputs? How is that specification conveyed/communicated to ships and shipping companies? Answer: The Amver standard format is internationally established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and made available to all countries. In addition to IMO documents, the U.S. publishes this information via the web site www. amver.com, the document called Amver Bulletin and promoted by Coast Guard staff at its Headquarters in Washington DC and the Amver Maritime Relations staff in New York, New York. 25.What is meant by a firm-fixed unit price estimated quantity contract? What will be the basis for determining how the price is negotiated and how work will be awarded and authorized? Answer: See Question 3. 26.Our understanding is that the work scope in involves getting information in an e-mail format in to the Amver database. What is meant by automation of product when inputting data into Amver database? Answer: That is the process the Amver system goes through to validate the accuracy of the position report before it is committed to the database. If the APRs are in the required Amver IMO standard format, the data should be automatically inputted into the Amver database. 27.Is the Coast Guard interested in understanding the location of vessels throughout the world or specific regions only? Answer: Amver is the only global ship reporting system. Location information worldwide and regional is acceptable, though worldwide is preferred. 28.Is there a minimum sized vessel the Coast Guard is interested in tracking? Answer: No, any vessels that want to report and can be called upon for SAR assistance can participate. SAR assistance by Amver is generally viewed as ocean going vessels with 2-way communications connectivity to shore-side SAR services and able to assist at the scene of a distress in the ocean. 29.How does the Coast Guard currently address language differences between when receiving data into the system? Answer: Under IMO standards, English is the reporting language. 30.Do we need to consider the sharing of information in the Amver database with other internationally-recognized rescue coordination centers around the world? Also, do we nee to consider a method of obtaining information from other Coast Guards for incorporation into the Amver database? Answer: No, to ensure security for this sensitive data, only USCG RCCs provide Amver information (Surpics) surface picture to other Coast Guards around the world, and only for SAR purposes. You will not be tasked with obtaining information from other Coast Guards. 31.Does a website exist that contains all of the questions and responses submitted by potential bidders under this RFP? If so, how do we gain access? If not, is there a way to gain access to questions submitted by other potential bidders and their responses? Answer: Questions and answers from all potential vendors will be posted at http://www.fedbizopps.gov. 32.Will the USCG consider granting an extension to the RFP due date? Answer: See Question #10.
- Place of Performance
- Address: United States Coast Guard, Operations Systems Center, 408 Coast Guard Drive, Kearneysville, WV
- Zip Code: 25430
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 25430
- Record
- SN00398229-W 20030814/030812213103 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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