Response to Vendors Questions List.pdf

GOVERNEMENT’S RESPONSE TO VENDORS QUESTIONS

1. I would like to confirm if the project mentioned above is considered as a potential new requirement or is there an incumbent contract currently performing these services?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: No, this is not a new requirement. The incumbent contractor for these services is COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCE, INCORPORATED, 8280 GREENSBORO DR STE 500, MC LEAN VA 22102 under contract 1333ND19DNB130005.

2. If there are incumbent vendor(s), would you be able to provide the contract details (such as: Vendor Name, Contract Number, Award and end dates, total contract value)?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The incumbent contractor for these services is COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCE, INCORPORATED, 8280 GREENSBORO DR STE 500, MC LEAN VA 22102 under contract 1333ND19DNB130005. The IDIQ ceiling is $6M. The period of performance is May 8, 2019 through August 7, 2024.

3. SF1449 Block 10 &Page 72, NAICS 561621 vs NAICS 541519, 561621 conflicts with 541519.

INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION: For a small business set-aside, the most beneficial for the government is NAICS 541519 this allows for more competition and a higher probability that the vendor will be aligned with OISM policy, support Security Systems Access Control Group remediations, ESO’s management of this accredited information technology system which is certified to operate on-site and IP Video bandwidth needs.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Since this IDIQ has been historically awarded under the 561621 NAICS code for Security Systems Services which is the primary focus of this award NIST is not inclined to make a change to the primary NAICS code. While there are IT related activities, system integrations, feature configurations, etc. that will be presented in future task orders under this award, those tasks are not the primary driver for the systems in question at this time. In the future NIST will continue to monitor the applicability of this and other NAICS codes to ensure we are being transparent in our needs and representing those needs accurately.

4. 1.4.1 Demonstrated Capabilities, “Provide evidence of being an authorized reseller/Authorized Channel Partner for the brand.” Can a Team Member satisfy this requirement? INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION: Team member can satisfy this requirement by submitting a Teaming Agreement, Letter of commitment, Letter of supply, current Subcontract AND their CERTIFICATION.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: NIST would prefer that the PRIME would directly employ personnel with the required certifications. In the spirit of competition NIST will allow a subcontractor to the prime, teaming agreement, Joint Venture, or other such partnership to provide the necessary personnel with system certifications. Just to be clear on this requirement. These certifications shall apply to the personnel performing the work on these systems. Ultimately, the PRIME will be responsible for the personnel performing this work and ensuring that these persons have the certifications/ training needed for the systems they will be working on. You cannot rent someone else’s name and certifications to make the award without the personnel performing the work having them. If this is found to be the case the government reserves the right to terminate for default immediately. Individuals possessing these certifications not employed by the PRIME should be named as Key Personnel. ** A letter of commitment can be submitted in lieu of cleared personnel at this time stating that the personnel being utilized will be cleared or have the training/ certifications within the first year of the contract.

5. 1.4.1 Demonstrated Capabilities, Demonstration that all hardware/equipment is Trade Agreement Act (TAA) and/or Defense Authorization Act (DAA) compliant, Since it is impossible to prove all equipment is TAA/DAA compliant, can representative screen shots or product literature from each brand specified and a statement from the prime that they will flow down this requirement meet this criteria? INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION: Representative screen shots or product literature from each brand specified in 1.4.1 and a statement from the prime that they will flow down this requirement.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The government understands that not all products can/ will be TAA/DAA compliant. But when there is a product, we’re requesting that has a TAA/DAA compliant manufacturer or variant that is the product we’re expecting to see in your estimates, quotations, etc. We may require proof pre/post purchase for verification. Screenshots or product literature are acceptable as proof.

6. 1.4.1 Demonstrated Capabilities, “Physical Access Control Systems and components are listed under the approved section of the GSA Approved Products List - /FIPS 201/ Approved 13.01 Topology” Can a screen shot, https://www.idmanagement.gov/fips201/GSA APL Approved 13.01 Topology Be used documentation as long as it is not in the “Waiting for Approval” list? INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION:

Screenshots of each applicable referenced brand can document GSA APL 13.01 approval by a screenshot from the referenced website.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Yes, screen shots of the GSA APL are acceptable because we will verify that the product is listed.

7. 1.4.1 Demonstrated Capabilities, Provide documentation of the qualifications for the technicians, engineers, and installers, as applicable to the work proposed to perform: Do all of the referenced Clearances and certifications have to be from the Prime? INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION: The Certifications and Clearances can be from the Prime or other team members as long as is clearly described.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: NIST would prefer that the PRIME would directly employ personnel with the required certifications. In the spirit of competition NIST will allow a subcontractor to the prime, teaming agreement, Joint Venture, or other such partnership to provide the necessary personnel with system certifications. Just to be clear on this requirement. These certifications shall apply to the personnel performing the work on these systems. Ultimately, the PRIME will be responsible for the personnel performing this work and ensuring that these persons have the certifications/ training needed for the systems they will be working on. You cannot rent someone else’s name and certifications to make the award without the personnel performing the work having them. If this is found to be the case the government reserves the right to terminate for default immediately. Individuals possessing these certifications not employed by the PRIME should be named as Key Personnel. ** A letter of commitment can be submitted in lieu of cleared personnel at this time stating that the personnel being utilized will be cleared or have the training/ certifications within the first year of the contract.

8. 1.4.1 Demonstrated Capabilities, Provide documentation of the qualifications for the technicians, engineers, and installers, as applicable to the work proposed to perform: Can each certification be held by a different person or company within the team? INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION: Each Certification maybe held by a different person or a company within the team.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Yes, one person does not have to have all of the mentioned qualifications.

The certifications required could be met by 1 person or 20 people. As long as those performing the work on “_________” system are the ones with the certifications for that system.

9. 1.4.1 Demonstrated Capabilities, Provide documentation of the qualifications for the technicians, engineers, and installers, as applicable to the work proposed to perform: Is one holder of each Certification or clearance sufficient to Demonstrate the Capability? INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION:

One holder of each Certification or clearance is sufficient to Demonstrate the Capability.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Yes, one person does not have to have all of the mentioned qualifications.

The certifications required could be met by 1 person or 20 people. As long as those performing the work on “_________” system are the ones with the certifications for that system.

10. 1.4.1 Demonstrated Capabilities, Certifications must be relevant to the work that the subcontractor is proposed to perform. Letters of commitment and/or business agreements which clearly specifies that the subcontractor has agreed to work with the prime contractor for the work for which they are proposed must be provided. For Vendors is a letter of supply or a reseller agreement adequate to address this requirement? For Services providers is a Teaming Agreement referencing this RFP sufficient? INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION: A reseller Agreement is acceptable for “Vendors” to meet his requirement. For Services providers a Teaming Agreement referencing this RFP is sufficient.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: No, a letter of supply or a reseller agreement is not the same as having trained/ certified personnel. If this situation applies to you, please submit the full legal names and a copy of the system certifications along with the Prime and Sub contractor agreement information NIST will verify training certifications for everyone submitted and review the agreement information for applicability.

11. 1.4.1 Demonstrated Capabilities, Demonstrated capability to implement the NIST Special Publication 800; Specifically, the (SP800-116, SP800-53) series of documents, and the Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS). Is an excerpt(s) from a SOW, PWS, and CLIN referencing these capabilities from documented Past Performance(s) Acceptable for demonstrating this capability?

INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION: Excerpt(s) from a SOW,PWS,CLIN referencing these capabilities from documented Past Performance(s) are Acceptable for demonstrating this capability.

12. 1.5 Advisory Down-Select, NIST will evaluate the Phase I (Factor 1) submission, What are the NIST Evaluation criteria for Phase one? Will capabilities be scored? INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION: The NIST evaluation process will ….

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The evaluation criteria for Phase 1, is the Factor 1, Demonstrated capabilities and it requires all items listed under Factor 1 be addressed. Factor 1 will be scored as stated in the solicitation, Section 2, EVALUATION RATING, 2.1 Technical Evaluations, “The evaluation of each non-price factor (Factors 1 - 4) will be done holistically with a rating scale of "high confidence," "some confidence," and "low confidence," representing the technical team’s confidence that the Quoter understands the requirement and will be successful in performing the work. Each non-price factor may receive an individual confidence rating as outlined in the table below; there will not be an overall or roll-up confidence rating for the non- price factors.” The ratings are specified in table in section, 2.1.1 Confidence Ratings Table.

13. 1.3 Phased Procurement, Please confirm submittal date of May 31 for Phase 1 on Page 58 or June 4, 2024 on page 60.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The submittal date for Phase 1 is June 4, 2024 as stated on page 60. Page 58 has been updated for consistency.

14. Attachment 1A - Mock Task Order Drawings , Plans on page 27 through 31 are related to mock projects as providing accurate take offs and room relations are not possible off the 8.5 x 11. Even enlarging after a point, they become too pixelated to read. Would a set of plans in CAD be available?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The MOCK Task order Drawings, Plans on page 27-31 have been uploaded as a separate attachment. If they are still difficult to read, please contact me at monica.brown@nist.gov to determine a better way to provide them.

15. Required Training, Traka is no longer available through integration and is provided direct from factory. Question, would this be consider a sub-contractor?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: No, Traka would be considered a vendor. Traka is still listed as a partner on Lenel’s Open Access Alliance Program (OAAP) database.

16. Service Contract Act – Page 32, “Would the government please confirm if this will be an SCA requirement?”

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Per the solicitation, “Labor categories that are covered by the Service Contract Labor Standards must be priced in accordance with the wage determination for Gaithersburg, MD, Attachment 2.” While the Government understands that all labor categories may not be covered the Service Contract Labor Standards, labor categories that are covered shall be priced in accordance with the wage determination for Gaithersburg.

17. SOW, Background, Does the scope of this contract include the Security Contractor performing POA&M remediation?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Yes, this type of remediation is typically requested under the maintenance agreement, a future task order.

mailto:monica.brown@nist.gov

18. SOW, Objectives, Will the Security Contractor be able to perform a pre-bid site survey to identify specific infrastructure cost elements prior to pricing individual Task Orders?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Yes, as requested.

19. SOW, Scope, The Scope indicates that the "contractor and/or members of their staff must collectively meet these requirements and maintain them in good standing"…to include HSPD-12 Certified Systems Integrator. Does a valid CSEIP certification meet this requirement?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Yes, a valid CSEIP would be acceptable.

20. SOW, General Requirements, Does the Government expect the Contractor to work in the Boulder CO campus?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: No, we do not anticipate any work under this agreement being performed at the Boulder, CO NIST location. The Boulder, CO location requirement has been removed.

21. SOW, Key Personnel, The Government mentions personnel clearance at the Secret level but in this section, the Government indicates Top Secret minimum cleared personnel. Please clarify the minimum clearance level for personnel.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: There are specific tasks that may require personnel to have a TS. The majority of the work on campus would minimally require a secret clearance. This applies to personnel performing work onsite, project managers, engineers, technicians, etc.

22. SOW, Help Desk Support, Does the Government have a preferred trouble ticket tracking solution?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: No, not at this time. NIST expects the contractor to have a tracking method in place that provides accurate and timely updates.

23. SOW, Pricing, Will the Government allow pricing differentials (rates) for work that is performed outside of normal working hours?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: It is the contractor’s discretion to accurately reflect the appropriate rates that shall be incorporated in a resultant contract. The rates stated would be expected to be reflected in future task orders for work performed outside of NIST business hours. Please note the price quoting matrix is provided is intended to be utilized as a guide, but can be manipulated as necessary to accurately reflect the price quotation.

24. Who is the incumbent contractor and/or contract number for performing these services currently?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Refer to the response for questions #1 and #2.

25. SOW, Please confirm that procuring Software Support Agreements are not part of this contract or any resulting Task Order.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Software support agreements will be included in future task orders.

26. SOW, GFE, Will the Government provide office space, utilities, etc. to the Contractor?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: NIST will provide locations for storage and to perform work. This space will not be dedicated to the contractor.

27. Evaluation Factors, 1.4.1 Factor 1 - Demonstrated Capabilities, It is unclear what is requested for this section to meet Demonstrated Capabilities. Specifically, if we are demonstrating capabilities, what are we demonstrating with TAA compliance, that the PACS and components are on the GSA APL, and that card readers are on the GSA APL? In other words, what capability are we demonstrating?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The intent being to ensure you have an understanding of the applicability of the GSA APL, and the TAA/ DAA requirements as applicable to the products you are proposing to use.

See response to question #5.

28. SOW, Phase I, Please resolve before final solicitation release. In the SOW, Phase I is due on May 31(page 58) and June 4 (page 60). Please resolve the submission date conflict.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: See response to question #13.

29. SOW, Objectives, On page 8 (objectives), the Gov't lists several brands for equipment that are required on this contract. In this section the Gov't states "and others". Please clarify what are the other brands so that the contractor has a better understanding of the operational requirements?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Brand name equipment listed previously: Lenel, Milestone, AXIS, Broadcom/Symantec, ASSA ABLOY, Microsoft, Cypress.

Additional brands: Systems - Traka, Hanwha Enclosures/ Racks - Middle Atlantic, APC, GRI, Magnasphere, among others.

NIST uses other hardware devices as needed to meet security requirements. So, in terms of brand name equipment, it will fluctuate as needed.

30. SOW, Preventive Maintenance, On page 14 the Gov't describes preventive maintenance as a requirement. However, there is no directive stating if the maintenance is monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, or annual requirement. Please specify what is the anticipated reoccurring maintenance expectation for this contract?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The maintenance agreement is a separate task order to shortly follow this solicitation. The maintenance mentioned is requested by NIST on an “as needed” basis. NIST does have some tasks that are required monthly and quarterly.

31. SOW, Scope, The scope indicates personnel must be Lenel OnGuard version 8.0 or later but key personnel references Lenel OnGuard 8.2 (or greater). Is it the desire of the Govt to utilize the most current version that has been tested/verified compliant and will that version be identified?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: NIST intends to stay one version behind the latest release for stability reasons. We expect trained personnel to maintain their distance learning requirements to be informed on upcoming changes to the software.

32. SOW, Routine Service Calls The SOW it states "The Government reserves the right to add or remove systems and/or equipment within the scope of this statement of work via contract or task order modification." Have any of these systems been identified and will that list be shared?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: At this time there are no additional systems to be added that are not mentioned in this solicitation.

33. Section 1.4.1 list CRZM as a requirement for alarm monitoring. CRZM is for off-site monitoring. NIST does not use off-site alarm monitoring. Please clarify if this is a requirement.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: At this time NIST provides monitoring onsite through our central dispatch center, however, there could be a future requirement for off-site alarm monitoring.

34. Key Personnel is listed as Project Manager, no other position is key personnel, however, it states the key personnel must have all technical certifications. PM is not a technical position, please clarify.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Under Key Personnel listed on page 10, there is a bullet also mentioning the requirements for “Other Senior, Lead, and technician positions”. At the award of the IDIQ contract the Project Manager will be identified as key personnel for the IDIQ only, however, as task orders are awarded, the other positions may be identified as key personnel for specific task orders.

35. Page 11 states Top Secret but other sections reference Secret. Which level of clearance is required?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: There are specific tasks that may require personnel to have a TS. The majority of the work on campus would minimally require a secret clearance. This applies to personnel performing work onsite, project managers, engineers, technicians, etc. See response to question #21.

36. Are unit prices to be fixed for five years or are price increases based on manufacturer increases?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: For the IDIQ, all labor rates quoted for each period shall be fixed for the specific period quoted. Unit/equipment prices will be established based on the products needed to meet individual task orders shall be quoted and shall include a fixed discount that will be offered to the Government for equipment. Amounts for discounts shall include all the following information, as applicable: Manufacturer names; Percentage of discount being offered; The price base from which the discount will be taken; Purchase quantities that may increase the amount of discount; and any other relevant information. The Government will allow future price increases based on manufacturer price increases if proof of manufacture increase is provided. Please note that the price quoting template is provided as a guide and may be revised to accurately reflect the price quotation.

37. Is there a scheduled site visit for this?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: There is no scheduled site visit for this procurement, however, after contract award, the awardee will be able to request pre-bid site surveys as needed to identify specific price elements prior to pricing for individual Task Orders?

38. When will the RFI’s be due?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: This is not an RFI, Request for Information, but a Request for Quotation.

Refer to the established schedule to respond to the solicitation.

39. Is there a cost estimate, budget or ballpark figure for the project listed? Is there an actual start date for the project?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: As stated in the solicitation, the estimated start date is August 2024 and the estimated contract ceiling is $6M.