Questions and Answers 4 Final_0004.docx

Questions and Answers 140P2120R0031 Last Update: 9/17/2020 by Thomas Dotts

· Regarding PWS Item #11, please provide NPS disposal of equipment security requirements.

· NPS Response – This requirement is no longer necessary. All existing telecommunications equipment has been removed by GSA and the building owner. The new offices are being built out from bare walls and floors. No old equipment including batteries will need to be removed.

· Regarding PWS Item #12, please identify the number of network ports required, 85, 114, or some other quantity.

· NPS Response – The vendor must provide for 137 POE network ports (114 plus 20%).

· Regarding PWS Items #’s 12, 13, and 25, it is understood that there will be a suite on the 4th floor, in addition to the offices on the 3rd floor, and that there is currently a cabling contractor installing the network/phone wiring and outlets at each user location in the 3rd floor suite. Will the current cabling contractor who is installing the Cat6 cabling, for the phones and network, be providing cabling connection from the 3rd to 4th floor for the users in the 4th floor suite?

· NPS Response – Voice cabling requirements to the offices, cubicles and conference rooms are being supplied by the GSA construction contractor. They will all be terminated into patch panels in the 3rd floor network/telephone room.

· NPS Response – Paging system wiring, and equipment will be the responsibility of the bidder as detailed in technical requirement #25.

· NPS Response – Two 4 x 8 plywood boards will be installed on the wall in the network/telephone room. All office voice and data cables will be terminated on these boards in patch panels. Bidders are expected to supply all patch cables needed to tie the office cabling in with the Avaya equipment.

· Regarding PWS Item #25, is overhead loudspeaker paging required, paging thru phones, or both? If the answer is yes will you please provide a floor plan for the new space(s) at the Academy Place location? Will you include details of where you would like overhead paging speakers placed through the suite(s) on the 3rd and 4th floors?

· NPS Response – Floor diagrams will be provided with this question and NPS response document. The paging system’s purpose is to provide emergency announcements by using the Avaya system such that all NPS staff within the 3rd floor office suite and the 4th floor conference room can hear and react. It is up to the vendor to propose a solution that will meet this requirement. The NPS will accept a paging system with overhead speakers or the Avaya telephone handsets or some other solution that will meet this need. If an overhead speaker system is proposed, then the number and location of overhead speakers is up to the bidder. The requirement is that staff located in these office locations can adequately hear the announcement.

· Regarding MPLS and connectivity to the two existing NPS buildings, will a MPLS connection to the existing NPS buildings be provided by NPS? If so, what is the anticipated bandwidth? What make/model of router is required from the contractor?

· NPS Response – The government will provide the MPLS circuit (Century Link 3mb circuit). The bidder is only responsible for the equipment connection and Avaya configuration.

· Regarding PWS Items #23, 32 and Current Environment MPLS and ESNA voicemail, if NPS will be providing an MPLS connection to tie the Cook and Academy Park to Academy Place then we can provide 4 digit dialing and centralized voicemail for all three locations. Please confirm if NPS will provide the MPLS connection or if NPS is asking contractors to include pricing to expand the MPLS connection to Academy Place.

· NPS Response – The government will provide the MPLS circuit (Century Link 3mb circuit). The bidder is only responsible for the equipment connection and Avaya configuration

· Regarding Technical Approach requirements, can a teaming partner of the submitting contractor hold the Avaya certifications for installation?

· NPS Response - Yes

· Regarding Past Performance, can PP for a teaming partner be submitted? If so, how many of the three are acceptable?

· NPS Response – Yes, Past Performance (PP) from a teaming partner will be acceptable. At least one PP from each team partner.

· Regarding the Solicitation’s Contract Terms, do they need to be signed and returned, or acknowledged in the Technical Approach?

· NPS Response -

· Regarding PWS Item #12 & #13, based on the site survey findings, is the government going to issue a modification to these requirements?

· NPS Response – The answers submitted in this document clarify and supersede the technical requirements listed in the RFP.

· Regarding PWS Item #5, please identify the characteristics, features, and security requirements of the Self-Care Portal

· NPS response – The NPS has an existing “Self-Care Portal” which was originally setup with the Avaya system installed in the Cook building. Configuration of this existing portal to include the new office Avaya system is the desired outcome.

· Regarding PWS Item #5 Please provide details on the Single Sign-on Self Care Portal referenced and advise if this is an existing system/application you use today and share how you envision the portal being used?

· NPS response – The NPS has an existing “Self-Care Portal” which was originally setup with the Avaya system installed in the Cook building. This portal already complies with government technical requirements for features and security. Configuration of this existing portal to include the new office Avaya system is the desired outcome.

· Regarding PWS Item #1 & #16, is further analysis of the trunking required (#1), given the government requires 2-PRI (#16)?

· NPS Response – No further analysis is required. The NPS will review any recommendations or suggestions by the bidder as to how to improve the system.

· Regarding PWS Item #24, please identify the required number of analog ports.

· NPS Response – 8 analog ports.

· What is the Governments Avaya Sold To number for its existing system?

· NPS Response – Avaya Sold To Number for existing Avaya system: 0051599723

· What is the current version of the Avaya Communications Manager at the Cook and Academy Place buildings?

· NPS response –

· How many standard and receptionist handsets are required?

· NPS response – 132 Standard (110 plus 20%) and 4 receptionists (no spares required)

· Is the bidder require to supply a UPS for the Avaya equipment being installed?

· NPS Response – Yes (30-minute uptime during a power outage).

· The Avaya 9608G handset is no longer sold. Will the J169 handset be accepted instead?

· NPS response - Yes

· Does the existing NPS Avaya system have spare licenses for the handsets? And if so, can the bidder use them instead of purchasing new licenses?

· NPS Response – Upon review the NPS determined that it has 500 spare handset licenses. Yes, the bidder may use these licenses instead of purchasing additional licenses.

· Does the existing NPS Avaya system have spare ESNA voicemail licenses? And if so, can the bidder use them instead of purchasing new licenses?

· NPS response - Upon review the NPS determined that it has 500 spare ESNA voicemail licenses. Yes, the bidder may use these licenses instead of purchasing additional licenses

· Will the government provide POE switches?

· NPS response – No. The bidder is expected to provide all necessary telecommunications equipment.

· Will the government provide communication and computer racks?

· NPS Response – The government will provide two 2-pole and one APC computer rack with enough space for installation of all Avaya equipment.

· What is the ESNA Voicemail system version number?

· NPS Response – ESNA Technologies Inc. Version: 10.5.16.2123

· With respect to the following statement in the SOW on page 32, are you looking for 1 year of maintenance on just the new hardware/software required for the new Building? Or for maintenance of the entire system including all existing system hardware/software and the new hardware/software required for the new Building?

· NPS Response – The NPS only wants 1 year of maintenance for the new hardware and software. The existing Avaya system is already under maintenance until September of 2021. It is the intent of the NPS to renew maintenance on all of the Avaya systems when the current maintenance contract expires in September 2021.

· Will you authorize Avaya to provide access to the NPS sold to account maintenance for estimating warranty support?

· NPS Response – Yes.

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