Q&As_03-25-2019.docx

Solicitation 19ER1019Q0001 – Satellite Internet Services Questions and Answers

Q1: Can the exact model number/information of the UHP Network 230 Series product currently being used be provided?

A1: No model number is visible on the equipment. The only marking is UHP 230.

Q2: Can the spare inventory/equipment for the satellite service that is currently located at the embassy be listed and information provided whether such equipment is new or used?

A2: The equipment currently in-use is used. The IBUC is one year old; the modem is three years old. The dish is about five years old. A spare IBUC, which has not been used yet, is also one year old.

Q3: Would the Government please clarify if it intends to make two awards? If yes, would the Government please clarify the objective of awarding multiple contracts for this effort?

A4: The Government anticipates making two awards to create redundancy for the Embassy’s communications capabilities.

Q5: In previous work installing antennas on roofs of US Embassies in Africa, technicians were required to have a Secret, and in some instances a TS/SCI clearance, to perform work on the roof. What level of clearance should contractor personnel hold?

A5: No specific clearance level is required. Embassy personnel will escort any workers installing equipment on the roof.

Q6: Does the Government maintain its requirement to submit hardcopies? Would the Government consider allowing Offerors to submit proposals with size restrictions electronically, via fax, or via secure online portal, like safe.amrdec.army.mil?

A6: Offers must be submitted in hard copy. We cannot be certain that we have adequate bandwidth to receive the offers electronically. We cannot be certain we would be able to download offers from an external website. Frequent power outages and disruptions to phone service make faxes less reliable. The most reliable delivery method is hard copy sent to the Embassy via express courier.

Q7: With the Government allowing the contractor to use existing equipment and the decision to evaluate as LPTA, there is significant risk introduced because of an untested setup and unknown condition (e.g. is equipment at End-of-Life). Would the Government please provide additional information as to how it plans to handle equipment that is damaged, non-functioning, End-of-life, or in need of replacement/repair during the life of the contract?

A7: The contractor may reuse existing equipment, if the equipment works for the service provided by the contractor. The contractor is not required to reuse existing equipment. The contractor is responsible for the technical sufficiency of the circuit, including services necessary to establish, operate, and restore the circuit. Except for modems and terminal equipment furnished by the Government, the Contractor shall provide all equipment, materials, and supplies required to provide the service. The Contractor shall provide sufficient technical support to ensure uninterrupted end-to-end service between such terminal points as are covered in the contract. The Contractor shall provide, properly adjust, and maintain the circuit for continuous Department of State use. The contractor is responsible to ensure that the availability of the circuit is not less than 99.7 percent per month over the period of the contract.

Q8: Is the Embassy mandating a US-based Internet Service Provider or will they accept a European ISP?

A8: The Embassy is not mandating the location of the ISP.

Q9: Will the Government please provide a picture of the antenna in order for Offerors to determine the type/model and serviceability of antenna to be used?

A9: (Dish in foreground)

Q10: Would the Government please provide the validity period for the proposal?

A10: The proposals will be valid for the one-year base period of the contract and the two one-year option periods. The performance period of the base year is expected to begin September 20, 2019.

Q11: Typically, eBGP (external Border Gateway Protocol) is the defacto routing protocol used between offeror (ISP) and upstream Internet providers. Would the Government please clarify where the protocol HSRP would be used? If HSRP is required at the remote, does the Government require Offerors to provide two (dual) satellite links to properly take advantage of HSRP?

A11: Dual satellite links are not required to be provided by the Offeror if a single satellite can guarantee a 99.7 percent uptime. HSRP and other protocols are not to be blocked or filtered.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) must permit the transit of all Internet Protocol (IP) protocols (especially IPSec), including but not limited to, User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), and IPSEC to transit without filters or proxies. Unfiltered access to the Internet is required without ISP firewall blocking. Filters or sniffers must not be established, connected, or introduced by the ISP for any Embassy channels. If there are any existing filters, sniffers, restrictions, or proxies, they must be identified, and removed prior to lease line circuit installation.

Q12: Would the Government be amicable to using an open standard protocol such as VRRP instead of a HSRP, a Cisco proprietary protocol?

A12: HSRP is used by some infrastructure critical to the network’s operation. At this time, we would not be able to support the transition to VRRP.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) must permit the transit of all Internet Protocol (IP) protocols (especially IPSec), including but not limited to, User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), and IPSEC to transit without filters or proxies. Unfiltered access to the Internet is required without ISP firewall blocking. Filters or sniffers must not be established, connected, or introduced by the ISP for any Embassy channels. If there are any existing filters, sniffers, restrictions, or proxies, they must be identified, and removed prior to lease line circuit installation.

Q13: The 2.5m C-band antenna, is with liner or circular feed?

A13: It is linear feed.

http://www.measat.com/satellite-details/#1532250423781-75f8ec85-a3c6

Q14: “HSRP protocol is required”. Where is it required?

A14: HSRP is used by some infrastructure critical to the network’s operation internally. However, all protocols must be unblocked and unfiltered through the satellite connection.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) must permit the transit of all Internet Protocol (IP) protocols (especially IPSec), including but not limited to, User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), and IPSEC to transit without filters or proxies. Unfiltered access to the Internet is required without ISP firewall blocking. Filters or sniffers must not be established, connected, or introduced by the ISP for any Embassy channels. If there are any existing filters, sniffers, restrictions, or proxies, they must be identified, and removed prior to lease line circuit installation.

Q15: “signal element timing”. Do you mean NTP?

A15: Signal element timing is used by the DSU for signal regeneration and fixing timing errors.

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