QA 19GE5020R0063 Part 2.pdf

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

19GE5020R0063 VSAT Internet Service Yaoundé

Questions and Answers

Updated to 8/27/2020

Question 1: Could you please indicate what is the bandwidth required?

Answer 1: The bandwidth required is 32 Mbps up/32 Mbps down.

Question 2: Does the client already have the equipment? If so, can the client please provide a copy of the list.

Answer 2: The Contractor shall be responsible to supply all equipment.

Question 3. Will a Value Added Tax/Levy exemption be applied for this solicitation?

Answer 3: Yes

Question 4: Is it possible for us to submit an authorization after contract award, in case we are successful?

Answer 4. If the offeror has not obtained such authorization, it will be necessary to submit:

a) A thorough description as to what steps you have taken to investigate all requirements to obtain authorization to perform in the country of performance

b) Details of your findings and a description of what your organization will actually be required to undertake to obtain licensing and requisite permit(s)

c) Any impact such authorization may have on the contractor’s operating name and address

d) Specific information concerning the period of time you anticipate it will take to obtain appropriate authorization. Any plan reflecting a protracted period (i.e. more than 15 calendar days after award) in obtaining license(s) and/or permit(s) shall be rejected at the discretion of the Contracting Officer since further delay would other- wise harm the

Government.

Question 5: Is it allowed for us to partner with a local company which is registered in Cameroon in this scenario, can provide the service and teleport support and services while the local company provides local support.

Answer 5: DOSAR 652.242-73 AUTHORIZATION AND PERFORMANCE (AUG 1999) warrants you to be in compliance with all necessary requirements to do business and operate in the country of performance. Other than to review the steps you have taken to ensure compliance with host nation law, it is not the intention of the US Government to rule on whether or not, as a matter of general responsibility, the contractor fulfils licensing requirements. DOSAR 652.242-73 places on the contractor the responsibility for obtaining all licenses and permits necessary to perform the contract. The obligations to have necessary licenses apply to the “contractor” not the offeror and come into effect only at contract award. Even after award, the clause by itself does not require production of proof of licensing, but it does preclude the contractor from relying on delays in obtaining licensing as an excuse for failing to begin performance. Requesting participating contractors to submit information with their proposals concerning their respective investigations into licensing status, is aimed at precluding such post award delays which could lead to contract default in the event the successful contractor is unable to obtain required authorization.

Question 6: Do you have any requirements regarding the antenna size, modem type, RF cable length between antenna location and the main room and BUC size?

Answer 6: 50 feet from roof location to network switch. The roof location previously housed a 5 meter dish. The site has no obstructions. The site is a service building that I single story and 15 feet to the roof line from pavement. It is by the parking lot so there will never be any tall obstructions. Line of sight is clear in all directions. The building has previously housed similar equipment which has since been removed.

Question 7: Can you please provide required data Rate (Transmission speed) referenced by the

POW.

i. Required Transmission speed (Kbps or Mbps) From Washington, DC Metro Area

(CONUS) to AMERICAN EMBASSY YAOUNDE ?

ii. Required Transmission speed (Kbps or Mbps) From AMERICAN EMBASSY

YAOUNDE to the Washington, DC Metro Area (CONUS)

Answer 7: 32 Mbps up/32 Mbps down

Question 8: Is the satellite terminal to be furnished by the contractor to be included in the monthly service – Monthly Recurring Charges (MRC)?

Answer 8. The satellite terminal equipment is to be furnished by the contractor and included in the price proposal.

Question 9: What is the maximum allowed size of the Satellite terminal (earth station antenna size)?

Answer 9: Size necessary for proper operation.

Question 10: Are there any line of sight obstructions to the Earth Station Antenna (ESA)?

Answer 10: There are no substantial obstructions.

Question 11: Are there any Radio Towers, Microwave towers or WiMax (IEEE 802.16) in the vicinity?

Answer 11: No

Question 12: What is the IFL length (in meters or feet) from satellite modem to Antenna ?

Answer 12: 50 feet

Question 13: Is iDirect satellite modem required or can provider choose alternate satellite modem to optimize delivery of service?

Answer 13: The provider may choose.

Question 14: What is the anticipated expansion (data rate / transmission speed), if any, to facilitate the sizing of the Satellite Terminal?

Answer 14: 32Mbps

Question 15: What is signal element timing?

Answer 15: Must carry internet

Question 16: Should we have our previous clients fill out the Past Performance sheets and then include that as separate documentation in our proposal?

Answer 16: That is acceptable.

Question 17: The CLIN 0001 contains the following period of performance: "(Start to End) Date

09/01/2020 to 08/31/2021". When does the service needs to start?

Answer 17: The Government desire to have this service starting as soon as possible. The exact commence of the service will be specified at the time of contract award.

Question 18: Section C.1.1. Requirements states: "The experience and expertise to install a commercial satellite service with associated Internet connectivity on the US Embassy compound in Yaoundé, Cameroon." Can you please confirm if the US Embassy compound is a part of the

US Embassy territory and as such is exempt from the host country licensing regulations in the telecommunications area?

Answer 18: No, the US Embassy complies with host country regulations in respect of telecommunication licensing issues.

Question 19: Section 52.215-1 Addendum Instructions to Offerors, PART I – TECHNICAL

CAPABILITY PROPOSAL, point 4) Past Performance Information states: "b). The Offeror will be responsible for contacting the past performance points of contact referenced by offerors in their proposal. Are the completed questionnaires part of the offeror's proposal package and should the filled in questionnaires be returned by the same deadline as the proposal?

Answer 19: Past Performance are part of the proposal and should be send via email with the Technical proposal.

Question 20: The requirement states credits are applied to each individual service. Our understanding is that this solicitation is for wireless satellite service to deliver high speed internet. Is there more than one service we should be focused on?

Answer 20: The reference is to upstream and downstream.

Question 21: This section dictates the use of standard C-band to deliver the service, which normally is included in the beginning of the SOW. Also, there is no mention of specific data throughput rates for the up and downlinks, or even mention of anticipated traffic required to traverse the network to size it properly.

Is the Government looking for a strictly C-band solution or are you open to alternative solutions in bands delivering greater throughput and lower cost?

Is the Government identifying C-band due to pre-existing infrastructure located at the Cameroon location? If so, who owns the contract for the current infrastructure/service?

Without an example of traffic patterns and data usage rates, how is the vendor to properly size a wireless satellite network given the LPTA evaluation criteria?

Answer 21: Contractor shall propose the technology that they have to provide the requested bandwidth.

Question 22: SOW – NOC Locations (pg. 9 of 62) – e) Government has identified 4 key locations and roles that must be identified in the proposal response, dictating how a vendor provides NOC support services.

US based companies provide global NOC support services all the time without the need for an additional International NOC location. Also, the title of Global Operations Director can be different depending on the company with the same responsibility level. Will the Government allow a vendor to provide their own NOC structure approach instead of dictating the different levels as is stated in the current SOW?

Answer 22: Proposals shall be based upon the NOC support services included in the SOW.

Additional alternate price proposals may be considered.

Question 23: Can the client provide shipping direction/instruction for this solicitation? Can the

Contractor send the equipment directly to the Embassy address through private logistical providers ie. Dhl?

Answer 23: Yes. Shipment shall be addressed to:

US Embassy Yaoundé

Avenue Rosa Parks

Yaoundé, Cameroon

The Contractor shall be responsible of the transportation f.o.b. destination to the designated delivery point. The POC will assist the contractor for coordination and assistance with custom clearance. All cost and documentation required for importation remains responsibility of the contractor.

Questions 24: The provisions of Dosar 652.242-73 that authorization to operate and do business in Cameroon will be obtained. Actually, we are a European teleport operator. However, we are not registered in Cameroon. the registration and obtaining of authorization for situations like this can take months due to all kinds of red tape. Does this rule effectively rule out all foreign companies (US based companies and otherwise)?

Answer 24: No. Please refer to Answer 5 for more details.

Question 25: Please clarify secondary mission of the service desk- to provide new installations, moves, additions, and changes to a user's service. Does this refer to activities covered by the

POW or outside of the POW? How will scope changes to POW be handled?

Answer 25: This language has been removed from the Solicitation.

Question 26: Section C.1.1. Requirements states:" Procure and ship the equipment to post via

State Department approved channel". Can you please clarify what a Stated Department approved channel is? Will the embassy take care of customs clearance in Cameroon?

Answer 26: Language has been removed.

Question 27: Is this solicitation open for all to bid of any nationality?

Answer 27: Yes, there is no restriction of nationality for this Solicitation.

Question 28: Can we offer as a JV?

Answer 28: Yes, you can.

Question 29: Is this contract managed by US Embassy in Germany?

Answer 29: The contract will be administrated from Regional Procurement Support Office

Frankfurt while the technical representative (COR) will be in Yaoundé.

Question 30: This section identifies iDirect as the solution with requirements to monitor the iDirect network. Is the Government calling out the requirement for an iDirect network?

Answer 30: This language has been removed.

Question 31: Will the Government adjust the period of Performance to 15 September 2020 – 14

September 2021?

Answer 31: It will be adjusted at the time of award.

Question 32: SOW. The requirement states credits are applied to each individual service. Our understanding is that this solicitation is for wireless satellite service to deliver high speed internet. Is there more than one service we should be focused on?

Answer 32: No

Question 33: The SOW states the following requirement for vendors, “The vendor will monitor deployed systems including fixed and mobile, managed, shared or dedicated networks.” Our understanding is that this is a fixed VSAT network configuration into the embassy in Cameroon, not a mobile service. Further, the Government clearly stated the requirement for a dedicated network. Is a mobile network required?

Answer 33: Language has been removed from the Statement of work.

Question 34: Can the Government confirm if the latency should be measured between the VSAR

Equipment at the US embassy and the vendor’s satellite gateway?

Answer 34: The Government confirm that the latency should be measured between the

VSAR Equipment at the US embassy and the vendor’s satellite gateway.

Question 35: Is European Internet access acceptable or does the government require access from a Gateway located in the United States?

Answer 35: European Internet access is acceptable.