Q and A 19GE5020R00102.pdf

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

19GE5020R0102 JMOC Process Automation and Mission Application Questions and Answers

09/11/2020

Question 1: For the Past Performance Questionnaire – where should these be emailed? The SOW states the CO but there is no email address provided for him/her.

Answer 1: Past Performance Questionnaire shall be emailed with the proposals at the email address indicated in the Solicitation – Instruction to Offerors, gallonea@state.gov.

Question 2: For Technical Volume, Management Volume, and Quality Control Plan – what is the maximum page count and required Font Size?

Answer 2: There is no limit or minimum requirement for the number of pages or for the Font Size. The proposals shall be concise and complete, and it shall cover all the points required in the Solicitation. All the aspects required should be easily identifiable in the text.

Only information pertaining to the technical approval factors will be evaluated.

Question 3: Do we need to provide our responses for the Reps and Certs identified in section 52.212-3 starting on page 27 of the solicitation?

Answer 3: Yes, offerors shall complete and acknowledge the Reps and Certs section.

Question 4: I am assuming that a cloud-based solution is acceptable or even recommended. I did notice a reference to a 'physical server' and thought I make sure.

Answer 4: No because the Georgian government will not allow a cloud-based solution. The solution will need to be deployed on premise on physical servers.

Question 5: Has any contractor previously worked on supporting this requirement? If so, which contractor?

Answer 5: No, there has been no previous contract for this project, this is a new line of effort.

Question 6: Given the time it will take to receive and respond to questions, will the Government extend the due date to Sept. 30th to allow bidders sufficient time to receive the answers and then modify our proposals accordingly?

Answer 6: It is not the Government’s intention to extend the due date for proposals.

Question 6: Section states “Local law dictates the portion of the contract price that is subject to VAT.” Please clarify what portion of the contract price is subject to VAT.

Answer 6: As this is a USG funded project, the Georgian tax authorities will exempt the contractor from paying VAT. USG funded projects in Georgia are tax exempted based on mailto:gallonea@state.gov a bilateral agreement between Georgia and the U.S. No work under this contract will be subject to VAT.

Question 7: Is there a more detailed description of the business processes of JMOC, which underly the system that will be built, that can be shared with bidders?

Answer 7: No further detail beyond what is already in the SOW, is available.

Question 8: With what external organizations (Georgian or International) must the Contractor integrate the created software for data exchange/interaction?

Answer 8: The Georgian agencies sharing information with the JMOC are those represented on it, including Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Défense, and the State Security Service of Georgia.

Question 9: Is there currently an infrastructure (data center, network etc.) on which the software will run, or is it the responsibility of the contractor to create an infrastructure? If an infrastructure currently exists, please describe it.

Answer 9: Some infrastructure exists. The contractor is expected to install servers within the JMOC infrastructure, and to install requisite software on those servers. The contractor will be expected to integrate with the JMOC network infrastructure and make the software available to the JMOC users. Contractor is not expected to provide a solution for network integrations, this will be discussed after the award. Contractor is only expected to provide solution that includes specifications for physical server installation.

Exact network specifications cannot be shared at this time.

Question 10: If there is currently an infrastructure, is it necessary to assess the existing infrastructure for performance, capacity, and safety requirements?

Answer 10: No.

Question 11: If there is currently an infrastructure, are the infrastructure’s capacity, performance, and safety requirements guaranteed to support the requirements of the software being created?

Answer 11: Yes, however contractor is required to provide servers to install the necessary software.

Question 12: If there is currently an infrastructure, who has the authority to implement recommended changes that may be needed to run the new software?

Answer 12: Operational Technical Agency of the State Security Service of Georgia and Border Police, Ministry of Internal Affairs

Question 13: Is the contractor required to implement operational management and operational security, or is it only the contractor’s responsibility to provide recommendations?

Answer 13: No, only recommendations

Question 14: Is the contractor required to provide peripheral computer (tablet, notebooks, personal computers, printers, scanners and etc.) equipment to work with the created program?

Answer 14: No.

Question 15: One of the requirements is to set up test environment development software and a production environment to deploy the software. Does the organization have the appropriate human resources who are willing and able to develop the product?

Answer 15: No.

Question 16: Is there any preference on the database? (MySQL, MSSQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, DB2 and etc.)

Answer 16: No preference.

Question 17: Section states, “The contractor should provide a schedule for updates to the software throughout the period of performance.” Should bidders include only scheduled updates, or both updates and bug fixes?

Answer 17: Bidders should include both scheduled updates and bug fixes.

Question 18: Section states, “Training: the contractor will be expected to train the Georgian personnel….” How many users will be trained?

Answer 18: Approximately 15 personnel.

Question 19: Senior Software Engineer qualifications state, “Must have experience with new JavaScript framework including Node.js and React.js, and experience with development of Cloud-based web applications.” If no solution has yet been developed, then why are these technical qualifications required? Would the Government remove these qualifications, or describe the rationale for requiring them?

Answer 19: Although no solution has been developed, these technical qualifications emerged during the initial requirements discussions with the JMOC. The Government modified the language to read that experience with new JavaScript framework is desirable but not required, however experience with development of Cloud-based web applications is required.

Question 20: Who and which organization will have the authority to accept the application once delivered. Will this be USAID or the head of the JMOC?

Answer 20: USAID is not involved in this project. The EXBS office at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi will have the authority to accept the application once delivered, working in conjunction with the JMOC.

Question 21: Since this is a Firm Fixed Price bid and there are relatively few details in the “Performance of Work,” would the Government host a pre-proposal conference, physically or virtually, so that bidders could ask additional technical questions?

Answer 21: It is not the Government’s intention to host a pre-proposal conference.

Question 22: What are the security requirements for this project in terms of personal and site clearance? Will Georgian national security clearance or US/NATO level be acceptable?

Answer 22: No security requirements have been identified for personnel, and normal security for the site is in place (access is controlled, and contractors will be escorted in and out of the facility).

Question 23: Can information be provided upon the architecture software and applications used by the agencies and organizations that feed information into the JMOC?

Answer 23: Requested information cannot be provided.

Question 24: Can information be made available Prior to the start of the project on the information exchange requirements (IERs) between the JMOC and the other agencies in terms of data formats, applications, frequency and volume of data exchange and data consistency?

Answer 24: This information can be discussed at the project kick-off meeting to be held after the award of the contract.

Question 25: Reference is made to MTA in the document, but I could not find any explanation of this abbreviation. What does MTA stand for?

Answer 25: Georgian Maritime Transport Agency.

Question 26: Will business process re-engineering of existing processes be permissible to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the JMOC?

Answer 26: Business processes re-engineering will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Question 27: The phased approach to the program; phases one and two, indicate a traditional waterfall approach to the project in terms of analysis, design, build, test and acceptance. Does the project and the requirement lend itself to an agile approach for software development?

Answer 27: The phased approach is due to the availability of funds. There is no specific approach required, this is up to the vendor to decide.

Question 28: Once the application has been accepted for use will it be hosted on the existing JMOC architecture or will dedicated equipment be required to host the application in the JMOC

Answer 28: Dedicated equipment will be required to host the application housed within the overall JMOC network.

Question 29: Is it anticipated that the JMOC application will be required to be accessed by other Georgian government organizations?

Answer 29: Yes

Question 30: Is it anticipated that JMOC information will be accessed by US/NATO systems?

Answer 30: No.