19GE5022R0112 Question and Answers Volume I .pdf

19GE5022R0112: Question and Answers Volume II

1. Can the Government confirm if there is an existing service at the US Embassy in Bujumbura and is there existing C Band equipment currently in service at this site? If yes, can the Government please provide the characteristics/specifications of the existing C- Band equipment including the router and modem brands and model numbers?

Answer: Yes, there is existing C Band equipment currently on site.

Equipment Make Model 2.4m Antenna/Dish N/A N/A

BUC TERRASAT IBUC2

LNB NORSAT 3120C

Satellite Modem DV3 NEWTECH MDM6000

2. Question: Could the Government support gigabit ethernet on copper (RJ-45)?

Answer: Yes

3. Question: Due to limited IPv4 resource, would the Government be open to accept a smaller subnet like, /29 or perhaps /30?

Answer: /29 public IP addresses can be accepted.

4. Question: Can the Government confirm what the RF setup is at the US Embassy site?

Answer: If it is a new RF then Government must request authorization from the local regulatory agency for telecommunications first (ARCT).

5. Question: Please confirm, how many days after award does the Government expect for the service in question to commence?

Answer: Award is to be made in fiscal year 2022 (NLT 30 Sept 2022). The service should be functional by December 1st, 2022.

6. Question: Will the government please specify if there is a preference for C or Ku service?

Answer: C band is preferred.

7. Question: Does the embassy have existing satellite remote hardware, this includes the following: modem, LNB, and BUC. If so, what is the condition/age of this hardware? If the customer possesses existing hardware, please specify if the modem located in a climate-controlled room.

Answer: Yes, the Embassy has existing hardware, and the modem is in a climate-controlled room.

8. Question: If the customer possesses existing hardware, please specify if the dish concrete mounted or on foot pads/pedestals.

Answer: The dish is foot pads/pedestals mounted.

9. Question: "If there is existing satellite remote hardware, will the customer prefer to utilize this hardware?

Answer: Yes, there is existing hardware, refer to answers on question #1 and #19

10. Please specify what power standard is required (AC/DC or outlet interface requirements).

Answer: AC 100-240V.

11. Question: If the customer has existing hardware, please specify the size of the dish in meters (example 2.4m), the amount of power in BUC, LNB model, and the type of modem?

Answer: The dish has 2.4 m and the power in BUC is 40W output.

12. Question: Is the customer amenable to both SCPC or TDMA/DAMA link?

Answer: N/A

13. Question: What type of mount can the customer's facility support? (non-penetrating roof or ground, post in concrete, wall, etc.)

Answer: Non-Penetrating roof.

14. Question: Are there any known look angle requirements for the remote caused by surrounding buildings or walls? (Line of Sight) Answer: No angle requirement.

15. Does the customer have a preference on type of service provider?

Answer: No preference.

16. Will the customer share the current incumbent and provider used?

Answer: Yes, its Delta Bridge.

17. Does the US Embassy prefer a ground or a roof antenna installation? Is there sufficient space available to host a 2.4m antenna at the preferred location? Is there unobstructed line of site in the east direction?

Answer: The Embassy prefers the roof antenna installation, there is sufficient space available, and there is no obstruction.

18. Question: Will the US Embassy, being exempt from local import duties and taxes, facilitate customs clearance and import of the equipment shipped from abroad via air freight?

Answer: US Embassy is exempt from local import duties and taxes, but we must get authorization from the Regulatory Agency of Telecommunication

(ARCT).

19. Question: Is there any VSAT equipment already installed at the US Embassy, that can be re-used for this contract? If yes, will it be possible to obtain a full list with makes/models?

Answer: Yes, there is VSAT equipment already at the Embassy.

See the list below Equipment Make Model 2.4m Antenna/Dish N/A N/A

BUC TERRASAT IBUC2

LNB NORSAT 3120C

Satellite Modem DV3 NEWTECH MDM6000

20. Question: What is the maximum size terminal the embassy can support?

Answer: Please see the answer to question # 26.

21. Is there any GFE that can be used in this service?

Answer: Please see the answer to question # 19.

22. Question: This section has a requirement for availability of 99.99%. The industry standard for satellite service availability is 99.7%. Will the government revise the satellite Internet availability requirement to 99.7% per industry standards?

Answer: 99.7% availability is acceptable.

23. Will the government permit offerors to ship required equipment directly to the Embassy in advance of the installation?

Answer: Yes.

24. Question: Will the Government be providing, as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), any existing equipment in use today, such as the antenna or terminal equipment

(ex. Modem, BUC, LNB, etc.), or is all equipment required to be new and installed for this circuit? If the Government will provide GFE, please provide a list of equipment type, make and model.

Answer: Please see the answer to question # 19.

25. Question: Is there an environmentally controlled room with power and rack space for placement of vendor equipment?

26. What is the maximum size antenna terminal which can be supported?

Answer: The maximum size of the dish is 7m.

27. Does the government prefer the VSAT terminal be roof mounted or ground mounted?

Answer: Roof mounted VSAT Terminal is preferred.

28. If roof mounted, is a non-penetrating mount required?

If roof mounted, does the roof have any weight limitations for the antenna and ballast?

Answer: Yes, non-penetrating mount is required. There are no weight limitations for the antenna and ballast.

The roof does not have any weight limitations.

29. Is 110V power available on the roof in proximity to the government’s desired location for antenna installation?

Answer: 110 V power is not available on the roof.

30. To determine the required length of IFL cabling, what is the distance between the antenna location and the customers demark?

Answer: The distance between the current Antenna location and the customers demark is 50 meters.

31. This section states “Contract performance is estimated to start in Fiscal Year 2023.”

Does the Government have a preference as to when service should start in FY23?

Answer: Services should start on December 1, 2022.

32. Does the USG require onsite maintenance support or is remote support from our Tier 1-3 technicians at our network operations center in Stafford, VA sufficient?

Answer: For initial setup, onsite/local support is required.

33. Does the Burundi Embassy currently hold any VSAT authorizations or licenses?

Answer: Burundi Embassy confirms that we have VSAT authorization.

34. Is there a current incumbent providing these services today? If so, can Government provide contract number?

Answer: Yes, there is an incumbent providing the services. Please see previous answer.

35. If this service is being provided today, can Government alert us to which satellite the current antenna(s) are pointing to? Would Government allow antenna re-pointing?

Answer: Government does not have the authorization to reveal this information.

Yes, the Government can allow antenna re-pointing.

36. If the service is being provided today, is the current antenna mounted on roof of building or on ground (where blockages may restrict certain repointing)?

The current antenna is mounted on the roof of the building.

37. It is stated that bidders are to provide all equipment necessary for a VSAT internet circuit, but is there any existing GFE that bidders can use as part of VSAT solution?

Answer: Refer to answers on question #19.

38. If there is existing SATCOM equipment, would it be possible to get a bill of materials to include detailed elements and working condition of the current SATCOM system?

39. If there is existing SATCOM equipment, what is the make and model of the antenna?

40. If there is existing SATCOM equipment, is the feed polarization linear or circular?

41. If there is existing SATCOM equipment, what make, model, and size is the BUC or

SSPA?

42. If there is existing SATCOM equipment, what modem is being used?

43. If there is existing SATCOM equipment, are there losses between the HPA and the antenna?

44. Will the antenna be mounted below a 3.0-meter height or on a roof? If roof-mounted, is there a suitable elevator that can be used to transport the antenna parts to the roof? If the antenna is to be installed on the roof of a multi-story building, how many floors are there?

Answer: Yes, the antenna will be mounted on the roof. Yes, there is a JLG lift that can transport the antenna parts to the roof.

45. Is there stable commercial power available at the base of the antenna Answer: Yes, there are power outlets.

46. Does the equipment room have stable commercial power within 2.0 meters of the modem?

Answer: Yes, there is power within 2.0 meters of the modem.

47. Is the equipment room air conditioned?

Answer: Yes, it is air conditioned.

48. Is there an existing equipment rack in the equipment room that is well-ventilated?

Answer: Yes, the room is well ventilated.

49. Will Embassy staff be responsible for connection between satellite modem and other equipment?

Answer: This will depend on the complexity of the installation.

50. Is there a suitable ground (earth) connection available at the base of the antenna and within 2.0 meters of the modem in the equipment room?

51. Does Government require any additional equipment or installation needs outside of the VSAT system? For example, are there installation requirements for Ethernet interfaces to enable connectivity in the Chancery?

Answer: No additional requirements.

52. Does Government require DBA Insurance at proposal submission or after contract award?

Answer: DBA Insurance pricing must be included in the proposal.

53. Our company is U.S.-based and will be using locally licensed subcontractors for installation and maintenance. If we are not planning on providing any U.S. citizens to work on this contract, are we still required to acquire DBA insurance?

Answer: DBA is required. Burundi is not on the waiver list.

54. Can Government elaborate on the 99.99% availability SLA? Is that for the VSAT link or overall service? If it is for overall service, does Government require spares and/or redundancies for this effort?

Answer: The 99.99% availability is for the overall service. The Government requires spares and redundancies.

55. Can Government provide more information on shipping and customs clearance? Can Government provide a diplomatic pouch, or will bidders need to do a full DDP? Any information would be helpful as nothing regarding shipping or customs clearances was included in the solicitation.

Answer: The Shipping section will need the airway bill, invoice and packing list before shipping. The shipment can come via cargo flight vice diplomatic pouch. More information can be provided by the shipping section upon contract award.

56. Please confirm that Government is seeking dedicated capacity (1:1 contention) and not service on an existing shared SATCOM network (1:2 or 1:5 contention, etc.).

Answer: Government is seeking capacity (1:1 contention).

57. Does Government require any maintenance or local support outside of initial installation?

If so, can Government provide SLAs for local support?

Answer: Yes, local maintenance may be needed in case of complex technical issues.

58. Would Government provide two-week extension to allow Government sufficient time to answer above questions and to provide bidders sufficient time to respond?

Answer: No.

59. Where are the services to be performed?

Answer: U.S. Embassy, Bujumbura, Burundi

60. Can you clarify on the services?

Answers: Please see updated pricing plan as attached which clarifies the base service and the additional optional upgrade of services. Please also see below:

61. For VSAT installation, will site require a king post or non-penetrating mount?

Answer: Non-penetrating mount.

62. Is the site equipped with existing ducts for the IFL cables between the antenna and the equipment room? What is the distance between the antenna and the equipment room?

Answer: The Embassy has a 3” conduits. The distance is 50 meters from the current Antenna to the equipment room.