QA Letter_24Q0023.pdf

RFP No. 19GE5024Q0023 Questions and Answers (Q&A) U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon Page 1 of 5 IT equipment for Gendarmerie

Questions and Answers (Q&A)

RPSO has received the following questions (Q) and is hereby providing the following answers (A).

1. Q: In the document, there is no mention of the size of the PC required, please advise back.

A: No specified size

2. Q: Would the price and meeting specs be the main factor of award or the delivery time and the technical compliance?

A: The evaluation of offers will be based on the Lowest-Priced, Technically

Acceptable (LPTA) approach. The offered equipment shall meet all of the minimum technical specifications and the delivery terms contained in the solicitation.

3. Q: Do the IT equipment enlisted in the solicitation require supply and delivery only or supply, delivery and installation?

A: Only supply and delivery. Installation of the equipment is not required.

4. Q: If installation is required, would gate passes be required to access the site/place of performance? If so, how long would the issuance of these take?

A: Installation of the equipment is not required.

5. Q: Can you confirm if the UPS requires rackmount or not?

A: No rackmount UPS are required.

6. Q: Will you accept an external USB Arabic/English Keyboard?

A: Yes.

7. Q: In order to size out a UPS solution the following information is required:

• Load information (total wattage)

• The type of receptacles required to be on the UPS

• Runtime that is required (time you need the UPS to run when Utility

Power drops)

• Rack Mount or Tower

• The required voltage whether it’s 120 volt or 208 volt (240, 220). 230 volt is international power.

A: The requested UPSs are backup UPS

With 1000 VA

To carry up for ~ 15 min.

Tower

220V

8. Q: For the CPU, is it mandatory to have built in DVD-Writer, Audio mic and

Speakers or we can quote external DVD-Writer, Audio Mic and Speakers as well?

A: For the DVD-Writer it should be built in, while the Mic and Speakers they can be either internal or external.

9. Q: Please provide the requested brand of equipment needed for this project.

A: The brand name equipment proposed shall meet all the minimum technical specifications contained in the solicitation. FAR clause 52.225-5 Trade

Agreements and FAR clause 52.204-25 are incorporated in this solicitation. The value of the acquisition is a determining factor in the applicability of trade agreements. Offerors shall refer to the mentioned clauses in order to verify whether or not the country of origin of the intended equipment is acceptable.

U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon Page 2 of 5 IT equipment for Gendarmerie

10. Q: Installation Services: Please confirm whether installation services are required as part of this solicitation. If so, could you provide more details on the scope of installation expected?

A: Installation services are not required.

11. Q: Network Switch Specifications: To provide an accurate quote for the network switch, please clarify the following:

• Managed or Unmanaged: Do you require a managed or unmanaged switch?

• PoE Budget: What is the total PoE (Power over Ethernet) budget needed for the switch?

A: Unmanaged switches.

12. Q: TAA Compliance: Does this solicitation require all items to be TAA

(Trade Agreements Act) compliant?

A: FAR clause 52.225-5 Trade Agreements and FAR clause 52.204-25 are incorporated in this solicitation. The value of the acquisition is a determining factor in the applicability of trade agreements. Offerors shall refer to the mentioned clauses in order to verify whether or not the country of origin of the intended equipment is acceptable.

13. Q: Alternative Keyboard: Could you please confirm if a keyboard from a different manufacturer would be acceptable? If so, this may allow for a significantly faster delivery time.

A: No preference.

14. Q: Are all Chinese brands not accepted to be quoted? For example, is Lenovo as a brand accepted?

A: FAR clause 52.225-5 Trade Agreements and FAR clause 52.204-25 are incorporated in this solicitation. Offerors shall refer to these clauses in order to verify whether or not the country of origin of the intended equipment is acceptable.

15. Q: Are Taiwanese Brands Such as Acer and D-Link accepted to be quoted?

A: FAR clause 52.225-5 Trade Agreements and FAR clause 52.204-25 are incorporated in this solicitation. Offerors shall refer to these clauses in order to verify whether or not the country of origin of the intended equipment is acceptable.

16. Q: For the PC, can we offer an alternative i5 14th gen with close/similar performance to the i7 12th gen requested?

A: No.

17. Q: Is PCE UPS brand is accepted to be quoted?

A: The brand name equipment that meets all the minimum technical specifications contained in the solicitation is acceptable.

18. Q: Will the products be TAA Compliant? Or will any origin product be accepted?

A: FAR clause 52.225-5 Trade Agreements and FAR clause 52.204-25 are incorporated in this solicitation. Offerors shall refer to these clauses in order to verify whether or not the country of origin of the intended equipment is acceptable.

19. Q: Does an authorized person from our company need to be present at the delivery of the products?

U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon Page 3 of 5 IT equipment for Gendarmerie

A: Not Necessary

20. Q: Is it possible to send the products to you directly?

A: Yes

21. Q: Could you please provide more details on the specific expectations for the warranty, particularly regarding the scope of onsite support and any limitations or conditions that should be considered? Additionally, are there any specific documentation or certifications required to demonstrate compliance with this warranty requirement?

A: The Vendor is asked to repair any of the provided HW components, if it is a

PC then it can be sent to the company without bringing the technical team onsite whereas if it is a managed switch installed at a certain site, we can’t send it to the company, so an onsite visit is requested. A certificate of origin is also requested.

22. Q: Should the power supplies for the requested IT equipment be compatible with 220V or 110V? We noticed that the power standard in the host country is 220V. Please confirm.

A: True, 220V

23. Q: Do you have a preferred model for the archiving high-resolution scanner?

A: 1200 dpi with a feeder

24. Q: Cabling, and Cabling Management, Cable Distance:

• What are the specifications for cabling, including types and lengths required?

• Is there a preferred cabling management system or method?

A: Cat 6, 2 meters

No preference for cabling management

25. Q: Site Visit:

• When can a site visit be arranged to assess the installation environment?

• Are there any specific areas of concern or restrictions that need to be addressed during the visit?

A: Installation of the equipment is not required. No need for site visit.

26. Q: Cabinet Needed, If Not Availability in Existing:

• How many cabinets are required, and what are the dimensions?

• Is there a preference for cabinet type or brand?

A: For every switch a cabinet is needed to install the switch and rack mount UPS, 2U would do it.

No preference for the cabinet type or brand.

27. Q: Installation Needed or Not:

• Will installation services be provided, or is it expected that the bidder will handle installation?

• Are there any specific installation requirements or guidelines?

A: Installation of the equipment is not required.

28. Q: Patch Panel Space:

• How much space is allocated for patch panels?

• Are there any specific requirements for the patch panel configuration?

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A: Enough to install any

No Specific requirements

29. Q: Wi-Fi Connection is Needed to Certain Equipment (Printers, etc.):

• Which equipment requires Wi-Fi connectivity, and are there any specific security requirements for the Wi-Fi network?

A: WPA2

30. Q: Transportation Needed and Quantity per Location:

• What is the expected quantity of equipment to be transported to each location?

• Are there any restrictions or guidelines for transportation logistics?

A: Equipment should be delivered to and stored at the one location provided in the RFP. The ISF IT Dept. support team will carry out installation at ISF Sites.

31. Q: What is Already Existing as Equipment:

• What equipment is already in place that needs to be integrated or upgraded?

• Are there any compatibility requirements with existing equipment?

A: Not related. ISF will take care of any integration needed.

32. Q: Do We Need to Do Data Transfer or This Will Be Handled by IT

• Is there a need for data transfer services, or will data transfer be managed internally by the organization's IT team?

A: The IT department will take over the whole management, preparing the PCs, and installing them on the assigned sites with all the required SWs.

33. Q: Is Any Software Needed on Laptops or Other Equipment:

• What software applications are required on the laptops or other equipment?

• Are there any specific licensing requirements for the software?

A: The only required licenses are Microsoft Windows and Office.

34. Q: What are the Acceptable Brands for PCs, Switches, UPS?

• Are there any preferred or acceptable brands for PCs, switches, and

UPS units?

• Are there any specific technical specifications or features required for these devices?

A: PCs and UPSs: any known brand, while for switches Cisco brand or equal is preferred.

35. Q: In the Case We Get Lenovo PCs with the Specs Required, They Come

Only as DOS Without Windows, is it Acceptable to Buy the Windows

Licenses and Add Them Before or After the Check on Them:

• Is it acceptable to purchase Windows licenses separately for Lenovo

PCs that come with DOS?

• Should the Windows licenses be added before or after the PCs are checked for compliance?

A: Either way, ISF can install Windows provided the keys.

36. Q: Is Local Assembly Acceptable for Desktop and Should it Happen After or

Before:

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• Is local assembly of desktops acceptable?

• Should the assembly of desktops occur before or after the equipment is delivered to the site?

A: No, not accepted.

37. Q: Some of the printers might need to be shipped to Beirut, and this might take some time, will this be also considered as it is stated we only have 40 days for delivery?

A: Delivery is set to no later than three (3) months after date of contract award, there is ample time to ship to Beirut.

38. Q: Will these materials be exempt from VAT?

A: Foreign Vendor with all materials provided not from the Lebanese market is

VAT exempt. A Lebanese vendor or subcontractor with materials provided from the Lebanese market is subject to VAT. If applicable, offerors shall identify VAT as a separate Item Line in their quotes. The contractor will be reimbursed for VAT only to the extend listed in the contract and upon the condition that contractor provides documentary proof that VAT has been paid to the host Government against a valid registration number.

39. Q: It is also mentioned in the solicitation under: Inspection and Acceptance section that once the U.S. Government representative approves the quality and approves the inspection all payments will be made, this will include all the amount or partial amount?

A: The payment to the Contractor shall be made following satisfactory delivery of the equipment. Advance Payments shall not be authorized during the performance of this contract.

40. Q: Is there a specific connection they are looking for the UPS to have? C14, C20, L6-20P or L6-30P?

A: C13/C14

41. Q: The runtime is requested to be 15 minutes, but at what load? What type of equipment are they connecting to this unit?

A: The PC with the Monitor only.