Attachment 1 Q and A.docx

Questions and Answers:

1. Will there be a split connection other than the 24/7

Answer: No, there will be no split connection

2. How many Agencies will the 400,000 Mbps be distributed to?

Answer: The Agencies are fifteen (15) in all

3. Is the contractor required to provide a monitoring tool to monitor the speed/latency?

Answer: Yes, the contractor will be required to provide a monitoring tool. Refer to page 4, Internet Services Quality under Continuation to SF 1449 Description/Specification/Work Statement.

4. With respect to fault tolerance in the last mile, does the USG has a dual entrance facility?

Answer: Yes, the USG has a dual entrance facility

5. Is this a new requirement or an enhancement?

Answer: This is a new requirement.

6. On Page 9, under “Network Identification:”

“Internet Service Provider (ISP) must provide a block of Two Hundred & Fifty-four (254) public internet IP addresses on a single subnet for Internet services. Internet Service Provider (ISP) must provide IP addresses used to identify the single subnet address in Classless Inter-Domain Routing address specification (Network IP address /24) or, equivalently, its subnet mask 255.255.255.0, and ISP Gateway IP addresses (virtual IP addresses).”

This represents a very large block of rapidly-declining IPv4 address space – most Customers request /27, /28 or /29 – is there a specific reason for so many address assignments?

If a /24 subnet is not available, what is the smallest subnet that would be acceptable/practical in this case?

Answer: Bulk bandwidth will be segmented for several other Agencies within the embassy. Each agency will be on a different VLAN possibly a /28 subnet. A /24 subnet is what is acceptable/practicable

7. On Page 9, under Network Devices, it specifies the following:

“Services provided by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) must be delivered with RJ-45 interface connectors with a 10/100baseT interface.”

Note: 10/100baseT interface will NOT support 400Mbps rate, so it should be 1000BaseT for copper interface, or 1000BaseLX for optical interface to Customer However, on Page 12, section J, it specifies the following interface: “J. The Contractor shall use the following for interface standards: OVERSEAS: RS-530 electrical/mechanical where available, or RS-422 electrical interface and RS-449 mechanical interface will be required between the DSU/CSU and the Department of State furnished equipment located at the DEMAC.”

Note: these interfaces and CSU/DSU devices were typically deployed for older, point-to-point, non-Ethernet data services.

Please confirm if 1000BaseLX or 1000BaseT is correct?

Answer: 1000BaseLX or 1000BaseT is correct

8. On Page 10, under section Service Support and Contingencies, the third bullet states “Expected service availability and reliability must be at minimum 99.97%. However, on page 44, under Evaluation Criteria, the Minimum Technical Requirements Line Quality Non-Price/Quality Discriminators state “Evidence of Reliability in achieving a. Packet Loss <=.5% b. Availability of 99.9%.” Is the requested SLA for availability 99.9%?

Answer: The requested SLA for availability is 99.9%?

9. On Page 8, it specifies RTD requirements as follows: “Internet Service Provider (ISP) Round Trip Time (RTT)... must be the faster than 100ms for the Round-Trip Time (RTT) for internet service.” Between which two points is this to be measured?

Answer: Between the ISP and the Embassy point.

10. Price evaluation preference for HUBZone’s. As per FAR 52.219-4 is there a price evaluation preference for HUBZone Companies?

Answer: This acquisition is unrestricted. Refer to block 10 of the SF-1449 form. This acquisition has not been set aside for HUBZone small business concern and therefore the FAR Clause 52.219-4 notice of evaluation preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns has not been included in the solicitation.

11. Our concern hinges on the restriction of the applicable currency. Why isn't there a provision to cater for two currencies? Why shouldn’t pricing/payment be in either US dollars or Ghanaian Cedis?

Answer: US firms can submit prices and be paid in US dollars.

12. Will the government consider allowing customers to be paid in US Dollars?

Answer: Section II (Base Period), item #2 (Pricing) which states/implies that offers are to be made in Ghanaian Cedis, but for the calculation of prices, will be converted into US dollars as stated in FAR 52.225-17. FAR 52.225-17 is applicable when/if a vendor submits pricing using a foreign currency (other than US Dollars). We have specified that we want the bids to be in Ghanaian Cedis.

13. Would it be possible to extend the response submission date from October 31, 2022 @ 16:00 PM local time to November 14th, 2022, to allow more time for Vendors to prepare their response to the Solicitation?

Answer: Yes. Offer due date is extended to November 14th, 2022 @ 16:00 local time to allow more time for vendors to prepare their response and finalize entity registration at SAM.Gov.

14. Is it possible to visit the site and take measurement?

Answer: Yes, upon request.