Additional_Questions_and_Answers_for_Internet_Soliciation.docx

Additional Questions and Answers for Internet Service solicitation # 19NG6019Q0005

Q#: The solicitation has a proposal submittal date of 20 May 2019. Can the proposal date be extended by two weeks to 10 June 2019 so that bidders have time to receive additional answers, prepare a proposal for the complexities required in this procurement and have additional time to meet the transport time needed to deliver hard copies of the proposal to the Embassy?

A#: Yes. Submittal date has been extended.

On page 24 the solicitation states “Internet Service Provider (ISP) Round Trip Time (RTT) reports the total time in milliseconds (ms) time to send a small data packet and obtain a reply back; must be the faster than 100ms for the Round Trip Time (RTT) for internet service. Also, RTT must be faster than 7ms for local data services (for instance: point-to-point channels or web pages accessed through the Cotonou, Abuja, and/or Burkina Faso Network Access Point (NAP).”

Q#11: Please specify the IP address or location used to determine the 100ms RTT requirement from Niamey.

A#11 : “We do not have a requirement that the carrier route all traffic through the US; in fact, in some cases this would be undesirable. For example, if Niamey were ever regionalized for ClassNet into Frankfurt, we would want the traffic to take the most direct path from Niger to Germany, and not go by way of the US. Most OpenNet traffic will end up coming back to the US because of the fact that the majority of the centralized resources (and all internet access) are US-based. But there are a few exceptions like the CNR hubs. Our goal is that the ISP route traffic in the most efficient manner to whatever the destination is, so that the WAN transport has the lowest latency possible.

Follow-up Question:

Q: Is “100ms RTT” to be used as a metric to determine if the contractor complies with the requirement? If so, is the metric exactly 100ms to a specific IP address or location or will the metric be based upon average latency?

A: Average Latency Q#12: Would it be possible to revise the 7ms RTT requirement to Cotonou, Abuja, and/or Burkina Faso? The latency is not believed to be achievable to all locations based on distances.

A#12: -- Please provide your best response for what you deem would be realistic to provide.

Follow-up Question:

Q: Will the agreed upon latency number be used as a metric to determine if the contractor complies with the requirement?

A: This is just one piece of the equation. Many factors weigh into this analysis. If for instance latency exceeds the agreed upon terms consistently, then it can be problematic. Opposed the latency exceeds the threshold infrequently because of global issues, then it is understood why there is a temporary issue.

On page 25 the solicitation states “The awarded ISP must have direct connection capability with major United States of America (U.S.A) telecommunication providers (ISPs) at Internet tier 1 level, having alternative line channels or backups in case of main Internet path malfunctioning.”

Q#13: Is all traffic required to traverse the U.S.A. tier 1 provider network, including African regional traffic? Can the US NAP be accessed in Europe or West Africa (other than Niamey) A#13: -- All traffic should traverse the USA. If the path to the US is down, then it can be rerouted as appropriate to get the data back to the USA in an expeditious manner. – Data shaping is done by DC.

Follow-up Question:

Q: This answer contradicts statements in answer 11 “We do not have a requirement that the carrier route all traffic through the US; in fact, in some cases this would be undesirable.:” Is answer 13 intended to refer only to traffic destined to the USA to traverse a US tier 1 provider?

A: Ideally, traffic destined to the US should go this path, but ultimately we should utilize the most efficient paths to reduce latency.

On page 26 the solicitation states “Internet Service Provider (ISP) Round Trip Time (RTT) reports the total time in milliseconds (ms) time to send a small data packet and obtain a reply back; must be the faster than 100ms for the Round Trip Time (RTT) for internet service. Also, RTT must be faster than 7ms for local data services (for instance: point-to-point channels or web pages accessed through the Cotonou, Abuja, and/or Burkina Faso Network Access Point (NAP).”

Q#14: Please specify the IP address or location used to determine the 100ms RTT requirement from Niamey. Would it be possible to revise the 7ms RTT requirement to Cotonou, Abuja, and/or Burkina Faso? The latency is not believed to be achievable to all locations based on distance.

A#14: Please provide your average latency.

Follow-up Question:

Q: Is “100ms RTT” to be used as a metric to determine if the contractor complies with the requirement? If so, is the metric exactly 100ms to a specific IP address or location or will the latency be based upon average latency?

A: Based on average latency.

On page, 27 and 28 the solicitation states in the section labeled GENERAL items A through J specifications that are in addition to specifications stated elsewhere in the solicitation and that are not consistent with the supply of internet services.

Q#16: Are these GENERAL items A though J specifications required to supply the requested services or were they included in the solicitation in error?

A#16: All GENERAL items A through J specifications are required to services – they were not/not included in the solicitation in error.

Follow-up Questions:

Q: Items C, F, G, H, and J refer to SONET or SDH technologies. Are these items intended to apply to Ethernet technologies as well, i.e. “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 U.S. Embassy Niamey” or “The bit error rate (BER) for the service shall not be greater than 1 in 10 to the 6 bits for 99.7% of the time, for all time”?

A: It looks like the service request is for Ethernet or Fiber mode of transport. Rather than stating CSU/DSU you should be able to state point of demark shall terminate in Ethernet. Some of the references in C-J look like they apply to legacy ISDN circuits. ISDN may still apply in some countries while in other it will limit the throughput and number of vendors who can respond to these requests Q: What is the technical or contractual impact of item E?

A: Item (E) should be listed as an assumption for Government responsibly and not a contractor requirement Q#17: If these A through J specifications are required in addition to those required to supply the services will there be CLIN’s added to support the additional costs required to provide them?

A#17: All A through J specifications are required and a part of the solicitation.

Follow-up Question:

Q: If items C, F, G, H, and J do not apply to Ethernet technologies can the terms be either omitted or changed to technologically relevant terms?

A: After reviewing the solicitation my statements are correct. It looks like the service request is for Ethernet or Fiber mode of transport. Rather than stating CSU/DSU you should be able to state point of demark shall terminate in Ethernet. Some of the references in C-J look like they apply to legacy ISDN circuits. ISDN may still apply in some countries while in other it will limit the throughput and number of vendors who can respond to these requests.

Q#21: How many copies of the offer to submit?

A#21: one original and three (3) copies.

Follow-up Question:

Q: The solicitation does not state that proposal submittals are to be hand delivered while this Q#21 and its answer imply that hand delivery to the Embassy with copies is required. Is this the case and email proposals are not acceptable submittals?

A: email proposals are acceptable. Please send your offers to NiameyGSOProcurement@state.gov.

Q: How to calculate the grand total of the base year?

A: Grand Total = sum of Total Firm-Fixed Price from line 15 to 20.

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