Questions_Answers_of_Internet_Service_Solicitation.docx

Questions and Answers for Internet Service solicitation # 19NG6019Q0005

On the solicitation cover letter it states that “Multiple awards are anticipated.”

Q#1: Does this mean that multiple contracts for the bandwidth amounts stated will be awarded?

A#1: Yes.

On page 5 it is stated in solicitation Clause 2.1 that the Value Added Tax applicable is 19% (also listed in the CLIN’s) but on page 46 in Additional Instruction A it states that “The Government shall not be obligated to pay any charges other than the contract price, under Article 34 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, from the Special Access Surcharges or foreign taxes, including Value Added Taxes.”

Q# 2: Can this inconsistency in whether Value Added Taxes are applicable to the services to be provided be clarified?

A#2: Value added taxes are applicable.

It is unclear whether the solicitation requirement is for a new requirement or the re-tender of an existing service.

Q#3: Is the service requested under the solicitation a new bandwidth service?

A#3: No Q#4: If the service requested is a re-tender of an existing service please provide the current contract number, the current bandwidth used and who the contract incumbent is?

A#4: SNG60016C0006, 30Mbps, incumbent is LIPTINFOR On page 23 the solicitation states “The local Telecommunication’s Internet Service Provider (ISP) contracting firm…” Q#5: Are United States bidders that will subcontract with a local Niger based ISP to provide the service acceptable to provide a proposal under this solicitation?

A#5: Yes.

Q#6: Are United States bidders that will subcontract with a local Niger based fiber optic telecommunications license holder (but not an ISP license holder) acceptable to provide a proposal under this solicitation?

A#6: Yes In the CLIN’s and multiple service descriptions the term “fault tolerance in the last mile” is required. This would require a diverse, redundant path for the circuit into the Embassy.

Q#7: As it is currently understood that only one fiber optic circuit path terminates at the Embassy is it included within the intent of the solicitation to have the winning bidder construct a second fiber optic circuit into the Embassy in order to meet the “diverse, redundant path’ requirement?

A#7: Each vendor provides their fiber optic lines to the Demarcation room and we take it from the demarcation to the Server rooms, etc. The winner will need to get the Fiber to the Demarcation room. The ISP line stops at the demarcation at the demarcation room.

On page 23 the solicitation states “One (1) dedicated Internet channel at minimum 30,624 Kbps (30Mbps) to 102,304 Kbps (100Mbps) providing fault tolerance in the last mile. HSRP protocol is required. Provider must divide bandwidth into different circuits based on /28-/29 IP group blocks from a minimum of 1Mbps up to 6Mbps.”

Q#8: Will the division of bandwidth be done by VLAN with each VLAN using a unique /28-/29 subnet?

A#8: These need to be unrestricted traffic on dedicated IPs. Each set is unique. The division of bandwidth can be done by VLAN with each VLAN having its unique IP subnet.

Q#9: Is there an expectation of how many subnets will be required?

A#9: To be determined based on the needs of the Organization. Expect at least six subnets.

On page 23 the solicitation states “Internet Service Provider (ISP) shall provide dedicated (not shared or bundled) leased channel high-speed access to the Internet; data transport media must be fiber optic, terrestrial connectivity.“ Q#10: Is a backup terrestrial microwave path on the backbone acceptable?

A#10: If there is no loss of speed/increased latency this can be acceptable.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On page 27 the solicitation states: “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 / 25) or, equivalently, its subnet mask 255.255.255.128, and ISP Gateway IP address.”

Q#15: Do the 8,192 Kbps and 2,048 Kbps connections need to each have a unique /25 subnet?

A#15: The current ENM requirement is that each VNET circuit needs a minimum of a /28 publicly routable subnet. If the carrier is able to provide a larger subnet, that’s fine, though a /25 is probably a bit of overkill.”

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.

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.

On page 27 the solicitation states: “The Department of State has a requirement for one full period, full duplex, clear channels, and digital circuits capable of supporting synchronous traffic. 30,624 Kbps, between the Main Distribution Frame [MDF] of the U.S. Embassy Niamey and the Main Distribution Frame (MDF) Beltsville, Maryland, USA .”

Q#18: Please confirm there is no requirement the services need to be extended directly to a Beltsville, MD demarcation point.

A#18: --An uninterrupted path needs to exist that can be routed with disruption. No physical paths need to be implemented.

On page 27 the solicitation states “ISP must provide Fiber Optic connectivity to the very end at the U.S. Embassy Niamey compound Telecommunications Service Entrance Facilities (TSEF) Room” Q#19: Please confirm that the “TSEF Room” at the embassy is the termination point for the circuits to be provided and that no additional internal US Embassy Niamey termination points are to be provided under this solicitation.

A#18: Correct On page 27 the solicitation states: “The Contractor is to provide fractional T-1 fixed cost pricing for this increase or decrease of digital service.”

Q#19: Please confirm the reference to fractional T-1 may instead refer to Internet bandwidth if the service is delivered via Ethernet instead of SONET/SDH.

A#19: -- That should be fine.

Q#20: How to calculate the Sub-Total?

A#20: Disregard, the only calculation is the Grand Total Q#21: How many copies of the offer to submit?

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