205AE9-26-Q-00059

Questions and Answers

# Solicitation Reference

Question Answer

1 Solicitation Is this requirement a total small business set-aside or is it restricted exclusively to Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB/EDWOSB)?

Per the SF 1449 page 1 and section L.1 of the solicitation, this requirement is set-aside 100% for small business.

2 Technical What is the size of the floor or area where the drops will be installed?

The floor is 40,599 square feet.

3 General Is there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project? If yes, could you please provide us with their award number or even if the customer bought similar services in the past.

This is a new award. This requirement was solicited previously under 205AE9-26-Q-00010, which was canceled due to programmatic changes.

4 General We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services.

If not brand new, could you please provide the current /previous contract number?

Please see response to question 3.

5 Technical What are the specs or part numbers for the hardware?

This is a brand-name or equal requirement. See pages 4-5 of the solicitation for an updated materials list, which includes the specific brand name for all the needed materials.

6 Technical Are there drawings available? The data drop floor plan has been posted.

7 Technical Is it possible to confirm the approximate average and maximum cable run distances from the MDF to end drops?

Less than 230 feet

8 Technical Will all horizontal cabling originate from the MDF, or are there IDFs that will serve local terminations?

Only MDF

9 Technical Are existing cable pathways (e.g., trays, J-hooks) available for use, or should new pathway infrastructure be included?

Cable trays are already on place.

10 Technical Does the provided floor plan represent the full scope of the 300 data drops, or are additional floors included in this requirement?

The provided floor plan shows all drops for second floor.

11 Technical If multiple floors are included, could you provide corresponding layouts or distribution details?

Not Applicable

# Solicitation Reference

Question Answer

12 Technical For “CAT6A Cable – Quantity 94,” could you confirm the unit of measure (e.g., reels, boxes, footage per unit)?

Boxes

13 Technical 600 jacks are specified, while the patch panels total 384 ports (8 × 48-port panels). Could you confirm the intended termination architecture or whether additional patch panels are required?

Additional jacks are needed as spare parts.

14 Technical When referring to “rack refresh,” does this include removal and disposal of existing cabling/components, or is the scope limited to organizing and installing new components within existing racks?

Install new required components and remove and dispose of any old or non-necessary components.

15 Technical Could you confirm available rack space and whether any expansion should be anticipated?

No expansion needed

16 Technical For the six (6) 20A APC rack PDUs, should these be basic units or monitored/managed (metered or switched) PDUs?

Metered

17 Technical While standard working hours are noted, are there any restrictions on performing work that may impact network availability (e.g., required after-hours cutovers or outage windows)?

Cutovers may be performed after hours or on weekends.

18 Technical Are there any known ceiling constraints or access limitations that should be considered?

No

19 General Is a pre-bid site visit or walkthrough permitted to validate routing, distances, and installation conditions?

Due to the turnaround time for this requirement and reduced staffing, we cannot offer site visits, surveys, or walkthroughs.

20 Technical Can you please provide the part numbers for the hardware?

This is a brand-name or equal requirement. See pages 4-5 of the solicitation for an updated materials list, which includes the specific brand name and part number for all the needed materials.

21 General Will the Government facilitate a scheduled site visit or walkthrough for Building

See response to question 19.

# Solicitation Reference

Question Answer

PR4001 prior to the May 7th submission deadline?

22 Technical To ensure "minimal disruption" to IRS operations, should labor costs be calculated based on standard business hours, or will installation and rack refresh activities be required during after-hours/weekends?

The only activity that may be performed after hours or during the weekend is the network cutover.

23 Technical Does the IRS have a preferred manufacturer for CAT 6A structured cabling components and network racks to maintain continuity with existing agency infrastructure?

See response to question 20.

24 Technical Are certified test results (e.g., Fluke LinkWare reports) required for 100% of the new cable drops, and in what digital format should "as-built" documentation be provided?

Yes, a certification is required for each new cable installed.

Documentation must be provided in ADOBE PDF format.

25 Technical Is the awardee responsible for the removal and certified disposal of legacy cabling, or will the Government handle the decommissioning of old lines?

The contractor will remove and dispose the legacy cabling. Disposal must be performed following the federal government guidelines and policies.

26 Technical What are the measurements i.e., dimensions of the network rack?

Approx.. 20” x 80”

27 Technical What’s the required ladder rack length?

Please see page 5 of the solicitation, review the specs for the Hubble ladder rack (part number HLS1012B). The proposed item shall be the exact dimensions of this model.

28 Technical Are the required wall plates single or dual jacks?

Single

29 Technical Cat 6A Jacks; RJ-45’s and/or RJ-45 modules?

• If so, are the quantities the same per item(s) 600 qty?

Please refer to the materials list provided in the solicitation.

30 Technical List of required materials provided by contractor; should J-hooks be listed? If so, what is the estimated qty of J-hooks?

N/A

31 Technical Indicate whether an existing cable tray or J-hook pathway system is installed above the ceiling and can support all

Cable tray is already in place.

# Solicitation Reference

Question Answer new CAT6A cabling

32 Technical Clarify if ‘network racks refresh at MDF Room’ is limited to utilizing existing racks to install and organize new CAT6A drops, including patch panels and cable management, without rework of existing cabling or relocation of active equipment.

Equipment should be relocated within the racks if necessary, but the main work will be utilizing existing racks to install and organize new CAT6A drops, including patch panels and cable management.

33 Technical Identify if there is any decommissioned or unused cabling in the MDF racks and specify if contractor is expected to identify and remove such cabling as part of the scope.

Only data drops cabling will be impacted.

34 Technical Indicate whether power poles, floor boxes, or other approved pathways will be provided to route cabling to workstations located in open office areas not adjacent to walls.

Cable tray is already in place and cables go down to the workstations running inside the columns or walls in conduits with easy access.

35 Technical Clarify if conduit or pathway infrastructure is available to route cabling directly to the work area, or if contractor is expected to provide and install surface-mounted raceway systems.

Cable tray is already in place.

36 Technical Indicate whether existing MDF racks have sufficient space and capacity to accommodate all new patch panels and cable management.

They have sufficient space, but it is possible Telecom equipment will be relocated within the same rack, a bit up or down as needed.

37 Technical Indicate whether work is to be performed during normal business hours or if after-hours or phased work is required.

Only the cutover will be performed after hours or on the weekend if necessary.

38 Technical The BOM does not include materials for a grounding system; however, the scope references ANSI/TIA-607 (grounding/bonding). Clarify whether the contractor is required to include a grounding system as part of the proposal. Additionally, indicate whether a TMGB (Telecommunications Main Grounding Busbar) is available in the MDF for

Only rack grounding is needed.

# Solicitation Reference

Question Answer bonding.

39 Technical Do you know if there is conduit for the cables or if it will be free run?

Cable tray is already in place.

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