CMS Response - Questions Regarding CMS RFI_ch.pdf
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- Attached to
- CMS Copier Program Request for Information
- Solicitation number
- 250234
About this file
This document is a set of questions and answers related to a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for multi-function devices (MFDs). The key details are:
The RFI seeks information on vendor capabilities to provide MFDs, network testing, and industry best practices for leasing, right-sizing, and maintaining a large number of both black/white and color MFDs. The Government has agreed to accept devices with 45 ppm in B&W and color, adjust the monthly duty cycle requirement to 200,000 pages, and reduce the processor speed to the industry standard of 1.6GHz. The Government will accept FIPS 140-2 certified drives with encryption in lieu of secure disk wiping. "Normalizing" refers to the process of developing clean data by eliminating redundant and unstructured data. The toner yield requirement of 36,000 BW and 27,000 color remains, and the Government seeks a flat-rate service contract covering all repairs, parts, labor, and supplies except paper. The response date for the RFI has been extended to August 22, 2024.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| CMS MFD PROGRAM_RFI_REVISED 8142024.pdf | ||
| CMS MFD PROGRAM_RFI_FINAL.pdf |
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Questions Regarding CMS requirement of 75 - 100 multi-function black/white and color devices
1. The RFI calls for 60 to 65 black and white ppm and 50 to 55 color ppm. In order to reduce cost and still provide ample speed to the Government, will the Government accept devices that function at 45 ppm in B&W and color?
a. Yes, the Government will accept devices that function at 45ppm in B&W and color.
2. The RFI calls for a printing duty cycle of up to 300,000 pages. This is an extreme amount for a fleet of 75 – 100 devices printing 250,000 pages annually. That comes to 278 pages per device per month. The industry standard duty cycle for 45-60 page per minute devices is 200,000 pages per month. Will the Government adjust the requirement to 200,000 pages per month?
a. Yes, the Government will adjust the requirement to at least 200,000 pages per month.
3. The RFI calls for a processor speed 3.2 Ghz. This is an unusually high processing speed for MFD’s. Will the Government adjust this to the industry standard of 1.6Ghz to reduce cost and increase competition?
a. Yes, the Government will adjust the speed of the processor to the industry standard of at least 1.6Ghz.
4. The RFI mentions “confidential Print”. Does the Government require secure follow me print where print jobs are stored on a server and released at whichever MFD the user uses and authenticates at?
a. Yes, this is acceptable.
5. The RFI calls for “certificate management”. Does the Government wish to be able to push out trusted certificates such as 802.1x authentication certifications?
a. The certificate manager just verifies it is who they say they are to print their job. Most systems allow the certificate to remain in the copier memory for faster future printing or scanning. But you can also delete the certificate from the copier when the card is pulled. The speed to authenticate is not that much of an issue. There are no trusted certificates that need pushed out.
6. The RFI calls for “Secure Hard Disk Wiping”. Due to the introduction of newer hard drive technologies such as solid state drives that will not allow for wiping, will the Government accept FIPS 140-2 certified drives with encryption but without wiping?
Solid state drives will eventually be the technology used across the MFD industry.
a. Yes, the Government will accept FIPS 140-2 certified drives with encryption.
7. The RFI calls for “v. Capable of “normalizing” collected data for cross organization analysis”. Please elaborate on what “Normalizing” means.
a. Normalizing is the process of reorganizing data within a database so that users can utilize it for further queries and analysis. Simply put, it is the process of developing clean data. This includes eliminating redundant and unstructured data and making the data appear similar across all records and fields.
8. The RFI requires “toner yield to be 36,000 BW and 27,000 color”. This is an exclusionary requirement assuming the Government intends to contract for a typical MFD contract that includes service and supplies. The toner bottle yield becomes irrelevant.
a. The requirement still remains a toner yield to be 36,000 BW and 27,000 color.
9. Please confirm that the Government is seeking a Flat Rate service contract that covers all repairs, parts, labor, supplies (including toner, waste toner bottles, staples, but not paper) and all copies so no overages are charged. This is standard for the industry.
a. Yes, the Government is seeking a Flat Rate service contract that covers all repairs, parts, labor, supplies (including toner, waste toner bottles, staples, but not paper) and all copies so no overages are charged.
10. Please adjust the response date for the RFI to at least 2 business days after all questions are answered.
a. The response date for the RFI was extended to August 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
EDT as reflected in SAM.gov as of August 7, 2024.
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