Clarifying Questions. Please review Q&A before asking additional questions..pdf

Clarifying Questions

1. Is the solicitation cancelled or live?

a. Live.

2. What is the total value of this contract?

a. Not Applicable. This has not been rewarded.

3. Does an incumbent exist?

a. No.

4. Is this a brand-new contract?

a. Yes.

5. Who is the current service provider?

a. Pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b), this requirement will be competed as other than full and open competition.

6. Are there floor plans/CAD drawings available for all locations showing Bldg. number, room number, room dimensions, and existing equipment installation layout?

a. Please see attachment.

7. What is the Bldg. number and room number of the Ft. Cavasos DEMARC for the current base telecom vendors providing exist telco services? Please include street address or Lat/Long.

a. Physical address will be provided within the contract award. Please see PWS for further information.

8. What is the Bldg. number and room number for each Bldg./location requiring service? Please include street address or Lat/Long.

a. Physical address will be provided within the contract award. Please see PWS for further information.

9. Are there sufficient air conditioning and backup power at each location to sustain network equipment in the event of an outage?

10. Is there existing equipment the new vendor will replace? If so, is there a comprehensive list of equipment already in place that you can provide?

11. Is the base infrastructure SM or MM fiber?

a. A mixture of both.

12. Is there inside wiring for each Bldg. available for use by the vendor?

a. Yes, Bldg is wired for civilian Wi-Fi.

13. There is a part in the scope listing performance of “good” and bad signal strength, but I did not see a SNR level included. Can you clarify if SNR is required?

a. Good and Bad as in is the internet working as required in the contract. The requiring activity will provide how system acceptance is determined upon award.

14. TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 2 - Industrial Crane Boom Truck - Performance Characteristics.

How is the” Industrial Crane Boom Truck” relevant to “Performance Characteristics”?

a. Exbibit 2 does not list any cranes.

15. Can you provide a coverage area map for each location? This will be required to calculate the signal coverage per the technical specifications.

a. Please see attachment.

16. What is the Bldg. construction (concrete walls/floors, drops ceiling, interior walls, etc.) for each location where Wi-Fi coverage is required?

a. Building is a concrete tilt wall with inner dry walled office spaces.

17. Part 5 item 5.1.1 (on page 37 in the pdf) lists that a comprehensive site survey, existing infrastructure analysis, design, and proposal for installation shall occur before installation which does not align with the CLIN table on page 2 & 3. What is the expectation and how can it be completed prior to the Closing date? This seems to be unreasonable for a comprehensive reply.

a. This is a task that is completed once an awardee is picked, or in this case after award. Pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b), this requirement will be competed as other than full and open competition.

18. How many devices and types will be using the Wi-Fi at each location?

a. Too vague of a question. Please Specify.

19. What is the minimum bandwidth per device for each location.

a. 5gbps

20. What is the Firewall/Security requirements for the network? If so, what is required.

a. A firewall is required.

21. The due date for questions is stated as “3:00 PM Central Time (UTC-5) on December 31, 2025”. When will the vendors receive the reply answering all vendor questions?

a. Before COB DEC 31 or Before 0900 JAN 2

22. “Period of Performance” is stated as 15 January 2026 for the start date with the response due date as “12:00 NOON Central Time (UTC-5) on January 2, 2026”. When is the date of the award and fully executed agreement to be in place for award vendor to proceed with the project? This timeline does not seem reasonable for an open Solicitation. Questions are due December 31, 2025. Proposals are due January 2, 2026. Please consider extending the deadline by one week from date of provided answers to questions to allow respondents time to evaluate RFI responses.

a. As stated in the description and in the Synopsis attachment: Period of Performance is subject to change. Contract will begin once awardee and KO have signed Approx 15 JAN. Pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b), this requirement will be competed as other than full and open competition. An extension is not needed.

23. Is there any consideration for extending the response date by 30 days due to the short timeline for vendors to respond?

24. Are there any considerations to use an AAFES MOA as a contract vehicle for the project?

25. Please provide Division 27 project specifications

a. Please provide more context to clarify what this question is asking.

26. Please confirm that the new network switches will tie to an existing network located elsewhere. If so, please provide make and models of the existing equipment so that we can provide compatible hardware.

a. Pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b), this requirement will be competed as other than full and open competition.

27. CLIN 0001-0003 is for network switches and WAPs. Please provide guidance as to how to price materials in the five-year format provided. Equipment is usually a one-time purchase. Are we to include the prices for those CLINs only in the first year and leave those CLINS blank for the option years? The provided CLINs are for equipment and internet service. How do we include pricing for the installation of the ~150 drops?

b. Pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b), this requirement will be completed as other than full and open competition. A quote is not needed. However, if you provide a quote you will have to determine how you would like to include these prices within your

CLINS.

28. whether the Government anticipates awarding to a single prime who will subcontract the low voltage install work.

a. No.

29. If there is a recommended vendor list or prime contact method for teaming on this requirement.

30. Has a Vendor already been selected

a. Pursuant to FAR 13.106 1(b), this requirement will be competed as other than full and open competition.

31. Is this opportunity still available.

a. As found in the SAM Posting description: Submission of quotations are not required, the purpose of this solicitation is to provide a notice of government intention to award sole source.

32. Should estimates be justified in the proposal with heat map snapshots? Should CLIN 0005 (Edge up to 5Gbps) include firewall licensing, IDS/IPS, and 24/7 monitoring at its monthly rate?

a. You will have to determine how you would like to do pricing. If you need to adjust the CLINS to fit your quote, then that is okay. Please note, as found in the SAM Posting description: Submission of quotations is not required, the purpose of this solicitation is to provide a notice of government intention to award sole source.

33. Will the Government accept NRC lines for installation and hardware, with MRC for support in option years?

a. To ensure I answer your questions correctly. Please provide the full name for the acronyms. At this moment the answer is No.

34. Will the Government provide the exact DEMARC and fiber handoff details (SM/MM; LC/SC) at award?

a. Yes.

35. Are there prohibited vendor lists beyond FAR 52.204-25/DFARS 252.204-7018 (e.g., component-level bans)?

a. No.

36. What is the warehouse operating hours and installation windows (after-hours/weekend permitted)?

a. Contractor must coordinate with requiring activity within 24 hours to access the facility.

37. Will the COR coordinate badging and escort requirements, or should we include a security liaison in our plan?

a. Upon award. Awardee must coordinate with requiring activity within 24 hours to access the facility.

38. Any log retention or SIEM integration requirements (e.g., forwarding logs to Army enterprise tools)?

a. Please review PWS for mentions on LOG retention.

39. Are preventive maintenance windows preferred (quarterly schedule), and must they be non-disruptive?

a. Awardee will coordinate with requiring activity, upon award.

40. What reporting format does the Government prefer for monthly performance and quarterly PM (CSV + PDF dashboards)?

a. Awardee will coordinate with requiring activity, upon award.

41. Please confirm acceptance criteria for coverage (RSSI/SNR thresholds) and latency tests—can we agree on numeric thresholds (e.g., RSSI ≥ -67 dBm, SNR ≥ 20 dB)?

a. Awardee will coordinate with requiring activity, upon award.

42. Can you confirm the anticipated award date to align mobilization (PWS indicates ~Jan 15, 2026, start)?

a. Please see question 22.

43. Please confirm if existing internet service noted in Contract Data will be replaced or augmented, and whether any cutover constraints apply.

a. Pursuant to FAR 13.106 1(b), this requirement will be competed as other than full and open competition.

44. What is other than full and open competition.

a. The definition can be found at FAR Subpart 6.3

45. The Contract Line-Item Numbers (CLINs) for the network hardware (e.g., switches, access points) list a Unit of Issue (UI) of "MONTH" for the Base Year and all Option Years. Could the Government please clarify the intended acquisition model for this equipment? Is this intended to be a lease agreement, a hardware-as-a-Service model, or a traditional fixed-price purchase where the monthly charge covers maintenance, licensing, and/or transfer of ownership?

a. This will be a 12 MONTH Fixed Firm Price Contract. You will have to determine how you would like to do pricing. If you need to adjust the CLINS to fit your quote, then that is okay. Please note, as found in the SAM Posting description:

Submission of quotations is not required, the purpose of this solicitation is to provide a notice of government intention to award sole source.

46. CLIN 0003 specifies a quantity of 14 units for the "Enterprise Network Wi-Fi 33 FAP- 23X Outdoor" access points. Given that the Performance Work Statement (PWS) requires coverage for the warehouse, administrative offices, and loading zones, please confirm the intended placement of these 14 "Outdoor" units. Are they specifically for the loading zones/exterior areas, or are they to be installed inside the main warehouse structure?

a. There are two separate CLINS, one for indoors and one for Outdoors. In terms of exact placement. Please provide more context for a more accurate answer. This will be verified by the requiring activity upon award. Please note: Pursuant to FAR 13.106 1(b), this requirement will be competed as other than full and open competition. Please note, as found in the SAM Posting description: Submission of quotations is not required, the purpose of this solicitation is to provide a notice of government intention to award sole source.

47. Are there any known ceiling heights, racking systems, or building materials (e.g., metal shelving, reinforced concrete) that may impact wireless coverage?

48. Can the Government clarify the intended outdoor coverage areas (e.g., loading docks versus surrounding yard or parking areas)?

a. Please provide more context for a more accurate answer.

49. Will the Contractor’s network be required to interconnect with any existing Government-owned networks, or is this intended to be a standalone commercial internet environment?

a. No

50. Should the Contractor provide public IP addressing as part of the internet service, or will IP addressing be Government-furnished?

a. Government furnished property/equipment will not be included.

51. Does the Government require any specific authentication method for end users (e.g., certificates, CAC, VLAN segmentation), or may the Contractor follow commercial best practices?

a. Please review PWS for any authentication methods.

52. Is the fiber entering the building commercial fiber or locally provided (on-base) fiber?

a. Yes, Fiber is ran,

53. Is the 99.5% uptime requirement measured at the demarcation point, or does it include the internal LAN/WLAN infrastructure?

a. Please provide more context for a more accurate answer.

54. Can the Government clarify whether partial service degradation (e.g., reduced throughput or isolated access point failures) constitutes an outage for SLA purposes?

a. Not needed.

55. Are there any restrictions on installation hours (e.g., after-hours or weekends) due to facility operational activity?

a. 0700 to 1530 (3:30pm) hours of operation

56. Are there any restrictions on maintenance hours (e.g., after-hours or weekends) due to facility operational activity?

a. 0700 to 1530 (3:30pm) hours of operation

57. If CLIN quantities are insufficient to achieve adequate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), how should this be addressed?

a. Please see question 45. You cannot add additional quantities, but you may adjust the structure of the CLINS. Please note, as found in the SAM Posting description:

Submission of quotations is not required, the purpose of this solicitation is to provide a notice of government intention to award sole source.

58. Will system acceptance be based on one or more of the following?

a. Successful performance testing

b. Submission of required documentation

c. A defined burn-in period

59. Will the Government provide adequate power, rack space, and climate-controlled areas for network equipment, or should these be included within the Contractor’s scope?

a. Government furnished property/ equipment will not be included.

60. Several equipment CLINs list the unit of issue as “MONTH.” Can the Government confirm whether pricing should reflect monthly recurring service (equipment-as-a-service) versus amortized equipment costs over the period of performance?

a. Please see question 45. Please note, as found in the SAM Posting description: Submission of quotations is not required, the purpose of this solicitation is to provide a notice of government intention to award sole source.

61. For option-year CLINs that use repeat network equipment (e.g., switches, wireless access points, edge devices), should offerors assume continued use of previously installed equipment, or replacement/refresh at the beginning of each option year?

a. Continued use of installed equipment.

62. Can the Government clarify whether a fiber demarcation point already exists at the facility, or whether the Contractor should assume responsibility for extending service to the building? If not available, may the Contractor propose alternative solutions currently used in Government or military contracts?

a. Pursuant 13.106 1(b), this requirement will be competed as other than full and open competition.

63. Is the Contractor required to provide its own scissor lift or man lift? Additionally, are RFC 2544 test reports required, and if so, how frequently should they be submitted?

a. Government furnished property/ equipment will not be provided. Please review PWS.

Required documentation will be listed there.

64. Are there any seismic, anti-tip, or force-protection mounting requirements for racks, cabinets, or wall-mounted equipment?

a. Not to our knowledge.

65. Are there any classified or restricted areas within the facility that would limit wireless coverage, cabling pathways, or technician access?

a. No.

66. Will penetrations through firewalls, rated walls, or exterior walls be required, and if so, will the

Government provide firestopping standards, or should the Contractor comply with UFC and NFPA requirements?

a. Government furnished property/equipment will not be provided.

67. Will vulnerability scanning be required, and will scans be Government-performed or

Contractor-performed?

a. Government only scanning.

68. Are there any prohibited manufacturers or components (e.g., NDAA Section 889 restrictions)?

a. Not to our knowledge.

69. Is organic growth anticipated (e.g., additional users, devices, or square footage), and how should capacity expansion be priced or handled?

a. Please provide more context for a more accurate answer.

70. Will the Government require Move/Add/Change (MAC) services, and if so, should these be priced separately or included within existing CLINs?

a. All required functions are listed in the PWS/ Combo synopsis.

71. Is there a not-to-exceed threshold beyond which additional access points or switches would be funded via contract modification?

a. This is a Fixed Firm Price Contract. Definition of a FFP Contract can be found in FAR 16 or FAR 2.

72. What level of background check and badging is required for Contractor personnel?

a. Please review PWS.

73. Is escort always required, or only within certain areas?

a. Please review PWS

74. What is the anticipated lead time for base access approval?

a. 24 Hours in advance

75. Just wanted to confirm this is the address that requires the 5G Internet Circuit 761st Tank Battalion

Ave, Fort Hood, TX 76544

a. Physical address will be provided within the contract award. Please see PWS for further information.