36C10A20R0003-0004001.pdf

QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES

Amendment 0003

1. Are the 20 visits per year mentioned in the PWS per site?

Response: There are a total of 32 VA directed visits (travel) a year.

a. Six (6) in Section 4..3 – Travel

b. One (1) in Section 5.4.4 – Emergency Operations Support

c. One (1) in Section 5.4.5.1 – National Drills Support

d. Twenty four (24) in Section 5.4.5.2. – On-Site Field Support

They will usually be at one of the sites listed in the inventory but which particular site depends on events yet to happen.

2. Is a PMCS schedule required for each system, if so, how does this work with the 20 site visits?

Response: This is a managed service contract, the offeror is responsible for determining and appropriately conducting preventive maintenance checks and services (PMCS). PMCS visits, or any other required maintenance visit, is not considered within the visits identified by the VA.

3. If a touch visit is required for a site for service, does that reduce the number of site visits required?

Response: This is a managed service contract, the offeror is responsible for any required touch visit. Any required maintenance visit or “touch” visit is not considered within the visits identified by the VA.

4. Are the training visits counted as site visits since they are for a longer period of time?

Response. No. On-Site Field Support visits, para 5.4.5.2, are for unscheduled events or emergent issues as determined by the VA. Training visits are to be provided in accordance with PWS paragraph 5.7.

5. Is there a minimum amount of time the technician should be onsite for each technical visit?

Response: Each Section listed in question on specifically states the duration of travel. A “day” is to be considered 8 hours on site. Should the reason for travel be resolved sooner than a full day the PM or COR shall be consulted for permission to leave early.

6. Are special IDs required for each location or will each site visit be an escorted visit by site personnel?

Response: All on-site visits will be escorted by VA employees.

7. Reference PWS Section 6.2.2. Contractor Personnel Security Requirements, subsections: e & f. Will the VA recognize contractor personnel with active DOD Secret

Clearances in lieu of submitting SF85, SF85P or SF86 forms and by pass the subsequent e-Quip process. Also, reference DOD Defense Security Service ISL 2019-

02 dated May 8, 2019 where DSS will provide industrial security services to the

Department of Veterans Affairs.

Response: All contractor personnel shall submit required information regardless of current or previous clearances issued by other Government Departments. If an investigation is not required, the SIC will identify it at the appropriate time.

8. Reference 5.2 and Technical Evaluation. In the Technical Evaluation section of the

RFP, it is stated "Offeror’s written document that provides proof of FIPS 140-2, level 1 or better NIST certified 256-bit AES certification for terrestrial links to and from the hub, data transmitted over satellite communication links, and wireless access points as required by section 5.2 of the PWS." Then again in PWS section 5 it states, "All

Wireless Access Points shall be encrypted with FIPS 140-2, level 1 or better NIST certified 256-bit AES encryption". NIST Certified AES FIPS140-2Level 1 encryption over

Wi-Fi is accomplished with AES/CCMP encryption due to the interoperability with the

802.11 standards and therefore cannot meet a 256-bit encryption level. Will the

Government amend their RFP to remove the 256-bit encryption requirement over Wi-Fi?

Response: No. The VA Wireless Baseline Document requirement is AES 256-bit encryption.