QAs NLEC NG 04072020.docx

Outlined in this document are responses to questions received relative to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) anticipated National Local Exchange Carrier (NLEC) Services for the Enterprise Next Generation Voice and Data Services, Solicitation 36C10B20R0026. Please be advised that any information contained herein is for informational purposes only; is offered in response to specific questions posed by prospective Offerors; and, is subject to change throughout the question and answer process. Accordingly, if there is any discrepancy between the information contained within this document, any previous and/or subsequent Question and Answer document(s), and/or the Solicitation, Offerors are hereby advised that the terms and conditions contained within the final Solicitation control.

1. The PWS states “LD shall include any access and terminating fee and charge per six second increment”, “The inbound TFS shall include any access and terminating fee and charge per six second increment.” Please amend the solicitation to provide pricing for TFS Dedicated Access.

Please refer to the Solicitation at Attachment D – Price.xlsx 03192020, Tab “Year 1 Unit Prices,” Line Item Number 87 which provides, and requires, pricing for 5.4.1.33 Toll Free Service (dedicated). Accordingly, an amendment to the solicitation is not necessary.

2. Reference RFP Section E.9 Basis for Award, (C)(4) Small Business Participation Commitment Evaluation Approach. The Government states that the “all small business” subcontracting goal is 17.5% of the total contract value. Please revise the solicitation to change the “total contract value” to “total subcontracting dollars,” as such change would be consistent with RFP Section C.10 VAAR 852.219-9 VA SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PLAN MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (DEC 2009), where the offeror’s subcontracting goal “shall be at least commensurate with the Department's annual service-disabled veteran-owned small business and veteran-owned small business prime contracting goals for the total dollars planned to be subcontracted.”

This language is correct as written and will not be revised. There are two different measurements being discussed: 1) the overall VA Goal for SDVOSB and VOSB percentage and 2) the all small business goal in the RFP. These are not the same. There is no discrepancy and; therefore, no change is required.

3. Does the Government expect offerors to include in each line item in the currently provided Pricing sheet or break out taxes into a separate taxes only line item on the Pricing sheet (as was done in the prior contract)? If the latter, please amend the solicitation to provide offerors a revised pricing sheet reflecting the taxes line item.

Please refer to the Solicitation at Attachment D – Price.xlsx, Instructions Tab, which explicitly states that the Offeror’s “[p]roposed monthly Unit Prices shall include Taxes, Fees and Surcharges (Local, State and Federal).” Accordingly, an amendment to the solicitation is not necessary. Please also be aware that 36C10B20R0026 is a new requirement for the next generation of LEC services; accordingly, any terms, conditions, and/or requirements contained within a prior contract for LEC services have no relevance to the current requirement. Please refer to the subject Solicitation for all applicable terms, conditions, and/or requirements.

4. SIP Trunking. A separate entry has not been provided for access arrangement. Access cost is variable based on site address. Is access pricing to be included with the service or priced separately? Please amend the solicitation to clarify this requirement.

Access arrangement and Access Cost are to be included costs with SIP Trunking. Access arrangement and Access Costs shall not be priced separately. Please refer to the Solicitation at Attachment D – Price.xlsx 03192020, Tab “Year 1 Unit Prices,” Line Item Number 8 which provides, and requires, pricing for 5.4.1.6 Session Initiated Protocol Trunking Session and Line Item Number 9 which provides, and requires, pricing for 5.4.1.6 SIP Seat/TN. Accordingly, an amendment to the solicitation is not necessary.

5. MPLS. A separate entry has not been provided for access arrangement. Access cost is variable based on site address. Is access pricing to be included with the service or priced separately? Please amend the solicitation to clarify this requirement.

Access arrangement and Access Cost are to be included costs with MPLS. Access arrangement and Access Costs shall not be priced separately. Please refer to the Solicitation at Attachment D – Price.xlsx 03192020, Tab “Year 1 Unit Prices,” Line Item Numbers 29 through 45 which provides, and requires, pricing for 5.4.1.8 MPLS Metro Ethernet 30Mbps to 1000Mbps. Accordingly, an amendment to the solicitation is not necessary.

6. TFS. A separate entry has not been provided for access arrangement. Access cost is variable based on site address. Is access pricing to be included with the service or priced separately? Please amend the solicitation to clarify this requirement.

Access arrangement and Access Cost are to be included costs with TFS. Access arrangement and Access Costs shall not be priced separately. Please refer to the Solicitation at Attachment D – Price.xlsx 03192020, Tab “Year 1 Unit Prices,” Line Item Number 86 which provides, and requires, pricing for 5.4.1.33 Toll Free Service (switched) and Line Item Number 87 which provides, and requires, pricing for 5.4.1.33 Toll Free Service (dedicated). Accordingly, an amendment to the solicitation is not necessary.

7. I am writing to follow up on the status of responses to submitted questions. Unfortunately, we did not see any updates on the SAM.gov site for this solicitation. That said, with the due date now imminent and a major component to the pricing requirements still not fully understood, would the VA consider an extension of two (2) weeks beyond the current due date? The additional time will allow offerors time to accurately price requested services based off of provided clarifications; thus, ensuring a price competitive and fair evaluation process.

The Government has considered the request and has determined it appropriate to extend the proposal submission deadline to April 17, 2020 at 5:00:00 PM ET.