RFP QA December 16 updated.docx

December 15, 2020 RE: 36C10B21R0006 Site Survey Responses to Questions (answered in order they were received)

1. 5.2.1.1 Site Survey Report "Virtual Machine (VM) requirements" Question: This is specific to the DCIM onsite collector requirements correct, not all the VM host located on the site?

Answer: Correct. To be clear, this information is used for implementation of a data center facilities monitoring tool, not DCIM. The report will state whether the site has the capability to host VM and/or virtual servers to support the polling server requirement necessary to implement the NEO Data Center Facilities monitoring tool.

2. 5.2.1.1 Site Survey Report "Device Detail Reports" Question: The devices inventory to be collected is the monitoring devices not the actual systems within the cabinet correct? The number of devices in the Preliminary Site information exhibit only includes monitoring devices not systems.

Answer: Partially correct. The device information is required to implement a data center facilities’ monitoring tool, not a DCIM solution and the monitored device types are listed in the Exhibit A. At the cabinet level, we are interested in PDU strips and environmental sensors (if equipped) along with whether the RPP feeding the cabinet has Branch Circuit Monitoring capability. The servers, appliances and other hardware physically installed in the cabinet are outside the scope of the data center facilities’ monitoring tool requirement.

3. 5.2.1.1 Cabinet level report (Data Center) "Circuit information-Power distribution unit (PDU) Remote Panel Power (RPP) and panel associated with each circuit."

Question:

Is each PDU labeled with the circuit ID?

Do the PDU or RPP panel schedules include the cabinet ID?

Answer: While this is standard practice at the DC locations, it is not guaranteed that every PDU and every rack PDU is labeled nor does it guarantee that every panel schedule is properly annotated with the correct cabinet ID. If during the site survey discrepancies are noted, they will be brought to the attention of the onsite VA POC to request the missing information for inclusion in the Contractor’s report.

4. 5.2.1.2 Site Drawings "Contractor shall provide detailed diagrams for each device showing the device network interface and how the network connection is made to each."

Question: Will every device require a drawing or would every device type require a drawing be adequate? Sample: (10) cooling units, (10) drawing or (1) drawing showing how cooling units would connect to the network?

Answer: Example of (1) drawing showing how cooling units connect to the network is what is expected if all interfaces are the same. If different interfaces exist across same type of units then separate drawings would be required. The goal of the drawings is to understand the different types of devices and how they physically connect to the VA network such as Ethernet, MOXA, JACE, Dry Contacts, etc and whether third party equipment is required (cards, cabling, switches) and the protocol utilized by the device: SNMP, BacNet, Modbus, etc.

5. 21-NT0044 Exhibit A Preliminary Site Information ITCs_RDCs In the site summary v3 Question: 5.5.6 to 5.5.5.9 estimated number of devices per site is TBD. For pricing should we include an average based on the other sites with the exception of Cleveland Estimated devices (50) and (1050) monitoring points.

Answer: For optional task partial site survey starting with 5.5.5 through 5.5.9, provide pricing equal to 25% (rounded up or down to the nearest whole number) of the estimated devices and monitoring points per Exhibit A. As an example, 5.5.5 Orlando, FL pricing will be priced at 25% of 97 = 24 devices and 25% of 1,892 = 473 monitoring points for the partial survey. Please refer to the updated Exhibit A (v4) as this reflects updated data received based on recent site input into device types and quantities and fixed a calculation error.

6. 5.2.1.1 Site Survey Report: – Is this section intended to include Rack Elevations?

Answer: No, 5.2.1.1 bullet 4 indicates what is required from a rack (cabinet) level perspective.

7. 5.2.1.1 (1d) Site Survey Report: – Is the intent to catalog compute equipment as well? If so, why are only Virtual Machines listed and not Storage, Network and/or Non-VM Servers?

Answer: No. Virtual Machine (VM) is listed per site as it is required to act as a polling server per site; the device sends data to polling server for collection and transmission to the main NEO database server housed at a centralized location.

8. 5.2.1.1 (5) Device Detail Report: - Based on the VA provided excel spreadsheet, “Devices” appear to mean MEP equipment, please confirm.

Answer: We believe MEP means Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing. The Device Detail Report requirements can be used to expand upon the Device List provided in Exhibit A. For example, for each UPS listed, detail information in bullet 5 (b through v) should be provided in Excel format for ease of sorting and manipulation.

9. 5.2.1.3 Site Floor Plans: - Are Revit and/or AutoCAD floor plans acceptable?

Answer: No, this must be provided in Visio as stated in the PWS. The reason is the majority of VA employees and contractors supporting operations and maintenance of the NEO platform do not have access to either of those two software applications mentioned, Revit and AutoCAD, thereby making future updates to the floor plans cumbersome.

10. 5.2., 5.4, 5.5 Site Survey– Can square footage or critical power capacity of the ORL and other data centers be provided to support level of effort estimates?

Answer: It will be provided by the VA, if it’s available. This will be determined during the Site Survey Site Readiness kick off meeting as described in PWS section 5.2.1 where the awarded Contractor will have the ability to interview the facilities and engineering stakeholders for each site to capture the required information. You will be expected to follow up with the POC to request the required information in order to meet the PWS requirements as stated. If information is provided by the VA, it will be the responsibility of the Contractor to verify it for accuracy. If issues arise, the COR will be notified and provide further support if necessary.

11. 5.2, 5.4, 5.5 - Will existing floor plans/ drawings of the ORL and other facilities be provided? If so, what drawing format is expected? Can REVIT files be provided?

Answer: If they are available, they will be provided per PWS section 5.2.1, Site Survey Site Readiness. If information is provided by the VA, it will be the responsibility of the Contractor to verify it for accuracy. Please see response to 5.2.1.3 regarding file format.

12. 5.2.1.1 (6) Site Survey Report - Is there a recommended standard points list for each equipment type or shall this be determined solely by the contractor?

Answer: Recommended points list is provided (see Exhibit B) for sites that already have NEO facilities monitoring tool installed. This is provided as a guideline and Contractor should recommend additional monitoring points based on the specific make, model and serial number of the device in question as described in 5.2.1.1 bullet 5.u.

13. 5.2.1.1 – Site Survey Report - Is there a standard report template to be used or shall the contractor be allowed to determine as long as the scope content is included and addressed?

Answer: There is no standard report template required however for ease of sorting and viewing, a separate tab in Excel for each report section that matches the PWS sections is preferred.

14. 5.2.1.1 – Site Survey Report - Will electrical staff be provided to support opening of panels to verify circuit information or is the contractor to engage their own electrical subcontractor to support the survey effort? Answer: VA electrical staff will be engaged to open panels for the Contractor to verify circuit information or device specific information during the site survey period. Contractors or their Subs are explicitly NOT authorized to perform the action of opening panels.

15. General – Will the VA consider extending the Bid Response Date to allow adequate time to incorporate the answers to these questions in our response?

Answer: Extended. Now due 12/23/2020 at 1pm EST.

16. 5.2.1.1: Parts 3.c, 3.d, and 3.i: Where would this information come from?

Answer: See answer to Question 10.

17. 5.2.1.1: Part 4.d Rating (Watts): Would this be the exact load or the maximum capacity of the rack (either power strips or the circuit that supplies this rack)?

Answer: Maximum (estimated) electrical capacity of the rack.

18. 5.2.1.1: Part 4.1 Circuit Information: We can document this information from panel schedules or labeled circuits in use. If circuit tracing is required, this would require an electrician and potentially an outage, is this the intent under this contract?

Answer: The intent of this section is to review the panel schedules or labeled circuits in use. Circuit tracing is outside of the scope of this contract. If the site does not maintain panel schedules or have circuits labeled, the report will state this fact.

19. General: Are any existing AutoCAD/MicroStation/Visio drawings available, either hard or softcopy that could be used as a reference?

Answer: See response to question 11.

20. General: Can the VA furnish any drawings or existing equipment inventory for RDC VAMC or Optional Task sites prior to Site Survey?

Answer: Exhibit A has been updated based on recent newly received information from the site POCs. Existing floorplans (if any) will be made available during the Site Survey kick off meeting IAW PWS section 5.2.1 Site Readiness Site Survey. If information is provided by the VA, it will be the responsibility of the Contractor to verify it for accuracy.

21. General: Are there existing M&Ps for equipment with incomplete information, missing or inaccessible model/serial numbers? If so, can the VA provide the M&Ps? If not, will the VA be expecting the VA be requesting M&Ps as part of the solution?

Answer: Please clarify the M&P acronym. In lieu of the meaning, the Site Survey requirement is to ascertain the level of readiness of the site to implement a NEO data center facilities’ monitoring solution. The report will be required to state what is missing or inaccessible and the steps taken by the Contractor to resolve. Any issues preventing resolution will be brought to the COR’s attention for action.

22. General: Is there an existing established M&P for new equipment being installed at locations be reviewed prior to procurement to ensure compatibility? If not, will the VA be expecting the VA be requesting M&Ps as part of the solution? This will alleviate the need to order adapters or cards after installation and get monitoring online sooner.

Answer: Please clarify the M&P acronym. The Site Survey requirement is to ascertain the level of readiness to implement a NEO data center facilities’ monitoring solution. The Site Survey should indicate if cards or adapters are required in order to make the device monitorable hence the reason why the level of detail is being requested in 5.2.1.1 item 5, Device Detail Report. This is required to ascertain device status in advance of a planned NEO implementation.

23. General: Can the VA outline the additional work required at Hines?

Answer: The intent for the partial site survey at Hines location is to capture devices not previously available to be monitored in NEO and to ensure that technical requirements to implement the devices are clearly identified during the site survey period and a clear path forward identified to achieve this goal.