36C25619Q0874-0001001.pdf

Commercial High-Speed Internet Access Services

Questions and Answers #1

1. The Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center (MEDVAMC) Network Contracting Office (NCO) 16 received nine (9) questions in response to Request for Quotation (RFQ) 36C25619Q0874 in support of the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS).

2. Please see below detailed Vendor questions and NCO 16’s respective answers accordingly.

A. Question #1: How many Gbps Internet circuits are needed at each location?

B. Answer #1: Per the SOW, four (4) 1Gbps at the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital (Little Rock Campus) and five (5) 1Gbps at the Eugene J. Towbin Memorial Healthcare Center (North Little Rock Campus).

C. Question #2: Please define EDI.

D. Answer #2: Ethernet Dedicated Internet (EDI) Access, also known as Ethernet DIA. This is a dedicated connection from the Local Area Network (LAN) security router to an Internet Point of Presence (PoP).

E. Question #3: Does “Provide 5 (five) each EDI 1 Gbps x 1Gbps connections or greater internet service…” and “Provide 4 (four) each EDI 1 Gbps x 1GBps connections or greater internet service…” refer to the number of Internet circuits or the number of Ethernet handoffs you need from a 1Gbps dedicated internet circuit?

F. Answer #3: It refers to the number of handoffs. It will include a /29 block of 4 IPs at John L.

McClellan and 5 IPs at the North Little Rock Campus. Each handoff must be 1x1 Gbps, not aggregated to 1Gbps.

G. Question #4: Is granting firewall and router access to VAMC personnel mandatory?

H. Answer #4: Yes. The router will be installed on Government property, and at times Government technicians may need access. Note: Access will be only done in coordination with the owner/provider.

Physical access to the router will be provided to owner’s property M-F 0730-1600 CST or anytime with coordination with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). The physical router will be located in a secure location and can only be accessed by Government Employees.

I. Question #5: Could you please clarify that the VA is looking for a total of nine (9) individual 1Gbps circuits per the SOW?

J. Answer #5: Yes, the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) requires nine (9) individual circuits from the router connected to the Point of Presence (PoP). This is nine (9) IPs at 1Gbps in accordance with the SOW.

K. Question #6: Does the JLM facility consist of multiple buildings?

L. Answer #6: No. The JLM is 1 (one) structure consisting of nine (9) stories.

M. Question #7: Does the EJT facility consist of multiple buildings?

N. Answer #7: Yes. The EJT consists of 55 buildings. They are currently all fiber-networked on VA owned fiber.

O. Question #8: Please confirm that the Simplified Acquisition Threshold for this solicitation for commercial items is $7.0 million.

P. Answer #8: No. Per FAR 2.101, Simplified Acquisition Threshold means $250,000.00. Simplified

Acquisition Procedures, in accordance with FAR 13.5, Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items means $7 million. As such, the SAT for the purpose of this solicitation is $250,000.00.

Q. Question #9: Please confirm that the Limitation on Subcontracting provision included in the solicitation will not apply if the expected contract value is below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold.

R. Answer #9: FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, as prescribed in FAR 19.508(e) shall be included in solicitations and contracts for supplies, services, and construction if any portion of the requirement is to be set aside or reserved for small business and the contract amount is expected to exceed the SAT, which is $250,000.00.