629-18-114 Phase 1 RFI Register 07122024 v2.docx
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- Solicitation number
- 36C25624R0010
About this file
This document is a Request for Information (RFI) related to a federal contract opportunity to expand a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility. The key details are:
The RFI provides answers to 27 questions from potential offerors regarding the solicitation requirements. The main topics covered include past performance criteria, coverage and performance requirements for the DAS, use of existing infrastructure, maintenance and monitoring, and other technical details. The government confirms that CPARS can be used to satisfy past performance requirements and that there will be an RFI period during Phase 2. The coverage requirements of -84 dBm at 100% are described as exceeding industry standards. The minimum construction value for past performance projects is $10-20 million, and the minimum AE value is $1-2 million. No changes will be made to these figures at this time.
The related federal contract opportunity is Solicitation Number 36C25624R0010 for "Z1DZ--Project #629-18-114 Expand Distributed Antenna System (DB)" issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 16.
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FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Source Selection Sensitive Information—See FAR 2.101 & 3.104 Project No. 629-18-114; Expand Distributed Antenna System 36C25624R0010
| Question |
| Answer |
RFI #1 – On page 15, under “Submission Criteria” for Factor 3, it states: “If the contractor does not possess Design-Build (D-B) experience, provide a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of five (5) projects completed by the A-E firm…in addition to the one (1) to five (5) projects submitted for the prime contractor.” If the prime contractor does not possess Design/Build experience, is the offeror to submit up to 5 examples from the A/E firm along with up to 5 examples for the prime contractor for a potential maximum of 10 projects (5 design, 5 construction), or is it a combination of the two to get to a MAXIMUM of 5 projects total?
Phase 1 proposals shall not exceed 30 pages. It is on the offeror how they wish to present their proposals within the 30-page limitation.
RFI #2 – On page 15, under “Submission Criteria” for Factor 3, regarding Past Performance Evaluations, it states: “Separately provide any completed Past Performance Evaluations, if any...Offerors shall prepare and forward…Exhibit B (PPQ) for all the projects listed by contractor…” If the offeror has existing CPARS for submitted projects, can CPARS satisfy the criteria for Past Performance Evaluation, or must the Past Performance Questionnaire be submitted for each project example?
CPARS may be used to satisfy the past performance factor. Past Performance Questionnaires not received on behalf of the offer will not be penalized during the evaluation. The government reserves the right to review all sources of past performance history.
RFI #3 – Do Past Performance Evaluations, whether PPQ or CPARS (if allowed), count towards page limit?
If PPQs or CPARS are submitted with a given proposal, then the submitted information will be counted towards the page limitations. PPQs that are submitted by a third party will not count towards page limitations.
RFI #4 – For past performance examples, do the projects need to meet both the minimum construction value ($10,000,000) AND AE value ($1,000,000) to be considered acceptable? Or is it a
This answer depends based on the submission type –
a) Design/Build Submission: Both will need to be met.
b) AE Submission: AE firm design fee will need to be met.
c) Construction Submission: Construction firm will need to be met.
| RFI #5 – 1) Regarding past performance, is the AE value of a project example considered the Design Fee of an AE firm for a construction project? 2) Or is it the value of the total project that the AE firm performed work? |
| 1) It is the fee on an AE contract – all encompassing (as detailed in a SF330. |
2) NA
| RFI #6 – Would the government consider lowering the threshold for the minimum values for both Construction and AE for Factor 3? |
| No changes will be made to these figures at this time. |
RFI #7 – Coverage requirements for 700 LTE and AWS are non-industry standard coverage requirements. Can the government provide further information on why this min threshold is required?
The SOW, paragraph 2.11.1 identifies the performance requirements. Some of these requirements will exceed industry standards and will remain as listed in the SOW.
RFI #8 – Can the government confirm if the cellular DAS also requires 100% coverage throughout, to include elevators?
Yes. See paragraph 2.5 in the SOW for coverage requirements.
RFI #9 - Can the government confirm if the area out to existing city sidewalks an interior space, or is it outdoor space?
The campus includes 11 buildings located on 26 acres. The areas to be covered includes the outdoor space to the city sidewalks on 4 sides.
RFI #10 - Can the government confirm if 2 hour rated UPS required for the cellular network or the two-way communication network, or both?
Yes. 2-hour rated UPS modules are required for both networks.
| RFI #11 - Can the government confirm which mobile network operators are currently connected to the DAS? |
| Both AT&T and T-Mobile networks are currently connected to the DAS. |
| RFI #12 - Can the government confirm the bands/technologies are currently active on the DAS? |
| This information is not available at this time. |
| RFI #13 - Can the government confirm how many sectors are on the existing DAS? |
| There are 3-sectors on the existing DAS system. |
| RFI #14 – Can the government confirm if the Code Blue Paging Channel (168.525MHz) one-way paging only? |
| One way paging. |
| RFI #15 - Can the government confirm if outdoor coverage antennas are on the campus for the VHF channels? If so, can government provide details on their locations |
| The currently installed VHF antennas are located inside the buildings. Outdoor coverage comes from these antennas. |
| RFI #16 - Can the government confirm if existing fiber can be utilized for the new DAS or will the vendor have to install all new fiber optics? |
| The use of existing dark fiber is explained in paragraph 2.2.1 of the SOW. Existing fiber and date cables and their connectors and splitters shall be tested before reusing the existing. |
| RFI #17 – Can the government confirm if vendors will be allowed to ask questions in Phase II? |
| There is a phase 2 RFI period for offerors invited into phase 2 of this acquisition. |
| RFI #18 - Can the government confirm if the current DAS is failing to deliver the desired coverage on cellular and radio? |
| Yes. The current system is producing weak signals throughout the facility. |
| RFI #19 - Can the government confirm if 4 separate cages, or 1 large with a single door that is required for all 3 MNOs? |
| One large cage with a single door shall be required. All new racks will be designed to fit in the new space. The existing cage will remain in service until the new systems are in place and then dismantled. |
| RFI #20 - The coverage requirement on 100% at -84dbm is well beyond industry standards. Will the government consider a different set of standards to meet the KPIs of the MNOs based on dominance and coverage? |
| The coverage requirements as stated in paragraph 2.11.1 of the SOW shall govern the design. |
| RFI #21 - Can the government confirm if maintenance and monitoring will need to be provided by the vendor? |
| The contractor shall warrant the system for one year with additional warrants as provided by the equipment manufacturers. A separate maintenance contract may be requested by the VA at a later time. |
| RFI #22 - Can the government confirm if any new radio signal sources are required to be added? |
| Possibly two more signals to be added. |
| RFI #23 - Can the government provide information on how the 3rd party commission company will be selected? Will that be the responsibility of the Vendor or Government |
| The third-party commissioning agent will be provided as a separate contract to the VA. |
RFI #24- Would the government consider modifying the Past Performance requirements with minimum construction value between $3,000,000?
Factor 3: Past Performance Project(s) shall have a minimum construction value of between $10,000,000 and $20,000,000 and be 100% completed for Design-Bid-Build (D-B-B) or D-B. Projects shall have a minimum AE value of between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 and be 100% completed for designs completed by the A/E firm in support of D-B or D-B-B.
No changes will be made to these figures at this time.
| RFI #25 - Would the government consider past performance of a stand-alone construction project where A/E was performed by another vendor? |
| Yes, this falls under the following: |
Construction value of between $10,000,000 and $20,000,000 and be 100% completed for Design-Bid-Build (D-B-B) or D-B.
| RFI #26 - Would the government consider stand-alone past performance that was with a small medical component, but not performed in medical facility? |
| See definitions related to recent and relevant Page 15 of RFP. |
***Definitions*** ***Recent-with in past five (5) years from the date of solicitation issuance*** ***Relevant- For purposes of this evaluation, a relevant project is defined as “design and/or construction completed in a clinical, hospital or other medical related use space similar in size and scope to this project.” ***
| RFI #27 - Would the government consider non-A/E Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build, Design, where the vendor did the design, installation, and commissioning of the DAS system? |
| Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build and Design (AE) is the minimum requirement. |
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