693KA8-25-RFI-EDEIII (Questions and Answers).pdf

693KA8-25-RFI-EDEIII

QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

1 Could you provide the incumbent contractor's name and contract #?

Incumbent Contractor: Schneider Electric Contract No.: 693KA8-18-D-00018

Does FAA plan to include NISC and DoE critical infrastructure cybersecurity guidance, including NISC SP 800 series guidance on operational technology and zero trust? Does FAA plan to incorporate CISA and DoD guidance on software defined networking for critical infrastructure communications?

With this government response, the FAA assumes that when the question references "NISC", this is meant to reference "NIST", referring to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Assuming the above, the FAA plans to include NIST guidance, including NIST SP 800 series guidance on operational technology and zero trust. In addition, the FAA follows overall NIST guidance, OMB mandates, and Executive Orders on critical infrastructure and zero trust, in particular the Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (Cybersecurity Framework [CSF]), FISMA 2014, and Executive Order 14028. These directives also apply to operational technology (OT).

However, the FAA has not made a determination at this time on including DoE critical infrastructure cybersecurity guidance. In addition, the FAA has not made a determination at this time on incorporating CISA and DOD guidance on software defined networking for critical infrastrucutre communications.

In relation to the market survey, I am curious if you would consider a IDIQ that would entail procurement of equipment only.

Essentially one IDIQ for materials then a separate IDIQ dependent on contractor task orders for installation and labor?

We are interested as a distributor and can arrange for multiple manufacturers that meet your requirements.

This might be a lower cost alternative.

The acquisition strategy and the nature of this procurement has yet to be determined, and the FAA will consider approaches that best meet our requirements. In your submission, please explain how the proposed dual IDIQ approach could offer a lower cost alternative to a single IDIQ covering equipment, training, and logistics, while maintaining vendor coordination and consistent performance across deliverables.

Questions Received & Government Responses

The three capability statement forms (A, B, & C) have a stated limit of 20 pages. Is this supposed to be 20 pages total, or 20 pages per form? Form A is already at 18 pages without being filled out.

The FAA has revised the page limits as follows:

Form A (Appendix A): 30 Pages Form B (Appendix B.2): No limit Form C (Appendix C): 5 pages

Referenced in EDE+III+Section+c+Draft+SOW (1), FAA technicians are to be trained in a myriad of operations and maintenance of hardware and software systems. Will the FAA technicians be handling all operations and maintenance or just be trained in the event they can handle more expeditiously than contractor?

The FAA anticipates that FAA technicians will handle all operations and maintenance activities.

The SOW has been revised to reflect the following:

SOW Section 4.5.1:

"FAA technicians will perform all tasks that the Contractor’s Customer Service Engineer or Field Service Representative would be able to perform during an assistance visit to a customer’s site.

Tasks must include, but are not limited to, inspection of equipment, troubleshoot/diagnosis, removal of failed parts/LRU(s), replacement of failed parts/LRU(s) and validation and certification (if applicable) that the system is operational and available for operation.

In order for the FAA technicians to handle all operations and maintenance activities, the contractor must provide Level 1 Training, Level 2 Training, and Computer Based Training (CBT) as decribed in SOW Section 4.5.1.

In Appendix C - Microgrid Components, if we have a product that is not listed but can provide value in a Microgrid, can we add to the appropriate section with a call-out and commentary?

Yes

Tab 1-Market Survey Questions