Amendment 0002 - Questions and Answers.pdf

Question # Reference Question Category Question Government Response

1 RFP Section L.4 Proposal Submission Requirements Page 88; Page Limit Maximum

Contractual In addition to the two page Cover Sheet/Cover Letter, can the offeror submit a Title Page with Volume, Submission, and a Disclosure information for all phases?

The (2) pages allocated for the Cover Sheet/Cover Letter are inclusive of a Title Page.

A separate Title Page is not permitted.

2 Request for Proposal Contractual In addition to submitting Signed Amendment Standard Form(s), does the SF-1449 need to be completed and returned with Phase I? If yes, is it excluded from the page limit?

The SF1449 does not need to be submitted with Phase I, it will be required to be submitted in Phase III.

3 RFP Section L.4 Proposal Submission Requirements Page 88; Page Limit Maximum

Contractual If the Offeror has Multiple Facility Organization (MFO) of the same legal entity with a separate CAGE code for bidding and Performance locations, do we need to provide both images of NISS printout for Facility Clearance verification? Can we use a separate page (total 2) for each image for ease of readability of NISS printout for Facility Clearance verification?

Per RFP Section L.5.2.1, the Phase I submission requirements are as follows, "Offerors must provide official company name(s) and CAGE code(s)."

Offerors are NOT to provide their NISS print outs as a response to Phase I.

DHS will obtain the NISS reports.

If an Offeror is a MFO, the Offeror should only submit CAGE code(s) for the parent organization and/or where performance of this contract is proposed to take place.

4 RFP L.5.2.1 Factor 1 – Facility Clearance and Level of Safeguarding

Technical RFP L.5.2.1 requires that the prime contractor “demonstrate their current active Facility Clearance at the Top Secret level and Top Secret Level of Safeguarding.” and “DHS will verify whether an Offeror has an active Top Secret Facility Clearance and Top Secret Level of Safeguarding by utilizing the Facility Verification Notification from the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency’s (DCSA) National Industrial Security System (NISS).” Currently, DCSA operational directives do not allow for DCSA to engage in onsite visits to approve Top Secret safeguarding during quarantine unless under extenuating circumstances.

Further, this means of verification fails to recognize accredited Top Secret Safeguarding authorizations made by Intelligence Community (IC) organizations. IC safeguarding assessments and authorizations are neither made by nor reported to DCSA. Unduly restricting the validation of Top Secret Safeguarding to a system that does not identify all approved safeguarding capabilities and one where accrediation is restricted only to extenuating circumstances due to COVID the government eliminates fully qualified contractors. We request that DHS allow for verification of Top Secret Safeguarding via NISS or other documentation of approved Top Secret Safeguarding.

As indicated in RFP Section M.3.1, "The NISS report will be used for verification of an Offeror’s Top Secret Facility Clearance and Level of Safeguarding."

5 Part IV – Representations and Instructions, K Representations, Certifications, and Other Statement of Offerors or Respondents, Contractual Are Reps and Certs required for the Phase I submittal? Reps and Certs are not required for the Phase I submission, they will be required to be submitted in Phase III.

6 L.4 Proposal Submission Requirements Contractual Please confirm the front cover and Table of Contents, including List of Exhibits, are excluded from the page count?

There is a (2) page limitation on Cover Sheets/Cover Letter.

The Table of Contents are not subject to page limits. A List of Exhibits can be included in a Table of Contents.

7 L.4 Proposal Submission Requirements Contractual Can we assume that the term "Cover Sheet" is interchangeable with the term "Cover Letter"?

Yes, the (2) page limitiation applies to the Cover Sheet/Cover Letter.

8 L.5.2.1 (Solicitation) Technical Is it a requirement for all teaming partners to be listed as part of Phase I?

Will the Government allow Prime contractors to add teaming partners in Phase II of the solicitation in consideration of the sizable scope of work?

Offeror’s may only structure their proposal response as Teaming Arrangements in accordance with FAR 9.6 as either a Prime Contractor/Subcontractor arrangement or Joint Venture and/or Mentor-Protégé solution in accordance with SBA regulation and FAR 19.7.

If the proposal response is a Prime Contractor/Subcontractor arrangement, ONLY the Prime Contractor is required to submit their company name and CAGE code for verification of their Top Secret Facility Clearance and Level of Safeguarding. If the proposal response is a Joint Venture and/or Mentor-Protégé solution, then ALL Partners in the Agreement are required to submit their company name and CAGE code(s) for verification of their Top Secret Facility Clearance and Level of Safeguarding.

If the proposal response is a Prime Contractor/Subcontractor arrangement in accordance with FAR 9.6, Subcontractors can be named in Phase II and Phase III. If the proposal response is a Joint Venture and/or Mentor-Protégé solution in accordance with SBA regulation and FAR 19.7, then ALL Partners in the Agreement are required to be named in Phase I, only Subcontractors can be named in Phase II and Phase III.

DHS Data Center and Cloud Optimization Solicitation 70RTAC21R00000006 Amendment 0002 Phase I Questions and Answers

9 L.5.2.1 (Solicitation) Technical Is it mandatory for all teaming partners (prime, joint venture, etc…) to possess a TS Facility Clearance, or can the TS Facility Clearance be held by the Prime contractor only in a joint venture?

Offeror’s may only structure their proposal response as Teaming Arrangements in accordance with FAR 9.6 as either a Prime Contractor/Subcontractor arrangement or Joint Venture and/or Mentor-Protégé solution in accordance with SBA regulation and FAR 19.7.

If the proposal response is a Prime Contractor/Subcontractor arrangement, ONLY the Prime Contractor is required to submit their company name and CAGE code for verification of their Top Secret Facility Clearance and Level of Safeguarding. If the proposal response is a Joint Venture and/or Mentor-Protégé solution, then ALL Partners in the Agreement are required to submit their company name and CAGE code(s) for verification of their Top Secret Facility Clearance and Level of Safeguarding.

10 L.5.2.1 (Solicitation) Technical Will the Government permit teaming partners with pending TS Facility Clearances to participate in the solicitation process?

No pending or interim Top Secret Facility Clearances and Level of Safeguarding will be accepted.

ONLY current active Top Secret Facility Clearances and Level of Safeguarding will be accepted.

11 L.5.2.1 Factor 1 – Facility Clearance and Level of Safeguarding [pg 90 / Location:

bottom half of page] The Offeror as the Prime Contractor or all Teaming Partners proposed in a Joint Venture or Mentor Protégé response are required to demonstrate their current active Facility Clearance at the Top Secret level and Top Secret Level of Safeguarding. Offerors must provide official company name(s) and CAGE code(s) for the Prime Contractor or all Teaming Partners to include for example Joint Ventures or Mentor Protégés. Company name(s) and CAGE codes(s) must be complete and accurate. Offerors will be evaluated and given a PASS or FAIL as a result of DHS’s confirmation of the Prime Contractor or all Teaming Partners proposed in a Joint Venture or Mentor Protégé response Top Secret Facility Clearance and Level of Safeguarding.

DHS will verify whether an Offeror has an active Top Secret Facility Clearance and Top Secret Level of Safeguarding by utilizing the Facility Verification Notification from the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency’s (DCSA) National Industrial Security System

(NISS).

Contractual L.5.2.1 Factor 1 – Facility Clearance and Level of Safeguarding states in part “Offerors must provide official company name(s) and CAGE code(s) for the Prime Contractor or all Teaming Partners to include for example Joint Ventures or Mentor Protégés”. This statement could be interpreted to mean that the Government desires official company name and CAGE Code information for all identified Subcontractors as well as Joint Venture partners or Mentor Protégés. Would the government please confirm that Offerors are required to submit official company name(s) and CAGE code(s) for only the Prime Contractor and/or the member firms of a Joint Venture/Mentor Protégé response in the Phase I response?

If the proposal response is a Prime Contractor/Subcontractor arrangement, ONLY the Prime Contractor is required to submit their company name and CAGE code for verification of their Top Secret Facility Clearance and Level of Safeguarding. If the proposal response is a Joint Venture and/or Mentor-Protégé solution, then ALL Partners in the Agreement are required to submit their company name and CAGE code(s) for verification of their Top Secret Facility Clearance and Level of Safeguarding.

12 B.7 Contractor Justification for Catalog Pricing (1st Para.)

J-1, Pricing Schedule

Contractual/Legal With respect to Pricing Schedule J-1, IaaS Catalog: What were the reasons for specifying brand names and specific quantities of AWS, Google, and Azure instances?

The Government has provided estimated Catalog products/services with estimated quantities for the purpose of establishing a total evaluated price.

The IaaS providers listed in Attachment J-1, Pricing Schedule; AWS, Azure, and Google are current IaaS providers within the DHS environment. Any reference made to a specific brand name in the Attachment J-1, Pricing Schedule is solely for estimating and evaluation purposes ONLY, and will not be incorporated at time of the IDIQ Contract Award. The brand names, specific products and services, and quantities represent only an estimate of what may be purchased but do not establish a preference, a commitment to purchase, nor do they establish a limitation of what can or will be purchased on Task Orders via the IaaS Catalog.

Task Order requirements may include brand name or brand name or equal products/services that will be defined at the Task Order level after the DCCO IDIQ Contract is awarded.

13 B.7 Contractor Justification for Catalog Pricing (1st Para.)

J-1, Pricing Schedule

Contractual/Legal What market research was conducted in preparing the requirements for the Pricing Schedule J-1, IaaS Catalog?

Formal market research on the Pricing Schedule was conducted via two draft solicitation releases and individual meetings with industry. In both the July 10th and October 22nd draft solicitation releases, industry input on pricing sheets and the draft IaaS catalog were sought. In the July solicitation release, DHS asked about a catalog approach to keep pace with changes in suppliers, products, and services. In the October 22nd draft solicitation release, the draft IaaS catalog was included. In addition, individual meetings with suppliers were held in in September.

14 B.7 Contractor Justification for Catalog Pricing (1st Para.)

J-1, Pricing Schedule

Contractual/Legal What salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics has DHS provided as a basis for soliciting cloud infrastructure services on a “brand name or equal” basis?

Cloud infrastructure services are not being solicited on a "brand name or equal" basis in the IDIQ. The brand names listed in the pricing worksheets are estimates ONLY and shall be used for the purpose of establishing total evaluated price. The IaaS providers listed in Attachment J-1, Pricing Schedule; AWS, Azure, and Google are current IaaS providers within the DHS environment.

The brand names, specific products and services, and quantities represent only an estimate of what may be purchased but do not establish a preference, a commitment to purchase, nor do they establish a limitation of what can or will be purchased on task orders via the catalog. Although Task Order requirements may include brand name or brand name or equal products/services, those requirements will be defined at the Task Order level after the DCCO IDIQ Contract is awarded and can be added to the catalog as defined in the Task Order.

15 B.7 Contractor Justification for Catalog Pricing (1st Para.)

J-1, Pricing Schedule

Contractual/Legal Will DHS consider amending the RFP to include other cloud infrastructure providers for the IaaS Catalog for in addition to AWS, Azure and Google?

Product and service additions to the catalogs, including the IaaS catalogs, are permissible at any time after task order award with approval of the Contracting Officer.

Section 6.8 of the performance work statement notes that the Contractor shall manage a catalog that provides DHS access to published price lists for COTS Equipment and Software, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Professional Service offerings that are not specifically named and priced in Attachment J-1, Pricing Schedule.

More specifically, Section B.7 of the RFP notes that the ability to procure additional COTS Equipment and Software, Professional Services, and IaaS Services via associated Catalog CLINs will be available.

16 B.7 Contractor Justification for Catalog Pricing (1st Para.)

J-1, Pricing Schedule

Contractual/Legal What written justification has DHS obtained to support a single award given the federal preference for multiple award IDIQ contracts?

A determination was made pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.504(c)(1)(ii)(D)(1) and specifically relies upon FAR 16.504(c)(1)(ii)(D)(1)(i).

17 B.7 Contractor Justification for Catalog Pricing (1st Para.)

J-1, Pricing Schedule

Contractual/Legal What justification exists for bundling the IaaS Catalog pricing with the data center and enterprise hosting environment management services identified in Statement of Work Section C, when IaaS services may be obtained through a separate procurement with fulland open competition?

DHS is not bundling IaaS Catalog pricing with data center and enteprise hosting environment management services.

IaaS requirements are included in the Performance Work Statement because hybrid computing environments, which include Data Center 1, colocation enviornments, and IaaS services, are required by DHS. DHS has and will continue to have contracts, outside of DCCO, for IaaS and DHS components can continue to use those contracts. The Performance work statement notes in Section 6.8 that the catalogs are not a mandatory source of supply. The Government may use other mechanisms to acquire these products and services.

18 B.7 Contractor Justification for Catalog Pricing (1st Para.)

J-1, Pricing Schedule

Contractual/Legal Will there be an opportunity in Phase II or Phase III, or post contract award, to add products or services to the published IDIQ catalog? What are the criteria for products or services to be included in the catalog?

Yes. Adding products and services to the catalog, after the award of the contract, is the intention. Section 6.8 of the Performance Work Statement notes that the contractors shall manage a catalog that provides DHS access to published list prices for COTS Equipment and Software, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Professional Service offerings that are not specifically named and price in Attachment J-1, Pricing Schedule.

More specifically, Section B.7 of the RFP notes that the ability to procure additional COTS Equipment and Software, Professional Services, and IaaS Services via associated Catalog CLINs will be available.

Tab 1 - Industry Feedback