NOSC NCCS PreSolicitation Questions and Responses121823.pdf

Question

Government Response

During the Dec 18 Pre-Proposal Conference, equipment providers was mentioned as a possible evaluation factor. Can you confirm if this includes supply chain, logistics, testing, integration and delivery capabilities? Also, shouldn’t the contractor have access to a lab where various products can be tested ad virtual solutions created to ensure the solution that best meets the government requirements is integrated into a live environment?

This is a service contract and will not include hardware or software purchasing. However, contractor recommendations on how to evolve the various technology stacks leveraged at DHS will be considered as part of the contractor's overall approach to reducing technical redundancy and cost.

Is DHS NOSC related to CISA in any way?

The DHS NOSC has some responsibilities for oversight and technical support for the CISA information enterprise. However, CISA's acquisition strategy for its internal NOSC support services was not a consideration for NCCS and may take place via another contract vehicle.

3 Is having a certified SCIF a hard requirement? An accredited contractor SCIF is not a required.

Will the SCIF be required Post award or pre award? We assume Post award as it is not listed as part of Factor 1.

Please see response to question # 3.

With regards to factor 5, have you considered orals in lieu of written response. an orals response will provide DHS an enhanced ability to evaluate the actual team who will execute NCCS

DHS will consider the use of oral presentations for Factor 5, however, the final decision will be provided in the RFP.

Can you please confirm that either GSA based Contractor Teaming

Arrangements (CTAs) or those under FAR 9.601 (1) will be accepted? And if the latter, can please confirm that Past Performance from each member of the CTA

Partnership or JV will be accepted?

Contractor Teaming Arrangements will be accepted. Past Performance from members of the CTA partnership or the JV, up to 3 submissions total, will be acceptable.

7 Do subcontractors also need a TS Facility clearance? All members of the proposal submission team must have an active Top Secret Facility Clearance.

Will the Government release a list of preferred tools (GOTS, COTS & FOSS) with the solicitation and levels of experience with each tool? (e.g. Splunk)

This information of the list of preferred tools will be released after Phase 2 of the solicitation in a reading room so that vendors have an understanding of DHS's current technology stack.

Is it your intent to perform NCCS in government facilities or via off-site contractor facilities? The specific mix of on-site, off-site (contractor facility), and off-site (telework) personnel will be adjudicated at the Task Order level. However, vendors should assume at least some dedicated on-site presence at classified government facilities in both the NCR and Stennis MS locations. The government is open to a mix of arrangements for cost containment and other innovative purposes.

Will this contract absorb all or any work currently being performed under the

HSEN (formerly OneNet) contract?

This contract is primarily a consolidation of the NextGen ESOC Leidos IDIQ and the DSS 2.0 NOSC

Infrastructure Continuing Support Services Task Order.

At first it sounded as if an onsite SCIF was a requirement, but later in the Q&A it didn’t seem required. Can you please clarify?

Please see response to question # 3.

12 Can past performance come from a subcontractor? Past performance is acceptable from a sub-contractor team member.

Does each PP reference have to include all 3 (NOC, SOC, CLOUD), or one of the

3 for each reference?

Please focus on your most relevant past performance references - DHS is looking for past performance references of similar size, scope, and complexity, which would ideally include examples of integrating NOC, SOC, and cloud application monitoring.

It appears there will be requirements in the solicitation for equipment and software VAR support. Is this correct?

Some hardware and software O&M requirements are likely to be required under Tasks 3 - 6.

Sections 2.6 and 2.8 lend themselves to XaaS solutions. Is the government interested in various XaaS solutions as part of our overall response to the eventual solicitation?

The government is interested in all potential innovative solutions that will help DHS meet the scope and objectives of the contract.