70Z02320RAPB02300 QA1.pdf

70Z02320RAPB02300 Q&A #1

QUESTION 1. Solicitation Page 4.The first paragraph identifies the proposal as firm fixed price, but Appendix E identifies all the GFI required to design the CMS as being not available until 7 days after contract award. This lack of required information makes providing a firm fixed price proposal difficult and very risky. Please provide the GFI at least 4 weeks prior to proposal delivery to allow bidders to evaluate the impact on the design as part of the proposal.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: GFI won’t be available prior to the proposal due date. However, Attachment E will be revised to provide additional detail on makes, models and salient characteristics of GFE.

QUESTION 2. Since the specification involves RED Switching, TEMPEST, cryptographic equipment, key management, etc., a DD-254 will be required to execute this contract. Please provide a DD-254 that identified all the security requirements that will need to be supported on the contract.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: A DD-254 will be provided.

QUESTION 3. Attachment A Requirement 3.2.2 states “The contractor shall provide a Schematic Block Diagram (DI-002).” The CDRL requires the drawings be organized to indicate compartment and/or location. Please provide the PSC shipboard drawings that show where the ship builder intends on installing the XCS equipment.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Location and compartment information is not required; the CDRL will be revised.

QUESTION 4. Attachment A Requirement 3.2.3 states “The contractor shall provide Electronic System Elementary Wiring Diagrams (DI-003).” The CDRL requires the drawings be organized to indicate compartment and/or location. Please provide the PSC shipboard drawings that show where the ship builder intends on installing the XCS equipment.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Location and compartment information is not required, the CDRL will be revised.

QUESTION 5. Attachment A Requirement 3.3.3.3 “Accurately captures all integration and interfaces between CMS and Government furnished systems (e.g. data networks, internal voice networks, radios) as defined in the GFI.” Please identify what GFI is going to be provided for each item of GFE.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: This is identified in Attachment E.

QUESTION 6. Attachment A Requirement 3.3.3.4 states “Demonstrate complete representation of all interfaces defined in the CMS specification and GFI.” Please define what the Government means by complete representation.

Government Response: Complete representation means that each and every interface between subsystem and components is accounted for in the system design.

QUESTION 7. Attachment A Requirement 3.4.5.7 states “The contractor shall perform tests at its facility.” If environmental testing is required, is the contractor’s facility expected to have the environmental test equipment.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: If environmental testing is required it is contractor's responsibility to perform at a facility of their choosing. Attachment A will be revised.

QUESTION 8. Attachment B Requirement 3.4.2 states “The CMS shall employ physical, personnel, and procedural security features to provide protection adequate to handle, control, process, and store information utilizing the Risk Management Framework (RMF) defined in DODI 8510.01 for DoD Information Technology.” Please provide the Government’s classification of the CMS per the RMF framework. Please provide the Government’s selection of control families and controls required to be supported by the CMS per the RMF framework and NIST SP 800-53. This information is required 4 weeks prior to submission of the proposal.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: CMS is categorized as High Confidentiality, High Integrity, and High Availability with Cross Domain Solution Overlay - security controls are per those designations.

QUESTION 9. Attachment B Requirement 3.4.8.1 states “System hosts and network appliances shall be configured to prevent remote access from outside the system boundary.” Please define how the Government defines the system boundary relative to the CMS.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The system boundary is the contractor furnished CMS - Attachment B will be revised.

QUESTION 10. Attachment B Requirement 3.4.8.13 states “The systems shall be configured to require multi-factor authentication for account access.” Is the Government requiring CAC-based authentication using Active Directory? If so, who is responsible for providing the active Directory server?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: No, the Government is not requiring CAC-based authentication using Active Directory.

QUESTION 11. Attachment B Requirement 3.4.8.15 is a duplicate of Requirement 3.4.8.1.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Concur - Attachment B will be revised.

QUESTION 12. Attachment C CLIN 0001 is the Design and Test Phase CLIN. Does this CLIN include the cost of hardware required for testing?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Yes.

QUESTION 13. Attachment C CLINs 1001, 2001, and 3001 are identified as the Production Equipment CLIN. The SOW and Specification do not clearly identify what hardware and software is to be priced, i.e. network switches. Please define what equipment the vendor is expected to include in the pricing.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The CLIN encompasses all of the hardware, software, drives, components, etc. necessary for the Offeror’s proposed solution, except those systems identified as government furnished in attachment E.

QUESTION 14. Attachment D CDDL DI-002 identifies data item description (DID) DI-GDRQ- 81223A as the guiding document. This DID has been superseded by DI-SESS-81223A. The two DIDs do not carry the same sections. Please clarify which is the correct DID.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: DI-SESS-81223A is the correct reference; the CDRL will be revised.

QUESTION 15. Attachment D CDRL DI-003 identifies data item description (DID) DI-SESS- 81000E as the guiding document. This DID has been superseded by DI-SESS-81000F. Please clarify which is the correct DID.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: DI-SESS-81000F is the correct reference; the CDRL will be revised.

QUESTION 16. Attachment D CDRL DI-016 identifies data item description (DID) DI-SESS- 80639D as the guiding document. This DID has been superseded by DI-SESS-80639E. Please clarify which is the correct DID.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: DI-SESS-80639E is the correct reference; the CDRL will be revised.

QUESTION 17. Attachment D CDRL DI-017 identifies data item description (DID) DI-SESS- 81253C as the guiding document. This DID has been superseded by DI-SESS-81253D. Please clarify which is the correct DID.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: DI-SESS-81253D is the correct reference; the CDRL will be revised.

Question 18. Attachment D Two CDRLs are listed as DI-019: Interface Requirements Specification and Requirements Traceability and Verification Matrix (RTVM). Which is the CDRL number?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Requirements Traceability and Verification Matrix (RTVM) should be listed as DI-021; the CDRL will be revised.

QUESTION 19. Attachment D CDRL DI-019 Interface Requirements Specification identifies data item description (DID) DI-SESS-81434A as the guiding document. DLA ASSIST web site identified no DID by that number. DI-IPSC- 81434A is listed as the Interface Requirements Specification DID. Please clarify which is the correct DID.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: DI-IPSC- 81434A is the correct reference; the CDRL will be revised.

QUESTION 20. The program total is for 3 ships, correct?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Yes.

QUESTION 21. Request an extension to the question submission date of July 2, 2020 to July 13, 2020.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The Government has allowed ample time for questions; the date will not be extended.

QUESTION 22. Please provide the due date of the proposal.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The proposal submission due date appears in beta.sam.gov on the homepage for this solicitation.

QUESTION 23. Request a 30-day extension for the proposal submission to August 13, 2020.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The proposal submission due data is extended.

QUESTION 24. Solicitation Page 5, 10 Required Delivery Schedule Paragraph 1 states “The period of performance for the design and test phase is nine (9) months from contract award date which represents the base period. After completion of the design phase, the Government may order Communications Management Systems by exercising options on the contract.”

Is the Government implying that the options will be exercised before the completion of the design and test phase? If so, what is the delivery schedule for the design phase?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The Government anticipates exercising an option just before the end of the base period (i.e., the design and test phase).

QUESTION 25. Solicitation Page 17, Section 1.0 Instruction for Proposal Content, Volume 1- Technical Capability and Past Performance. Paragraph 3 states that the offer shall submit 3 past performance references that are recent within 5 years) and relevant (similar size, scope, and complexity). Given that new classes of ships are started infrequently, this requirement appears to preclude small businesses. If three references cannot be provided that meet the criteria, is the bidder disqualified?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: No (see solicitation at top of page 22).