Responses to Questions 128 to 162.pdf

70Z02320RAPB02300 Q&A #7

Question 128. Attachment B, Requirement 3.2.5 states “The XCS RED Switching

System shall have a Gigabit Ethernet interface for outputting IP-based voice protocols via an

802.3 Gigabit Ethernet connection to the Cutter Classified LAN.” Please identify the destination and format requirements of these IP-based voice transmissions.

Government Response: Destinations are the CEUTs and Digital Voice Recorder, a specific VOIP format is not required, this is for the offeror to decide.

Question 129. Attachment B, Requirement 3.2.6 states “The XCS BLACK Switching

System shall have a Gigabit Ethernet interface for outputting IP-based voice protocols via an

802.3 Gigabit Ethernet connection to the Cutter Unclassified LAN.” Please identify the destination and format requirements of these IP-based voice transmissions.

Government Response: Destinations are the CEUTs and Digital Voice Recorder, a specific VOIP format is not required, this is for the offeror to decide.

Question 130. Non-VoIP radio outputs need to be converted to IP Based format. Are there preferred CODECs for the conversion?

Government Response: No.

Question 131. Is RTP or SRTP required to distribute the voice communication channels?

Question 132. There are 30 connections expected on the UNCLASSLAN. Are those 30 connections full duplex or are some of them receive channels only? The assumption is that each connection requires audio interface and discrete IO. Can you provide a standard minimum connection interface and be defined by signal type and function?

Government Response: 3 are for receive only channels. We cannot provide a standard minimum interface.

Question 133. How many connections are expected on the CLASSLAN?

Government Response: 5.

Question 134. Is the assumption that the sound powered telephone system is integrated but independent of the CMS electronics/distribution a valid assumption. Is it used for emergency only?

Government Response: Yes it is an integrated independent system; no it is not used for emergencies only.

Question 135. At the CEUT, how is the authentication performed? Assumption is that authentication will drive the authority given. Please confirm.

Government Response: Yes, the authentication at the CEUT drives the authority granted.

The method of authentication is determined by the offeror.

Question 136. Are there any concerns about assigning secure audio to loudspeaker with respect to Red/Black separation?

Government Response: Yes - strict RED/BLACK separation must be maintained per

CNSSAM TEMPEST 01/13 Red/Black Installation Guidance Table 2.

Question 137. Do we need to consider potential audio loopback when audio is played on loudspeaker – do we need to have a mute function to prevent loopback when loudspeaker is near the speaker?

Question 138. Loudhailer speaker is treated differently than other group

(3.2.9.10.4) Please clarify the requirement related to Loudhailer.

Government Response: RED channels shall not be assignable to the loudhailer, nor is volume control of the loudhailer by the CEUT required. See revised attachment B

Question 139. Is there relaxation of the Red/Black separation at the headset? Is a lockout mechanism required to prevent red audio at the headset to be picked up by a Black mic transmitting on UNCLASSLAN?

Government Response: No. CEUTS and handsets must meet the requirements of

CNSSAM TEMPEST 01/13 Red/Black Installation Guidance.

Question 140. Solicitation Page 19, General Instructions, 1) Proposal Page Limits and

Copies Paragraph 1identifies that Volume 1 may contain CMS drawings and states that the volumes must be on 8”x11” paper. Are the CMS drawings restricted to 8.5”X11” paper?

Government Response: No, drawings are restricted to maximum size that can reduced to

8.5”x11” with a single fold (e.g., 17” x11”).

Question 141. Solicitation Page 19 General Instructions, Proposal Submission Paragraph

1 identifies that the proposal is submitted electronically to the contracting officer. Does the Coast

Guard have any limits to the size of the email and the types of attachments included in the email?

Government Response: 10 MB maximum size - ZIP archive is allowable, MS Office compatible, or PDF, no scripts or executable code.

Question 142. Attachment B Requirement 3.4.8.4.1 defines the exact wording of the banner. Requirement 3.4.8.4.2 states “The Administrator role shall have the ability to modify the terms of use banner.” Since the banner is a specifically specified by policy, is there any restrictions or controls on the changing of the banner by an administrator?

Question 143. CEUT is either touch or lighted switches. Can a combination of touch and lighted switches be proposed?

Government Response: Yes.

Question 144. Is there an external clock interface to provide accurate time for timestamp? Is NTP sufficient for timestamp?

Government Response: Yes to both.

Question 145. Could you clarify the meaning of Frequency Management Rules.

Government Response: The CMS shall not allow a radio to be tuned to the same frequency as another radio, or a frequency not allowed under the current communications plan.

See revised Attachment B.

Question 146. The CEUT is expected to interface with wireless voice circuits. This seems to be in violation of the cybersecurity requirement which prevents the use of wireless. Is wireless allowed or not?

Government Response: Prohibition on wireless refers to wireless data connections. The offeror's proposed solution shall not use wireless data connections such as Wi-Fi Bluetooth, nearfield, etc. Wireless voice circuits refers to the means of voice communications (e.g., radio) not how that traffic is passed along data circuits to, from, or within, the CMS.

Question 147. The Communication Management Software HMI is expected to run on

DISA Secure Host Baseline (SHB) version of MS Windows 10. (3.3.1.40.1) The Red and Black switching system shall contain processor for hosting the Communication Management Software

(3.2.4) If the Red and Black switching system is running a different OS, it seems the two requirements conflict. Please clarify.

Government Response: The Communication Management Software does not need to be hosted on the switch; the intent is that Offeror provide the hosts for the Communication

Management Software and the interface to the switches. See revised Attachment B.

Question 148. Environmental requirements and environmental qualification testing. Please clarify requirements for the overall CMS.

Government Response: Only the CEUTs must comply with the requirements in 3.2.9.27, the red and black switching systems with 3.2.8, the entire CMS must comply with 3.5.3.

Question 149. 3.2.2. The XCS Black Switching system shall establish interconnections of voice between Internal Voice Network equipment and XCS cryptographic equipment and radios

All the radios and cryptographic equipment is connected to the black switching system.

Requirement 3.3.1.10 indicates classified Radio communications. How many cryptographic/radios equipment will be capable of classified level communications?

Government Response: 11.

Question 150. 3.2.7. Black Switches shall provide for at least 30 connections (total) for the following radio or equipment types: What is the distance between CMS and radio racks to assess cable limitations for audio and control?

Government Response: The distance between any CMS cabinet and a radio cabinet will not be in excess of 35 feet – except there will be Five (5) radio audio (only) interfaces that will not exceed 60 feet.

Question 151. 3.2.9.10. The CEUT shall capable of assigning any of its audio channels to an Assignable Loudspeaker. Are the assignable speakers being delivered as part of this system, or will they be existing speakers from the IVN? If not connected to the IVN, what is the interface? If CMS is providing, how many are required?

Government Response: They will be existing speakers. There will be six (6) RED assignable speakers. The interface to the RED speakers will be 2-wire balanced 600 ohms. The

BLACK speakers will be interfaced via the IVN. See revised Attachment B.

Question 152. Attachments C and SF 1449 deliveries period of performance is confusing. Please clarify delivery requirements.

Government Response:

a. As per CMS Solicitation Document “70Z02320RAPB02300 CMS”, Page 5: Section 1:

Required Delivery Schedule…design and test phase (ref. Base Period on Attachment C and

CLIN 00001 on SF1449) is nine (9) months after contract award date.

b. As per SF1449: CLIN 10001 Option #1, first complete CMS, is due 180 days after award of option. Remaining optional CLINs will follow SF1449 schedule.

Question 153. Attachment A Requirement 3.3.3.1 states “Is technically feasible of complying with Attachment A.” Please define what the Government intends by technically feasible. Please define how the Government intends of evaluating technical feasibility.

Government Response: The government will verify that each and every requirement as listed in offeror's completed compliance matrix is satisfied by the design presented at the formal design review.

Question 154. Assumption is that only 1 user is able to transmit on a single radio at a given time. PTT will prevent other users to transmit – no simultaneous transmission on the same radio. Please confirm.

Government Response: Correct - no simultaneous transmission on the same radio.

Question 155. What is the difference between Administrator role and Emergency

Administrator role?

Government Response: The Emergency Administrator has the same privileges as an

Administrator. However, access to an Emergency Administrator account is via a "USERNAME" and "PASSWORD". Where access to an Administrator account is via a PKI. See updated

Attachment B.

Question 156. Cross Domain solution is required. Does the proposed CDS solution need to be certified by NCDSMO?

Government Response: Yes.

Question 157. 3.2.9.10.1. The CEUT shall be able to assign classified audio channels to classified assignable speakers, and unclassified audio channels to unclassified speakers. Is the

IVN providing classified assignable speakers? If not connected to the IVN, what is the interface? If CMS is providing, how many are required?

Government Response: See question no. 151.

Question 158. 3.2.9.26.5. The CEUT shall have a foot switch jack for the Push to Talk

(PTT) function. How many foot switches are required and is the government providing them?

Each position may not require a footswitch.

Government Response: 6. See updated attachment B.

Question 159. 3.2.9.27.7. The CEUT shall be powered by 24 Volt Direct Current (VDC).

What is the purpose of limiting the input power for the CEUT to 24V? Are other voltages acceptable?

Government Response: The CEUT must be powered by 24 VDC; other voltages are not acceptable.

Question 160. 3.2.9.27.8. Computer-aided alarm activation interfaces shall consist of individual single- action operator controls to trigger and secure General Announcing (GA) alarm announcements, except the General alarm. What is meant be Computer-aided alarm activation interface? Is the intent to trigger automated alarms from other systems, such as HM&E?

Government Response: No - "Computer-aided alarm activation interface" refers to mechanism on the CEUT that is utilized to activate the alarm.

Question 161. 3.2.9.27.9. The General alarm shall have a single-action operator control for alarm activation and automatically secure 15 seconds after activation. The GA duration is dependent on the GA configuration, will the IVN or GA provide interface to cancel or control duration?

Question 162. Attachment B Requirement 3.3.1.23 states “The Communications

Management Software shall provide the user with the ability to create Communications Plans, which are the specific configurations of all the XCS radios, Switching System, channel assignments, CEUT configurations, and Voice Recorder configurations.” Please define the content of the exact content and format of the Communications Plans and the security level of the Communications Plans.

Government Response: A sample communication plan will be provided that defines the required content & format.