Amendment 0003 - IT Support to DABS_executed.pdf

Solicitation No. 72030620R00009 Amendment 0003

CONTINUATION PAGE

A. Answers to questions received in response to the solicitation after the issuance of Amendment 0001.

Question No. 1: We assume implementation is 10 Months & Warranty period (180 Days) is additional to the implementation time, the Time period is considered as working days in Afghanistan.

USAID’s response: Your understanding is correct.

Question No. 2: Bid-Annexures – Since the bid submission is through email. What is the maximum size allowed? In case the attachment size exceeds, then the email will be rejected. Can the we use Google docs service to send the attachments through a downloadable link?

USAID’s response: No. Please follow the instructions in Section L.4.(b) of the solicitation -

PREPARATION OF E-MAILS CONTAINING OFFEROR PROPOSALS.

Question No. 3: Can the bidders submit the bid in multiple emails in parts in case the allowed attachment size limit is limited?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 2.

Question No. 4: Will the budget be increased – because of the complexity of the work which require software developers, Database administrators etc?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 55 on Amendment 0002.

Question No. 5: Can additional information be provided which is felt necessary for evaluation, but not asked in the Annexures, is it permitted?

USAID response: Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the instructions stipulated in Section L and M of the solicitation.

Question No. 6: On the self-declaration - Is there any specific format to be followed?

USAID’s response: For Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, please refer to Attachment_J.7_-_SF-LLL.

Question No. 7: We assume below are the instructions & guidelines and hence not required to be submitted in the bid considering the page limitation.

a) Attachment J.4 Environmental Compliance Documents

b) Attachment J.8 Certificate Regarding Trafficking in Person

c) Attachment J.9 Instruction on Registration in SAM

d) Attachment J.10 Registration and Tax Exemption in Afghanistan

e) Attachment J.11 Mission Order on Security Screening

USAID’s response: Correct.

Questions No. 8: If the Afghanistan Customs/ Immigration/ Border check posts – does not allow import of equipment/ material which is part of the Schedule 1 or 2 A&B items – who will assist in clearance of such items and how will the delay owing to such be accommodated.

USAID’s response: Per Attachment J.10 of the solicitation, all equipment imported for this activity are exempt from Customs and Taxes. In case of delays attributable to the Contractor, the Contractor bears the associated costs. For delays not attributable to the Contractor’s fault or negligence, the Contractor shall seek guidance in writing from USAID’s Contracting Officer’s Representative.

Questions No. 9: What is the payment timeline for invoices for approved deliverables? How many invoices can be submitted in a month?

USAID’s response: Please refer to Section B.5 of the solicitation.

Questions No. 10: Generic / BOQ: Some of the BoQ items configuration / Models are obsolete, can we propose a latest models with similar or better configurations from different OEMs

USAID’s response: Yes. Please refer to Section L.7 of the solicitation.

Question No. 11: L.5.1 PAST PERFORMANCE (SEE M.3.A): Request you to consider similar projects completed in the last 10 years under past performance

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question 110 in Amendment 0002.

Question No. 12: SQL Server 2019 enterprise edition supporting unlimited CPU: Database license is based on number of physical cores. Please mention the number of cores.

USAID’s response: SQL server Enterprise license for 20 Physical CPU cores.

Question No. 13: Under CLIN 9 – Network Switches for Edge Connectivity (Qty 4), ’24 Port – 10Gig 100/1000/10Gig autosensing ports’ (Line 202). Then on another line it states ’48 port layer 2 switch should support & Should these switches be BaseT (Copper, RJ45, CAT6/5) or SFP/SFP+ based switches, 24 port or 48 port?

USAID’s response: Base-T, 24 Port – 10Gig 100/1000/10Gig autosensing ports

Question No. 14: Post completion of Sub-Task No.1.1: As-is Study &Sub-Task No.1.2: Surveying and documentation, If contractor’s proposed solution requires more/less equipment than the equipment listed in schedule No.1 for DR site, will be there any amendments to the final agreement?

USAID’s response: Yes.

Question No. 15: Questions Related to Section C 1) Section C3, Scope of Work: Task No.1 Existing Data Center at DABS HQ in Kabul. Sub-Task No. 1.4: Supply of minor equipment

Solicitation states “Based on the contractor’s assessment, supply of minor equipment may be necessary in order to facilitate the transfer of data to the Disaster Recovery Data Center.” Has USAID considered or estimated costs for supply of such minor equipment in the total cost of this procurement?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 16 in Amendment 0002.

Question No. 16: Section C3, Scope of Work:

Task No.1 Existing Data Center at DABS HQ in Kabul. Sub-Task No.1.5: Update all the Systems and Applications. Updating the legacy applications and systems will require the support from respective OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). Who will provide assistance in directing the OEMs to provide support?

USAID’s response: Contractor may obtain such services from OEMs.

Question No. 17: Section C.4, List of Equipment

Some of the equipment items including both hardware and software specified are very specific to a particular OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). Can we provide equipment with similar configuration from other OEMs?

USAID’s response: Yes

Question No. 18: Section C.4, List of Equipment. C.4.1 Schedule No. 1: Servers and Back-End Infrastructure - Equipment for IT Disaster Recovery Data Center

Item 2.24 SQL Server 2019 Enterprise edition supporting unlimited CPU, Quantity 2

For SQL Server 2019 Enterprise edition, licensing is based either Per Core or Server + CAL. An unlimited CPU licensing does not exist. Please specify the following:

a) The preferred licensing method (either Per Core or Server + CAL)?

b) The quantity for the preferred licensing method?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question 12.

Question No. 19: Section F.2, Period of Performance

The period of performance is tentatively set to be from August 1, 2020 – May 31, 2021. Due to logistical challenges in Afghanistan for equipment delivery, and the challenges due to on-going COVID-19 situation, would USAID consider extending the period of performance duration?

USAID’s response: Yes

Question No. 20: Section H.6, USAID/AFGHANISTAN VETTING REQUIREMENT (APRIL 2016): Our understanding from the solicitation is that US firms, US citizens and US permanent residents are excluded from the vetting process. Please confirm.

USAID’s response: Confirmed.

Question No. 21: Section L.5 INSTRUCTION FOR PREPARATION OF TECHNICAL PROPOSALS: Is there a limitation on number of pages of information to be included in the Annex?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 29 in Amendment 0002.

Question No. 22: Section L.6.2, PART 2 – PRICE PROPOSAL: The section states, “The offeror must provide explanation in sufficient detail/cost calculations, supporting the proposed unit prices for each line item to allow a complete analysis of price reasonableness and realism.” Could USAID provide guidance on type of additional details – such as labor rates, other directs costs, indirect costs, allowances etc., required to provide explanation?

USAID response: There is no need for additional details as the stated instructions in Section L.6.2 is sufficient.

Question No. 23: Questions Related to Section M 8) Section M.3.A, CONTRACTOR PAST PERFORMANCE: The section states “The Offeror and major sub-contractor performance information will be used for both responsibility determination and best value decision.” Could USAID please provide guidance as to what is determinant as to whether or not a subcontractor is considered “major”?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 98 in Amendment 0002.

Question No. 24: Section M.3.A, CONTRACTOR PAST PERFORMANCE: For the projects included in past performance, please provide responses for the following:

a. Can on-going projects be included in the past performance?

USAID’s response: Please refer to paragraph 1 of Section L.5.1 in the solicitation.

Question No. 25: Is there any limitation on the number of years the projects included in the past performance should have started and/or completed?

USAID’s response: No, there is no limitation in the solicitation in regards to the number of implementation years.

Question No. 26: Can a non-US firm submit a proposal as the prime contractor?

USAID’s response: There is no requirement that limits the participation of non-US firms. Please refer to Paragraph 2 of the solicitation’s Cover Page.

Question No. 27: Does USAID envision the contractor will register and establish project office in Kabul Afghanistan?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 101 in Amendment 0002.

Question No. 28: In the documents they have not mentioned how many servers are used at site and number of users accessing these servers.

USAID’s response: The Contractor is expected to determine this as part of the As-is study.

Question No. 29: Are they on standalone server or they are replicated?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28

Question No. 30: Application server configuration Including storage size, where are the application file kept on physical server storage like drive d e etc, or there are kept on file storage

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28

Question No. 31: We also need that how many application are hosted on Linux environment and how many are on windows environment

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28

Question No. 32: How many exiting operating system license they have both windows and RHEL Linux and version.

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28

Question No. 33: If they have share point under windows OS. If so which version, since in share point the migration of old to new version is a complicated process.

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28

Question No. 34: About the data base. They mention about mysql. Db2 and sql server. What are the version of sql server? Most important question is are these databases talking to each other. Are they integrated?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28

Question No. 35: For migration we should know the database file size. For eg for sql sever MDF AND LDF file this is required to plan our storage capacity.

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28

Question No. 36: Mobile application – what are the application used in here. Are they pulling data from various databases? Can we get interface details to check if VM will support the older version of the application. This is very important point of migration. If totally new set up still we need these details to understand the configuration of the applications.

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28.

Question No. 37: What application are running on PC.

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28.

Question No. 38: They are talking about server load balance with Hay proxy. But still we need to use NLB of servers or network switches. It should be configuration in such a way that one virtual IP will be connected to two severs connected. For eg server A and B having one virtual IP. To balance the load if Sever A has 5 connection rest connection will move to server B. But for redundancy do they need server C and D also. So that 4 server cluster will have one IP. If A or B fails load balance will get transferred to C and D.

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No 28.

Question No. 39: Where are the licenses of operating systems (Microsoft and Linux) and databases located. We need to find if those are upgradable directly from there side. Do they update it yearly?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28.

Question No. 40: Now about disaster recovery. Most important aspect for disaster recovery that distance should be between 30 miles to 100 miles. Both the sites should be using different grid so that one grid fails then other is safe. What is the distance between DR sites?

USAID’s response: The distance is between 30-100 miles. The Contractor is expected to determine the exact distance as part of the As-is Study.

Question No. 41: In general about the applications, its not only mobile application like ERP, CRM or any 3rd part application, we are also discussing about share point. All of them will be connected with active directly under various OS. This authentication from client side is important. There should be proper contact point at customer end to co-ordinate with this work.

USAID’s response: USAID will stipulate the contact details of the designated USAID/DABS point of contacts in the award.

Question No. 42: We need to find out the back-up capacity and how long we need to keep the back up.

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28

Question No. 43: They are talking about database cluster where two instance will be running and file is on file server. If one fails other one gets automatically gets connected. Are they looking for 2 tire nodes or 3 tire nodes?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 28

Question No. 44: Please confirm that Past Performance Form J.3 can be submitted directly by a former client to the USAID/Afghanistan mission.

USAID’s response: Confirmed. For detailed instructions, please refer to the “Note” at the bottom of Page 1 of Attachment J.3 - PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE.

Question No. 45: Do all J.3 Past Performance Forms need to be received by the USAID/Afghanistan mission by the 20 August 2020 due date? We ask because some former clients may require a little additional time to secure approval from their superiors to submit such a report given current virtual working conditions.

USAID’s response: Yes, offerors must provide past performance certifications and references by the due date for proposal submission. For detailed instructions, please refer to the solicitation’s Section

L.5.1 PAST PERFORMANCE.

Question No. 46: To whom and at what email address should former clients submit their completed J.3 Past Performance Reports?

USAID’s response: kbloaaoiteam@usaid.gov. For detailed instructions, please refer to Paragraph 3 of the Solicitation’s Cover Page and Section L.4.a.

Question No. 47: What all types of application technologies are with version details.

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 51

Question No. 48: We need to know how many web servers they have with version

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 51

Question No. 49: About Microsoft ERP we need to know the exact version of Great Plains (Microsoft). We need to understand the existing version and new version which get implemented there. Migration from older version in great plains is complicated due to change in file structure. 2 or 3 upgrade version makes a big difference in how the data migration is done. This will be biggest challenge in compatibility old table structure in new version.

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 51

Question No. 50: Is post-cut support expected for a certain time frame after the cutover of the solution is completed?

USAID’s response: Please see the response to Question No. 51

Question No. 51: Can you please specify the application modules and technology stack of mPower &

GP?

USAID’s response: Please refer to the table as follows:

[This space is intentionally left blank]

Microsoft GP Application Modules

GP 2013 R2

Operating system : windows 2012 Database : Microsoft SQL

General Ledger Cash Flow Management Fixed Asset Management Multicurrency Management Analytical Accounting Bank Reconciliation Payables Management Receivables Management Customer/Vendor Consolidations Payroll (US) Unlimited Employees Human Resources Time Management Sales Order Processing Inventory Control Project Time and Expense mPower application Modules Application Modules

Operating System: Redhat 6.x Database : IBM DB2

Metering Billing Collections & Accounting Payment Integration modules (Bank & 3rd party) Energy Audit Analytics & MIS Mobile work force Management Asset management

Technology framework Open source

Core Framework Spring 3.0.0 GA

Persistence/ORM Tools Hibernate 3 (JPA2 implementation)

Portal Frameworks & Server Liferay 6.0 / Jboss Portal / Compliant Portals

Data Integration & ETL Pentaho BI 3.5.0 , Kettle

Messaging Middleware Redhat HornetQ ,ActiveMQ

Business Process Management (BPM) Activiti 5.8

Business Rule Engine Jboss Drools 6

Middle ware Mule ESB 2.0 / Enterprise Middle wares

Web service Framework/API Apache CXF (implementation of JAXB,JAX- WS,WSDL, WS-Addressing, WS-Policy, WS- ReliableMessaging, WS-Security, WS- SecurityPolicy, and WS-SecureConversation)

Document Management System Alfresco DMS

Application Server Jboss application server

Single Sign-On Jasig CAS (Centralized Authorization System)IBM-

/TIM/TAM

Authentication Authorization Spring Security 3.0 and SML2.0

Microsoft GP Application Modules

GP 2013 R2

Operating system : windows 2012 Database : Microsoft SQL

General Ledger Cash Flow Management Fixed Asset Management Multicurrency Management Analytical Accounting Bank Reconciliation Payables Management Receivables Management Customer/Vendor Consolidations Payroll (US) Unlimited Employees Human Resources Time Management Sales Order Processing Inventory Control Project Time and Expense mPower application Modules Application Modules

Operating System: Redhat 6.x Database : IBM DB2

Metering Billing Collections & Accounting Payment Integration modules (Bank & 3rd party) Energy Audit Analytics & MIS Mobile work force Management Asset management

Technology framework Open source

Transaction Manager Arjuna Transaction Manager.

Reports Jasper Reports Engine

Restful Service Framework/API Spring Restful 3.0

Except for the above, all other terms and conditions of the solicitation remain unchanged and in full effect.

[END OF AMENDMENT 0003]