1stQuestions_AnswersMLSA7TF-07-0006083007.doc

Questions Received by 8/30/2007 to GSA for Solicitation 7TF-07-0006

REFERENCE SECTION B

1) B.2 Prices Would the Government consider removing the USF/FUSF surcharge from the definition of the Basic Service price and move it to the Tax Table/Column since this fee, like taxes, is not a fixed rate and is directed by another arm of the Government?

RESPONSE: We can not remove the USF/FUSF surcharge from the definition of the Basic Service price or move the surcharges to the Tax Table column. This is a program requirement to provide continuity among all the telecommunications contracts across the nation.

2) B.2 Prices

Please confirm all municipal charges imposed by municipal taxing authorities are included in “federal, state or local taxes and duties”.

RESPONSE: Yes.

3) B.2 Prices How will the government determine fair and reasonable pricing when industry is asked to combine USF, PICC, EUCL and any other pass-through related charges into the line rate?

RESPONSE: All offerors are asked to do the same thing so that there will be an “apples to apples” comparison.

4) B.7.2 Best Tariff Prices

Second paragraph states, “Prices submitted …, shall be inclusive of all charges (e.g. fees, taxes, and other service charges, etc.) ….” This requirement appears to contradict the requirement outlined under B.2. Clarify which is correct. Should taxes be included in the basic service rate or not?

RESPONSE: If taxes vary by municipality and/or NPANXX or on a percentage basis on a separate tax table, GSA will calculate the all inclusive price; otherwise, the taxes should be included in the base price.

5) B.7.2 Best Tariff Prices Last paragraph states, “For the purpose of price comparison, the price shall be inclusive of all charges, (e.g. installation non-recurring charges, monthly recurring charges, and fees etc.)” Would the Government confirm that an installation non-recurring charge is to be included in the base price for each line, feature, or service?

RESPONSE: The installation and monthly recurring charges are shown in separate columns. The prices in each of these columns should be all inclusive. (See response to Question 4).

6) Figure B.7.2.1

Would the Government please provide detailed information for each SDP defined in Figure B.7.2.1?

RESPONSE: GSA is working this response and it will be released with the second set of questions that are due 9/12/2007.

7) B.7.2.1 through B.7.2.4 Will GSA clarify the use of the term “line” as it applies to PRI/ISDN service? The CLIN 001I is not a single “line” but rather an interface with 23 “B” channels – “Lines”.

RESPONSE: The word “line”, as used in this solicitation, means an electrical path between a phone company central office and a subscriber. This simple definition applies to most of the services required in this solicitation and is being used as the pricing mechanism.

As used in this solicitation, specifically for the PRI/ISDN, a channel is a smaller increment of an electrical or electromagnetic path that carries an individual transmission or signal, e.g., a voice conversation or a data conversation within the PRI/ISDN. The PRI/ISDN consists of 23 Bearer channels and 1 Data channel. GSA expects to see a single price for CLIN 001I (Digital ISDN PRI PBX System Access Line) capable of passing 1.544 Mbps. There will be instances, such as for the partial PRI where a “per channel” price would be appropriate.

8) B.7.2.1 through B.7.2.4 Clarify Government’s position on the charging mechanism to be used – per channel or per line. Reference conflict between this paragraph and note on page 7 of 12.

RESPONSE: See Response to No. 7 above. The “Note” on the top of Section B – Page 7 of 12, belongs to Table B.7.2.1 on previous page.

9) B.7.2.6 id# 19 Section B Price Schedule Does GSA intend this to be the Caller Identification (ID) as listed in the Definitions?

RESPONSE: Yes. GSA tries to be as generic as possible in solicitations. If the offeror has more than one variety of a feature requested, and knows or thinks the features are used by the Government, they should include these variations of the features in their offer.

SECTION C

10) C.1.1 Scope

Please define “free calling capabilities within the current MAA award areas”.

RESPONSE: The free calling areas in C.1 include those provided by the current MAA which has Dallas and Fort Worth as a combined metropolitan area (DFW). The intent is to ensure the continuance of current services. The originating calling area of Dallas will be the terminating calling area for both Dallas and Fort Worth, and vice versa.

GSA, for the sake of convenience, separated the DFW metropolitan area into two award areas for billing system purposes only. Free calling area should continue for the combined DFW area.

11) C.1.4 - In this solicitation, offerors are not expected to provide telecommunications services to the Federal Government they do not provide to commercial users. Please provide specific details as to what is expected.

RESPONSE: At Section B.1, GSA states the following, “Due to the special billing and Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) requirement, the Government will not be using Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items.” This being said, the services would be the services required in the Table B.7.2.1 (i.e., Analog Business Line, Digital ISDN BRI Business line, etc.) and features. The referenced statement above at Section C.1.4 is being made so that GSA does not request telephone services from the contractor that are not already being provided to a customer, whether they are commercial or Government. GSA does not want to request telephone service that would cause the contractor to have to invent a new service.

12) C.2 SERVICE PLATFORM

The service(s) offered shall be such as to obviate the need for the Government to purchase common service customer premises equipment. Please clarify.

RESPONSE: Restated, it simply means that the services offered shall be as such as to prevent or make unnecessary the need for the Government to have to purchase new common service customer premises equipment (for example, new telephone sets).

13) C.2.3 Access Restriction Can the customer explain further this section which asks for Access Restriction? What type of intercept messages is the Government requesting?

RESPONSE: On some systems we hear something to the effect “your class of service does not currently permit this call.”

14) C.2.4 Outgoing and Incoming Calling Number Identification (ID) Service providers shall provision services with a pseudo telephone number and/or business name when identified to meet law enforcement security requirements.

Please clarify.

RESPONSE: This is a requirement that may only be a Government requirement. It should be understandable that some law agencies do not want to be identified. If you can provide this service, we have a need for it.

15) C.2.5 Voice Mail

1) …and the capability of remote retrieval through a toll free number.

If retrieval is not currently offered via a toll-free number for commercial customers, does the Government still require toll-free access on this contract?

RESPONSE: After further discussion by the Government, this requirement is not needed and will be removed with an amendment to the solicitation.

2) the contractor shall supply and/or interface with and support a data link (e.g., Station Message Desk Interface [SMDI], Simplified Message Service Interface [SMSI]) How does the Government want industry to account for the costs associated with SMDI? On the Features Tab of the Pricing Workbook?

RESPONSE: See Features 54 SI and 54 DI on Table B.7.2.6.

16) C.2.7 Numbering Plan

All service offerings shall conform to the North American Numbering Plan. Blocks of consecutive numbers must be available for reservation and use with an Analog PBX Access Line (001H), PRI (001I), T-1 (001J), and partial PRI (001K), when these services are ordered for PBX access. Blocks of consecutive numbers must also be available for reservations and use when ordered with Centrex type service. If offered to commercial customers and if required by the Government, blocks of numbers assigned to a Centrex will be shared with applications such as PBXs and servers when connected to a Centrex through the use of the PRI Applications Interface for Centrex Service Line (001L*). Reserved numbers should be priced in Schedule B – Pricing Schedules. Numbers for PBXs are priced as DID Number Block Assignment and Maintenance (id# 25). Centrex numbers are reserved as Number Resource Optimization (id# 56).

Will the GSA accept less than full blocks of consecutive numbers?

RESPONSE: The definition may vary by company, but basically in the past blocks have been assigned with consecutive numbers. A block may consist of two sub-blocks. For example, numbers may range from 4000 to 4199 and 4300 to 4399. Although not preferred some blocks are assigned that have a few breaks in them (a few numbers are missing).

17) C.2.11 Teleconferencing (If provided to commercial users) Meet Me - A minimum thirty (30) party meet me conferencing bridge capability shall be provided per system.

Does the Government define per “system” as per Centrex Common Block?

RESPONSE: Please provide this feature as it is currently provided to commercial/government customers and define what is being proposed.

18) C.2.14 Customer Administration Terminal Service (CATS) Can the GSA clarify what is meant by “larger Centrex-like user location?

RESPONSE: GSA defines the award areas in this solicitation as larger Centrex-like user locations.

19) C.5.2.2 Move/Add/Change Will GSA please change the wording in this section to state Moves/Adds/Reconfigurations to match Pricing Table B.7.2.10? The definition provided in Section C.5.2.2 more closely matches a “reconfiguration”. This will avoid confusion with charging for services after award.

RESPONSE: This is a common industry term and GSA will continue to use it. GSA plans to amend the solicitation by adding “Reconfiguration” in parenthesis next to the term “Changes” for clarification at C.5.2.2 and rewording the explanation to read, “Any programming modifications of services or features.”

20) C.5.4 Demarcation Points For Service(s) Delivery Via House Cable / Wiring

The demarcation point for services (with the exception of proprietary CPE or orders specifying a different demarcation point) is the Network Interface Device (NID). Any other demarcation point for services will be included on the individual service order, whether at the proprietary CPE station jack, or other location as specified. Figure B.7.2.1 presents the different termination points normally required by the Government.

The demarc point is normally the Network Interface Device. Is the contractor expected to provide additional points of demarcation on a premise?

RESPONSE: GSA is working this response and it will be released with the second set of questions that are due 9/12/2007.

21) C.10 Report Requirements

Would the Government further define its requirement for the contractor to “maintain records”?

RESPONSE: Records include diagrams of cable systems, numbering plans, labeling plans, labeling conventions, instructions, etc. Basically, if there are records related to the service today or records developed as a result of this contract related to the services provided, the Government expects those records to be available to the Government if requested sooner but turned over the Government at the end of the contract. Basically, if plans, drawings, instructions, etc. are done for a Government location as part of this contract, the Government has paid for those services and the records may be of use to the Government in the future. Please note, this is for the Government’s location only.

22) C.12 Termination Charges

Request that the Government provide copy or link to the Information Technology Management Reform Act (ITRMA), and specifically cite the reference that states no termination charges for canceling services.

RESPONSE: The ITRMA does not specifically address termination charges, but it did take away the mandatory requirement for federal agencies to use GSA for their IT/Telecommunication services/equipment. Since GSA was no longer mandatory, the decision was made to offer indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) telecommunication contracts that provide month-to-month telephone services with no termination charges as would be offered by contractors in the commercial world.

SECTION F

23) F.3 Performance Standards for Installations, Moves, Changes, and Maintenance Services Table in Section F.3

It would seem as though the Add/Change/Delete (#3) are in reference to analog and digital service (POTS/Centrex). What type of service does this apply to?

RESPONSE: GSA is working this response and it will be released with the second set of questions that are due 9/12/2007.

SECTION G

24) G.2.2 Fair Consideration

Will the Government revise this clause to reflect the updated change in FAR 16.505 b.1.i which increases the order amount from $2,500 to $3,000?

RESPONSE: Yes, GSA will change this in an amendment to the solicitation.

25) G.2.3.1 Service Order Initiation Page 10 of 26 "service order acknowledgement via email or fax immediately"

Please further clarify time frame/meaning of "immediate".

RESPONSE: GSA is looking for an immediate acknowledgement of receipt that an order has actually been received by the contractor. This immediate acknowledgement should be received by GSA within the same business day of the order via email or facsimile. If an order is received after normal business hours, it should then be acknowledged by the next business day morning.

26) G.2.3.1 Service Order Initiation

Seventh paragraph states, “The contractor shall provide a service order acknowledgement via email or facsimile immediately upon receipt of a service order.” Would the Government change this requirement to read “within one business day of receipt”? The requirement “immediately upon receipt” is subjective and not measurable.

RESPONSE: See response for Question 25.

27) G.2.3.1.1 Service Order Changes

Will the Government remove the requirement for contractor’s to accept change orders verbally? Order activity is actionable only when provided in written format.

RESPONSE: The first Paragraph of Section G.2.3.1.1 Service Order Changes will be amended as follows:

….The Government will provide written confirmation of the verbal notice of change within four (4) business hours via email or facsimile. There will be an amended order issued to reflect the change and it will be sent within three (3) business days or before the scheduled service due date, whichever is earlier.

28) G.4.4.1 Invoice Content Due to the large volume of orders during transition will GSA waive the three 30 day billing cycles for 12 months?

RESPONSE: No, a 30 day billing cycle is the industry standard.

29) SECTION J – Glossary (Definitions/Terms) Will the Government provide its definition for the following?

· Priority Service Order. How is this order type different from a Routine Service Order?

RESPONSE: There will be an amendment to the solicitation to clarify routine, priority and expedited service orders.

· How is this order type different from an Expedite Service Order?

RESPONSE: See Section G.2.3.1.2 for explanation of an expedited order which has an additional charge. There will be an amendment to the solicitation to clarify routine, priority and expedited service orders.

· “Emergency” restoration. How is this different than a TSP (Telecommunication Service Priority) restoral?

RESPONSE: GSA is working this response and it will be released with the second set of questions that are due 9/12/2007.

· “Priority” restoration. How is this different than a TSP restoral?

RESPONSE: GSA is working this response and it will be released with the second set of questions that are due 9/12/2007.

· Rate Group RESPONSE: Rate groups provide the opportunity for contractors to price services at different rates within an award area to account for various factors, e.g., geographic location and distances from Central Offices. Under this solicitation, offerors may include up to 3 different rates per award area, per service, for the same services to replace those under the current MAAs.

· Base Price vs Base Service RESPONSE: Base Price is the price of a service as explained in B.2. Base Service is not mentioned in the solicitation. Not sure what is being asked.

· Move RESPONSE: See Section C.5.2.2 for explanation. The types of moves currently anticipated may best be understood by reviewing Section B – Price Schedules in Tables B.7.2.9 and B.7.2.10?

· Add RESPONSE: See Section C.5.2.2 for explanation. The adds currently anticipated are included in the Section B price tables for services (B.7.2, B.7.2.1, and B.7.2.2) and features (B.7.2.5 and B.7.2.6).

· Change

RESPONSE: See Question 19 above. The changes currently anticipated include changing features as listed in Section B Price Schedule - Table B.7.2.6. Services may be added that will require changes such as those required when a line is added to hunt groups.

· Correct definition of SIC –if SIC is the same as installation RESPONSE: Section B.7.2.7 advises that Service Initiation Charges (SICs) are one time charges. There may also be other one-time charges that are not SICs. GSA will correct the typo in the definition of SIC (Attachment J.5) and change “chance” to “charge.”

· Line RESPONSE: See Question 7 above.

· Installation – how is this different than SIC RESPONSE: The Service Initiation Charge (SIC) for a line includes not only installation, but the other actions associated with initiation such as labeling, testing/reporting, and acknowledging. The SIC for a feature includes activation of the feature.

In addition to the definitions listed above, please include all other definitions outlined in the RFP into this section.

RESPONSES: At this time, GSA will not be including all other definitions outlined in the RFP to Attachment J-5 – Definitions/Terms, but suggests when looking for definitions or explanations in the solicitation to use the “Find and/or Search” software capability.

SECTION L

30) Section L

Clarify that each award area identified in Section C.1 Scope is to have it own proposal response.

RESPONSE: The Government will allow one response for the state of Texas due to the commonality of services offered with in the state. If there are differences, with the exception of price, please make those clear in the proposal. At the Government’s option, separate awards may be made to each of the award areas. A separate proposal is required for the Albuquerque and New Orleans award areas.

31) Section L. For economy, will the GSA consider electronic submission only, via CD-ROM? If hard copies are required, will the GSA consider eliminating the requirement to separate each technical requirement by a new tab?

RESPONSE: No. GSA does not have the resources to print all of the offers and to attempt to put them in the order in which the offeror may have intended to present their offer.

32) L.11.2 – Volume III – Price Proposal, Part D, Tariff Pages (if applicable) Last sentence states, “Charges for which the tariff page(s) are not included or underlined shall be considered as not being proposed.” Please clarify further. Tariff pages are only required if/when a service is being offered at current tariff price.

RESPONSE: In the initial proposal, you will not be required to provide individual tariff pages. We do ask that you provide us with a link to the tariff. If requested, you may be asked to provide the tariff page(s) for a particular CLIN prior to award.

Following award, you will be required to provide the tariff pages as stated for any modifications to the contract.

32) General

The use of etc., clarify, define or remove in all instances.

RESPONSE: Etc. is used with examples. It is not possible for GSA to think of every possible example when dealing with numerous providers with diverse offerings.

Please be specific as to which “etc.” is causing a problem.