Responses for Questions Received After Pre-Proposal Telecon 2.doc

QUESTIONS RELATED TO LOCAL SERVICES REQUISITION – 2 (LSA-2)

Please note, this question was received following the posting of the notes on FedBizOpps. The question and response posted were based on a previous post Pre-Proposal Teleconference question. The responses below serve as clarification. These questions with responses are included in the notes posted on FedBizOpps.

Previous Question

If the contractor wanted to propose new products due to the emerging technologies, how could they do it and still be in compliance with Section C.2, Service Platform outlined in the solicitation? The clause states, “the services offered shall be such as to obviate the need for the Government to purchase common service customer premise equipment.” With such new technology/products additional equipment is required to ensure complete functionality.

RESPONSE: This procurement, as with others in the past, is to meet current requirements. As new requirements have come along, the contracts have been modified to meet these requirements.

However, one thing GSA has always been mindful of is cost. With the limits on budgets received by GSA customers, how would new technologies be purchased within a budget year? Changing to new technologies often incurs a “capital investment” which almost always exceeds a single year’s budget. Agencies cannot obligate funds not yet approved, i.e. the budget for a future year(s). A good technology example may be VOIP. Most of the technologies offered for business involve the procurement of expensive CPE as well as transition charges and monthly recurring costs. A single annual budget would not cover the cost to transition. And, as far as VOIP, Region 7 would need approval to include it in a Regional service procurement.

Clarification Question

Does the answer to the question below mean that it is okay for a vendor to include VOIP in their response, however before a customer can procure it, GSA Region 7 would have to gain approval?

RESPONSE: VOIP will not be part of the LSA-2 award and should not be included in the offer because of the reasons in the previous response.

Clarification Question

Upon review of the revised pricing document it was found that revised pricing spreadsheet B.7.2.13.TX did not include the product or CLIN codes like the ones for OK and AR. It just shows "# Lines" and PRI. What we do not know is the type of line e.g. analog business line or Centrex line. Would it be possible for GSA to provide the revised spreadsheet with the appropriate information?

RESPONSE: "Unhide" the columns in the revised worksheet.

Clarification Question

To allow adequate time for the vendors to complete the pricing, would GSA consider at least a two week or longer extension?

RESPONSE: In accordance with amendment 03 to solicitation 7TF-09-0004, an extension until 4:30pm central standard time, Monday, October 5, 2009 is approved.