NSN Services Draft RFP Questions and Responses.pdf

Title Comment/Question Government Response

Service Region Approach

Does the relay asset have to be located in the service region or can the asset cross one or more of the service regions so long that the asset is capable of providing services to target service region?

The Service Regions in Attachment A - SOW define where the user of the service is located, not necessarily where the asset providing the service is located.

The relay assets providing the services to the user can be located in any region as long as they meet or exceed the functional, performance, and mission assurances listed in the SOW.

2 Minimum Minute Buy & $/Min inclusion

Clarify what is included in the Operational services costs. Operational services pricing includes nominal and critical operational services as well as operational support services.

3 Minimum Buy Is the Government considering to revise validation duration, validation minimum guarantee, operational services minimum guarantee?

Validation duration, validation minimum guarantee, operational services minimum guarantee have been updated based on industry feedback and maturation of requirements.

Bidder Proposal Requirements Clarification

If the offeror intends to submit an proposal for multiple subcategories, does the offeror submit multiple technical proposals and multiple offers, Price and past performance volumes for each subcategory?

One proposal per subcategory is required.

FedRAMP and FISMA Requirements

Which FedRAMP and FISMA impact levels are required for all systems that are processing and or transporting data associated with NSN services?

Does NASA have an preferred Cloud Service Provider?

FedRAMP approved system are required to provide services on this contract. FISMA Moderate and High systems will be required in accordance with the type of missions utilizing the services; categorization will be based on Interconnection Security Agreement (ISA) and the data types being transported on a case by case basis.

NASA does not have any preferred vendors for the cloud services that a provider may use.

Personnel Security Requirements

What are the bidder’s personnel security and account management evaluation and user management of systems and services requirements ?

Account management on the provider side will be managed outside of the direct oversight of NASA. The vendors will be required to have a process to ensure that all system access is authorized and users are being provisioned with the minimum resources required to fulfill their duties and provide responses via the CASQ and an annual third-party assessment result to NASA. NASA expects vendors to be responsible for their clearances. See ITS-HBK 2810.13-01 Personnel Security at the following link https //www.nasa.gov/pdf/551088main_ITS-HBK-2810.13-01-PS.pdf

NSN Terrestrial Connectivity and Data Transport Requirements

When does NASA expect to release detailed cybersecurity requirements and SLA provisions for NSN terrestrial connectivity and data transport?

Cybersecurity requirements identified in the RFP point to various US Government frameworks that identify more detailed requirements. NASA intends to specify requirements IAW the NIST or CNSSI publications identified and will evaluate vendors based on the responses provided in the CASQ to ensure the government is accepting a level of risk commensurate with operational needs.

Ground Infrastructure Does NASA have any expectations for Infrastructure exclusivity for NASA missions, an preference between an hybrid or non-hybrid architecture, or between unclassified and classified services?

NASA is procuring communications and navigation services. The offeror may propose any architecture that is capabale of meeting or exceeding functional, performance, mission assurance, interface and interoperability requirements.

Optical Requirements Can NASA provide additional clarity on the optical requirements for the various service categories, to include options for providing PNT over an optical link?

NASA is working through clarifications of requirements for optical services. Anticipate refined optical services requirements in the Final RFP.

10 Data Latency Definition Options

How is latency defined. Latency is defined as the amount of time elapsed during data transfer between the user mission and the NSN interface demarcation.

Ground System/Station Definitions

Can the Government provide an definition for “ground systems” and “ground stations”?

The Ground Segment includes any ground-based elements such as the Ground Station, personnel to operate, maintain, and sustain the Ground Station and any systems required to interface with the NSN. For this NSNS contract, Ground Stations are defined as the infrastructure that provides the interface between the space segment and the ground antenna.

NIST Requirements The SOW references NIST SP 800-71, which relates to keys for symmetric block ciphers. Which current NIST publications would include the applicable security controls (i.e. SP 800-171, 800-172, and SP 800-53)?

Reference should be NIST SP 800-171, "Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations".

13 Relay Service Scope Clarification

Are the Relay Services considered to be "End-to-End"? The contractor is responsible for providing end-to-end relay services to and from NSN demarcation and user mission(s).

Trade-off or Best Value For TO award, NASA states it may use price performance trade-off or best value for evaluation criteria.

No exceptions to price-performance trade-offs are allowed in the RFP response. For each operational TO the Government may tailor the evaluation criteria to allow the goverment the most flexibility.

Small Business Plan Small Business Plan - Is a SB Plan covering the total contract is required? Our interpretation is that a SB Plan is required with each Task Plan, but it was unclear if one is needed for the total contract.

A SB Subcontract Plan is not required at the contract level. It is only required at the TO level if applicable.

Non-US Partners Is this solicitation only open to US contractors? Are non-US partners allowed, and is there an limit on their contribution?

For the unclassified subcategories, this procurement will be open to all qualified vendors. Foreign vendors are allowed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the solicitation. Unless limited by statutes or regulations, the RFP does not set a limit on their contribution for the unclassified subcategories.

Near Space Network (NSN) Services Draft RFP Questions and Responses