Amendment 0001 951700-22-R-0020 Response to Questions.pdf

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER 5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

FACILITY CODE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended. is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER

NUMBER IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15C. DATE SIGNED

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

PAGE OF PAGES

6. ISSUED BY CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X)

CODE

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

Previous edition unusable

USAGM

Office of Contracts 330 Independence Avenue,SW, Room 4360 Washington, DC 20237

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY FOR USAGM BROADCAST REMOTE MONITORING IN AFRICA

SOLICITATION NO.: 951700-22-R-0020

RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: Is this a new requirement? If so, can you provide the incumbent and contract number, and current satellite capacity being utilized?

ANSWER 1: No.

QUESTION 2: The RFP references 3 (three) satellites Telstar IN @ 37° west, NSS12 @ 57° east and Yamal 402 @ 55° east; however the requirement is only to cover AFRICA. Is there a significance on why all 3 satellites are referenced?

Reference: Page 12, Section: C.1 – Paragraph 1

ANSWER 2: The incumbent provider provides the satellite capacity. It is based on the most reliable satellite coverage for the geographical area.

QUESTION 3: The RFP references 3 (three) satellites Telstar IN @ 37° west, NSS12 @ 57° east and Yamal 402 @ 55° east; however the requirement is only to cover AFRICA. Is it the expectation from the Government that one of these satellites be used in the Bid? Can the Offeror provide an alternative satellite?

Reference: Page 12, Section: C.1 – Paragraph 1

ANSWER 3: The Offeror can provide ANY satellite or terrestrial solution that works best for the specific location.

QUESTION 4: The RFP references satellite Telstar IN @ 37° west, Telstar 1N is an old satellite and no longer in service. Did the Government reference the correct satellite?

Reference: Page 12, Section: C.1 – Paragraph 1

ANSWER 4: Should read “Telstar 11N @ 37.6° West”

QUESTION 5: The current VSAT equipment consists of, 1x 120cm Ku-band transmit /receive antenna including king post mount, 1 x modem, 3W Ku-band Block up Converter (BUC), 1 x Phase Lock Loop (PLL) Low-noise block downconverter (LNB). Can the contractor reuse this equipment? Does the Government want this equipment replaced?

Reference: Page 12, Section: C.1 – Paragraph 1

ANSWER 5: Most of the Satellite Antenna Systems are in poor condition due to extended exposure to the elements and cannot be moved off of its current position except for peaking of signal. Offeror should factor in replacing antennas, BUC’s, and cabling if planning on using alternate satellites. Modems are kept in a climate controlled environment and can be reutilized but they are coming to end of service life.

QUESTION 6: Current satellite modem is an iDirect XI. Does the Government want to keep this modem or are the expectations to replace it?

Reference: Page 12, Section: C.1 – Paragraph 2

ANSWER 6: USAGM is open to replacement since the iDirect XI is coming to end of life.

QUESTION 7: Expectations of the data rates for our VSAT network is 512kbps Up / 512kbps down on a shared 5:1 network on all satellites. There are 15 VSAT terminals. How many will be accessing the 512Kbps Up / 512Kbps down at any one time?

Reference: Page 12, Section: C.1 – Paragraph 3

ANSWER 7: If there is a regional audio outage, all terminals will attempt to connect at one time to transmit alarms back to the regional hub. We expect peak usage from the field to the satellite hub, not the reverse.

QUESTION 8: Will the Government provide their own router?

ANSWER 8: USAGM will provide routers behind the Offeror’s demarcation point.

QUESTION 9: Can the contractor use the modem as the demarc interface device to the Government router.

ANSWER 9: Yes

QUESTION 10: Please define the term “shared 5:1 network”.

ANSWER 10: From all locations, 5 locations are grouped together (3 groups). Each group is sharing the bandwidth of 512kbps. In case of 2 locations extensively using connection, data rate would go down to 256kbps each, etc. Just to rephrase; the total bandwidth for upload and download is divided with 5 modems dynamically and on demand.

QUESTION 11: Please specify the committed information rate specified in the USAGM agreements with the satellite providers.

ANSWER 11: We currently utilize 512kbps up and 128kbps down shared in a pool of up to 5 modems. Satellite capacity is provided and managed by the incumbent vendor.

QUESTION 12: Specify the downlink and uplink data packet size and frequency.

ANSWER 12: Packet size is unknown. Frequency is continuous with irregular times and quantities.

QUESTION 13: Is USAGM synchronizing data transmission between sites so that the peak data rate is used for each packet transmission?

ANSWER 13: No

QUESTION 14: Define the demarcation point for SOW Paragraph C.3 and C.4 services?

ANSWER 14: The service provider’s terminal equipment at each site or the Offerors Telecommunications Service Entrance Facility to the public internet.

QUESTION 15: Is the demarcation point for the LAN side RG45 connector of the internet service contractor’s modem? Is not, where shall it be?

ANSWER 15: Yes.

QUESTION 16: Confirm that all of the existing equipment of antenna, LNB, BUC, modem and cabling is available for use by the contractor.

ANSWER 16: Antennas, BUC’s and cabling at most locations are in poor shape and should be replaced, especially if the Offeror’s solution does not intend on using the existing satellites.

Modems are serviceable and can be reutilized but they are coming to end of service life.

QUESTION 17: Please specify which sites are on each satellite.

ANSWER 17:

Location Latitude Longitude Satellite 1 Accra, Ghana 5.72 -0.23 T11N 2 Bamako, Mali 12.67 -7.99 T11N 3 Nouakchott, Mauritania 18.14 -16.00 T11N 4 Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire 5.32 -4.02 T11N 5 Niamey, Niger 13.52 2.11 T11N 6 Juba backup, South Sudan 4.83 31.57 NSS-12 7 Brazzaville, Rep. of Congo -4.20 15.30 T11N 8 Dakar, Senegal 14.72 -17.44 T11N 9 N'djamena, Chad 12.09 15.09 NSS-12 10 Freetown, Sierra Leone 8.45 -13.22 T11N 11 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 12.36 -1.53 T11N

12 Lome, Togo 6.19 1.21 T11N 13 Bangui, Central African Republic 4.36 18.58 T11N 14 Lusaka, Zambia -15.00 28.40 Yamal 402 15 Juba main, South Sudan (second site Rock City) 4.85 31.59

NSS-12

QUESTION 18: Specify the packet loss and availability of the current service that the USAGM is receiving.

ANSWER 18: Unsure of exact packet loss. It varies up to 100% but fluctuates around 5% irregularly though sometimes excessive enough to lose information. Latency is around 700ms to 1500ms. However, VPN breaks up when latency is too high.

QUESTION 19: Please identify existing equipment at Lampertheim that will be available for the contractor to use.

ANSWER 19: None. If using VSAT, Offeror should have their own hub and all traffic flows through it on the way to our gateway in a branch to branch configuration over public internet.

If using terrestrial public internet, a hub may not be required though a portal to monitor traffic is desirable such as a provider of GSM cellular modems.

QUESTION 20: Please define the term “Telecommunications Service Entrance Facility TSEF”

ANSWER 20: The providers Gateway Station.

QUESTION 21: Specify the method that USAGM is currently providing multiple-paths from the TSEF to Lampertheim.

ANSWER 21: Public Internet

QUESTION 22: Are in-country or on-site spare parts available at the 15 sites?

ANSWER 22: No.

QUESTION 23: Does current remote monitoring system (RMS) provide email, SMS, or telephone call notifications?

ANSWER 23: E-mail, SMS, SNMP, other TCP and UDP ports for specific services. We routinely need TCP for web GUI queries and configuration or firmware updates etc

QUESTION 24: Section C.3, d.): Are encryption devices currently used in the RMS? Provide details.

ANSWER 24: No encryption devices are currently used other than the VPN point to point tunnels between the locations and Lampertheim. We do plan to implement SSL and MQTT in the future for IoT.

QUESTION 25: Section C.3, e.): What are the current performance characteristics of the RMS network?

ANSWER 25: Please refer to Section C.1 of the Solicitation.

QUESTION 26: Can proposal due date be extended to 21 August 2022?

ANSWER 26: The contracting officer in consultation with the program manager will make the determination if an extension is required once we are close to the proposal due date. For now we do not see the need to extend the proposal due date.

QUESTION 27: What does the unit price of $15,000.00 and $10,000.00 (in different CLIN numbers) stand for?

ANSWER 27: Those rates are pre-priced amounts that will be funded upon the Governments request of service. The amounts are the maximum amounts that will be spent on those Individual Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs), throughout the 12-months of service.

QUESTION 28: What does “NTE” stand for?

ANSWER 28: Not to Exceed

QUESTION 29: Is it correct that a solution on multiple satellites in future is acceptable?

ANSWER 29: Yes

QUESTION 30: For Terrestrial Service, is LTE an option? If yes, shall we include the LTE service as well, and which data rate does USAGM want to upgrade?

ANSWER 30: YES - Terrestrial Solution: Minimum requirements 1 Mbps Up/ 1 Mbps down, Enterprise Class Internet Service. Higher bandwidth rates are acceptable as listed in Section C.2 of the solicitation.

QUESTION 31: Terminal Equipment, could the available HW be used for the new service? Is Ku-Band service preferred in order to reuse the equipment?

ANSWER 31: Modem is available. BUC’s and existing cabling are not in the best of shape due to exposure to the elements over many years. If proposing a VSAT solution, Ku service is preferred to C-Band but we are open to any technological solution that the Offeror desires to propose as long as it meets the minimum requirements published in Section C.2 of the Solicitation.

QUESTION 32: Can their requirement operate on Newtec Dialog technology vs iDirect or is there a transec requirement?

ANSWER 32: We can accept Newtec Dialog technology as long as the solution keeps the data connection secure.

QUESTION 33: Vendor shall provide a secure web portal where selected USAGM personnel can monitor the status of the network in near real time. Is an API format acceptable until the function is created fully in the application? Can you please provide what metrics are the must haves?

ANSWER 33: Yes, an API is acceptable depending on scope and quality. In fact an API in conjunction with a portal is desirable.

Metrics Must Haves: PING. Latency, Packet Loss, Availability, Throughput, Jitter, URL outbound list, URL inbound list

Metrics Desirables: Speed tests, User Quality of Experience, VoIP quality, Packet duplication, Packet reordering

QUESTION 34: Are either Ku, C, and Ka band acceptable options for the VSAT service? And is splitting among different bands depending on location and availability an option?

ANSWER 34: C-Band is the least desirable option but any combination of satellite bands and/or terrestrial connectivity solutions are acceptable.

QUESTION 35: Clarify: Hands on tech support at the remote sites are not going to be USAGM personnel? If not, can this portion be subcontracted?

ANSWER 35: FM broadcast sites are contracted by USAGM and are owned/operated by local organizations in each country. There are no USAGM personnel onsite. Local support can be sub-contracted. Offeror is responsible for all sub-contractors.

QUESTION 36: Does the USAGM hold the VSAT licence for the existing 15 VSAT sites?

ANSWER 36: USAGM has operating licenses in Zambia and South Sudan. Other locations do not require USAGM to have a VSAT license based on host nation agreements.

QUESTION 37: For new VSAT sites will the USAGM be responsible for obtaining the VSAT licence?

ANSWER 37: We would expect the Offeror to acquire any required licenses for new sites.

QUESTION 38: The statement ‘Where it is necessary to install new cabling, antennas or other network infrastructure, the Contractor shall be responsible for all civil works, building permits, electrical permits, taxes and licenses as required by host nation Government and/or local authorities’ – does this mean We as the Contractor are responsible for obtaining the VSAT licence and for obtaining local municipal and landlord permissions?

ANSWER 38: USAGM will work with the landlord where the broadcast systems are located for permission to install any new terminal systems on their property. The vendor would be responsible for acquiring all required permits and permissions as listed in Section C.2.3 of the solicitation as well as ensuring any work meets local codes. Refer to Question 36 for VSAT licenses.

QUESTION 39: INSTALLATION AND REPAIR SERVICES C.4.2.3. All VAT and other taxes and license fees (if applicable) must be included in the budgetary cost estimate – does this mean we as the Contractor are responsible for obtaining the VSAT licence? What does ‘All VAT and other taxes and license fees (if applicable)’ mean?

ANSWER 39: Offeror would be required to acquire VSAT or other licenses for any new locations where it is required. Offeror is responsible for factoring in all local taxes and fees for any equipment / civil works that are required. Taxes and Fees are to be listed as a separate line item on any proposal.

QUESTION 40: Section B - Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs Transition Phase Period of Performance: 08/01/2022 - 09/30/2022 QTY 2 – does this mean that 2 sites will have 2 month paid test of service? In which countries are the 2 sites located?

ANSWER 40: The transition phase allows the winning Offeror to establish and set up their network and install/align/test/configure terminal equipment at each site. The Offeror can make the determination on how they wish to execute this transition but should be addressed in the transition plan submitted as part of the solicitation.

QUESTION 41: Can you provide the list of sites showing which site uses which satellite? For example Accra T11N

ANSWER 41: Refer to Table in Question 17.

QUESTION 42: The Contractor shall coordinate and facilitate communications among USAGM and host country officials for installation and operation of their IP connectivity solution, if required by local laws and regulations – what does this mean, please explain?

ANSWER 42: We expect the Offeror to have access to regional and local experts to ensure that USAGM is conforming to all national and local laws and regulations for each location.

QUESTION 43: The Contractor shall be responsible for providing firmware, software and configuration updates as well as transporting and delivering vendor interface equipment, electronic devices and associated equipment/hardware used to provide IP connectivity to the USAGM Remote Monitoring Network in Africa – does this mean that We as the Contractor will be required to deliver equipment to the remote monitoring locations in Africa?

ANSWER 43: Yes. The contractor should be able to provide local assistance for installation and configuration and troubleshooting etc.

QUESTION 44: OPTIONAL SERVICES Failover Solutions to Sustain Connectivity: When requested by USAGM, contractor will propose and provide solutions for failover and failback from one means of connectivity to another, such as from Fiber to GSM and back, or such as from GSM to VSAT-on-demand and back at one or more USAGM transmitter locations in Africa

– is it mandatory to provide failover solutions?

ANSWER 44: It is not mandatory. It is an optional service.

QUESTION 45: EMERGENCY PARTS AND MATERIALS Emergency parts and materials are defined as parts and materials not available in the current inventory which have been provided by USAGM that would be required in an expedited fashion to the station, due to the critical nature of the part or material, to keep the USAGM remote monitoring network operating and meeting the USAGM mission of monitoring over the air broadcasting 99% of the time – can USAGM provide full inventory of equipment including spares? Is the annual SLA 99%?

ANSWER 45: USAGM does not have any spares in Washington, Germany, or forwardly deployed. Current SLA is 99%.

QUESTION 46: C.11.1 STANDARD. The performance standard is that the Government receives no more than one (1) customer complaint per month – what constitutes a complaint?

ANSWER 46: Failure to meet any requirements as listed in Section C.2 & Section C.3 of the Solicitation.

QUESTION 47: H.1 TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT The Supervisor/Project Manager will serve as the in-country technical point of contact and provide his/her name and phone number to the Contracting Officer in writing – does this mean that the Supervisor/Project Manager has to reside in-country? In which country is in-country?

ANSWER 47: The Supervisor / Project Manager can reside anywhere. We would expect that the Supervisor/Project Manager would have access to local or regional experts who would be able to assist with any technical or logistical issues with their terminal equipment and connections at each USAGM broadcast site.

QUESTION 48: Equipment spares – is it the intention of USAGM to hold in-country spares or for the USAGM to hold spares at a central USAGM facility?

ANSWER 48: No. Vendor is responsible for managing spares.

QUESTION 49: We have to complete BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24 & 30 a.b.c in the first two pages, do you confirm?

ANSWER 49: Please fill Block 17, 30a.b.c. of the Standard Form (SF1449) document

QUESTION 50: Attachment 1 “Pricing Template” has to be completed. Directly as it is presented.

• Internet Connectivity Services: It appears 10 as quantity (base). Then it appears 12 as quantity (options). But there are 15 locations. Can you please precise?

ANSWER 50: Attachment 1 – “Pricing Template” is a two (2) sheet excel document. The 15 locations pricing should be addressed on the second sheet of the document.

The second sheet can be accessed on the bottom left of the excel document, titled: “CLIN Breakdown”.

• Price per site is different according to the country. Is it possible to create another table with pricing corresponding to each country instead of proposing a total and a unit price for all locations?

ANSWER 50: Location breakdown pricing is on the second sheet on Attachment 1 – Pricing Template. The second sheet can be accessed on the bottom left of the excel document, titled: “CLIN Breakdown”.

• When you mention $15,000 USD NTE for optional CLIN: Installation & Repair Services, this means that for the 15 locations we can propose as a maximum a price of $15,000 USD for this CLIN.

ANSWER 50: The values presented on the NTE CLINs, is the maximum amount that USAGM will spent on that CLIN. The CLIN will be used on an as need basis.

QUESTION 51: Local in-country personnel can we send local in-country personnel to the remote locations?

ANSWER 51: Yes.

• B. What does the unit price of 15,000 and 10,000 (in the different CLIN numbers) stand for? What does NTE mean?

ANSWER 51: They are pre-priced CLINs. NTE stands for “Not-To-Exceed”.

• C1. Is it correct that a solution on multiple satellite in future is acceptable?

ANSWER 51: Yes.

• C2. For Terrestrial service, is LTE an option? If yes, shall we include the LTE service as well? To which data rate does USAGM want to upgrade?

ANSWER 51: Please refer to the Answer for Question 30. LTE solutions needs to meet the terrestrial specifications in Section C.2 of the solicitation.

• C3.1 Terminal Equipment, Could the available HW be used for the new service?

ANSWER 51: Refer to answers 5 & 16 about the reuse of existing hardware.

QUESTION 52: Section B has to be completed. Directly as it is presented?

ANSWER 52: Yes, Section B must be filled in.

A.) Response to Questions.