ADDENDUM 2 2001-25 Cloud Services.docx

ADDENDUM # 2

2001-25 CLOUD SERVICES

Original Notice of RFP Issued on: November 6, 2025 Response Due Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026 1/6/2026

To All Prospective Bidders:

I am writing to request clarification regarding the reference requirement in the solicitation. Specifically, we would like to confirm whether it is acceptable to submit key personnel experience and references instead of company-level references as part of our proposal submission. Yes HACH will recognize key personnel experience and references.

Questions on Existing Infrastructure and Compatibility

1. What is your current on-premises infrastructure setup? For example, are you primarily using Microsoft Active Directory for identity management, or do you have any Oracle-based systems (e.g., Oracle Database or identity tools) already in place?

2. Are there any existing applications or databases that must integrate seamlessly with the proposed cloud environment? If so, could you specify if they rely on Microsoft SQL Server features, or if equivalents like Oracle Database would be compatible without migration efforts?

3. For the Remote Desktop Services (RDS) requirement, do you have a strong preference for Microsoft's native RDS, or would alternative remote access solutions (e.g., Oracle's secure access tools) be acceptable if they meet the 50-user licensing and MFA needs?

Questions on Flexibility and Requirements

4. The SPS specifies Windows Server and Microsoft SQL Server—would deviations from these (e.g., using Oracle Database as a substitute for SQL Server) be considered, provided they meet performance, security, and FedRAMP compliance standards?

5. Are there any non-negotiable elements in the Scope of Services (e.g., the exact SQL Server Standard Core License with 4 cores), or is there room for equivalent alternatives that could offer better optimization for your workloads?

6. How critical is Active Directory integration? If we proposed an Oracle Identity Management solution for role-based access and auditing, would that align with your needs, or must it be Microsoft-specific?

Questions on Priorities and Performance

7. What are your top priorities for this IaaS contract (e.g., cost savings, scalability, automated maintenance, disaster recovery speed, or ease of integration)? For instance, if database automation and performance are key, how would you weigh Oracle's Autonomous Database features against Microsoft SQL?

8. Based on your anticipated usage), do you expect heavy database transactions or I/O-intensive workloads? If yes, would you be open to solutions that potentially offer superior performance in those areas, even if they differ from the specified Microsoft stack?

9. For scalability, the SPS mentions on-demand resource scaling and adding RDS licenses—do you foresee needs beyond the initial specs (e.g., AI/ML integration or advanced analytics), and if so, what features would be most valuable?

Questions on Cost, Licensing, and Long-Term Needs

10. How do licensing costs factor into your evaluation? For example, if an Oracle solution could reduce long-term expenses through included features like free data egress or autonomous patching, would that influence your decision?

11. Are there any budget constraints or funding sources (e.g., HUD-related) that might favor cost-optimized alternatives over the specified Microsoft licensing?

12. Looking ahead to the 3-year term with optional extensions, what future expansions or changes do you anticipate (e.g., more users, additional storage, or hybrid cloud setups), and how flexible should the solution be to accommodate them?

1. Azure Subscription Ownership - Will the Housing Authority provide the Microsoft Azure subscription under which the infrastructure will be provisioned and billed, or should the contractor provision and manage the Azure subscription under its own account?

2. Payment Terms - Can the Authority please confirm its standard invoicing and payment terms (e.g., Net 30), and whether monthly invoicing is acceptable for the ongoing managed services component?

3. MFA Vendor Flexibility - The RFQ references Duo MFA for approximately 50 users. Would the Authority consider functionally equivalent MFA solutions that are natively integrated with Microsoft Azure and Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), provided they meet or exceed the same security and usability requirements?

4. RDS Licensing - The RFQ specifies Remote Desktop Services for approximately 50 users. Should the bidder supply RDS Client Access Licenses (CALs) under SPLA or other licensing programs, or will the Housing Authority provide the required RDS licenses?

All other terms and conditions remain the same.

Kim Cotharin- Contract Officer 180 John D. Wardlaw Way Hartford, CT 06106 Kcotharin@hartfordhousing.org image1.png