CWMS 2.0 Q and As for DRAFT RFP 70RTAC20R00000025.pdf

DRAFT RFP 70RTAC20R00000025 Questions and Answers

Question

RFQ Reference Vendor Question DHS Answer

1449 (page 1) Per item #28, the offeror is required to provide a signed copy of the SF 1449.

Please confirm that the SF 1449 should be submitted as part of Volume 3:

Price Volume.

A signed SF1449 shall be submitted in Volume 1.

RFP 3.0 Pre-Proposal Conference, Paragraph

1 (pg 3)

The paragraph states "The Government intends to conduct a pre-proposal conference on June 2020." Please advise if this is still planned, and if so, please provide the anticipated date and venue (e.g., virtual) of such a conference.

A pre-proposal conference will be held on August 11, 2020 as specified in the final solicitation.

3 RFP 4.0 Proposal Submission (pg 3)

Is there a maximum email file size for submissions? There is no email file size limitation; however, it is the offeror’s responsibility to ensure the file submissions are received by the Government.

4 RFP 6.0 Proposal Format and Contents

(pg 4)

Please confirm the due date for Volume 1 is still on June 15, 2020 by 12:00 noon.

The due date for Volume 1 is August 28, 2020 as provided in the FINAL solicitation.

5 RFP 6.1 Submission of Written Volumes (pg 5)

“The written portion of the proposal shall be submitted in two separate volumes: Technical (Volume 1 and Volume 2) and Price (Volume 3). Each volume shall contain the following information…” Do the 9 items of information that each Volume is requested to have count against the page count for any of the Volumes?

There is no page limitation for document submission except for the number of presentation slides that is part of the Volume 2 submission.

6 RFP 6.1.2.1 Oral Presentation and Slide

Deck (pg 6)

“For the Management Approach (Technical Evaluation Factor 2): The offeror’s slide deck shall cover all elements below, (1) through (12).” There are only nine Technical Evaluation Factors outlined in this section. Please confirm if we are being evaluated on the nine (9) listed or if there are additional Technical Evaluation Factors.

The number of elements under Evaluation Factor 2 is nine (9).

Please see the updated RFP 6.1.2.1 that now states, “…. The offeror’s slide deck shall cover all elements below, (1) through (9).”

7 Section 6.2, Paragraph

6.2.4 - Format and Size

Limitations (pg 10)

The instructions state that the “Oral Presentation shall consist of no more than 35 slides to address the Management Approach.” Please confirm that the 90 minute presentation period consists of 1) presentation of the 35-slide Management Approach and 2) Portal Demo in accordance with Attachment 3

That is correct.

Instructions for Portal Demonstration and the requirements for SOW Section

2.1.1 Cellular Wireless Management Portal.

8 RFP 6.2. Oral Presentation (pg 10)

For the Oral Presentation and Slide Deck, does the cover page count against the slide limit?

No, the cover page is limited to 2 pages and is outside the slide page limit.

9 RFP 6.2. Oral Presentation (pg 10)

For the Oral Presentation and Slide Deck, will a table of contents and/or agenda be needed? If so, will this be included in the slide limit?

No, a table of contents and/or agenda will not be included in the slide limit.

10 RFP 6.2. Oral Presentation (pg 10)

Does the font requirement apply to headings/titles of PowerPoint slides? No, the font requirement does not apply to the headings/titles.

11 RFP 6.2. Oral Presentation (pg 10)

Is there a file size limit for the slide deck? If so, can the presentation be split into multiple files and submitted in separate emails?

The file size shall not exceed 30MB. Additional slides will not be considered/evaluated.

12 RFP 6.2. Oral Presentation (pg 11)

Will the vendor be allowed to bring our own equipment? If not, can you provide the make/model of your projector? For example is it a PC compatible or Mac, Will the system have MS-Office, particularly PowerPoint, or Adobe Reader. If the projector is provided by the government, what type of connector(s) are available?

Is there wireless data connectivity in the presentation room? If cellular coverage is poor, will the presenter be allowed to join a guest Wi-Fi network offered by DHS?

In addition, will the government provide the size of the room and the lighting condition of the room?

Yes, the vendor can bring their own equipment. The oral presentation format may change to a virtual event in lieu of an in-person event.

6.2 has been updated to provide additional instructions.

13 RFP 6.2.6 Oral Presentation (pg 11)

The solicitation states that offeror requests to reschedule will not be considered. Since the presentation must be provided by "the actual personnel who would be responsible for contract management and/or performance" and since personal emergencies (sickness, death in the family, etc.) cannot be controlled, please consider revising this requirement to "offerer requests to reschedule will not be considered except in cases of unavoidable emergency."

The solicitation has incorporated this exception.

14 RFP

II. EVALUATION (pg

13)

Is Factor 4 – Past Performance equal in weighing with Factor 2 and Factor 3? Yes.

15 RFP

Basis for Award (pg

14)

Factor 4 – Past Performance is not mentioned in the Basis of Award and Factor 4 is erroneously stated as Price. Will the government clarify this point?

Past Performance (Factor 4) will be evaluated. The solicitation has been revised to identify Past Performance as Factor 5.

16 RFP 27.2 Safeguarding of Sensitive

Information (MAR 2015) (pg 51)

Authority to Operate (ATO) – If a DHS component issues an ATO at their Task Order level, will other DHS components be required to accept that ATO or will the other components be able to require separate ATOs for their individual Task Orders?

DHS will issue an ATO at the IDIQ contract level. This ATO will cover all components and each component may obtain a FISMA ID to connect to the parent system as an External Information System (EIS) versus requiring their own ATO. This does not preclude a component from issuing their own task level specific ATO, but it will not be necessary.

17 SOW 1.2, Scope Please identify the TEM Software that DHS is using currently?

a. Please identify the TEM provider incumbent?

b. Please identify the MDM solution DHS is using?

c. Does the current TEM solution meet all the requirements of this solicitation?

d. Is DHS interested in fully managed TEM or a SaaS base solution?

e. Is there a requirement for wireless voice and data coverage overseas?

f. If so, do we need to provide pricing for overseas plans?

g. Please identify if DHS is looking for on-premise TEM and

MDM solution, or if it is acceptable to provide the platform from Secure Cloud i.e., AWS?

h. Please confirm that the vendor support can be done remotely

vs. at DHS locations.

i. If Vendors labor must be onsite at DHS, please identify the locations CONUS and OCOUNS.

TEM Software currently being used is proprietary information.

a. WidePoint Integrated Solution

b. BlackBerry UEM, AirWatch WS1 cloud and on prem, Mobile Iron,

c. Yes

d. Fully Managed TEM

e. Yes

f. Yes

g. FedRAMP Cloud

h. Service Desk Support can be performed as an offsite support.

Generally, the service that must be performed at the DHS facility is specified as an on-site support in the SOW.

i. The onsite support location could be anywhere but primarily the DC metro area. Multiple locations may be required throughout CONUS for onsite support. Onsite support is not required for OCONUS on a permeant basis.

18 SOW 2.4.1 Transition- In Services (pg 20)

Is the ATO issued at the BPA level? See question 16.

19 SOW 2.4.1 Transition- In Services (pg 20)

Will individual components be able to require their own separate ATO? See question 16.

20 SOW 2.4.1 Transition- In Services (pg 20)

Is Single Sign-On the only form of a 2-factor authentication permissible or can the quoter also provide the ability for a DHS end user to directly login to the web portal using their PIV or CAC card?

Logging in with the PIV card is permissible.

21 SOW 2.5 Service Desk (pg 23)

A program can be established to assess and potentially require a device that is out of warranty, but under which CLIN would the repair costs be able to be billed under?

ODC CLIN 5 - Repair costs would be invoiced under ODC for services and hardware.

22 SOW 2.6.4.2 Bill Payment Services (pg

32)

If carrier services are an Optional Service and a component does not include these within their task order, will the contractor still be expected to consolidate and pay the carrier invoices?

No. The vendor consolidates only the carrier invoices on the task order.

23 SOW 2.7.2 Mobile Device

Management/Mobile Application

Management /Mobile Security (Optional) (Pg

34)

Is the expectation that DHS and its components will standardize on one MDM solution or will there be a variety?

No, DHS anticipates that there will be a variety of solutions.

24 SOW 1.2 Scope and

2.7.2 Mobile device

Management

Is DHS also asking vendors to provide and Price an MDM solution with this IDIQ contract?

a. If not, is DHS asking to integrate current MDM solution within the TEM platform?

b. If so, what MDM software does DHS use?

c. Is DHS asking for a full-time staff to perform the MDM management on DHS locations?

d. If so, please provide list of DHS locations

Most MDM functions can be done remotely, is DHS open for vendors to provide MDM management remotely?

Yes, but it would be at the component level and may require licensing and/or it could include the labor categories to manage the service a.:No, MDM solutions are to be managed separately from the TEM platform.

b. DHS components use a variety of MDM solutions such as BlackBerry UEM, AirWatch WS1, and Mobile Iron c.: This will be task order specific

1. MDM Support:

a. Tier 1: Offsite

b. Tier 2: Offsite

c. Tier 3: Offsite d., Any deviation from the above will be determined at the component order level where specific locations will be identified

25 SOW 2.7.3 Cellular Wireless Devices, Accessories and

Service (Optional) (pg 35)

DHS is requesting, “the contractor shall demonstrate their relationship with the carrier through letters from the wireless carriers confirming an established working relationship.” Should these letters be submitted as part of Volume I or Volume II of the quotation?

The solicitation has been revised to incorporate commitment letters from carriers– item 4 of Volume 1 submission.

26 SOW Scope & Sec.

2.7.3.4

There is a mention of tracking Applications and Licenses, could DHS elaborate as to what application and license tracking is required? Are these applications installed by DHS on the devices using MDM?

a. If so, please indicate if the applications and licenses are COTs based.

b. If Custom made, will DHS provide the licensing information to vendors?

c. There is a requirement for the data transfer between the portal and DHS financial and other systems. Could DHS provide a list of other DHS systems that portal needs to exchange data?

Is it acceptable to provide a comma delimited files from the portal as the means of data exchange?

All COTs license purchases i.e.

AppleCare, AirWatch, Lookout, etc.

must be tracked in the TEMs portal with the date purchased, order quantities, etc. The capability to assign a license as part of each device detail should be available so that a reconciliation may be completed between the TEMs portal and MDM solution. A list of DHS systems for data transfer will be provided if applicable at the component order level. Comma delimited files are acceptable but open xml is preferred.

27 SOW 2.7.3.5.3 Is DHS using a specific Paging provider?

a. Does DHS have a list of approved pagers?

b. Does DHS ask for bi-directional Alpha/Numeric messaging?

No, specific pager requirements will be determined at the component order level and bi-directional alpha/numeric pagers are required.

28 SOW 2.7.3.6 Does DHS use any specific Satellite carrier?

a. Does DHS have a list of approved Satellite device?

Should the Satellite provider and the devices be approved by DISA?

No, specific satellite requirements will be determined at the component order level and shall include both Inmarsat and Iridium devices. Secure DISA devices are not within scope of this contract.

29 SOW 2.8, (pgs 38-39) Wireless Security: The requirements in this section is under direct control of the carriers. Please provide more details as to what DHS wants the vendors to provide.

a. RFQ has a reference to Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) in regard to Cellular data traffic; is this requirement for the DHS WiFi data traffic or the Carrier based data traffic?

b. Is the TIC requirement applicable to TEM and MDM software?

c. Is it acceptable to provide the MDM and TEM from secure Cloud such as AWS or is DHS asking for on-premise platforms?

A: This requirement will be task order specific and for carrier-based traffic.

B: It could be part of the MDM solution for the work data, but is typically a carrier configuration setting to ensure traffic is routed directly to the DHS network C: Yes, FedRAMP approved cloud is acceptable.

30 SOW 2.18, (pg 42) In-Building Cellular Wireless, is this section requirement to be released and priced under each task order?

Yes.

31 Attachment 3

– Instructions for Portal

Demonstration

What criteria will DHS evaluators use to determine if each of the capabilities requested “fully meets DHS needs”? Do the demo capabilities being requested map back directly to requirements within the SOW?

Yes, DHS will verify the capabilities are being met or not based on the requirements in the SOW. Attachment 3 has been updated to show the specific SOW sections.

32 Attachment 3

– Instructions for

Portal Demonstration

Will DHS allow access to an “applicable financial, inventory or contracting information system” for demonstration purposes in order for the contractor to perform a test data transfer to prove our capabilities to meet this requirement?

No, DHS will not provide access to the applicable information systems;

The vendor is requested to explain/demonstrate the process without accessing the DHS systems.

33 Attachment 3

– Instructions for

Portal Demonstration

Will the proposer be granted access to a guest Wi-Fi connection or should the quoter plan on their own cellular connection? If the proposer needs to rely on their own cellular connection does the room in which the demonstration have sufficient cellular signal and if so with which carrier(s)?

Access to a guest Wi-Fi connection will not be granted. The contractor shall use their own Wi-Fi connection. Also, see question 12

34 Attachment 4 – Pricing

Template, Carrier Services

Tab/Sample Order Pricing tab

Can additional rate plans/features be offered for each of the carriers listed and used in the Sample Order Pricing tab?

Yes; however, the additional rate plans/features offered in the Sample Order Pricing Tab must be offered on the Carrier Service Tab as well.

35 Attachment 4 – Pricing Template, Carrier Services Tab

Where should additional service providers and offerings should be added in this worksheet tab?

Contractors can add additional offering of other carriers in purple highlighted cells.

36 Attachment 4 – Pricing Template, Sample Order Pricing tab

For the carrier services, Usage information is provided for domestic use, but no usage statistics have been provided for international data, paging, or international dialing.

Based on the instructions provided on the Sample Order Pricing tab, pricing can be provided without that data. It will not impact the final pricing.

37 Attachment 4 – Pricing Template, Sample Order Pricing tab

For the carrier services evaluation, should the assignment of the devices be spread out amongst all carriers, or can just one carrier be utilized if they have the lowest price for all categories?

The offeror is requested to develop a solution for each carrier identified in the Sample Order Pricing (three separate solutions utilizing service plans selected for each of the three carriers). The formula is established to calculate the average cost.

38 Attachment 4 – Pricing Template, Sample Order Pricing tab

There does not appear to be any pricing plan options for the 50 secure Comsec lines, will DHS include line items in this template to account for those costs?

Service Plans/Feature types will not be provided. It will be up to the vendor to propose.

39 Attachment 4 – Pricing Template, Sample Order Pricing tab

Does DHS have a methodology to evaluate the proposed assignment of plans to ensure that a bidder accurately calculates a minute/data pool and overages?

DHS will use the same methodology to verify all bidders have successfully met the requirement. Please see solicitation section II evaluation.

40 Attachment 4 – Pricing Template, Sample Order Pricing tab

There does not appear to be a line item to calculate overage data (MB) if a data pool or individual line exceeds their plan allowance.

The vendor will have available fields to add.

41 Attachment 4 – Pricing Template, General Question

For in-building wireless solutions as requested in the SOW, under which CLIN series would any necessary equipment be purchased?

It will be treated as an ODC and will be specified at the task order level.

42 Attachment 4 – Pricing Template, General Question

Under which CLIN series would Optional Warranty Services (SOW Section 2.9, page 38) be invoiced under if the contractor can procure such services from a vendor other than the wireless carrier?

See the response to question 41 above.

43 Attachment 4 – Pricing Template

For the Price table 3- CLIN 0004A, please identify in which DHS location(s) the work must be performed.

a. If there is more than one location, please direct us as to how we should price the travel and per-diam?

Travel cost will be determined at the task order level based on the specific service location and the Federal Travel Regulation.

44 Attachment 4 – Pricing Template

Is it possible to add an additional row for the ODC charges? The need for ODC is determined at the task order level and will not be specified at the IDIQ level.

Therefore, no additional line will be added to the pricing template.

45 Attachment 4 – Pricing Template

Could the carriers’ wireless device pricing be based on Open-Market, since this requirement is not under GSA Schedule 70?

a. Can DHS provide the list of approved Mobile devices?

b. What if some carriers refuse to provide their pricing to bidders, will DHS disqualify the bidder without complete carrier pricing?

c. If yes, could DHS direct the 3 carriers to provide their same pricing to all bidders for fare price evaluation?

Is it possible to provide pricing from an alternate carrier such as Sprint, if one of the carriers does no provide pricing to a bidder?

IDIQ is open market and we will give the authority under FAR51 to use the GSA schedule. The offeror can use commercial pricing or GSA schedule to obtain the best pricing available. It is not possible to provide alternate carrier pricing in regard to the evaluation

a. No, specific device models are not required to complete the pricing template

b. Yes, DHS has a requirement for all carriers listed

c. No, it is up to the offeror to negotiate pricing with the carriers to determine who can provide the lowest cost to DHS

Please provide pricing for T- Mobile. It is the offeror’s responsibility to obtain pricing from the carriers.