TSS Questions and Answers_Amendment 000002.pdf

No. OFFEROR QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

Section 1. Scope states "The MaxSim 4 software...

will be provided by the Government". Is there any other Adacel proprietary software required? If so, please provide the full list of software. Will the

FAA provide all Adacel proprietary software and licenses required for this contract?

The MaxSim 4 software is the only proprietary software required for the TSS. The

Government will provide the MaxSim 4 software and all licenses associated with the

MaxSim 4 software as Government Furnished Property (GFP) to the vendor selected for this TSS contract. All other licenses required to perform this TSS contract are to be covered by the Offeror in their proposal.

What Operating Systems are required for the TSS systems both existing and "Tech refresh"? If

Microsoft Windows and/or Linux, which versions and configurations?

The TSS currently uses Microsoft Windows Professional (versions XP and 7) and

Adacel Systems Inc. (ASI) Linux 4.5. Linux 4.5 is a modified version of Centos

Linux 4.5. The Government is planning to use Microsoft Windows 10 Professional and ASI Linux 6.7 for the TSS Tech Refresh effort.

Aside from the Adacel proprietary software and

Operating Systems, what other Software packages are required for the TSS systems to operate in the various configurations?

There are no other software packages other than the MaxSim 4 and Linux OS required to operate the TSS. All other data required to operate the TSS will be provided as Government Furnished Information (GFI) in the form of Visual

Databases (VDB), training scenarios, and other databases for each TSS facility.

Sections 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, and 3.13, J-5, J-6, and J-

7 do not list part numbers or specifics for the hardware. The Contractor is responsible to price, procure and maintain this equipment. Please provide specific part numbers and configurations for any COTS equipment in sufficient detail for industry pricing. Please notate any custom-built, modified, or proprietary hardware that is not

COTS. Please ensure any hardware dependencies of the TSS software are described, for example, if a certain Graphics Card capability or brand is required for the IG. For example, Section 3.12

Dell Precision Computer P/N T5810 and Optiplex

P/N 7040 have at least 4 configurations with a wide variety of cost. Section J-6 only lists "Pseudo

Pilot Computer and VCS Computer" as specifications. Please specify the Vendor, Model, Processor, Memory requirement, Graphics Card requirement, Operating System Requirement, and

Hard Drive Requirements at minimum for all required computers on the program.

Refer to the updated Section 3.12. All Image Generating (IG) and Fileserver computers must meet or exceed Dell Precision Model T5810 minimum configuration requirements with Xeon E5-1603 or better CPU. All other computers (i.e., operational position computers and VCS computers) must meet or exceed Dell

Optiplex 7040 minimum configuration requirements with Intel i5-6500T processor or better. IG and Fileserver computers must have a minimum of 16GB RAM and all other computers must have a minimum of 8 GB RAM (upgradable), 500 GB Hard

Drive/Solid State Drive or larger. All computers require nVidia GTX1060 Graphics

Card or higher and Windows 10 Professional operating system.

Section 3.2.4 & 5 Spares: Will existing on-site spare part inventory be transferred to winning contractor?

Any Government owned on-site spare part inventory will be provided as Government

Furnished Equipment (GFE) to the Contractor selected for the new TSS contract.

For proposal preparation and pricing purposes the Offeror should assume there is no on-site spare part inventory for each TSS site.

Section 3.2.4 & 5 Spares: Are On-Site spares currently located at each site? What is the current inventory of spares at each site?

Offerors should assume there is no on-site spare parts inventory at each TSS site.

Section 3.2.6&7 CDRL A013 Obsolescence: Will the Government provide current Obsolete Parts

List.

The Government will not provide a current Obsolete Parts List for the TSS systems.

A new Obsolete Parts List is required and will be prepared under the new TSS contract.

Section 3.3 ILS: Will the Government provide current system availability, reliability, and MTTR failure metrics.

The Government will not provide system availability and reliability values for the TSS equipment currently installed because all TSS hardware is going to be replaced early in the new contract. Offerors should use the TSS Operational Availability (Ao), Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), and Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) requirements specified in Sections 3.3.1.1, 3.3.2.1, and 3.3.3.1 in the TSS

Specification (Attachment 1 of the TSS SIR) for the preparation of their proposal.

Section 3.4 Training Material: Will the

Government provide current, per-site, training material inventory.

The Government will not provide any existing TSS training documentation. Sections

3.4 and 3.5.2.6 in Section C (Statement of Work) have been revised to specify that the training materials listed in Sections 3.4 and 3.5.2.6 must be prepared and maintained under the new TSS contract. The training material specified in Sections

3.4 and 3.5.2.6 of the original SOW has been revised to only require the training material listed below for the TSS under the new contract. Offerors should include the cost to prepare and maintain the following training documents in their proposal.

1. TSS System Operator Manual

2. TSS System Administrator and Maintenance Manual

3. Manual and Computer Based Instruction (CBI) For Designing and Creating TSS

Training Scenarios

Section 3.5.2.3 SW Support: Per “.. Contractor must collaboratively engage with the owner of proprietary software..” . In the event the owner of proprietary software refuses to collaboratively engage Contractor, will the TSS PMO unilaterally determine corrective action and plan.

If the owner of the TSS proprietary software and hardware and the Contractor selected for this contract cannot reach agreement on how to resolve a TSS problem that involves both companies, the Government will facilitate the preparation and execution of a corrective action plan necessary to resolve the TSS problem.

Tower Simulation System (TSS)- Questions and Answers

SIR - DTFAWA-17-R-00029 Amendment 00002

June 6, 2017

Section 3.5.2.3 SW Support: Will the Government provide non-proprietary software source code, design documentation, interface documentation, and required development environments.

The only software used in the TSS is the proprietary MaxSim 4 software which includes both proprietary and non-proprietary software. The MaxSim 4 software interfaces directly with the various databases used in the TSS (e.g., VDBs, Models, etc.). The Government will provide interface information between the proprietary

MaxSim 4 software and the TSS databases after the contract is awarded. The

Government will not provide any source code or other related information for the

TSS MaxSim 4 proprietary software.

Section 3.5.2.3 SW Support: Will the Government provide proprietary software design documentation, and interface documentation enabling assessment and classification of software deficiencies.

The Government will not provide any information for the TSS MaxSim 4 proprietary software. The Government will provide interface information between the proprietary MaxSim 4 software and the TSS databases after the contract is awarded.

Section 3.5.2.3 SW Support: ASI is proprietary software. Please clarify process wherein Contractor will “make all ASI software releases available...”

The Government will provide all TSS software releases developed by ASI and approved by the Government to the Contractor performing this TSS contract. The

Contractor must then make them available and distribute them via the TSS WIDE for installation at the TSS sites. Refer to the revised Section 3.5.2.3. For TSS sites that have a Contractor provided FSR or FST on-site, the Contractor FSR or FST will be responsible for installing and testing the software releases. For TSS sites that do not have a Contractor provided FSR or FST, the Government will be responsible for installing and testing the software releases. If a problem occurs when the

Government installs and tests the software releases the Government will contact the

Contractor for assistance.

Section 3.5.2.5 Scenario Development: Will the

Government provide the most current version of the WhiteBoard application and any other proprietary development tool necessary?

The TSS Whiteboard is a Graphical User Interface (GUI) program that is an integral part of the proprietary MaxSim software. The TSS Whiteboard will not operate independently from MaxSim and is required to create training scenarios for MaxSim.

The current version of the Whiteboard will be provided as part of the MaxSim 4 software provided by the Government after contract award. There are no other proprietary development tools used for the TSS.

Section 3.5.2.7 Site-Specific Data Files & 3.6

TSSC: Will the Government provide data files, models, source code and design and interface documentation required to support maintenance and enhancement of Voice Recognition and

Synthesis.

The TSS Voice Recognition and Synthesis is part of the proprietary MaxSim 4 software which will be provided by the Government after the TSS contract is awarded.

Section 3.5.2.10 WIDE: Will the Government provide WIDE server and storage hardware and software or must this be a vendor owned system and service provider.

Refer to the updated Section C. 3.5.2.10. The Government will not provide the server and storage hardware or software for the TSS WIDE. The Contractor must design and maintain the TSS WIDE site. The Contractor must also provide the server and storage hardware and software required for the TSS WIDE. The Government will have full unlimited access and technical data rights for the TSS WIDE site, including all code, images, functions, and “look and feel” utilized on the site and any data collected or files received during site usage.

Section 3.13 Maint & Tech Refresh: Will the

Government provide Adacel (Sec J-10)

ADA700050; ADA700053; ADA400672;

ADA900006 design drawings and/or compatible replacement descriptions and part numbers.

The four TSS components listed are only used for fixed TSS system installations and are not planned to be replaced as part of the TSS Tech Refresh effort under the new

TSS contract. These four TSS items are proprietary and will be provided by the

Government as GFE to the Contractor performing this contract on an “as required” basis for maintenance/replacement purposes. Descriptions are provided below for the following TSS components:

• ADA700050 (Audio Box) – Resembles and duplicates function of standard FAA

ATC headset connection panel. Accepts two ATC headsets simultaneously (student and instructor) and provides instructor with an “override” capability. It has a LED display that indicates volume adjustments.

• ADA700053 (STARS Keyboard) – Resembles standard FAA ARTS Terminal keyboard. It is used to make data entries on simulated RADAR displays.

• ADA400672 (Crash Phone) – Resembles standard telephone handset. It operates as a TSS communication device and is used to simulate calling airport operations/fire station in the event of an aircraft accident.

• ADA 900006 (ATC Signal Light Gun) – Used to transmit non-verbal commands to pilots from an ATC Tower in the event of a radio failure in the tower. This device resembles an actual light gun and has three buttons that simulate Red/Green/White light activation. The device sends a small laser-pointer to TSS screen to demonstrate to an instructor that the student is signaling the correct aircraft. The TSS

“Supervisor” position indicates which color button is being pressed.

Section 3.8 Does the TSS vendor void any warranty for equipment relocation?

The Government’s position is that the relocation of a TSS system does not void a manufacturer’s warranty. If an Offeror believes the relocation of a TSS system voids any manufacturer’s warranty then the Offeror should so state it in their proposal.

Section 3.6 Will the FAA provide a Government

Furnished or procured TSS test system?

The Government will provide a TSS Test Bed system as Government Furnished

Equipment (GFE) for the new TSS contract as specified in the TSS Test Table in

Section 3.16 of the TSS SOW (Section C).

Section 3.14 and Section B. Please describe how the Engineering Services CLIN should be priced?

One blended rate for all labor categories?

Offerors should propose a blended hourly rate that encompasses all labor categories each Offeror believes will be necessary to accomplish the tasks that will be required under the Engineering Services CLINs. The blended engineering services hourly labor rate should also be based on the percentage of each labor category that each

Offeror determines will be involved (e.g., percentages for labor categories such as engineering, program management, configuration management, etc.). Offerors should explain and specify in their proposal the percentage of each labor category comprising the blended Engineering Services labor rate. For hours ordered under the

Engineering Services CLINs, the labor hours will be paid at the same rate regardless of the labor category type performing the effort.

Section 3.5.2.8 Please provide a history with metrics regarding historical Help Desk Calls, Service Requests, Deficiency Reports, and Feature

Requests for estimation purposes.

Offerors should use the coverage requirements (i.e., days and times) for the TSS Help

Desk provided in paragraph 3.5.2.1 of Section C (Statement of Work) to price the

TSS Help Desk requirement. The Government will use Engineering Services CLINs

X013 and X014 to resolve any TSS problems received by the TSS Help Desk that cannot be resolved by Help Desk personnel providing answers over the telephone

(e.g., Service Requests, Feature Requests, Deficiency Reports, etc.).

As per Section J-4, the FAA currently has 56 TSS systems. Please confirm that (i) this solicitation does not permit the FAA to purchase additional TSS systems beyond the 56 systems previously acquired and listed in this

Section; and (ii) the contract resulting from this solicitation will not be amended to so permit.

The Government does not plan to procure any TSS Systems on the TSS contract to be awarded on FAA SIR DTFAWA-17-R-00029.

Regarding the $27M small business size requirement: if a corporation exceeds this revenue total, but a subsidiary is within this total, will the

FAA treat the subsidiary as a small business?

Since the SIR announcement is a total Small Business Set-Aside the Prime Contractor must meet the size limit per NAICS code 541512 Computer Systems Design

Services. Vendors submitting proposals will be cross checked against the

Government's System for Award Management (SAM), as certified by the vendor.

Clause 3.16 of Section C covers Integration and

Acceptance testing. In order to size such an effort, bidders will need the detail of the test procedures and historical test results for new software versions. Will the FAA provide this detail and results?

The Government will not provide any details or results of previous TSS testing because new Test Plans, Procedures, and Reports must be prepared under this new

TSS contract. The new test documents are required because most of the TSS system hardware is being replaced under the TSS Tech Refresh portion of the contract.

Offerors should include in their proposals the price to prepare Test Plans, Procedures, and Reports and to conduct the integration and acceptance testing required by Section

3.16 of the TSS SOW.

Clause 3.5.2.1 of Section C covers Help Desk. In order to size the overall support effort, bidders will need historical information on help desk support activity. Will the FAA provide this information?

Offerors should use the coverage requirements (i.e., days and times) for the TSS Help

Desk provided in paragraph 3.5.2.1 of Section C (Statement of Work) to price the

TSS Help Desk requirement. The Government will use Engineering Services CLINs

X013 and X014 to resolve any TSS problems received by the TSS Help Desk that cannot be resolved by Help Desk personnel providing answers over the telephone

(e.g., Service Requests, Feature Requests, Deficiency Reports, etc.).

Clause 3.5.2.6 of Section C covers updates to TSS documentation. Update efforts cannot be sized without seeing copies of existing TSS documentation. Will the FAA provide that documentation?

The Government will not provide any existing TSS training documentation. Sections

3.4 and 3.5.2.6 in Section C (Statement of Work) have been revised to specify that the training materials listed in Sections 3.4 and 3.5.2.6 must be prepared and maintained under the new TSS contract. The training material specified in Sections

3.4 and 3.5.2.6 of the original SOW has been revised to only require the training material listed below for the TSS under the new contract. Offerors should include the cost to prepare and maintain the following training documents in their proposal.

1. TSS System Operator Manual 2.

TSS System Administrator and Maintenance Manual

3. Manual and Computer Based Instruction (CBI) For Designing and Creating TSS

Training Scenarios

Clause 3.5.2.10 of Section C covers the Web

Based Integrated Data Environment (WIDE). The information in the SIR is not detailed enough to determine the level of capability/complexity of this feature; access to the current data that must be supported by the WIDE is needed in order to provide a FFP cost for establishing and maintaining a WIDE under this contract. Will the FAA provide that access?

Section 3.5.2.10 in the TSS Statement of Work (SOW) (Section C) specifies the information, data, and documentation that is required to be hosted on the TSS Web

Based Integrated Data Environment (WIDE) site. Much of the information specified in this Section will be prepared or provided under this TSS contract (e.g., program plans, contract deliverables, calendar of events, schedules, personnel information, etc.). The Government will provide other information required for the WIDE such as the visual databases (VDB), models, liveries, and other information that currently exists for the TSS sites when the contract is awarded.

Section H.9 requires that if access to proprietary data of other companies is needed in order to perform under the contract, the contractor must obtain agreement from such other companies. Do the FAA’s applicable contracts with those companies require them to provide such permission?

Section H.9, AMS 3.13-15 CONFIDENTIALITY OF DATA AND INFORMATION

(NOVEMBER 2016) (b) only requires the contractor for this TSS contract to obtain access for any and all proprietary information resulting from contracts, subcontracts, and purchases awarded by the contractor for this TSS contract. The Government will provide all TSS proprietary software and equipment developed by ASI that is required for the execution of this TSS contract. This clause only applies to hardware and software developed under this contract and does not apply to commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) items.