SF30_EA133W-15-RP-0044_Amendment_0004.pdf

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.

15A. Name and Title of Signer (Type or Print) 16A. Name and title of Contracting Officer (Type or Print)

Timothy Wampler

AWIPS Contracting Officer

15B. Contractor/Offeror 15C. Date Signed 16B. United States of America

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. Date Signed

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 30-105 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

PREVIOUS EDITIONS UNUSABLE Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. Contract ID Code Page of Pages

1 19

2. Amendment/Modification No. 3. Effective Date 4. Requisition/Purchase Req. No. 5. Project No. (if applicable)

0004 SEPT 25, 2015 NWWH0000-15-04009

6. Issued By Code AJ930073 7. Administered By (If other than Item 6) Code SEE BLOCK 6

NOAA/EASTERN REGIONAL ACQUISITION DIV

200 GRANBY STREET

8TH FLOOR

NORFOLK, VA 23510

8. Name and Address of Contractor (No., Street, County, and Zip Code) (X) 9A. Amendment of Solicitation No.

X

EA133W-15-RP-0044

9B. Date (See Item 11)

10A. Modification of Contract/Order No.

10B. Date (See Item 13)

Code Facility Code

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

X

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

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 1 copy of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDG-

MENT 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 telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. Accounting and Appropriation Data (if required)

N/A

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

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

(x) A. This change order is issued pursuant to: (Specify authority) The changes set forth in item 14 are made in the Contract Order No. in item 10A.

B. The above numbered Contract/Order is modified to reflect the administrative changes (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

Set fourth 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)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, X is required to sign this document and return one (1) copy to the issuing office.

14. Description of Amendment/Modification (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

Amendment 0004 to EA133W-15-RP-0044 (1) Incorporates Questions and Answers and makes changes to (2) Request for Proposal (RFP)

Section H.21 Special Addendum To Far 52.227-14, Rights In Data—General Concerning Free And Open Source Software (Foss) And Transfer

Of AWIPS Source Code To The Government, (3) Request for Proposal (RFP) Section H.23 Destructive Non-Destructive Testing and Costs, (4)

Request for Proposal Section L.6.(b)(2)(iii)(A), Table L.6.1 – AWIPS Technical Solution Areas, (5) Request for Proposal (RFP) Section

L.6.(b)(2)(iii)(B), Table L.6.2 – AWIPS Management Solution Areas, (6) Request for Proposal (RFP) Section L.6.(b)(2)(iii)(D), Table L.6.4 –

AWIPS Small Business Subcontracting Plan and Socioeconomic Goals, (7) Attachment J.1 - Statement of Objectives, (8) Attachment J.3 -

Contract Data Requirements List, (9) Attachment J.6 - Information Technology – Addendum.

1) EA133W-15-RP-0044 Amendment 0004 incorporates the following Questions and Answers:

Industry Question 1)

H.17. DOCPM 201403 NON DESTRUCTIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE TESTING (MAR 2014) –

H.17 states that "The Department of Commerce may engage in nondestructive and/or destructive testing of any IT or software that it determines could negatively affect the security or performance of a Department of Commerce IT system."

Please confirm that the Government will bear any costs associated with any special or replacement equipment required as a result of nondestructive and destructive testing.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 1)

If destructive or nondestructive testing is required, the Government will bear the costs associated with this type of testing.

Industry Question 2)

Section I.2 FAR 52.2522— CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998) –

Both FAR 52.2271 and 52.2273 are included in Section I.2. The offeror recommends removing the Patent Indemnity clause (FAR

52.2273) because it conflicts with the Authorization and Consent Clause (FAR 52.2271)

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 2)

No. It is the Government’s intention to include Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.227-1 Authorization and Consent and

FAR 52.227-3 Patent Indemnity.

Industry Question 3)

There are no criteria in section M to indicate how the government intends to evaluate and score the technical and management approach.

Recommend that you provide detailed evaluation criteria in section M.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 3)

It is not NOAA’s policy to release its evaluation criteria or scoring methods.

Industry Question 4)

L.6.2.iii.A – The scope of the Product Improvement effort includes: hardware footprint reduction, visualization improvements, DR work-off, and other future enhancements. It is not clear how the material for the hardware footprint will be costed, as there is no material CLIN for product improvement (other than ODC plug numbers). Additionally, “hardware refresh” is called out separately as an O&M item.

Product Improvement CLIN pricing is for evaluation purposes only and will be later negotiated and awarded for each task order.

Will the Government please provide clarification on how materials for product improvement is to be costed appropriately to ensure all relevant materials for the technical solution are accounted for in the total proposal cost?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 4)

All necessary materials and resources required for the Product Improvement Solution should be costed in the Product

Improvement Contract Line Item Number (CLIN). This is based on the vendor’s unique recommended solution for product improvement activities.

Industry Question 5)

Attachments J.1 – J.14 are specific documents that apply to the scope of the AWIPS program. Attachments J.15 – J.33, however, are not specific documents but websites containing general information, multiple documents, as well as links to other websites and other documents. Please clarify which attachments are compliance documents, if any, and which are for reference only.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 5)

The websites referenced in Attachments J.15-J.33 are associated Government strategy plans, agency policy, legislation and guidelines. The AWIPS program must be compliant with the applicable content in these attachments.

Industry Question 6)

Appendix L.9 – NOAA IT Documents, NOAA Enterprise Messaging System Policy Guide, Paragraph: AU-1 – Audit and Accountability

Policy and Procedures, Page 39/63

Background: Under AU-1 Audit and Accountability Policy and Procedures, the following is stated: “In conjunction with appropriate tools and procedures, audit trails can provide a means to help accomplish several security-related objectives, including individual accountability, reconstruction of events, intrusion detection, and problem identification.”

Question: Please identify the current intrusion detection system that is in operation and supporting AWIPS?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 6)

HP ArcSight is currently being implemented to provide log analysis and correlation of log events as a means of detecting possible intrusion attempts. In addition AWIPS has acquired and will be deploying firewalls with intrusion detection and prevention capabilities. AIDE (Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment) is also installed on all Linux devices and can detect and report on unauthorized operating system file changes made as a result of an intrusion attempt.

Industry Question 7)

Attachment J.11 – AWIPS Software Version Document (SVD) for OB14.4.1

Background: Attachment J.11 is described as containing “Baseline software release, the entire contents – listing, actual source code, development environment, installation instructions, etc.”

Question: Will the Government provide a list of the current specs (i.e. development tools, operating system, number of development servers, size of the servers, storage) of the environment supporting development, sustainment, test and integration of AWIPS II?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 7)

No. This is incumbent proprietary information and is not releasable.

Industry Question 8)

Attachment J.3 – Contract Document Requirements List DID for CDRL PM-01, Page 12

Background: CDRL PM-01 DID states: “Explanation of the process to be followed by the program manager in obtaining decisions beyond his/her authority and in resolving priority conflicts for resources and functions not under the project manager’s direct control such as personnel, finances, and facilities.”

Question: The beginning of the statement refers to the “Program Manager but later in the sentence it refers to the “Project Manager.” Does the Government mean “Program Manager” in both instances? If not, what is the role/description of the Project Manager duties?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 8)

The reference to “Project Manager” has been removed. See Request for Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044, Amendment

0004, Attachment J.3 Contract Data Requirements List, for updated references for PM-01.

Industry Question 9)

Attachment J.8 – Government Furnished Property

Background: Attachment J-8 provides a list of Government Furnished Property for the Testbed environment in terms of hardware.

Question: Request that the Government provide specific hardware details for the equipment rather than a high-level description (i.e.

vendor, model, specs, etc.).

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 9)

Please see the “AWIPS Hardware Specs Document.xlsx” that has been uploaded to the AWIPS Technical Library which can be found in the Document Library under "Specifications", "Hardware".

Industry Question 10)

Background: Attachment J-8 provides a list of Government Furnished Property for the Testbed environment in terms of hardware.

Question: Is the current equipment within the Testbed currently under warranty / maintenance?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 10)

Yes.

Industry Question 11)

Background: Attachment J-8 provides a list of Government Furnished Property for the Testbed environment in terms of hardware.

Question: Does the Government have spare equipment stored in the logistic center for the testbed equipment? If yes, please provide the list of any spares that will be transferred to the Offeror.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 11)

Yes. No spares will be transferred to the Offeror. Offeror uses same process as operational offices to request spare equipment for testbeds.

Industry Question 12)

Background: Attachment J-8 provides a list of Government Furnished Property for the Testbed environment in terms of hardware.

Question: Request that the Government provide the refresh cycle for the current Testbed equipment.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 12)

The refresh cycle of the testbed equipment matches that of the equipment in operations.

Industry Question 13)

Background: Attachment J-8 provides a list of Government Furnished Property for the Testbed environment in terms of hardware.

Question: Request that the Government provide as-built documents (i.e. configuration guides, rack elevation, detailed network/system diagrams, etc.) for the following Testbeds: TNCF, AMGS, BMGS, BNCF, CTBN, DNCF, TBDR, TBDW, TBD3, TBW3, TBW4, and

TBWO.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 13)

A concise match up of system configuration can be found in the “System Description and Environment Document -

NOAA8107_System_Description_Environment.doc” located in the Tech Library.

Industry Question 14)

Background: Attachment J-8 provides a list of Government Furnished Property for the Testbed environment in terms of hardware.

Question: Does the Government Furnished Property for the testbed include any COTS products (i.e. Red Hat Linux for servers, Red Hat

Linux for work station, Remedy, Red Hat Satellite, etc.)? If so will the Government provide a full list of COTS and number of licenses associated within each testbed?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 14)

The following Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) packages should be considered Government Furnished Property (GFP) – Red

Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Satellite, Tenable Nessus, Tenable Security Center, and HP ArcSight. The Government has sufficient licenses/entitlements to cover these tools for testing and operations. See document entitled “Red Hat Entitlement

List.xlsx” on the AWIPS Technical Library. The offeror should include the cost for any other licenses or entitlement costs necessary to implement their proposed solution.

Industry Question 15)

Background: Attachment J-8 provides a list of Government Furnished Property for the Testbed environment in terms of hardware.

Question: Is the contractor responsible for the procurement of any COTS to support the functionality of the testbed?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 15)

The following Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) packages should be considered Government Furnished Property (GFP) – Red

Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Satellite, Tenable Nessus, Tenable Security Center, and HP ArcSight. The Government reserves the right to request that the offeror renews the RedHat entitlements under the IDIQ contract via a Task Order

Statement of Work.

The offeror should include costs for any other licenses or entitlement costs necessary to implement their proposed solution.

Industry Question 16)

Background: Attachment J-8 mentioned that the Government property will be made available for use.

Question: Does the Government require access into the testbed? If so, how does the Government access the environment?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 16)

Yes. The Government will access the testbed physically at the Offeror’s facility or via a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Industry Question 17)

Background: Attachment J-8 mentioned that the Government property will be made available for use.

Question: Will the Government provide the NOAANet circuits to the testbed as GFE? If so, will the Government be able to provide the circuit within the 90-day transition period?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 17)

Yes. The OpsNet circuits to testbeds located in the vendor facilities can be considered Government Furnished Property (GFP).

Offerors are to assume that the Government will be able to provide the required OpsNet circuits within the transition period.

Industry Question 18)

Background: Attachment J-8 provides a list of Government Furnished Property for the Testbed environment.

Question: Request that the Government provide the Transition Out plan for the testbed equipment outlined in Attachment J-8.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 18)

No. The Government has not received the final Transition Out Plan from the incumbent contractor.

Industry Question 19)

Background: Attachment J-8 provides a list of Government Furnished Property for the Testbed environment.

Question: Request that the Government clarify which CLIN will be used to handle transportation, installation, or rehabilitation cost.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 19)

The Transition (Phase-in) Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) is to be used for transportation, installation, or rehabilitation costs associated with the property listed in Attachment J.8 – Government Furnished Property.

Industry Question 20)

Background: Attachment J-8 provides a list of Government Furnished Property for the Testbed environment.

Question: Is the building where the testbed is currently installed under Government lease?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 20)

The equipment listed in Attachment J.8 – Government Furnished Property, does not include any equipment currently located in Government facilities. Testbed equipment, not listed in Attachment J.8 – Government Furnished Property, does exist within Government facilities.

Industry Question 21)

H.21.4 – Limited Rights Software and Data Currently in Use

Background: Section H21.4 includes the following COTS data and software:

• 4.1 Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6; 64-bit

• 4.2 Red Hat Satellite 6

• 4.3 Portland Group International (PGI) Fortran

• 4.4 HP OpenView

• 4.5 Remedy

• 4.6 Tenable Nessus

• 4.7 Tenable Security Center

• 4.8 HP ArcSight

• 4.9 QF-Test

Question: Are these tools GFE under Government Enterprise Licenses or is the contractor required to procure them?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 21)

The following Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) packages should be considered Government Furnished Property (GFP) – Red

Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Satellite, Tenable Nessus, Tenable Security Center, and HP ArcSight. The Government reserves the right to request that offeror to renew the RedHat entitlements under the IDIQ contract via a Task Order

The offeror should include cost for any other licenses or entitlement costs necessary to implement their proposed solution.

Industry Question 22)

H.21.4 – Limited Rights Software and Data Currently in Use, Page 49

Background: Section H21.4 includes the following COTS data and software:

• 4.1 Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6; 64-bit

• 4.2 Red Hat Satellite 6

• 4.3 Portland Group International (PGI) Fortran

• 4.4 HP OpenView

• 4.5 Remedy

• 4.6 Tenable Nessus

• 4.7 Tenable Security Center

• 4.8 HP ArcSight

• 4.9 QF-Test

Question: Is the contractor responsible for the cost of the software? If so, will the Government provide the total licenses currently supporting the AWIPS enterprise both production and development?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 22)

The following Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) packages should be considered Government Furnished Property (GFP) – Red

Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Satellite, Tenable Nessus, Tenable Security Center, and HP ArcSight. The Government reserves the right to request that offeror to renew the RedHat entitlements under the IDIQ contract via a Task Order

The offeror should include cost for any other licenses or entitlement costs necessary to implement their proposed solution.

Industry Question 23)

L.6(b)(2)(iii)(A) – Table L.6.1 – AWIPS Technical Solution Areas, RTO, Item 1, Page 89

Appendix L.1 – Representative Task Order

Background: Table L.6.1 states: “Offerors shall delineate their understanding of the requirements and propose a solution in sufficient detail to demonstrate that the proposed methodologies will ensure successful delivery of all items and services required. The RTO shall address how the Contractor will conduct the initial steps (engineering assessment of potential solutions) required to address section 4.1.8 of the

SOO.”

Question: Does the Government intend for the Offeror response to the Representative Task Order to be an example Task Order Response

(i.e. Preliminary Engineering Change Proposal) or does the Government intend for the Offeror to simply address the requirements within

Section 3 of Appendix L.1?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 23)

The Offeror’s response to the Representative Task Order (RTO) is to be in the form of a Task Order Response (i.e.

Preliminary Engineering Change Proposal).

Industry Question 24)

L.6(b)(2)(iii)(D) – Factor 4 – Small Business Subcontracting Plan and Socioeconomic Goals, Page 95

L.6(b)(2)(iii)(D) – Factor 4 – Small Business Subcontracting Plan and Socioeconomic Goals – Table L.6.4 – AWIPS Small Business

Subcontracting Plan and Socioeconomic Goals, Page 96

Background: The instructions title is “Small Business Subcontracting Plan...” This typically follows FAR 52.219, has very specific items to be addressed, and is based on Total Subcontracted Value (TSV). However, there is no mention of this FAR 52.219-8 and FAR 52.219-9 outside of Section I. The only reference is to the DOC Fiscal Year 2015 Small Business and Socio-Economic Goals (letter), which provides no guidance on this matter.

In the first paragraph of paragraph L.6(b)(2)(iii)(D) – Table L.6.4, there is also the use of the term “small business participation goals” that are typically based on Total Contract Value (TCV), and the instructions in Table L.6.4 do state the use of TCV.

Question: Please clarify whether this response should be written as a true Small Business Subcontracting Plan using Total Subcontracted

Value percentages and should also include a separate Participation Plan that uses Total Subcontracted Value.

Question: Please confirm whether both target percentages of work and anticipated dollar allotments (pricing) for each small business are required.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 24)

Offerors responses are to respond fully to the instructions found in Request for Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044, Amendment 0004, Table L.6.4 – AWIPS Small Business Subcontracting Plan and Socioeconomic Goals.

Yes. The offeror shall identify small business (SB) participation goals, expressed in terms of percentages of total planned subcontracting dollars

Industry Question 25)

Attachment J.1 – Statement of Objectives, Section 4.1.8, Page 7

Background: Section 4.18 states: “Develop an implementation Plan that reduces the AWIPS hardware footprint such that the proposed solution meets or exceeds the established SLAs in Table -1 Mandatory and Table -2 Mandatory but subject to adjustment, below, improves

SvcBU and Continuity of Operations, secures existing remote intra-AWIPS access, drives towards Government initiatives such as the 2010

Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative …”

Question: Will the Government provide insight into what does “remote intra-AWIPS access” mean?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 25)

This objective aims, amongst other things, to maintain and improve IT security as we reduce the hardware footprint. AWIPS interfaces with a number of external systems for data and information, (e.g., radar, ASOS, etc.), and must still allow for secure access to that information through the hardware reduction effort.

Industry Question 26)

Attachment J.1 – Statement of Objectives, Section 4.1.8, Page 7

Background: Section 4.18 states: “Develop an implementation Plan that reduces the AWIPS hardware footprint such that the proposed solution meets or exceeds the established SLAs in Table -1 Mandatory and Table -2 Mandatory but subject to adjustment, below, improves

SvcBU and Continuity of Operations, secures existing remote intra-AWIPS access, drives towards Government initiatives such as the 2010

Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative …”

Question: Will the Government provide current CONOPS for SvcBU and Continuity of Operations?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 26)

Available information on Service Backup (SvcBU) and Continuity of Operations (CONOPS ) can be found on the AWIPS

Technical Library.

Industry Question 27)

Attachment J.1 - Statement of Objectives, Table 1, SLA 4, Page 13

Background: Definition says “…delivered from a WFO to NWS customers via the SBN.” The three Acceptable Performance Level refers to messages delivered to WFO and message is received at an NCF MHS.

Request: Would the Government change the origins and destinations to be consistent in the Definition column and the Acceptable

Performance Level column?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 27)

Yes. See Request for Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044, Amendment 0004, Attachment J.1 – Statement of Objectives.

Industry Question 28)

Attachment J.6, page 2 –

The table lists Teneble Nessus, Teneble Security Center, and HP ArcSight as COTS tools that the contractor must identify any limited rights for.

In the vLab technical library, document A2-COTS v2.docx provides a list of COTS software used in AWIPS II. This document indicates that Teneble Nessus, Teneble Security Center, and HP ArcSight are government owned. Please clarify whether these 3 tools are provided as government furnished property or the contractor has to purchase the required licenses.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 28)

The Teneble Nessus, Teneble Security Center, and HP ArcSight tools are Government Furnished Property (GFP). Offerors are not required to obtain these licenses.

Industry Question 29)

Solicitation Clause H.21; Section L.6 CAR 1352.215-70—Proposal Preparation (Apr 2010); Attachment J.1 – Statement Of Objectives, Attachment J.6 Information Technology Addendum

Background: We recognize and support NOAA/NWS intent in Section H to distribute software, data, source code and associated processes to its partners and any other interested parties, including other contractors, “without restrictions or concerns about proprietary data rights.”

Question: Does Section H apply to distributing NOAA AWIPS software, data, source code and associated processes developed on this contract to its partners and any other interested parties, including other contractors without “restrictions or concerns about proprietary data rights.”

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 29)

Yes. Request for Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044, Amendment 0004, Section H.21, applies to distribution; “NOAA must have the ability to distribute software, data, source code and associated processes to its partners and any other interested parties including commercial Contractors without restrictions or concerns about proprietary data rights.”

Industry Question 30)

Solicitation Clause H.21; Section L.6 CAR 1352.215-70—Proposal Preparation (Apr 2010); Attachment J.1 – Statement Of Objectives, Attachment J.6 Information Technology Addendum

Background: We recognize and support NOAA/NWS intent in Section H to distribute software, data, source code and associated processes to its partners and any other interested parties, including other contractors, “without restrictions or concerns about proprietary data rights.”

Question: The second table in J.6 lists commercial computer software products, but uses the term limited rights. We note

FAR clause 52.227-14 (a) ascribes Limited Rights to “data other than computer software”

FAR clause 52.227-14 (a) defines Restricted Rights as applicable to computer software.

As neither the government or the contractor can obtain Limited Rights under 52.227-14, does the Government intend to assert Restricted

Rights consistent with FAR 52.227-14 to computer software? If so, we recommend the data rights requirement be conformed to be consistent with FAR 52.227-14.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 30)

Correction made. See Request for Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044, Amendment 0004, Section H.21 and Attachment J.6.

- Information Technology – Addendum.

Industry Question 31)

Solicitation Clause H.21; Section L.6 CAR 1352.215-70—Proposal Preparation (Apr 2010); Attachment J.1 – Statement Of Objectives, Attachment J.6 Information Technology Addendum

Background: We recognize and support NOAA/NWS intent in Section H to distribute software, data, source code and associated processes to its partners and any other interested parties, including other contractors, “without restrictions or concerns about proprietary data rights.”

Question: H.21 does not differentiate pre-existing products and COTS products from technical data delivered by the contractor under the contract. Is the contractor only required to grant unlimited rights, or ownership, to technical data delivered under the contract?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 31)

Yes. See Request for Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044, Amendment 0004, Section H.21 and Attachment J.6. -

Information Technology – Addendum.

Industry Question 32)

Solicitation Clause H.21; Section L.6 CAR 1352.215-70—Proposal Preparation (Apr 2010); Attachment J.1 – Statement Of Objectives, Attachment J.6 Information Technology Addendum

Background: We recognize and support NOAA/NWS intent in Section H to distribute software, data, source code and associated processes to its partners and any other interested parties, including other contractors, “without restrictions or concerns about proprietary data rights.”

Question: The Government included FAR 52.227-17 clause - Rights in Data-Special Works. The Special Works clause is applicable to

“the production or compilation of data for the Government’s internal use or when there is specific need to limit distribution.” Did the

Government intend to include this clause? If so, how does this government wish this clause to be applied to this contract?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 32)

Yes, the Government intended to include Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.227-17 – Rights in Data-Special Works.

The Government will apply this clause to the resultant contract where applicable.

Industry Question 33)

Solicitation Clause H.21; Section L.6 CAR 1352.215-70—Proposal Preparation (Apr 2010); Attachment J.1 – Statement Of Objectives, Attachment J.6 Information Technology Addendum

Background: We recognize and support NOAA/NWS intent in Section H to distribute software, data, source code and associated processes to its partners and any other interested parties, including other contractors, “without restrictions or concerns about proprietary data rights.”

Question: The Government includes data rights FAR clause (52.227-14) for a license along with H.21 paragraph 2 request for ownership –

“The Government has unlimited rights and ownership to all data and associated documentation produced or delivered under this contract.”

The broad scope of this statement could encompass data and documentation with pre-established intellectual property rights. Does the government seek unlimited rights and ownership to all AWIPS software data and documentation produced or delivered under this contract?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 33)

Per, Attachment J.6 – Information Technology Addendum, the Government requires that “full ownership and unlimited data rights shall be granted to the United States Government for all AWIPS deliverables including, but not limited to, source code, executables, related scripts, utilities, documentation, and other deliverables, and reports needed to build, test, configure, execute, and run AWIPS software.”

Industry Question 34)

Question: Who supplies the terrestrial interconnect to teleport?

NOAA Response: Currently, the terrestrial communications from the AWIPS NCF to our Master Ground Station (MGS) is maintained by the AWIPS NCF. The circuits are 2x 100 Mbps fiber links to the Globecomm fiber ring. Circuit to the backup MGS is through NOAA support (N-Wave) using fiber at 1G.

The response to Industry Day Question TQA11 indicates that the terrestrial circuits connecting the existing MGS/BMGS are GFE.

Question - Will the Government provide the circuits to the teleports on this contract as GFE? If not, shall the costs be included in the offerors cost volume?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 34)

Yes. The Government will provide the necessary circuits as Government Furnished Property (GFP). The cost of these circuits should not be included in the offeror’s cost volume.

Industry Question 35)

This capability provides connectivity to the NCF during a major communications outage via a deployable VSAT. These kits must be pre-deployed to locations where there is a high risk of a major communications outage due to extreme weather conditions or other circumstances. Dedicated satellite space segment is provided for up to four (4) deployments during a given year. In addition, this capability supports the Radar Operations Center sending remote radar data to the WFO.

Question - Would the Government please provide the document “AWP.PLN.AWB-01.02, AWIPS VSAT WAN Backup: Deployment Plan and Concept of Operations, dated May 5, 2011”, as it does not appear to be available on the bidder’s library

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 35)

This document has been posted to the AWIPS Technical Library.

Industry Question 36)

This requirement does not include existing third-party software platforms and applications needed to allow AWIPS to operate, such as the underlying operating system, or any capabilities used by AWIPS for NWS-specific architecture or infrastructure needs.

Question - Does the Offeror have to purchase the Operating System licenses to run the AWIPS system?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 36)

No. Offerors should assume that RedHat entitlement for the servers or workstations are Government Furnished Property

(GFP). The Government reserves the right to request that offeror to renew the RedHat entitlements under the IDIQ contract via a Task Order Statement of Work.

Industry Question 37)

Question 18 stated:

Risk associated with using an alternative satellite provider than SES-1 places vendor(s) at a competitive disadvantage to the incumbent.

Will the government consider using an estimated lease value for all offeror(s) to level the playing field?

Response to Industry Question 18: No.

Question - Does the offeror have to provide the cost for the SES-1 to be used in the offerors cost volume?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 37)

Yes. The entire cost of providing SBN services should be provided within the Communications CLIN.

Industry Question 38)

B.1 Contract Type

To facilitate development of our O&M and Transition plans, will the Government provide a list and description of the task orders supporting the current IDIQ contract?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 38)

No. Offerors are encouraged to check the Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation (FPDS-NG) for this information by searching for DOCDG133W05CQ1067.

Industry Question 39)

L.6(2)(B) Factor 2 – Management Solution; Table L.6.2

To facilitate development of our O&M and Transition plans, will the Government provide the incumbent’s Phase-Out Plan?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 39)

No. The Government has not received the final Transition Out Plan from the incumbent contractor.

Industry Question 40)

Att. J.8 Government-Furnished Property

The requirement states, “The contractor is responsible for all costs related to making the Government property available for use, such as payment of all transportation, installation or rehabilitation costs.”

Will the Government clarify which costs are reimbursable and not the sole responsibility of the contractor?

The offerors are unable to estimate the potential “rehabilitation” costs without knowing the condition of the property. Please provide current property conditions or clarify whether “rehabilitation” refers only to that required as a result of transportation/set-up damage.

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 40)

The Contractor is responsible for all costs related to making the Government property available for use, such as payment of all transportation, installation or rehabilitation costs.

“Rehabilitation” only applies to what is required as a result of transportation or setup damage.

Industry Question 41)

H.18 (7), pg. 47. “…the Offeror shall submit…Whether a separation of duties exists during the development process of any IT hardware or software to be delivered under the Contractor or task order”.

Please clarify what is meant by “separation of duties.” In addition, does this apply only to IT hardware or software developed during performance of this contract or does it also apply to IT hardware or software that was developed prior to performance?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 41)

In the context of Request for Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044, Amendment 0004, “separation of duties” applies to IT hardware or software developed during the performance of the awarded contract.

Industry Question 42)

Table L 6.2 – Human Resource Management Plan

Proposals submitted in response to the AWIPS solicitation shall include a description of all Contractor personnel to be assigned to the

AWIPS program, the anticipated level of their dedication to this assignment.

Can the requirement for the Human Resource Management Plan to “include a description of all Contractor personnel to be assigned to the

AWIPS program, the anticipated level of their dedication to this assignment” be moved to the Cost Volume?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 42)

No. See Request for Proposal (RFP) EA1323W-15-RP-0044, Amendment 0004, Table L.6.2 – AWIPS Management Solution

Areas.

Industry Question 43)

Request For Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044 - Attachment J.1, Table 2, No. 1

J.1, Table 2, No. 1, Pg. 14 of 20

The APL for enhancements specifies the quantity and size of enhancements delivered in a year. The Government specifies the content that will be delivered in a year.

Question - How will the Contractor be evaluated for decisions outside of their span of control?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 43)

If the Government and contractor agree that a specific item was outside of the vendor’s span of control, then it can be removed from the evaluation.

Industry Question 44)

Request For Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044 - Attachment J.1, Table 1, No. 1

J.1, Table 1, No. 1, Pg. 12 of 20

The APL for CDRLs is 100% accepted on-time, first time each month.

Question - Will the Government allow a correction period to fix CDRLs that receive comments from reviewers and still meet the intent of the SLA?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 44)

The offeror’s should indicate if a review period is necessary prior the submission date outlined in Request for Proposal (RFP)

EA133W-15-RP-0044, Amendment 0004, Attachment J.3 – Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL).

Industry Question 45)

Section L; (3) VOLUME III –PRICE/COST PROPOSAL

Request for Proposal Section iii, iv

Industry Question 39) Section I.2 - Per FAR 15.403-1, Prohibition on obtaining certified cost or pricing data (10 U.S.C. 2306a and 41

U.S.C. chapter 35), Certified Cost or Pricing Data is not required when there is adequate price competition. Is it the Government’s opinion that the FFP submission will meet the requirements under the FAR for adequate price competition, thereby, waiving the cost and pricing data submission requirement? Will the Government please confirm the intent to require Certified Cost or Pricing Data for the final RFP

Submission? DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 39) The Government anticipates adequate price competition and does not require certified cost or pricing data.

Question - Will the Government please remove the following due to the answer # 39 L.6 (3) (iii), L.6 (3) (iv)(A), L.6 (3) (iv)(B), L.6 (3)

(iv) (C ), L.6 (3) (iv)(D), L.6 (3) (iv)(E), L.6 (3) (iv)(F), and L.6 (3) (iv)(G)

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 45)

No.

Industry Question 46)

Is it the government's intent that costs of the material for refresh for the equipment listed in Attachment J.8 GFP and the AWIPS Hardware

Baseline (in the AWIPS Technical Library) be discreetly priced in CLINS x001?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 46)

Yes.

Industry Question 47)

What guidance will the Government provide on proposal submittal in the event there is a government shutdown beginning 1 October due to the federal budget not being approved?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 47)

In the event of a temporary Government shutdown, prior to the official start, a notice will be posted as follows:

“Due to the temporary Government shutdown, the NOAA Contracting Officer will not be able to respond to emails or telephone calls. Due to the temporary Government shutdown, the October 6, 2015, deadline for proposals will be extended.

Offerors proposals will be due on the third business day following the temporary Government shutdown.

For example, if the Government opens on October 19, 2015, then Offerors proposals will be due on October 21, 2015, at 12:00

P.M.”

Industry Question 48)

Will the Government clarify at what point the contractor have system responsibility?

DOC/NOAA Response to Industry Question 48)

The Successful Offeror is to have full system responsibility at the end of the Transition Period.

2) Request for Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044 Amendment 0004 Section H.21 Special Addendum To Far 52.227-14, Rights In

Data—General Concerning Free And Open Source Software (Foss) And Transfer Of AWIPS Source Code To The Government is restated as follows:

H.21. SPECIAL ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.227-14, RIGHTS IN DATA—GENERAL CONCERNING FREE AND OPEN

SOURCE SOFTWARE (FOSS) and TRANSFER OF AWIPS SOURCE CODE TO THE GOVERNMENT

1. Background

The Advanced Weather Interactive Processing (AWIPS) system consists of several high performance graphics workstations and servers at each location, linked in a high-availability configuration with a hybrid satellite terrestrial communication network. AWIPS has an extensible architecture that implements highly available, secure data communications, processing, meteorological, and hydrologic display capabilities in an integrated environment that supports an integrated field structure to enable the operational missions of the NWS and NOAA to provide forecasts of severe weather and other weather-related observations that effects life and property. Meeting AWIPS program goals is essential because it has an impact on all NWS mission goals as well as NOAA and DOC strategic goals. The efficient and effective operation and continuous improvement of the AWIPS system are critical to meeting these goals.

In order to successfully meet its mission requirements, NOAA must have the ability to distribute software, data, source code and associated processes to its partners and any other interested parties including commercial Contractors without restrictions or concerns about proprietary data rights. Currently, the AWIPS baseline software includes all software and scripts necessary to build, execute and support the system including AWIPS specific applications, Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS), Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS), and Operating System (OS) software. All software furnished under the AWIPS contract must be extensible, so that it is readily expandable, well documented, and updated regularly through interactions with the larger research community. It is the Government’s intention that the AWIPS baseline software will be made available to users on an “open source” basis, however it intends to exercise complete rights to the data, including ownership rights as stated below, to ensure the success of its program. Only certain commercial data and software currently used on the AWIPS system listed in Section 4 of this provision or expressly accepted by the Contracting Officer (CO) in writing will be utilized by the Government subject to limited rights, (restrictive rights when restricted computer software is at issue), consistent with FAR 52.227-14, Rights in Data-General.

2. Data Rights

The Government has unlimited rights and ownership to all data and associated documentation produced or delivered under this contract. All data and documentation includes but is not limited to the source code of any software produced under this contract, executables, related scripts needed to build, test, execute, and run the AWIPS software, utilities, documentation, deliverables, and reports, and shall be Government owned and the property of the Government with all rights and privileges of ownership/copyright belonging exclusively to the Government. This software and related materials may not be used or sold by the Contractor without written permission from the Government Contracting Officer (CO). All materials supplied to the Government shall be the sole property of the Government. These data rights are necessary to enable a smooth transition to another provider as necessary, to ensure continuity of service in the event of contract termination, or upon contract re-competition. By accepting this contract, the Contractor agrees to perform to requirements without asserting proprietary rights in data. Only COTS data and software identified by the Government in Section 4 below or additional data identified by the

Contractor as proprietary in Attachment J.6. - Information Technology – Addendum, and expressly accepted by the CO will be subject to limited rights, (restricted rights when restricted computer software is at issue), as provided for in FAR

[27.4].

3. Required Certification

To that end, the Contractor and all subcontractors at any tier to whom this requirement applies shall execute the document entitled, “Information Technology - Addendum,” provided at Section J, Attachment J.6, which will, when executed, be incorporated in and become part of any contract ensuing therefrom.

4. Restricted Computer Software Currently in Use

The COTS data and software currently utilized in the AWIPS system with restricted rights consists of the following. (Please note that this list is for reference purposes only, and should not be construed as a requirement or implication that the Offeror should use any or all of the COTS software identified in its solution.)

4.1. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6; 64-bit

4.2. Red Hat Satellite 6

4.3. Portland Group International (PGI) Fortran

4.4. HP OpenView

4.5. Remedy

4.6. Teneble Nessus

4.7. Teneble Security Center

4.8. HP ArcSight

4.9. QF-Test

5. Unlimited rights and Ownership of Data Deliverables

Consistent with Section 2 above, the Government has unlimited rights and ownership to all data and associated documentation produced or delivered under this contract including but not limited to the following software release specific documentation:

5.1. AWIPS Software Version Document

5.2. AWIPS User Manual (UM)

5.3. AWIPS Release Notes

5.4. AWIPS System Manager’s Manual

5.5. AWIPS Stand-Alone Installation Instructions

5.6. AWIPS Cluster Installation Instructions

5.7. AWIPS Software System Design Description

5.8. Any and all software or data that is part of the AWIPS baseline at contract initiation or delivered by the Contractor during performance of this contract to be deployed to the AWIPS operational sites, unless expressly approved as an exclusion in writing by the Government upon implementation.

(End of clause)

3) Request for Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044 Amendment 0004 Section H.23 Destructive Non-Destructive Testing And Costs is incorporated as follows:

H.23. DESTRUCTIVE NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING AND COSTS

1. The Government may elect to conduct destructive or non-destructive testing consistent with the Department of

Commerce (DOC) Procurement Memorandum (PM) 2014-03, Supply Chain Risk Management Restrictions on

Information Technology Acquisitions - Interim Guidance (Phase 1) and Section 515 of the Consolidated Appropriations

Act, 2014. The purpose of the testing is to determine if procured Information Technology (IT) (hardware or software) could negatively affect the security or performance of a DOC IT system.

2. Destructive testing is defined as testing under severe conditions until the product fails. Destructive testing is a systematic, logical, detailed examination of parts during various stages of physical disassembly, conducted on a sample of completed parts of a given lot, wherein parts are examined for a wide variety of design, workmanship, and processing problems that may not show up during normal screening tests.

3. Non-Destructive testing is defined as a wide group of analysis techniques used to evaluate the properties of a material, component or system without causing damage. Non-Destructive testing may include the development and application of technical methods to examine materials or components in ways that do not impair their future usefulness and serviceability, in order to detect, locate, measure and evaluate flaws, to assess integrity, properties and composition, and to measure geometrical characteristics

4. All costs of destructive or non-destructive testing by the Government are considered as being included in the contract unit price.

5. Where destructive or non-destructive testing of items or components thereof is required by contract or specification, the number of items or components required to be destructively tested, whether destructively tested or not, shall be in addition to the quantity to be delivered to the Government as set forth in the Contract Schedule.

6. All pieces of the destructive or non-destructive testing shall be considered as destructively tested items unless specifically exempted by other provisions of this contract.

7. The Contractor shall not reuse any components from items used in destructive or non-destructive testing unless specifically authorized by the Contracting Officer.

8. The Government reserves the right to take title to all or any items or components described above. The Government may take title to all or any items or components upon notice to the Contractor. The items or components of items to which the

Government takes title shall be shipped in accordance with the Contracting Officer's instructions. Those items and components to which the Government does not obtain title shall be rendered inoperable and disposed of as scrap by the

Contractor.

(End of clause) http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/acquistion_management/policy/procurement_memoranda/documents/PM%202014-03%20SCRM%20Restrictions%20on%20IT%20Acquisitions%20-%20Interim%20Guidance%20(Phase%201)%20(signed%20April%2022%202014).pdf http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/acquistion_management/policy/procurement_memoranda/documents/PM%202014-03%20SCRM%20Restrictions%20on%20IT%20Acquisitions%20-%20Interim%20Guidance%20(Phase%201)%20(signed%20April%2022%202014).pdf http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/acquistion_management/policy/procurement_memoranda/documents/PM%202014-03%20SCRM%20Restrictions%20on%20IT%20Acquisitions%20-%20Interim%20Guidance%20(Phase%201)%20(signed%20April%2022%202014).pdf https://www.congress.gov/113/plaws/publ76/PLAW-113publ76.pdf https://www.congress.gov/113/plaws/publ76/PLAW-113publ76.pdf

4) Request for Proposal (RFP) EA133W-15-RP-0044 Amendment…