EVEREST Draft RFP Q and A Responses.pdf

# Submitted Date Question Type RFP Section Page Number Question Government Response

1 6/22/2023 General N/A N/A Would the Government please release an unlocked PDF that allows proposers to extract pages/sections into separate documents as well as edit the PDF to fill in forms, reps and certs, etc.?

The Government will post attachments to the RFP Notice on SAM.gov that are included in the Solicitation that need to be filled in by the offerors to be provided with their proposal.

2 7/11/2023 Deployment Attachment 6 (PWD TO1) 10

The EVEREST PWS includes O&M Deployment/Installations (2.4.1.3) as well as O&M Upgrades (2.4.1.5). The MAKALU PWD only includes O&M Upgrades (Section 2.9 and subsections). It does not include new deployments/installations.

Does the Government intend to execute new deployments/installations under MAKALU as well?

If so, can the Government please update the PWD to include this requirement?

MAKALU is only for Upgrades. A Separate TO will be issued when deployment/installation requirements arise.

3 7/11/2023 Installation Plan Attachment 6 (PWD TO1) 10 Can the Government please indicate the number of upgrades anticipated for pricing purposes? Number added to PWD.

4 7/11/2023 Services Summary Attachment 6 (PWD TO1);Attachment 7 (PWD Sample TO2)

N/A

In the MAKALU PWD and DENALI WD Section 3.0 Services Summary tables, the references in the PWS Paragraph # Column point to sections in the EVEREST (IDIQ) PWS as opposed to the applicable sections in MAKALU and

DENALI.

Can Government please update the 3.0 SERVICES SUMMARY tables for MAKALU and DENALI accordingly? Updated.

5 7/11/2023 General Attachment 6 (PWD TO1) 5-6 In the MAKALU PWD, the numbered paragraphs go from 2.2.6 to 2.2.9 (through 2.2.13). Would the Government please correct the numbering? Updated Numbering

6 7/11/2023 General Attachment 6 (PWD TO1) 7 In the MAKALU PWD, the numbered paragraphs go from 2.3.2 to 2.3.4 (and 2.3.5). Would the Government please correct the numbering? Updated Numbering

7 7/11/2023 Installation Plan

Exhibit A (CDRL TO1);

Attachment 6 (PWD TO1); Attachment 8 (CDRL Sample TO2);Attachment 7 (PWD Sample TO2)

MAK page 11 ;

DEN pages 11 and

Can the Government please reconcile the discrepancy between the Installation Plan reporting requirements in MAKALU (CDRL A010) and DENALI (CDRLs A029 & A030)?

MAKALU is for O&M Software releases. DENALI A029 is for new sites that don't have SECUREVIEW, A030 is for existing SECUREVIEW sites.

8 7/11/2023 Services Summary Attachment 7 (PWD Sample TO2)

DENALI WD Section 3.0 Services Summary SS4 calls out Quality of software development ensuring Raise the Bar security requirements. Unlike EVEREST, DENALI does not have specific language in the CR/PR sections to accommodate this performance evaluation.

Can the Government please remove/edit the SS4 evaluation parameter to align with the WD requirements?

Will add language. This is just a Sample Task Order for evaluation Total Evaluated Price for the overall effort. This will not be an awarded task order.

If R&D or Procurement Requirements become available a separate Task Order Work Description will be created and solicited to the contractor.

9 7/11/2023 Services Summary Attachment 7 (PWD Sample TO2)

DENALI WD Section 3.0 Services Summary SS9 references Quick Reaction Support. There is no section in the DENALI WD Description of Services for Quick Reaction Support.

Can the Government please remove/edit the SS9 evaluation parameter to align with the WD requirements?

Can remove this for this TO. This is just a Sample Task Order for evaluation Total Evaluated Price for the overall effort. This will not be an awarded task order. If R&D or Procurement Requirements become available a separate Task Order Work Description will be created and solicited to the contractor.

10 7/11/2023 General Attachment 7 (PWD Sample TO2)

10-18

Should Denali WD Section 2.4 refer to SECUREVIEW DEPLOYMENTS (R&D) to differentiate the requirement from WD Section 2.7 SECUREVIEW

DEPLOYMENTS (PROCUREMENT)?

If so, how many R&D Deployments is the Government requesting? Added R&D after para 2.4 heading.

11 7/11/2023 Program Effort Attachment 7 (PWD Sample TO2);#Section L (Instructions)

N/A

The DENALI WD contains requirements for Onsite Support (WD 2.5).

However, RIK-L008(c)(5) Base Support states N/A.

Will the Government please reconcile the discrepancy by adding base support details to Section L or removing Onsite Support requirements from the DENALI WD?

No Base support on Denali. 2.3 is for as needed on-site requirements this is not a permanent on-site requirement requiring base support.

12 7/11/2023 General Attachment 9 (LCAT Min Quals)

N/A

In RFP Attachment 9, there are variations in the certification requirements pertaining to Security+ and IAT Level II. Can the Government please standardize the certification requirements across applicable LCATS to reflect IAT Level II / IAM Level I as opposed to a Security+ certification being the only certification that satisfies the requirement? Attachment Updated.

13 7/11/2023 General Attachment 14 (Cross- Reference Matrix)

N/A Will the Government please add a column for Sample Order 0002 WD Paragraph?

This is just a Sample Matrix it is up to the Offeror to create and fill out appropriately.

14 7/11/2023 Management Capability

Attachment 14 (Cross- Reference Matrix)

N/A

Not all evaluated PWS/PWD sections are mapped in the cross-reference matrix. Would the Government please update the matrix to include the applicable PWS/PWD Sections for Volume IV as follows:

PWS Paragraph: 4.4-4.6; 4.8-4.13 Order 0001 PWD Paragraph: 4.4-4.6; 4.8-4.13 Order 0002 PWD Paragraph: 4.4-4.6; 4.8-4.13

This is just a Sample Matrix it is up to the Offeror to create and fill out appropriately.

15 7/11/2023 Technical Attachment 14 (Cross- Reference Matrix)

N/A

Not all evaluated PWS/PWD sections are mapped in the cross-reference matrix. Would the Government please update the matrix to include the applicable PWS/PWD Sections for Volume III as follows:

PWS Paragraph: 2.1-2.5; 4.1-4.3; 4.7 Order 0001 PWD Paragraph: 2.1-2.10; 4.1-4.3; 4.7 Order 0002 PWD Paragraph: 2.1-2.10; 4.1-4.3; 4.7

This is just a Sample Matrix it is up to the Offeror to create and fill out appropriately.

16 7/11/2023 General Section L (Instructions) 5 of 19 Will the Government please provide Government estimates of total labor hours for MAKALU and DENALI? Added to RIK-L008.

17 7/11/2023 General Section L (Instructions) 5-6 of 19 Is it the Government's intent to employ a similar approach to hardware as is used for travel and provide plug in numbers for that as well? ODC Plug Numbers Added to RIK-L008.

18 7/11/2023 General Section L (Instructions) N/A

RIK-L010 PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS indicates (with **) that resumes are requested for Volume 4 - Management. However, RIK-L014

PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS - MANAGEMENT (VOLUME IV)

does not appear to request corporate experience or management personnel resumes. In addition, Section M Evaluation Fact 1 (Technical), Subfactor 3 (Stand Up Plan) does not address evaluation of experience.

Can the Government please clarify whether experience and resumes are requested in the Management Volume and, if so, how they will be evaluated? Resume language added.

19 7/11/2023 General Section L (Instructions) 16 of 19

Would the Government consider realigning the following requirement to Volume 4 - Management, given the significant overlap with the requirement in RIKL014(a)(2)?

"Describe the proposed program organization and techniques for managing the organization. Describe how the engineering team and/or management will interact with any subcontractor."

No the Government will not change as one is relating to the technical team and the other is relating to your management team.

20 7/11/2023 General Section L (Instructions) 16 of 19 The Government is requesting a Stand-Up Plan in the Technical Volume that, according the Section M, applies to the PWS and both Task Orders. RIK- L013(b) does not include a section to address the 60-Day Stand Up Plan. Will the Government please clarify where offerors should provide this plan?

The Stand-Up plan should be included in each of the Technical Volume sections as to how it pertains to each section.

21 7/11/2023 General Section L (Instructions) N/A

RIK-L013(a)(3) and RIK-L013(b) request corporate/personnel capability, expertise, and experience. RIK-M001(e)(1) Factor 1: TECHNICAL does not include a Capability and Expertise-related evaluation subfactor. Will the Government please clarify how Technical Volume SECTION IV - Capability and Expertise will be evaluated?

Capability, expertise, and experience will be evaluated under the Stand Up Plan evaluation factor.

22 7/11/2023 General Section L (Instructions) 17 of 19 Does the additional information requested in RIK-L015(b) (copies of letters, customer and independent surveys, etc.) count against the 20-pg limit for the Past Performance Volume? No, the additional information does not count against the 20 page limit.

23 7/11/2023 General Section L (Instructions) 18 of 19 Do the signed subcontractor consent letters required by RIK-L015(e) count against the 20-pg limit for the Past Performance Volume?

No, the signed subcontractor consent letter does not count against the 20 page limit.

24 7/12/2023 General N/A N/A What security and technical specifications are required for the SecureView management server?

NSA Raise the Bar documentation has security requirements for management servers. We require it to be on RedHat platform and that it can provide enterprise management of the end-user devices so they do not have to be brought in back to manage.

25 7/12/2023 General N/A N/A What functions does the management server perform today? (i.e. is it pushing software to the clients?, is it collecting metrics from the clients?, etc.)

It pushes software and updates to the clients, it manages the end user devices, at the present it does not provide metrics.

26 7/12/2023 General N/A N/A Can the SecureView Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) mentioned in section

2.1.5 be shared? Yes, it can be shared.

27 7/12/2023 General N/A N/A Which mobile platforms/OS is the customer looking to support? How would that work with SCIF requirements for processing SCI data?

Linux and Windows. We don't process data we provide access so it doesn't impact requirements but there will be TEMPEST requirements coming.

28 7/12/2023 General N/A N/A What security/technical specifications are required for the SecureView client devices? OpenXT, RedHat, Raise the Bar Version 5, PostGres, FPGA

29 7/12/2023 General N/A N/A Can an alternative chipset/platform providing similar capabilities be utilized in place of the Intel vPro (VT-x, VT-d, Intel TXT)? Yes, AMD

30 7/12/2023 General N/A N/A Does the solution require multi-region resilience? Or, what are the availability/resiliency requirements? Yes it requires multi-region resilience. Availability is High.

31 7/12/2023 General N/A N/A Would you be open to a solution where the client VM and the management server are both running in a commercial cloud (Or AWS GOVCLOUD)? Yes.

32 7/11/2023 General Section F 12 of 44 On page 12 of 44 in Part I, Section F, the paragraph under CLIN 0001 states that the contract will be an ID/IQ contract. Does AFRL anticipate adding CLINs that are in an ID/IQ format? CLINs are in the Correct format for a BASIC IDIQ Contract.

33 7/11/2023 General N/A N/A

Recommend changing the Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Contract Type to either (i) an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for a Small Business, Non- Traditional Defense Contractor or (ii) a Firm-Fixed Price, Level-of-Effort as a Small Business set-aside.

The Government has already decided that a CPFF Contract Type is the appropriate contract for this effort.

34 7/11/2023 General N/A N/A Recommend adding the words “or equivalent NSA approved solution” at the appropriate places in any section that references CSfC.

This contract is aimed at SV and next generation. What the next gen would be will be worked out with the SV PMO.

35 7/11/2023 General Section L N/A

In Section L, in Items 3, 4, 6, and 8, the concept of unburdened labor rates, along with base rates, indirect rates, etc., are not applicable to non-traditional defense contractors that are the foundation of the SecureView supply chain.

This will be a Cost Reimbursement Contract and Task Order Unburdened labor rates are required to perform proper cost analysis to include reasonableness, realism, and balance.

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