Q_and_A_Updated_8_Sep.docx

Flightline Wireless Infrastructure Installation Questions and Answers Current as of 26 August 2015

1. Are any certification required from contractor, i.e. certified Juniper partner as existing equipment to which the Wi-Fi is to be connected is Juniper equipment?

No

2. Mention was made that contractors would have to be trained and certified in working in explosive areas. No mention of this is made in the SOW. The only restriction mentioned is the time allowed in an explosive area. Please give clarification regarding the need for training and certification for working in an explosive area?

CompEX training would be required to work in the MUNS and PAS facilities. There may be other requirements based on what all the vendor will need/do to get the job done in the MUNS/PAS. SOW has been updated to reflect this (par 13.2)

3. Will the UK DSEAR (Dangerous Substances Explosive Atmosphere Regulations) apply to this contract?

This legislation applies to all employers in the UK. Site specific safety training will be provided by the USAF prior to contract performance. The site specific safety standards will satisfy the DSEAR requirements.

As it pertains to areas where exposure to explosives/fuel and other hazards exist. Contractors will be COMPEX trained. Electrical equipment must meet COMPEX requirements. Electrical workers must be JSP 375 certified by base electrical AP.

4. If contractors do not have time to train and be certified before contract award, will it be possible for contractors working in explosive areas to be escorted to ensure that they comply with regulations?

Yes

5. Are any special US/UK Security clearances required for working on the base or will contractors be accompanied?

Base passes will be coordinated for all contractor personnel. Regardless of level of access, an escort will be required for Munitions areas.

6. The Statement of Objectives states that the US will provide an Acceptance and Test Plan. Will this be issued in the RFP?

The Contractor is to provide the Acceptance Test Plan (par. 8)

7. Do you have at this time any indication as to the response times for on site support following installation and acceptance of the equipment during the support period?

No.

8. Can a list be produced in the SOW stating specifically which buildings require Wi-Fi access in INTERNALLY in each building and in each room and those which only require Wi-Fi access EXTERNALLY such as Explosive Stores Houses?

See paragraph 3.2 of SOW.

9. Can it be confirmed that all buildings which require Wi-Fi already have fibre optic cabling connected to their building communication panel and that the only fibre optic requirement is to connect the Wi-Fi antenna to the building communication panel?

FO cabling is either already installed or being installed. Only fiber requirement is to connect the network switch to the fiber optic panel. Wireless access points are typically connected to the switch via Ethernet cable. Antennas themselves are connected to the wireless access points via RG rated cables.

10. The reinforced building communication panel at present only has one access point. The SOW states in para 3.3 that fibre optic will be required to be connected from the Wi-Fi antenna to the communication panel. Will the USAF prepare each of the panels for additional fibre optic access or will this be the role of the contractor?

SOW has been amended, please view most current version.

11. Given the potential risk of induced currents from Wi-Fi emissions to sensitive explosive components (i.e. detonators) what are the power restrictions for Wi-Fi emissions and in which building and areas will these apply?

No closer than 3 meters to any munitions. Bldgs listed in section 3.2 line items A, D, and potentially C (dependent on if it’s installed on a PAS).

12. If Wi-Fi power is not restricted will RF shielding be required for certain buildings. If so which ones?

There will be a restriction for those ID in section 3.2 line items A with exception to bldg. 1400. Equipment list will be reviewed by Weapons Safety; this will dictate restrictions.

13. What equipment and specialist tools restrictions apply to working on this contract especially in the explosive areas? For example are only electrical Phase 3 vehicles and equipment allowed? Will these vehicles and equipment's ( i.e. cherry pickers, fork lift trucks) be provide by the USAF or will they have to be provided by the contractor?

Contractors will provide equipment necessary to perform job per section 2.2. of the current SOW. Contract can provide a list of tools, vehicles for which they intend to use for validation/acceptance by USAF/DIO.

14. If , for the reasons in 11 above, Wi-Fi power is restricted, to obtain the required coverage on the aprons it may be necessary to establish Wi-Fi towers along the aprons to give the required coverage. Will this be allowed and will the contractor be responsible for connecting (trenching, ducting, cables, end panels etc.) any such towers to the nearest building with the main communication panel?

Alteration must be coordinated through base Civil Engineering. Contractor will be responsible for trenching, ducting, etc.

15. It is believed that USAF personnel will access the Wi-Fi network using hand held and lap top devices. What is the range of the RF antenna in devices used by USAF personnel?

Coverage must be provided to all areas included in the SOW.

16. Will unidirectional antennas be allowed?

Yes

17. Will it be possible to carry out a wireless survey on the site prior to the submission of any response to the RFP/SOW?

A post-award survey can be arranged, however another pre-award survey will not be scheduled.

18. The 120 days POP will be dependent upon support from USAF personnel. Will it be acceptable for proposals to list assumptions and roles and responsibilities required of USAF personnel so that the 120 day POP can be met?

In the event that the US Government impedes the installation, appropriate considerations will be made. However, the US Government will furnish only services and supplies required to enable the contractor to perform the installation IAW the SOW.

19. Should placement and quantity of indoor APs comply with ISO/IEC TR-24704 and/or TIA TSB-162-A standards/recommendations, or will coverage density be based solely on the quantity of AP requested?

No quantity of AP is requested. We request a plan that provides adequate coverage to the facilities/areas listed in the SOW.

· TIA TSB-162-A provides guidelines on the topology, design, installation, and testing of telecommunications cabling infrastructure, in compliance with ANSI/TIA-568-C.0 and ANSI/TIA-569-C, for supporting wireless local area networks (WLANs). USAF uses ANSI/TIA-569 Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces and ANSI/TIA-568 Cabling for telecommunications products and services as standards. We want to use TIA TSB-162-A since it is complementary to and complies with TIA-568 and 569. ISO/IEC TR-24704 is a European standard.

· These standards deal with the quantity of access points laid out for a specific area. Maximum coverage to a location in an overlapping (honeycomb) install for the "best" density of coverage. Our USAF Program Management Office’s application method is to space them in an area to provide coverage using fewer number of access points in a 2 - AP and 1-AM coverage per location. Reducing cost is the goal while providing coverage requirements.

20. Is the UPS mentioned to power everything in the cabinet or just the Juniper switch?

Power will either be present or the contractor will have to provide power connection with approval/coordination through CE and DIO.

21. If an existing cabinet is too small to support what we need can it be replaced or another added near to it?

As it pertains to the MUNS/PAS, the answer is no. As it pertains to buildings 1400 (Main MUNS facility), 1470 and 1254, this must be coordinated with CE and DIO.

22. Where existing wireless is in place, is it your intention for that to be removed or kept in place?

Any existing Wi-Fi is to remain in place. It's more than likely for there to be existing Wi-Fi in some buildings/PAS around Alpha & Charlie Ramps servicing those particular PAS/bldgs.

23. The Air Force 2nd Generation Wireless Local Area Network Technical Requirements Document dated March 2013 does not make provision for 802.11ac. Please provide guidance on how to comply or updated USAF documents?

802.11ac is not an approved and will be removed from SOW, standard will be 802.11n

24. In 3.3 the contractor is told that installation services include: c. Install a dual voltage or 220V POE+switches. Is it the Government’s intent to put the wireless network on separate switches or can the contractor use existing switches?

The contractor is expected to furnish/install PoE+ Juniper switches in the applicable places (switches can be available in some places but not others). All this depends on the vendors plan to provide Wi-Fi to the areas in question. If they can provide it w/o installing a switch in a location then so be it. Apparently there’s technology that allows the signals to be repeated from other locations thus only needing power. Again, this depends on the vendor’s choice of installation.

25. SOW 3.6 and 3.7 appear to state the contractor will use the existing network switches for the WLAN. Please clarify.

Contractor will provide network switches as stated in 1.1, 3.2 and 3.3

26. In 3.8 the Government states: “The base has an existing Wireless LAN. The new wireless network shall meet or exceed existing area coverage.” Does the Government have an existing wireless network covering the areas shown in Diagrams 1-4 and is this new wireless network an overlay on the existing network that must meet or exceed the existing coverage area?

There is no current coverage

27. In 5.2 the Government requires: “The contractor shall update the TSIP package…” however there is no requirement to deliver a TSIP that could be updated. Does the Gov. have a TSIP package that will be provided?

See updated SOW – “Contractor shall provide the TSIP package”

28. In section 6 no deliverable is identified as a TSIP but seems to be required in 5.2. Please clarify.

TSIP added to deliverables

29. In SOW para. 7 a cutover plan is required but none of the CDRLs listed in para 6 are a cutover plan though CDRL A006 is referenced in paragraph 7 but shows in paragraph 6 as a Test Plan Wording changed to say cutover plan

30. In 11.2 O&M is required and appears to be phone support only. Please confirm or detail the Government’s requirements for this support.

Within the one year warranty period contractor is responsible to replace/repair malfunctioning equipment.

31. Is the weekly report identified in 11.3 the same as CDRL A003 or a different report?

This is the same report

32. No detail is provided for CDRLS A003 and A004 in the SOW. Please provide.

A003 is in SOW 11.3 A004 added SOW 4.3

33. Please confirm paragraph 4.1 is explaining CDRL A002?

During Solicitation the period of performance is 120 days from granted base access

34. In the technical evaluation ii.c the Government states: Measure of Merit: This requirement is met when the offeror’s proposal includes

1. Detailed description or diagram showing how the newly installed system will connect to the existing system IAQ CDRL A001 Please provide a diagram of the existing system to enable this measure of merit to be achieved.

As answered in number 8 there is no existing system

35. 3.1 System requirements lists install fiber from comm entry point to switch. Do all areas including munitions allow for fiber installation underground/trenching?

Fiber termination point to the network switch the contractor is providing.

36. IN the letter: RFQ – Flightline Wifi Infrastructure the Government states in E.1.b: Complete all areas within the attached quote sheet ensuring that unit and extended prices for the required quantities are correctly calculated for summary totals that equate to prices provided at the Contract Line Item Number-level (CLIN). The quote sheet only requires single lot pricing. Please clarify the Governments requirements for pricing.

The government requires single lot pricing for the work outlined in the Statement of Work.

37. In the letter: RFQ – Flightline Wifi Infrastructure the Government indicates options are part of the pricing evaluation but no options appear on the pricing worksheet. Additional references in the pricing evaluation state the quantities and unit prices will be multiplied please clarify as the pricing evaluation detailed and the quote sheet do not track.

There are no options on this requirement, therefore will not be evaluated. Total quote price will be verified by multiplying unit price by quantity. Example:

CLIN 0001 - Item: Widgets, Quantity: 10, Price: $5 each, Extended price (quantity x unit price): 10 x $50 = $500.

38. What are the required government certifications and processes to install fiber?

OSP is not part of this solicitation

39. Can fiber be directly connected to a media convertor directly to AP or is a switch required?

Solicitation is for switches only, to allow for future growth and interoperability

40. SOW 3.3 Installation Requirements: E. Contractor must determine antenna location to allow a minimum 10 foot separation between AP and AM. Current 2GWLAN guidance is 6 foot separation. Please clarify horizontal and vertical separation of access points.

Yes, correct.

41. Section 3.8 Required coverage area: Can the existing wireless access points be leveraged and/or reconfigured to support the new coverage requirement or Air Monitor coverage?

We have 2GWLAN on RAF Lakenheath which is currently in use and separately geographic located. The new 2GWLAN will cover areas not previously covered by the current system.

42. Section 3.9 Grounding and Bonding: Will Base CE provide support, installing or oversight, for 332’s and dig permits as required for poles (for mounting devices to) and grounding rods?

CES will provide oversight but will not do the work

43. SOW 3.11.1 states compliant standards: IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.3af, IEEE 802.3at, IEEE 802.3az, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED, at the current time there are no IEEE 802.11ac FIPS certified outdoor devices. The highest standard for outdoor use is IEEE 802.11n. What is the government’s guidance considering that information for outdoor access points compliant standards and data rate transfer?

See answer on question 2

44. Diagram 4: Munitions requirement: Can the government please provide fiber locations in this area and provide power locations per building for installation of power to the outside of the bunkers.

Fiber and power will be provided for the contractor to connect their equipment.

45. If the Gov will allow the contractor to use open ports on the existing switches, can the model numbers of the switches and available ports be provided for each building/structure so the contractor can determine the actual switch requirements for this effort? Without this data many switches not required will be included in bids. Contractor will provide network switches as none will be available for use as stated in 1.1, 3.2 and 3.3 . The contractor will determine the amount of switches needed to provide required coverage.

46. Please identify the number of days the Government requires for “review and approval” as stated in SOW para. 5.1 7 Calendar Days

47. Does the Government have sufficient licenses in the controller for the planned upgrade or should the contractor plan to offer all required licenses as part of the solution?

The Government has the required licenses, contractor will not need to provide these.

48. In SOW 1.2, the reader is told: ” All wireless installations must comply with Air Force 2nd Generation Wireless Local Area Network outlined in the National Security Agency Central Security Service web site http://www.nsa.gov/ia/mitigation_guidance/security_configuration_guides/wireless.shtml “ The website contains guidance on wireless policy for Bluetooth which though wireless is not applicable to this effort. Please provide the Air Force 2nd Generation Wireless Local Area Network requirements so compliance of the offeror’s solution can be confirmed.

Statement removed from SOW

49. Please provide: the Joint Interoperability Test Center (JITC) wireless network architecture as referenced in SOW 1.2.

The system, including equipment, features/functions, shall comply with commercial practices and standards, and shall have appropriate JITC certification documentation. These documents will ensure the contractor is meeting the JITC wireless architecture design.

50. In 11.2 the Government states: “Upon completion of installation, training and testing activities…” The SOW provides not detail on required training please provide details on training requirements.

Training removed