Questions and Answers 6 August.docx

Q: Please specify any technical requirements associated with the hardware/software solution.

A: Must be password protected for access to service. Equipment must be maintain with current industry security updates. Contractor must provide equipment list and provide own rack/cabinet for equipment.

Q: Please specify any required accreditation associated with the hardware/software solution.

A: None specifically required. We would require the same levels of accreditation and certification as any other commercial ISP and their technicians.

Q: Please specify if TAA or BAA is required for purchases under this contract.

A: Yes, it would apply unless an exception applies. DFARS 252.225-7001 for the Buy American Act/Balance of Payments Program is included in this BPA. The Trade Agreements Act does not apply to this requirement.

Q: Please specify if prevailing wages (such as Davis Bacon or Service Contract) are required under this contract and if so, please provide the associated wage determination.

A: This is being awarded as a supply BPA and therefore neither the DBA nor SCA is being applied to individual calls.

Q: Should the nine (9) new switches associated with the ITNs be quoted at this time? If so, where should that pricing be shown in the provided pricing template?

A: As specified in the solicitation, installation and maintenance of the ITN switches will be at the expense of the BPA awardee.

Q: The solicitation states that “the ITN switches installation and management will be done at the vendors' expense”. Is it the Government’s intent for the Contractor to provided Managed Services of the new network, or will the Government be maintaining/managing the network after installation and hand-off?

A: The BPA awardee will provide managed WiFi services as if they were using their own infrastructure. We are only providing the Government fiber backbone as a cost-saving partnership. The awardee will also be responsible for responding to trouble calls related to their equipment.

Q: Is the Contractor required to provide any formal or informal training to the Government on the new hardware/software solution?

A: We would expect the same handoff as any commercial customer—specifically, WiFi connection SSID/passwords and help desk contact information.

Q: Is a technical narrative (written proposal) required to accompany the price proposal? If so, please specify page limitations and any other administrative requirements.

A: This is being conducted using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. As such, there is no technical narrative required. You are welcome to provide something if you want.

Q: Is past performance required and if so, what are the past performance requirements?

A: Past performance is a factor of consideration in the best value award decision. However, IAW Simplified Acquisition Procedures, we will be using any available means in order to gather past performance information. If you wish to provide references/past performance information, you may do so.

Q: Upon award, will the monthly pricing (for internet bandwidth) be billed through the Contractor or directly from the Internet Service Provider to the Government?

A: This award is strictly for the master BPA. Individual calls will have their own payment instructions. The BPA Awardee, as the prime contractor, will invoice via WAWF/GPC as applicable.

Q: What is the basis of award (best value, lowest price technically acceptable, etc.)?

A: Per the combo, the award will be made to the BPA Awardee whose proposal represents the best value to the government, in no particular order of importance.

Q: What is the estimated inside height of the hangar example?

A: Approximately 60 feet but there may be an option to mount on interior wall depending on AP style/type.

Q: Is any outdoor coverage required for the hangar example?

A: If you think it would be appropriate to use outdoor-rated APs to ensure coverage in the hangar area, then possibly. There is a potential for this need but will be based on unit/customer requirement.

Q: Is it correct to assume that proposed WiFi solutions need to adhere to DOD Directive 8420 (e.g., products being DOD certifications – TAA, FIPS 140, JITC, and listed on the DODIN approved product list.)?

A: This equipment is not going to be connected to the DoDIN—only your commercial network, and used for commercial purposes. Items need to be FIPS 140 compliant but not required to be on approved product list as this will not touch the AF Network. While not required, equipment should closely align with DoD directive.

Q: Is the “building 1” and “building 2” on the RFQ examples of future locations at the base?

A: No, they are strictly hypothetical examples in order to allow for evaluation of potential vendors’ installation prices.

Since we understand that each individual building/customer will have a different set of needs with each BPA call, we would not likely be able to lock in a fixed installation price. However, we still must have a mechanism for ensuring that vendors are quoting fair & reasonable installation prices and using understandable rationale in doing so.

If there is any additional information needed in order to provide a quote for the buildings, let us know. If there are any assumptions made in quoting the installation, please let us know what those are.

Q: If I understand correctly, you are looking for ISP services to various buildings on the base. The base will provide a fiber path from the commercial demark to the specific building and the vendor installs the router/NID at the specific building. To quote the ISP, I need the address of the commercial demark where the carrier has services, and the base connects their internal networks to. Can you provide this information?

A: There is not an official “Commercial Demark,” per se. Addresses to buildings on base are available online for reference in estimating. If you are needing more information than that, please let us know. In the event that you are planning on using an established demarcation point then this will depend on the carrier that is being used. There are several carriers that have multiple demarcation points on the base but 82 CS does not track or monitor capacities for these locations to determine feasibility. In the event that you plan to install a new cable for a new demarcation point you would benefit the most by establishing your demark at one of our ITN locations.

You are correct that the vendor will install their router/access points at the end user’s building. You will coordinate with the 82d Communications Squadron to use the existing Government fiber lines to connect from the Commercial Demark to the end user. However, as noted in the Technical Capability section, note as well that vendors are required to acknowledge their capability and willingness to install additional routers at the 9 Information Transfer Nodes around the base.

The BPA awardee can install all 9 ITN routers after award or on an as-need basis as the circuits are needed for end users. Install and maintenance of the ITN routers are at the expense of the awardee. Due to OPSEC considerations, locations of the ITNs will be provided to the awardee upon receipt of the resulting BPA.