Attachment No. 4 - Questions and Answers.pdf

Joint Base Charleston Giant Voice System

Attachment No. 4 - Q&A

Solicitation: FA441823Q0004, Amendment 2

Question 1: Prevailing Wage - a comment was made that this was considered to be a communications project, and mention was made of something called SEA. Can you provide a document number as a reference for us to confirm the prevailing wage rates for the project at the base.

Answer 1: As a requirement estimated to require more than $2,000 of construction labor and more than $2,500 in service contract labor, the Government believes the contract is subject to

Department of Labor (DoL) construction wage rates, commonly known as Davis Bacon Act

(DBA) wage rates. The Government believes the contract is also subject to Service Contract Act

(SCA) wage rates. As such, both the DBA and SCA wage determinations have been incorporated into the solicitation. If an offeror believes the DBA or SCA wage rates do not apply, the offeror must identify the applicable exemption waiving DoL wage rate requirements.

Question 2: Please provide the current wattage output for each of the twenty-five existing locations.

Answer 2:

Current Wattage Output for Existing Locations

Pole Number: Wattage Output:

JB CHS - AB

1 8 x 400W

2 8 x 400W

3 8 x 400W

4 6 x 400W

5 8 x 400W

6 8 x 400W

7 8 x 400W

8 6 x 400W

25 8 x 400W

JB CHS – WS

9 8 x 400W

10 4 x 400W

11 6 x 400W

12 8 x 400W

13 8 x 400W

14 8 x 400W

15 6 x 400W

16 8 x 400W

17 8 x 400W

18 4 x 400W

19 3 x 400W

20 8 x 400W

21 3 x 400W

22 8 x 400W

23 2 x 400W

24 4 x 400W

Question 3: Please confirm whether the steel poles can be either single or two-piece/multi section poles? Many projects have two-piece poles for ease of shipment, storage, and subsequent installation.

Answer 3: Two-piece or multi section poles are acceptable, however single-piece poles are recommended.

Question 4: Can you confirm if there are com lines to the remote Giant Voice sites?

Answer 4: Communications to remote sites are over radio links via GTR8000 repeater.

Question 5: Please confirm whether the repeater is duplex or simplex and the radio frequency/frequencies to be utilized for the new system.

Answer 5: The repeater is duplex with UHF frequencies TX 406.XXXX and RX 415.XXXX.

Question 6: We discussed Dig permits, and a couple of different scenarios were laid out. Please confirm if this process is one where the Dig permit request is filled out online and passed through the various departments that have to approve the permit or whether, in fact, the Dig permit has to be hand carried by the successful proposer to all the various departments on base for review and approval?

Dig permit process clarification?

Dig permits required?

Answer 6: Dig permits will be required. The process requires the awardee to submit the dig permit to 628 CES. The dig permit will then be processed electronically through all offices required to sign off on the dig permit. On average it’s a 30-day process.

Question 7: Will any sites require connection to a portable electrical power generator?

Answer 7: No. All remote sites have AC, backup battery, & solar power.

Question 8: How are spoils to be handled? Is there a place on base to dump or is it to be removed from base? Are there any environmental issues concerning spoil disposal?

Answer 8: The contractor is responsible for removing the soil from the base, following all

Federal, State, and Local regulations/laws.

Question 9: Will Aviation obstruction evaluation data/FAA approval be needed for the pole(s) removal/installation close to the flightline? This would be temporary for crane and permanent for the poles.

Answer 9: New construction on the airfield does require FAA Form 7460-1, Notice of Proposed

Construction or Alteration to be completed before the work can start. Looking for anything that will be taller than existing obstructions or anything that will be taller than existing obstruction to work on the Giant Voice. Coordination with CE - Community Planner must occur. The locations and heights must ensure they do not violate airfield or airspace criteria. If it appears to be a violation of criteria, an Airfield Waiver would have to be processed. Once submitted, the FAA

Form 7460-1 the study and recommendation can take 45+ days.

Question 10: Are there any specific requirements concerning protected wildlife on or near existing poles? This should include proximity issues surround installation of new poles adjacent to the old.

Answer 10: All federal, local, and base environmental (Environmental Protection Agency: EPA rules, regulations, and laws (http://www.epa.gov/) are applicable. For example, some poles may have osprey nests. Work can be done on the pole when the nest(s) is not active. This varies, but typically osprey nests in coastal SC can be active (eggs or nestlings present) from 01 Feb to 01

July. It typically takes newborn ospreys 7 to 8 weeks to fledge and leave the nest. Inactive nests can be removed.

Question 11: Based upon a discussion during walkthrough about RF cable replacement at

CCS's, it was commented that re-use of RF cabling was allowable.

Answer 11: No, RF cables need to be replaced and tested.

Question 12: Due to the ELMR interoperability requirement in the SOW, will the government require the contractor to be certified / authorized to perform work on Motorola equipment? Due to the proprietary nature of Motorola equipment and interoperability with the ELMR infrastructure, the Motorola GFE cannot be guaranteed if not performed by a Motorola certified party and should be considered suspect.

Answer 12: The base has a sustainment contract through Mobile Communications America for standalone GTR8000. Because the GV system shares infrastructure with our P25 ELMR system, technicians must be certified to work on Motorola equipment. This can be accomplished by offeror/awardee technicians or by sub-contract. The radio shop can provide radio frequency information of the standalone conventional GTR8000 repeater to the awardee for programming

Solicitation: FA441823Q0004, Amendment 2

APX6500 radio for the Giant Voice System, or the radio shop can coordinate with the Contractor to support and program the APX6500 radios.

Question 13: Will the statement of work be updated to include the "Sub Factor 3 - Warranty Call

Response" requirements identified in the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation document, as our proposals will be evaluated against these criteria, but is not currently defined by the SOW?

Answer 13: –The SoW was revised to include the warranty response requirement.

Question 14: Due to the nature of emergency situations the GV systems exists for, will the government consider reducing the 72-hour minimum technician response time in "Sub Factor 3" in order to reduce risk to life and government liability should- a serious event occur during the

72 hours following system failure (i.e. mass shooter)? The population of JB Charleston will be at greater risk during outages. Respectfully, we request the government seek to reduce the time of response to 4-hours for a critical event.

Answer 14: The 72-hour requirement meets the Government’s requirement.

Question 15: Does the government desire a "future ready" solution that is capable of future integration with the P25 ELMR system in addition to the conventional 2-way communication links? Having a solution now that is capable of such integration will enable an effortless transition in the future. This will prevent the need for costly and timely changes post award and implementation but will add no additional costs to include this capability up front. A requirement to be capable of integration with the P25 system is becoming mainstream throughout all recent

Air Force installations' Giant Voice projects to ensure current investments are fully capable of adapting to the inevitable future changes.

Answer 15: The current Government system is a P25 ELMR System.

Question 16: Does the government wish to include any radio / ELMR security requirements to the SOW to prevent unauthorized access to the GV system? With no requirements and a purely conventional two-way communication path, the system will be vulnerable to unauthorized persons access the system with relative ease. Including radio security requirements like "Radio

Authentication" will make it virtually impossible for unauthorized access once it is integrated into the ELMR system.

Answer 16: Additional encryption of the installed system does not require additional security or encryption measures.

Solicitation: FA441823Q0004, Amendment 2

Question 17: Will the government consider including the extended maintenance requirements as a part of this GV SOW to ensure the chosen vendor has the capabilities to meet the long-term maintenance specs? We are understanding that the extended maintenance portion will be awarded as a separate contract, but believe it is imperative that the specifications are defined prior to system implementation and long-term maintenance requirements are defined and acknowledged.

Answer 17: No, extended maintenance requirements have been defined at this time and will not be included in the current SOW.

Question 18: What integrations does the AtHoc system provide?

a) Is the AtHoc System intended to be a downstream activation, if so what interfaces may be available for that? SIP audio, or contact closure (like a fire panel) could be options.

b) If the AtHoc system activates the GV system, what options for outbound integration exist in that system. (i.e. CAP Push, CAP Feeds, contact closure, API)

c) Confirm whether or not a new IIM device would be required to integrate equipment to allow AtHoc notifications. Is the proposer responsible for supplying this device along with the AtHoc support required to complete the integration?

Answer 18: Vendors are advised the Blackberry AtHoc Vendor will be a required sub-contractor to the RFQ. AtHoc currently operates under an AF contract to maintain the AtHoc system at JB-

CHS. Blackberry AtHoc must perform IIM module integration in order not to void performance requirements under the AF contract.

The awardee is responsible for coordinating with the Blackberry AtHoc vendor to integrate the new GV system t to produce a fully operational AtHoc-GV integrated system. The following is contact information for the AtHoc vendor:

AtHoc Vendor

Terry Edward

972-584-3010

Eric Tullock

Principal Implementation Engineer

Desk: (972) 584-3010

Cell: (865) 386-3264 etullock@blackberry.com

Question 19: For the CCU's is a Linux based desktop system acceptable (either RedHat Linux, or Ubuntu 22 LTS)?

Answer 19: A Windows OS based desktop system is required.

mailto:etullock@blackberry.com

Question 20: Do the CCU's require a push button activation or is app-based activation only required?

Answer 20: An App based activation is required. Encoder push button is option if included.

Question 21: Lay down areas for poles? How many? Where will they be?

Answer 21: The Government is working on securing two lay down areas for the poles at the Air

Base and three on the Weapons Station and once those areas are approved, the locations will be coordinated with the awardee.

Question 22: Shipping and storage of giant voice equipment. Where will we be shipping? Where will the equipment be stored? How will the equipment be accessed from storge location? `

Answer 22: The awardee is responsible for shipping and receiving of all GV system parts, equipment, and material. The government will not accept any delivered items on behalf of the awardee. The awardee may have items shipped and received at the post award identified lay-down locations, however an awardee’s employee must be present to receive the items. Once on-site the awardee will be responsible for securing project materials.

Question 23: Can a roll off dumpster be brought on-site?

Answer 23: Yes, coordination with CE would be needed first for an agreed upon laydown area.

Question 24: Any specific details of downtime schedule we need to abide by?

Answer 24: Radio shop would let the Communications Focal Point know ahead of time if any downtime is required for the installation.

Question 25: Is the base able to provide soil boring information/geotechnical reports for the soil at or close to the existing Giant Voice locations to assist in foundation design?

Answer 25: This information is contained in a sizeable data package. Offerors seeking this information must contact Tatyana Verenich at tatyana.verenich@us.af.mil to request the data.

The data will be provided upon request via Department of Defense (DoD) Secure Access File

Exchange (SAFE).

Question 26: Is a list or sign in sheet for people attending the site visit to be made available?

mailto:tatyana.verenich@us.af.mil

Solicitation: FA441823Q0004, Amendment 2

Answer 26: Yes, please reference Attachment No. 7 - JB CHS Giant Voice System Site Visit

Sign-In Sheet.

Question 27: Why aren't radios to be GFE for the control stations? Is this an error? Did the

Government intend to supply 29 Motorola APX6500 radios? Can the Government supply all 29 of the radios?

Answer 27: This is not an error. JB CHS has 25 APX6500 radios available for this project.

Question 28: Is it acceptable to use the APX6500 in analog mode?

Answer 28: The vendors can use either in digital or analog mode as long as the end-to-end radio communications links meet secure 256AES encryption to prevent unauthorized access and other measures to prevent replay attack without degrading the audio quality as well as coverage area.

Please note that digital mode will be required if the new system will integrate with the current

P25 ELMR system. 256 AES is the encryption standard, and the APX6500 radios do not support analog encryption.

Question 29: If the contractor is required to supply the radios for the Control Stations is an equivalent acceptable to the APX6500?

Answer 29: JB CHS prefers to have the same APX6500 radios. Should an offeror provide an equivalent radio, they will be responsible for full interoperability of the “or equal” radio.

Question 30: Will there be access to the equipment/technology that needs to be interfaced?

Answer 30: Yes. Via the 2 radio trunk buildings (CAFB, JB-WS) and the command post (Via

Blackberry AtHoc).

Question 31: Is there a picture of where the integration module is located?

Answer 31: The integration module is in the command post (Via Blackberry AtHoc). Reference

Attachment No. 9 & 10 for the Integration Module Photos.

Question 32: Verify disposal of existing equipment, who is in charge/ Are there any requirements for disposing/installing of real property assets (Poles)?

Answer 32: Per SOW 5.4 Project Residue, The Contractor shall dispose of residues from this project off base IAW the base POC instructions and federal, local, and base environmental laws

Solicitation: FA441823Q0004, Amendment 2 and regulations. All excess Automatic Data Processing Equipment (ADPE) equipment items shall remain U.S. Government property and it shall be delivered to the Government POC.

The Contractor is in charge of disposing of the old existing equipment such as the removal of poles off base. CE can be contacted to help with the coordination if needed. Equipment such as computers and CCU’s stay with the Government.

Question 33: What are the expectations to the cut-over plan?

Answer 33: IAW SOW 5.11, the cutover plan shall outline how the system shall be placed into service and clearly specify how the newly installed system shall connect to the existing base system. The Contractor shall minimize downtime of the existing GV system and interruption of network services to the base customers as much as possible during installation and cutover.

Some points that the cutover plan can address is the Test and validate the sequence of events and the assumptions, Task Duration, Task Description, Task Dependencies, the Communication between the Cutover team members and how the vendor will fall back in the event of failure, etc.

Question 34: Are the poles not to exceed 60 feet?

Answer 34: Poles shall not exceed 60 feet to include the concrete slab/foundation. SOW para.

5.2.3.4.1.1 Pole Height, has been revised.

Question 35: Is a Period of Performance been identified?

Answer 35: Offerors are required to identify their proposed Period of Performance at

Solicitation Attachment 1, RFQ Price Sheet.

Question 36: What is the proposal closing date?

Answer 36: See solicitation response date at SAM.gov. No further extensions are anticipated.

Question 37: What is the background on the current Giant Voice System that is driving this new

Giant Voice System project?

Answer 37: Operational reliability and ease of maintenance.

Question 38: What is the service ability and maintenance after the one-year warranty time period?

Solicitation: FA441823Q0004, Amendment 2

Answer 38: The Government intends to solicit and award a maintenance contract to begin performance after the one-year warranty expires.

Question 39: Is this project funded or still waiting on funds?

Answer 39: Yes, this Giant Voice System project has certified funding.

Question 40: Do the Motorola Radios have warranty?

Answer 40: Yes, Government provided Motorola radios are under warranty. Offeror provided radios shall include Motorola warranties.

Question 41: The maps that are attached in the appendix of the SOW, is there a key that can identify the scale of the distance dimensions in the Air Base side vs the Weapons station?

Answer 41: Please reference Attachment No. 5 – JB CHS-AB Map Legend and Attachment No.

6 – JB CHS-WS Map Legend. For measurements, hover the cursor over the lines and they should appear.

Question 42: Any generator hook-ups per stack requirement?

Answer 42: No.

Question 43: Do the new poles have to go into the same exact spot as the original poles?

Answer 43: It is allowable to place poles in not the same exact spot as the original poles.

Contractor shall coordinate with the base POC, CE, and Radio Shop for approval of new pole/antenna installation locations.

Question 44: Could you please share the locations of the current RSS locations in order to develop an accurate audio coverage map? GPS coordinates would be ideal and the most accurate, but a map would suffice if necessary.

Answer 44: GPS coordinates cannot be publicly published at this time. Please reference

Attachment No. 5 – JB CHS-AB Map Legend and Attachment No. 6 – JB CHS-WS Map

Legend. For measurements, hover the cursor over the lines and they should appear.

Solicitation: FA441823Q0004, Amendment 2

Question 45: This project is going to exceed the Small Business Threshold Amount of

$250,000.00. Currently this solicitation is set-aside for Small Business under NAICS code

334310 and because it will exceed the threshold amount, the Non-Manufacture Rule (NMR) will apply. As you are likely aware, the NMR requires that the equipment is sourced from a small business manufacture. As a Motorola Solutions provider, we are unable to meet this criteria as they are a large business.

Answer 45: Though a declaration rather than a question, the Government verified the identified

NAICS defines the requirement as shown at https://www.census.gov/naics/ . The size standard for manufacturers is 750. Market research supports sufficient small business manufacturers in the market. The requirement is not Brand Name specific, “or equal” solutions are acceptable as long as the equal meets the interoperability requirements of the SoW.

Question 46: Will the Motorola radios be provided to the awardee after award?

Answer 46: Yes.

https://www.census.gov/naics/