Attachment 5. 841st IT Cabling Questions and Answers Document.pdf

841st IT Cabling Q&A

FA441826Q0067

1. Please provide the exact location of the MDF/network switch serving the new drops.

Answer: The network switch is on the rack as our MDF inside the building. Data/VoIP cable will be going underneath the modular through the provided conduit (PVC tube) to each office.

2. Please confirm whether a patch panel is required or if CAT6 cables should be terminated with RJ45 male connectors and plugged directly into the Government-furnished switch as described in the SOW.

Answer: Yes, patch panel is required. Air Force will provide VoIP switch and the VoIP phones for each office, but they are waiting for the patch panel to be installed to provide such service to the building not the cabling.

3. Please confirm whether conduit is required for any portion of the installation or if open cable installation within accessible ceiling spaces is acceptable.

Answer: No, a conduit is not required. There is conduit in each office that will server to fish the cables from underneath to each Data/VoIP plate. We want to have 4 RJ45 plates installed in each office. There are no ceiling tiles and no access. We are restricted to drilling.

4. Please provide building dimensions or approximate cable run lengths, if available.

Answer: Approximately 2900 SF

5. Please confirm whether CAT6 riser cable is acceptable or if plenum-rated cable is required.

Answer: Yes, CAT6 riser cables will be needed.

6. Please confirm whether cable testing and certification reports are required as part of project closeout.

Answer: I am assuming this CAT6 cables that we be used should have been tested and certified. The report should be provided upon the completion of the project for our record keeping.

7. Do you all want a separate color cable for voice? I.E white cable – voice blue cable data?

Answer: Data = blue and voice = white.

8. Do I need any special insurance?

Answer: All work performed on the government installation shall be in accordance with (IAW) FAR Clause 52.228-5, Insurance—Work on a Government Installation.

9. Is riser cable okay?

Answer: Plenum (CMP) and Riser cables will be used. CMP will be used from the patch panel going underneath the modular into each office and Riser cables will be used in the offices.

10. Is there any particular brand of cable, jacks etc preferred?

Answer: No, we don’t have preference.

11. Do the cables need to be certified?

Answer: Yes, they must be certified.

12. Please identify the exact location of the central network switch, MDF, and/or wall rack on the floor plan and confirm whether the network switch is existing or Government-furnished.

Answer: The central government network switch is in the far-left corner "closet or server room" of the modular mounted to the rack from the front main entrance.

13. The SOW states that the Government will provide the wall rack and patch cords. Please confirm whether the Contractor is responsible for installing the Government-furnished wall rack and mounting/placing the network switch, or whether the Government will install and configure these items.

Answer: The contractor will not install any government furnished equipment or devices rack.

There is existing switch and functional or configured mounted to the rack with CAT6 cables hanging from the switch waiting for the patch panel to be installed. The contactor is responsible for bringing, installing the patch panel, and installing the CAT6 data/VoIP cables throughout the offices.

14. Please confirm whether all CAT6/CAT6e cabling will remain entirely within the modular office building, or whether any exterior/inter-building backbone, demarc connection, or connection to an existing network outside the modular facility is required.

Answer: The CAT6/CAT6e cables will remain within the modular office building and exterior fiber cables to the modular have been installed. It is not required for contractor to install any exterior cables.

15. Please confirm the required cable type. The SOW references CAT6, while the floor plan references CAT 6e. Should offerors price CAT6 UTP, CAT6A, or another specific cable category/rating?

Answer: The cable type should be CAT6/6e UTP

16. Please confirm whether existing cable pathways and/or cable supports are available for the new cable runs. If not, should offerors include J-hooks, cable supports, surface raceway, conduit, or other pathway materials in the quote?

Answer: Yes, there are existing pathways from the inside to the outside to run the cables from the MDF to each office.

17. Please confirm whether the modular office spaces are cubicles/modular partitions or framed/stud walls with drywall, and whether wall plates should be installed in wall boxes, low-voltage brackets, or modular furniture/partition locations.

Answer: The modular office spaces are framed/stud walls with drywall, and some offices have an existing wall box with no plates.

18. Please confirm ceiling type and access conditions within the modular building, such as accessible lay-in/drop ceiling, open ceiling, hard lid/drywall ceiling, or mixed conditions.

Answer: There is no access to the ceiling.

19. Please confirm the total required physical cable runs/terminations. The floor plan shows 26 network drops and 12 VoIP phone drops, for a total of 38. Please confirm that only the indicated network/phone positions are to be cabled and that all ports on 4-port plates are not required to be fully populated unless shown.

Answer: Correct, the floor plan shows 26 network drops and 12 VoIP phone drops on the 4-port plates, for a total of 38.

20. Please confirm required testing, labeling, and closeout deliverables, including whether wiremap testing or cable certification reports are required for each drop and whether the Government has a preferred labeling convention.

Answer: Yes, it will be preferred to have cables labeled to differentiate Data from VoIP including wire map.

21. Will there be a separate patch panel for the voice in the cabinet and data on the rack?

Answer: No, there will be only one patch panel for both data and VoIP and it will be mounted on the rack.

22. Will we be allowed to install (2) 2-inch penetrations in the IT closet for access to the bottom of the trailer?

Answer: Yes.

23. Will wire molding be required to extend cabling from the existing outlet to the desk position?

24. Will we be allowed to drill in the locations that don't have an existing penetration?

25. Will pipe be required underneath the trailer?

26. Could you please clarify the exact cable type required for this project? The Scope of Work (SOW) specifies Cat6, but the project diagrams indicate Cat6e.

Answer: CAT6e UTP

27. Could you provide the total estimated linear footage of cable required, or provide a scaled floor plan? The current floor plan lacks dimensions, and we need clarification on the exact starting point (MDF/IDF origin) to calculate the run distances to each room.

Answer: See the attached document: Modular Bldg. Design

28. Where is the main origin point (server room) on the map and how far is it from each room to determine the exact cable run?

Answer: See the attached document: Modular Bldg. Design

29. Do you require any switcher in the origin point (server room)?

Answer: No.

30. What are the approved working hours for this project on the base?

Answer: Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM including Weekend hours if required.

No work for contractors when we have Vessels/Ships.

31. Does the scope include the removal and disposal of any existing, abandoned cabling on-site, or are we strictly installing new infrastructure?

Answer: Yes, the contractor is responsible for the removal and disposal of any cable on-site

32. Is there already space available to install the plates, or do we have to break and alter the existing structure to create a new space?

Answer: There are existing conduits without wall plates.

33. If we have to break and alter the structure to install the plates, will we be the ones responsible for painting and finishing it to make it look normal again?

Answer: If an alteration is made, the plate must be capable of covering the opening. The contractor is responsible for remedying any further structural alterations.

34. If breaking is required, please tell me what materials the wall are made up of? Whether it is dry wall, hard or concrete.

Answer: Dry wall

35. Please confirm the ceiling type and whether there is enough space to run the cables?

Answer: There is no ceiling or space to run the cables.

36. In the middle room where it is mentioned the required lines are 4 network drops and 1 phone, Please confirm do we need to install 2 QTY of 4 ports plate or we can install 1 QTY of 4 port plate and 1 QTY of 2 port plate in that room?

Answer: 1 Plate of 4 data plate RJ45 and 1 Plate of 2 VoIP plate.