Attachment 10 - Solicitation Questions and Answers.pdf

Altus AFB BTS Solicitation Questions & Responses

1. What is the historical FTE personnel and/or the number of incumbent employees currently onsite?

a. The current contractor is staffing with 2 switch technicians (for trouble tickets/telephony experts/circuit experts, etc.) and 4 telecommunications mechanics level I (expertise in ISP/OSP).

2. If these requirements are being performed by a contractor currently or in the past, can you please provide the associated contract or task order numbers. If not, can you please tell me whether these are new requirements?

a. FA441916D0101 is the current contract number.

3. Would the Government reconsider allowing contractors to submit past performance information on contracts where they serve in a subcontractor position?

a. No, see Section L part 9.a. “Offerors shall submit past performance information on no more than five recent and relevant contracts performed for Federal agencies or commercial customers where offerors performed as the prime contractor…”

4. A site walk is requested.

a. Due to COVID concerns, we are trying to minimize the exposure to both base and contractor personnel. Pictures will be taken and attached to the solicitation.

5. Would the Government please allow offerors to provide a past performance volume that represents similar scope experience that amounts to $10M ‐ $20M or more in the aggregate, or the value of all submitted past performance references (up to 5) combined?

a. No, see Section M Volume III Part 2. “Relevant past performance requires performance of other contracts similar in scope, magnitude, and complexity to the requirements defined in this solicitation. Magnitude will be defined as a contract value in the range of

$20 to $40 million.”

6. Do ISP/OSP technicians have an exception from Sec+ or do they not have an exception because they are considered key?

a. 8570 Certification is only required for the technicians at the switch. They will have administrative rights to manipulate the CUCM and configure/program the Cisco phones.

7. What is the rationale for having personnel that are classified as “Linemen (Outside Plant)” key personnel having to maintain a current SEC+ or CCNA: Collaboration Certification?

a. 8570 Certification is only required for the technicians at the switch. They will have administrative rights to manipulate the CUCM and configure/program the Cisco phones.

Linemen do not require Sec+.

8. Can the Government please confirm whether ISP and OSP Cable technicians employed under this effort will require this level of Certification?

a. Sec+ is not required for the ISP/OSP Linemen.

9. Are there any 3rd party/OEM maintenance agreements in place in support of the incumbent BTS effort?

a. No

10. Is the contractor responsible for PBX maintenance at Tier Level 1 operations and maintenance?

Furthermore, does the Government have a contract to support Tier 2 and Tier 3 level support?

a. The contractor is responsible for all levels of support on equipment listed.

11. Please provide yearly frequency and Workload Estimates for the following types of Work Orders:

Unique Work Orders, Removal of Drops Work Orders, Audio/Visual/Cameras/Intercom Work

Orders, Shelter Work Orders, Antenna/Tower and Giant Voice Work Orders, Custom Built

Network Cabinets Work Orders, Electrical Work, and General Construction Work Orders.

a. This is funding dependent. Current contract charges a 5.86%. Government receives quote from our preferred subcontractor/vendor and it is processed through the contract. Contractor’s responsibility is for payment processing only.

12. There is insufficient information for the pricing item of #2256 Miscellaneous

Materials/Equipment/Services, can the Government provide a dollar value placeholder or NTE value for all contractors to use for this.

a. This is funding dependent. Current contract charges a 5.86%. Government receives quote from our preferred subcontractor/vendor and it is processed through the contract. Contractor’s responsibility is for payment processing only.

13. Please confirm how many maintenance hole/handhole PMI’s are required each month.

Additionally, please confirm how many Pedestal PMI’s and Terminal PMI’s are required each month.

a. There are 5 to 10 maintenance hole/handhole PMI’s per month currently done during

OSP installs (i.e. while they are running fiber or installing additional duct, they perform the PMI at that time). There are 1‐3 Pedestal PMI’s each month and Terminal PMI’s are as required.

14. Please confirm whether spare conductor testing will be required for Altus BTS.

a. This will be done on an as needed basis as most of the copper plant is no longer utilized.

15. Please provide a maximum quantity of cable locates that must be performed per year under the

O&M portion and add a CLIN for cable locates in excess of the maximum O&M quantity.

a. We cannot estimate how many cable locates will be required. This is based on projects that both the 97th Civil Engineering Squadron and the 97th Communications Squadron does. OSP is the responsibility of the vendor who wins said contract and part of that responsibility is to perform cable locates as part of O&M. A maximum amount will not be given.

16. Please provide historical workload estimates so that we can accurately forecast the required maintenance staffing.

a. 20 – 30 per month barring major squadron moves.

17. Please clarify whether transitioning ISP drawings to CIPS 5.0 ISP Module is included in the maintenance portion of the contract, and if so, please provide workload estimates or quantity of

ISP drawings that require transitioning to CIPS.

a. Yes, this is part of the maintenance. Approximately 200 drawings will need to be uploaded to the ISP module over the life of the contract.

18. Please clarify the activity of the Government processing Tririga Work Requests for the Civil

Engineering Squadron approval. Furthermore, please identify whether the activity for each section is required to be performed by a subcontractor, and whether the BTS contractor is required to engage the subcontractor.

a. The Government will process the Tririga requests for the subcontractors. The

Government receives a quote from our preferred subcontractor and processes it through the contractor owning the contract. The only requirement for the contractor is to process the payment once the work is complete to the Government’s satisfaction.

19. Please clarify whether the BTS contractor is responsible for providing repair or replacement parts for the items listed in PWS Section 7.2.1: Single Line Sets and Wall Sets, Explosion‐Proof

Sets, Telephone Device for the Deaf, Paging System Speakers (Ceiling), and Push to Talk Handset for Single Line Sets.

a. Repair or replacements for all other items listed will be maintained by the contractor but replaced by the Government.

20. Attachment #2 (Pricing Table), PID BH05 lists a 3’ x 3’ x 3’ Handhole. While Attachment #6 (EIPS) states that all manholes must be precast concrete, this is a Handhole, not a manhole. Would the

Government accept a polymer or resin Handhole in lieu of a precast Handhole for this item?

a. No, resin or polymer are not authorized.

21. Does this contract include provisioning or installing of VoIP phones, and if so, what brand and model number phone is required?

a. Yes the contractor will be required to provision and install VoIP phones. As stated it is a

Cisco based system with system end instruments 7965, 8861, etc. The Government provides the end instruments to the contractor.

22. The PWS lists Cisco sets – please provide specific model numbers and identify which model(s) of

Cisco phone sets will be installed, operated, and maintained by the Contractor.

a. The Government will obtain phones that are JTIC approved so any model on the JTIC approved site may be purchased for the contractor to provision and install.

23. The following PID’s do not have any quantities, do we price them: 3073, 3074, 3076, 3077, 3082, 3134, 3246, 3281, 3282, 3336, 3346, 3708, 3847, BH05.

a. No pricing is necessary

24. Please provide an estimated dollar value for each PID or provide sufficient details for each PID to allow contractors to price them accurately: 2250, 2251, 2252, 2253, 2254, and 2256.

a. The work for these items will be performed by subcontractors of the Government’s choosing. The contractor will process payment only. The current contract charges a fee of 5.86%.

25. To avoid potentially overcharging the Government for these PIDs, will the Government please revise PIDs 2250‐2256 to a burden percentage that is determined per project instead of as a fixed price per unit?

a. The work for these items will be performed by subcontractors of the Government’s choosing. The contractor will process payment only. The current contract charges a fee of 5.86%.

26. Can you confirm that all three Unified Communications Managers have a current SWSS support contract in place and the expiration date?

a. The vendor will operate CUCM and program as necessary. The vendor will also call out

TAC cases for anomalies or issue – these are covered under an Air Force wide contract.

Major upgrades will be done by a Cisco Certified engineer payed for by the Government with the vendor assisting.

27. Can you identify what version of CUCM is currently in place at this time?

a. 11.7

28. Please identify who the incumbent key personal are by name and position and their current length of service.

a. This information will be provided to the winning contractor at time of award.

29. Do all current incumbent key personnel meet the RFP’s required qualifications for their current positions?

a. Yes

30. Please identify who the incumbent non‐key personnel are by name and position and their current length of services.

a. This information will be provided to the winning contractor at time of award.

31. Do all current incumbent non‐key personnel meet the RFP’s required qualifications for their current positions?

a. They meet all of the requirements for the current contract.

32. Would the Government please provide the chart showing the classes of service employees expected to be employed under the contract and states the wages and fringe benefits payable to each if they were employed? (FAR 52.222‐42 Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal

Hires).

a. This clause has been updated to full text and the table has been attached in

Amendment 1

33. Please confirm that the transition plan specified in Section M is excluded from the 10 page limit for the technical volume.

a. No, the transition plan shall be included in the 10 page limit.

34. Would the Government please provide a rough percentage breakdown of annual contract funds/value between the CLINs?

a. The Basic monthly recurring service is the same for each ordering period, but the other

CLINs vary based on funding that is available.

35. Will the Government please allow tables and graphics to be provided in a not less than 10 point font size?

a. All graphics and tables must follow the font size that is applicable for everything.

36. Will the Government please clarify whether the Attachment 2, in Excel or PDF, counts towards the 10 page limit for Volume I. If the Excel version does count towards the 10 page limit, will the

Government please provide guidance as to how they wish the spreadsheet to be incorporated into Volume I?

a. Per Attachment 7‐ Section L Instructions to Offerors Volume I must contain a completed Attachment 2, either in Excel or PDF format. Any additional information that the vendor wishes to submit for Volume I shall not exceed a total of 10 pages.

37. Will the Government please clarify whether the intent is for Linemen (Inside Plant) and Linemen

(Outside Plant), as key personnel, to maintain a current DoDD 8570 IAT Level II Certification, a current CCNA: Collaboration Certification, or whether they are exempt from these certification requirements?

a. Inside outside plant personnel do not require Level II certifications. Only members working on or manipulating the CUCM.

38. Will the Government please identify the specific on‐site Engineer job duties so the offeror may determine a reasonable cost for this position, and reduce the potential of overcharging the

Government by charging for job duties that this position is not responsible for?

a. Onsite engineer will perform work on the CUCM; they will handle the work assignments for the crew; they will also provide solutions for government projects and develop costings for ISP/OSP projects. Essentially this employee will act as a site manager.

39. Will the Government please state the specific job duties of the Linemen (Inside Plant) and

Linemen (Outside Plant) so the offeror may determine a reasonable cost for these positions, and reduce the potential of overcharging the Government by charging for job duties that this position is not responsible for?

a. Inside plant personnel will run Cat6 cabling internal to the facility terminating at the patch panels, install patch panels, install racks and cable ladders, etc. OSP will be responsible to trench bore install duct innerduct, manholes, hand holes, etc. They will splice and terminate copper/fiber.

40. To allow the offeror to more accurately price this requirement, will the Government please provide workload estimates associated with work performed on the contract that requires Cisco

Gold Partner Master Specification Collaboration Certification?

a. The Cisco Gold Partner will be utilized during major upgrades of the CUCM. For example, when we upgraded to 11.7, a Cisco Gold Partner Professional service was obtained by the government via the contract to perform the work with Government employees and contract employees assisting.

41. Will the Government please clarify whether the Cisco Gold Partner subcontractor needs to be onsite full‐time, or may they be used as‐needed, with an on‐call Tier II or Tier III external maintenance support agreement?

a. No, this is on an as needed basis. For example, when we upgraded to 11.7, a Cisco Gold

Partner Professional service was obtained by the government via the contract to perform the work with Government employees and contract employees assisting.

42. Will the Government please clarify whether the services required form the Cisco Gold Partner, either as the offeror or as a subcontractor, will be needed on a daily operational basis, and therefore charged as part of CLIN X001 Monthly Maintenance, or if the services will be more sporadic and therefore handled as a Work Order under CLINs X002 or X003?

a. The Cisco Gold Partner will be utilized during major upgrades of the CUCM. For example, when we upgraded to 11.7, a Cisco Gold Partner Professional service was obtained by the government via the contract to perform the work with Government employees and contract employees assisting.

43. Will the Government please clarify whether during natural disasters or other events that affect building/base access, or during pandemics such as the current COVID‐19 situation, contract employees with the capability to support remotely may telework to ensure non‐interruption of vital contract support?

a. No, the employees must be on site. However, if the base is inaccessible for any reason it will not be held against the contractor.

44. Will the Government please revise Attachment 2 to show the same unit of measure for Purchase and Install for PIDs 3346‐3354?

a. This unit of measurement is in feet

45. Will the Government please revise the Attachment 2 to conform the Purchase and Install quantities to the same unit of measure (PID 3732)?

a. Attachment 2 should match now

46. There are several authorities that can certify Fiber Optic Splicers. Will the Government please state whether they prefer a particular certification authority, and if so, which one?

a. Any accredited certification authority will suffice.

47. Since the offeror may submit five references, at two pages per reference, will the Government please confirm that the Subcontractor Consent Letter(s) required per Section L.9.d may be places in a non‐page counted appendix?

a. The Subcontractor Consent letter shall be placed in a non‐page counted appendix

48. Will the Government please state whether a CCNA‐certified employee meets this requirement, or must this requirement be met through a Cisco Gold Partner? (Attachment 7, p. 6, Volume II, Section L.8.b.i)

a. A CCNA certified employee would meet the requirement. If there is no CCNA certified employee, the contract will have to meet this with a Cisco Gold partner.

49. Will the Government please confirm the transition period is 14 calendar days from contract award, and update Attachment 8 accordingly? (PWS states 14, Section M states 30).

a. Everything has been updated accordingly.

50. Do any of the incumbent key personnel have a current CCNA: Collaboration Certification?

a. No, incumbent does have a SEC+. To be clear, a CCNA Collaboration Certification or a

Cisco Gold Partner agreement would meet the requirement. For example, during our

11.7 CUCM upgrade, the Government requested from the Gold Partner a CCNA

Collaboration Certified expert to assist Government and contractor personnel in the upgrade and hardening of the system.

51. Please elaborate on Section L, item b – Contractor’s plans for CCNA Collaboration certified (on‐ site). Is the government asking how the contractor plans to get CCNA Collaboration certified personnel on site if it is needed (part time, full time, or as needed)?

a. A CCNA Collaboration Certification or a Cisco Gold Partner agreement would meet the requirement. For example, during our 11.7 CUCM upgrade, the Government requested form the Gold Partner a CCNA Collaboration Certified expert to assist Government and contractor personnel in the upgrade and hardening of the system. The Government approved the quote and processed through the contractor for a 5.86% fee.

52. Please elaborate on Section L, item I – Will there be CCNA Collaboration certification not on site, or via a 3rd party Gold Partner. Is the government asking if the CCNA Collaboration certified personnel is not full time, if one will be made available off site or via a 3rd party? Or is the government expecting a full time CCNA Collaboration certified person on site and in additional

CCNA assets?

a. A CCNA Collaboration Certification or a Cisco Gold Partner agreement would meet the requirement. For example, during our 11.7 CUCM upgrade, the Government requested form the Gold Partner a CCNA Collaboration Certified expert to assist Government and contractor personnel in the upgrade and hardening of the system. The Government approved the quote and processed through the contractor for a 5.86% fee.

53. Is the BTS contractor responsible for VoSIP maintenance? If so, how many VoSIP instruments are in place at Altus? What specific VoSIP operations and maintenance responsibilities fall on the contractor?

a. Altus AFB has no VoSIP at this time. The contractor would not be required to perform this in the event we acquire VoSIP via DISA.

54. PWS 7.1 lists the historical volume of work actions for the contract. Does this list include volumes for PWS 4.4 Unique Work Orders (such as technical solutions)? If not, please provide a historical volume for unique work orders.

a. Currently unique work orders are handled as follows: The Government contacts our preferred vendor and obtains a quote. The Government reviews the quote and processes through the contractor. The Government QC the work and authorizes payment to the vendor for the goods or services. The Contractor’s responsibility in unique work orders is processing the payment and a reasonable fee is charged to the

Government by the contractor. The Current contract fee for this is 5.86%. as to technical solutions for ISP/OSP/telephony work these are part of the O&M. For example, if I need fiber to building X, the contractor should be able to provide me a technical solution complete with costing.

55. PWS Appendix 7.2 lists the equipment to be maintained by the contractor. Could you please define the model of the UCS and the software version of Call Manager? Do you foresee a need to upgrade during this 5 year contract?

a. Cisco Unified Communications Manager: current version 11.7. Yes, we anticipate at minimum one upgrade to occur within the next 5 years.

56. Attachment 8 – Section M Evaluation Factors, p. 4, Volume III, states the Government will analyze “offeror provided past performance information, past performance questionnaires received, and another other past performance information data independently obtained…” The

RFP documents contain neither past performance questionnaires, nor instructions for submission of questionnaires. Will the Government please clarify whether the offeror is to submit questionnaires for cited past performance contracts, and, if so, please provide the documents for the offerors to send to the contractual POCs?

a. The Government will take the past performance information submitted and reach out to the POCs as needed.

57. VOLUME I – PRICE: Volume I must contain a completed Attachment 2, either in Excel or PDF format. Any additional information that the vendor wishes to submit for Volume I shall not exceed a total of 10 pages. Since the Representation and Certifications are required to be included in Vol 1, would the Government allow attachments to be exempt from the page limitation?

a. The page limitation only applies to “Any additional information that the vendor wishes to submit for Volume I shall not exceed a total of 10 pages.”