Attachement 6 - No. FA449726Q0010 Questions and Answers.pdf

Questions and Answers - Dover AFB BTS RFQ No. FA449726Q0010

1. Attachment 3, Part Specification Sheet (PID) List, establishes a firm-fixed-price ordering period from May 1, 2026, to September 30, 2030. However, the current format does not appear to allow for incremental escalation of material and installation pricing in Option Years 1 through 4. This may require offerors to incorporate projected CPI and COLA increases into base-year pricing, which could result in the Government paying escalated costs earlier than necessary across the life of the contract. Will the Government revise Attachment 3 to allow incremental price adjustments at each option year renewal for material and labor, rather than requiring all projected escalation to be embedded in the base contract pricing?

There are no option years on this solicitation, price the PID list to the current market costs. Every year the costs can be evaluated for market shifts.

2. Attachment 3, Part Specification Sheet (PID) List, Line Item 0001 - Base Telecommunications Systems (BTS) Switch CM System and Line Item 0002 - Hospital Switch Funding, establishes firm-fixed-price labor rates for the period May 1, 2026, through September 30, 2030. However, the current pricing structure does not appear to allow for incremental escalation of labor rates in Option Years 1 through 4. This may require offerors to embed projected COLA-related increases into base-year pricing, which could result in the Government paying escalated labor costs earlier than necessary. Will the Government revise Attachment 3, Part Specification Sheet (PID) List, Line Items 0001 and 0002, to permit incremental labor rate adjustments at each option-year exercise rather than requiring all projected labor escalation to be included in the base period pricing?

There are no option years on this solicitation, the Federal Wage rates will update at the task order level annually when the SCA is released.

3. Paragraph 1.6.4, Cable Location, Staking and Marking, states that the Contractor shall mark up to 120,000 feet of cable and 200 GPS features per work order.

However, Appendix 1.0 identifies 120,000 feet as a yearly workload estimate under Monthly Maintenance Services. In addition, Attachment 3, Tab 2 - PIDS, includes separate GPS Data Collection Services items for cable locating/marking and related GPS feature collection. Please clarify whether the first 120,000 feet of cable locating and marking is included in the monthly maintenance requirement, or whether that effort is intended to be ordered and priced separately using the applicable Attachment 3, Tab 2 - PIDS items under System Support Line Item 0003. Also, Line Item 003 - GPS/Locate & Mark Cable Above QTY Specified in PWS 1.3.5 references Paragraph 1.3.5, which refers to Appendix 13.6. No Appendix 13.6 appears to be included in PWS. Will the Government clarify whether this reference is correct and, if not, provide the intended appendix reference?

Appendix 13.6 is Appendix 6.

4. Attachment 3, Tab 1 - System Support, Line Item 003 - Parts/Equipment/Labor, is shown as Quantity: (1), Unit: Lot, Unit Price: NSP, Total Price: NSP. At the same time, the solicitation indicates that pricing for this effort is to be developed using the manning plan, Service Contract Act wage determination, and the applicable items in Attachment 3, Tab 2 - PIDS. Please clarify whether Line Item 003 is intended to remain NSP, with all associated pricing to be provided only through the applicable Tab 2 - PIDS items and labor rates, or whether offerors are also expected to enter a separate unit price and total price for Line Item 003 in Tab 1 - System Support.

PID list has been updated.

5. If the Contractor is requested by the COR to perform the services outlined in Paragraph 1.8.3 for ROM/desktop/budgetary estimates, are those efforts included under monthly maintenance only, or is the Contractor also expected to perform the additional services described in Paragraph 1.9, Technical Solution, as part of monthly maintenance? Specifically, please clarify whether the requirements in Paragraphs 1.9.1 and 1.9.2 - including development of a detailed technical solution, completion of the standard work order sheet, identification of required efforts/items and costs, and site visits when necessary - are included in monthly maintenance, or whether those efforts will be separately issued and priced under Attachment 3, Specification Sheet PID List, Section PID U - Unassociated Labor and Materials (not in other areas of pricing table). Additionally, Paragraph 1.9.1 directs the Contractor to "See Paragraph 1.4 for implementation procedures." Since Paragraph 1.4 appears to address Preventive Maintenance Inspections (PMIs) rather than technical solution development, will the Government clarify whether this reference is correct or provide the intended paragraph reference?

Bidders shall follow PWS 1.8.3 for ROM estimates and PWS 1.9 for developing technical solutions, with work order implementation procedures governed by PWS 4.2.

6. Attachment 3, Specification Sheet (PID) List: System Support, identifies Line Item 0002 - Hospital Switch Funding and Line Item 0004 - Hospital Switch support/parts for Hospital Switch. However, the solicitation does not appear to clearly define the Hospital Switch system, identify its physical location, describe the associated equipment, or distinguish the maintenance, labor, parts, and work-order support requirements applicable to these line items from the broader Base

Telecommunications Systems (BTS) scope. Will the Government clarify the scope of the Hospital Switch requirement and identify the applicable PWS sections, equipment list references, and Attachment 3 pricing elements associated with System Support Line Items 0002 and 0004?

The PWS does not define a "Hospital Switch" system. Services to the Hospital (inside plant, outside plant, switch trunking, call tree, add/moves/changes) are integrated into the overall BTS scope.

7. Attachment 3, Tab 2 - PIDS, includes Line Items 3312 - 25 Pair, 24 AWG; 3313 - 50 Pair, 24 AWG; and 3314 - 100 Pair, 24 AWG. However, for these line items, the purchase price cell does not appear to be highlighted in yellow, which suggests the Government may not be requesting a material purchase price entry for these CLINs.

Please clarify whether offerors are required to provide a purchase/material price for Line Items 3312, 3313, and 3314, or whether only the applicable installation/labor pricing is to be entered for those items.

Please price all items listed in the PID list.

8. Attachment 3, Tab 2 - PIDS, includes Line Item 3434 - ST - ST Connectors (100 Ft) and Line Item 3464 - ST - ST Connectors (100 Ft). For both line items, the purchase price cell is highlighted in yellow and the installation cell is also highlighted in yellow. In addition, both items include the following note: Install JB includes purchase of up to 2 connectors and labor to install approximately 25-100 feet of cable. Please clarify whether, for Line Items 3434 and 3464, the Government intends offerors to provide the material purchase price only in the purchase price cell, and then include that same material amount plus the applicable installation labor in the installation cell, consistent with the note that Install JB includes purchase of up to 2 connectors and labor to install approximately 25-100 feet of cable.

Pleased price both items separately, the materials cost should not be included in the installation cost.

9. In the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, the CLIN Breakdown for CLIN 0003 - Work Order Support and CLIN 0004 - Work Order Support: Hospital Switch support/parts for Hospital Switch states in the Price column: “Pricing will be based on the PID List and Manning Plan based on Federal Wage Rates (Service Contract Act).” Please clarify whether, for CLINs 0003 and 0004, offerors are to enter only their fully burdened/loaded labor cost in the CLIN Price column based on the Manning Plan, or whether offerors are to enter a combined amount consisting of the fully burdened labor cost plus the applicable cumulative value of the PID List material, installation, removal, and relocation. Alternatively, please clarify whether the PID List will be evaluated separately from the CLIN Price column entries for CLINs 0003 and 0004?

Pricing for CLIN 003 and 0004 will not need to be listed on the COMBO. The pricing for CLINS 0003 and 0004 will use the PID List pricing and the Manning Plan pricing based from the Federal Wage Rate.

10. Would the Government provide an allowance for price increments/decrements with the 5 years of the contract and not just a full 60 months of pricing without economic adjustments?

Every year the costs can be evaluated for market shifts.

11. Will their be allowances for economic price adjustments?

Every year the costs can be evaluated for market shifts.

12. Please confirm all products priced and provided must meet Trade Agreement Act (TAA) and Buy American Act (BAA) compliance.

Yes.

13. How many special projects are anticipated?

Between 4-8 annually dependent on mission requirements

14. Statement "Any orders below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold the contracting officer (CO) may use Government-wide Purchase Card for Payment. " Would the Government please acknowledge that credit card fees will be paid separately for any transactions using a purchase card?

No, the Government will not be paying any credit card fees.

15. If the Government will not allow for credit card fees to be paid separately, how will contractor be reimbursed by the Government when using a purchase card?

They will not be reimbursed.

16. Can the government confirm that all existing underground cables have metallic shielding or tracer wire to assist with locating cabling for GPS recording and to complete dig permit process?

No, we are unable to confirm this.

17. Please confirm per Attachment C Provisions and Clauses that Executive Order 13706 is not applicable (Note: EO13706 Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors, applies to all contracts subject to the Service Contract Act for which the contract is awarded (and any solicitation was issued) on or after January 1, 2017).

52.222-62 is applicable.

18. States “See Appendix 13.1 for workload estimates”. Would the Government please provide this Appendix since there is only Appendix 1.0 through 7.0?

Appendix 13.1 is Appendix 1.

19. Are any currently Government Owned Avaya equipment considered End-of-Life?

Yes.

20. If any Government Owned equipment considered End-of-Life and cannot be replaced, will the Government accepted refurbished replacements?

No, all equipment must be new.

21. Is the Voice Switching System (VSS) contract with Tyto Athene, LLC (Tyto) still active?

Yes

22. Does the VSS contract only apply to the Hospital system?

It covers depot level support for Nortel telephone switches and the Call Manager, not limited to a hospital system.

23. Have the Avaya LSC, IX voicemail suite, Sonus SBCs, and all underlying hypervisor and server operating systems been upgraded and patched to the latest versions?

No, given some systems are end-of-life.

24. What Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and office space will the Government provide for the on-site contractors (i.e., desk, PCs, phones, monitors, printers, etc.)?

You will have your own office space with all equipment.

25. Is the Offeror required to submit Reps and Certs if they are already in SAM.gov?

No.

26. Will the Government please provide an SF30 Form for the Offeror to complete.

The contractor must follow the instructions to offerors listed in the Combo.

27. If the Offeror does "not" have any exceptions to the solicitation terms and conditions, do they still have to state it in a separate document?

No.

28. There are a number of PWS Sections in this table that do not exist. Would the Government please revise Performance Objectives with correction PWS sections?

Example: Perform PMI tests of spare conductors is in 1.4.2, not 1.3.3.2. Update work center records is in 2.0, not 1.3.12 & 1.3.13. There is no Section 1.3.3.2, and 1.3.12 and 1.3.13.

Service Summary Table has been revised.

29. PWS Section 1.2.1 states the base requires a minimum of 7 positions (2 operators, 4 field technicians, 1 manager). PWS Section 1.2.5 lists the "On-Site Certified Call Manager Technician" as Key Personnel. Are all 7 required personnel considered "Key Personnel," or does the Key Personnel designation apply strictly to the On-Site Contract Manager?

All 7 personnel are key personnel.

30. The PWS states regarding the VMWARE and Windows Server OS environments that "The Government must provide proof of compliance at the time of award" concerning OEM patches, STIGs, and IA controls. Can the Government confirm the current STIG compliance percentage of these environments?

The current compliance posture will be provided to the successful offeror upon award.

Bidders should propose solutions that meet all STIG requirements as stated.

31. PWS Section 1.2.6 requires the contractor to leverage the USAF Cyber Transport Systems (CTS) Contract for break-fix actions, and Section 6.0 notes that Voice Switching System (VSS) depot-level support is managed through Tyto Athene. In the event of an ambiguous system failure, who acts as the final technical authority to determine whether the fault lies with the local contractor's O&M scope or the depot-level Tyto Athene scope?

Contracted Call Manager with concurrence of the COR.

32. The PWS states that "Work area and storage area is provided but is limited". Can the Government provide the approximate square footage of the provided work and storage areas?

Yes, the approximate square footage of the storage area is 6000 sq ft and the work area is 1860 sq ft.

33. The PWS states the contractor shall mark "up to 120,000 feet of cable and 200 GPS features... per work order". Is 120,000 feet the expected annual historical average for the entire base, or is the Government anticipating individual work orders of this massive size?

This is the annual historic average.

34. The solicitation states that the Total Evaluated Price (TEP) will include "all parts on the Specification (PID) LIST". For the TEP calculation, will the Government be evaluating the simple sum of the single unit prices on the PID List, or will an updated PID list be provided that includes "estimated quantities" for each part to ensure a realistic evaluation of total cost?

Simple sum of the single unit prices on the PID List.

35. The solicitation requires the Manning Plan to be priced based on Federal Wage Rates (Service Contract Act), and the ordering period spans 60 months from May 2026 through September 2030. Will the resulting contract include an Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clause (such as FAR 52.222-43) to accommodate future, mandated Department of Labor wage increases, or should quoters build estimated, multi-year wage escalations into their baseline Manning Plan rates?

Please see question 1.

36. The description for CLIN 0003 states it covers "GPS/Locate & Mark Cable Above Qty specified in PWS 1.3.5". However, the actual PWS document covers Cable Location and GPS under paragraphs 1.6.4 and 1.6.5. Can the Government confirm which specific PWS paragraph (and its associated baseline quantity limits) applies before the additional CLIN 0003 pricing is activated?

CLIN 0003 is for work order support and will be priced at the work order level.

37. The solicitation states the Ordering Period is "01 May 2026-30 Sept 2030". This duration equals 53 months (4 years and 5 months). However, the quantity for CLIN 0001 (BTS Switch Monthly Maintenance) and CLIN 0002 (Hospital Switch Monthly Maintenance) is listed as "60 MO". Can the Government please clarify if the contract is intended to be a 60-month (5-year) ordering period ending April 30, 2031, or if Quoters should adjust the CLIN quantities to 53 months to match the stated dates?

Please quote for the entirety of the 60 months, the ordering period has been updated to reflect this.

38. PWS 8.9 establishes a transition/mobilization period of "up to 30 days beginning from contract start date". Since the Ordering Period begins on May 1, 2026, will the 30-day transition period occur prior to this date (e.g., April 1 - April 30)?

Furthermore, there is no dedicated CLIN for Transition-In costs; should quoters amortize their transition and mobilization costs across CLIN 0001 Monthly Maintenance?

No, the transition period will start on 1 May.

39. PWS 4.8 states that "abandoned cabling will be removed from above ceilings" and "All cabling removed will be disposed of by the contractor". Does this requirement apply strictly to localized cable removals associated with routine individual MAC (Move, Add, Change) work orders, or will major, facility-wide "cable mining" efforts be negotiated separately as Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Special Projects under PWS 4.5?

Localized cable removals are associated with routine individual MAC.

40. The PWS notes that technicians must use high-volume water pumps to drain accumulated water from manholes. Additionally, PWS 17.0 states the contractor must coordinate with the 436 CES/CEAN prior to disposing of Hazardous or Special Waste. If pumped manhole water is tested and deemed contaminated/hazardous, is the contractor financially responsible for the specialized hauling and disposal fees, or is the contractor only responsible for the coordination while the Government bears the actual disposal cost?

The contractor is financially responsible for waste it generates. The Government is financially responsible for pre-existing hazardous conditions.

41. PWS 11.1 states that all requests for contractor badges will be submitted through the Base Contracting Squadron Office or base POC, who will then fill out the ORM for Pass and Registration. In an operational model where the prime contractor holds the contract but field execution is managed by a dedicated subcontractor entity, does the prime contractor act as the direct sponsor for the subcontractor's badges, or must the 436th Contracting Squadron independently process the ORMs for the subcontractor personnel?

All names for Prime and Subcontractors will need to be submitted to 436th Contracting Squadron.

42. PWS 8.8 identifies specific O&M services as mission-essential during a crisis.

However, PWS 12.5 states that during Higher FPCONs (Charlie and Delta), access by non-essential contract operations will be suspended. Will the Key Personnel and field technicians assigned to this contract be issued specific, pre-approved "Mission Essential" credentials on their base badges to bypass the FPCON Charlie/Delta suspensions, or will they need to wait at the gate for physical escorts during a crisis?

The contractor will be given access as deemed necessary by the Government.

43. PWS 1.6.3.4 dictates that remote monitoring must not use a continuous direct line to the switching system for security reasons. To meet the strict Emergency (2-hour) and Priority (6-hour) response times, does the Government provide a compliant, secure remote access method (such as an AFNet VPN or equivalent gateway) for the contractor to perform off-site diagnostics, or must all diagnostic actions be performed physically on-site?

There is no existing remote access at this time.

44. PWS 1.2.4 requires the contractor to "process/sign off on Digging Permits that are submitted by others for the Communications portion of the permit". Is there a mandated Service Level Agreement (SLA) or turnaround time for the contractor to review and sign off on these third-party permits, and is the administrative labor for reviewing third-party work billable under CLIN 0003 Work Order Support, or must it be absorbed into CLIN 0001 Monthly Maintenance?

48 Hrs. to respond to the dig permit.

45. PWS 6.0 states the Government has ample spares, and PWS 1.2.6 directs the contractor to attempt restoration with on-hand spares or leverage the CTS contract.

If a critical component fails, the Government spare inventory is depleted, and the CTS contract cannot provide the part within the required Emergency (2-hour) or Priority (6-hour) response times, is the contractor authorized to procure the part commercially and bill it against CLIN 0003/0004 Work Order Support, or must the contractor wait for Government procurement (even if it breaches the AQL)?

The Government is understanding of limitations in the supply chain. However, the contractor is expected to maintain a reasonable bench stock of required equipment.

46. PWS 4.5 notes that Special Projects are Firm Fixed Price (FFP) negotiated requirements and the PWS index lists Davis Bacon Act compliance. For Special Projects requiring Davis-Bacon prevailing wages, will the Government require electronic certified payroll submissions (e.g., via LCPtracker or similar labor compliance platforms), and if so, is the administrative cost of this software an allowable direct cost to be factored into the FFP proposal?

Davis Bacon Act doesn’t apply to this solicitation.

47. PWS Section 6.0 provides a table of available Nortel/Avaya spares. Has the Government verified that all listed spares are currently fully functional and flashed with the correct firmware, or will the incoming contractor be required to test, inventory, and baseline the viability of this spare equipment during the 30-day transition period?

The inbound and outbound contractor will be responsible for testing the equipment during the transition period.

48. Which factors in the proposal package will be evaluated using the Acceptable/Unacceptable criteria versus best value?

All of the factors are Acceptable/Unacceptable and will be utilized to determine best value.

49. What is the required validation period for the quote?

90 Days.

50. How does the Offeror need to submit their proposal response?

Please see the instructions to offeror in the COMBO.

51. Is there a page limit for the Technical Volume?

No.

52. What is the required font and font size for the volumes?

There isn’t a required font size.

53. What is the required font and font size for tables and graphics?

There isn’t one.

54. What are the margin requirements for the proposal submission?

There isn’t one.

55. How many key personnel resumes are required?

The only documentation required is proof of certification.

56. The key personnel is referenced using the following titles: Program Manager, Technicians, On-Site Contract Manager, On-Site Certified Call Manager Technician, BTS Manager. Please clarify the required key personnel position(s) as they are inconsistently referenced throughout the solicitation and PWS.

The required key personnel are: 1 On-Site Contract Manager, 2 On-Site Certified Call Manager Technicians, and 4 On-Site Technicians.

57. Are there any changes in scope between the current incumbent work and the new

PWS?

No.

58. Please provide Appendix 13.2 and 13.6.

Appendix 13.2 is Appendix 2 and Appendix 13.6 is Appendix 6.

59. Do incumbent personnel currently meet the qualifications and requirements of this task order?

This isn’t relevant.

60. This section refers to PWS 1.3.12.1 which is not in the PWS, please correct.

See PWS 2.1.

61. This section refers to PWS 1.4 which appears to be incorrect, please correct.

See PWS 4.1.

62. What trouble ticket system is the Government currently using?

CIPS – Cyberspace Infrastructure Provisioning system

63. Are there other contractors that perform the Commander Net and Land Mobile Radio (LMR) services?

Yes

64. This section refers to PWS 1.3.4.1 which is not in the PWS, please correct.

Please see updated PWS.

65. This section refers to PWS 1.3.5 which appears to be incorrect, please correct.

Please see updated PWS.

66. Please provide Appendix 13.8.

Please see updated PWS.

67. Please provide Appendix 13.5

68. This section refers to PWS 1.3.13.3 which is not in the PWS, please correct.

69. This section refers to PWS 1.4 which appears to be incorrect, please correct.

70. Please provide Appendix 13.1.

71. Section refers to paragraph 1.3.4.3 for implementation guidance but this paragraph isn't in the PWS. Please provide the correct PWS reference.

72. Paragraph refers to PWS 1.3.3.3-1.3.3.5 in the PWS but these references do not exist. Please correct with accurate PWS references.

73. Section refers to paragraph 1.3.12.6 in this PWS but this reference does not exist.

Please correct with accurate PWS reference.

74. How many special projects are anticipated?

4-8 Special projects

75. Service Delivery Summary: Perform PMI tests of spare conductors refers to PWS

1.3.3.2. Please correct PWS reference with 1.4.2.

76. Service Delivery Summary: Respond to all system and service outages refers to PWS 1.3.4.3.1-1.3.5.3.3. Please correct PWS references to 1.6.3-1.6.3.3.

77. Service Delivery Summary: Provide location, staking, and marking services refers to PWS 1.3.5. Please correct PWS reference to 1.6.4 as PWS 1.3.5 is not about location, staking, and marking services

78. Service Delivery Summary: Perform disk, cartridge, or tape backup refers to PWS

1.3.1.1 but this paragraph isn't in the PWS. Please correct PWS reference to 1.3.2

79. Service Delivery Summary: Review program/project drawings and provide comments; attend vicinity meetings refers to PWS 1.3.10.3 but this paragraph isn't in the PWS. Please correct PWS reference to 1.8.

80. Service Delivery Summary: Update work center records refers to PWS 1.3.12 &

1.3.13 but these paragraphs are not in the PWS. Please correct the PWS references.

81. Service Delivery Summary: Comply with established timeframe for completion of work orders refers to PWS 1.4.1.3.1-1.4.1.3.3 but these paragraphs are not in the PWS. Please correct the PWS references.

82. Service Delivery Summary: Update the CVC by recording manhole location and communication feature information refers to PWS 1.3.3.3.3 but this paragraph is not in the PWS. Please correct the PWS reference.

83. Service Delivery Summary: Update the CVC by recording descriptive information for the terminals refers to PWS 1.3.3.4 but this paragraph is not in the PWS. Please correct the PWS reference.

84. Service Delivery Summary: Update the CVC by recording descriptive information for Distribution Pedestal Terminals refers to PWS 1.3.3.5 but this paragraph is not in the PWS. Please correct the PWS reference to 1.5.8.

85. Service Delivery Summary: Accurately locate communication feature refers to PWS

1.3.5.1 but this paragraph is not in the PWS. Please correct the PWS reference.

86. Please provide Appendix 13.4.

87. Can the Government clarify what specific elements (toolsets, automation, OEM engagement, proactive engineering, reporting detail) it considers most discriminating when evaluating Technical Approach narratives?

Comprehensive approach that demonstrates capability to meet all requirements in the PWS.

88. Will the Government provide historical outage metrics (planned vs unplanned, root causes, annual frequency) and any mission-specific no-fail windows to inform resiliency and staffing design?

No, this is CUI.

89. Does the Government have a preferred on-site/remote staffing construct (e.g., duty-hour on-base presence + on-call after-hours), or are offerors free to propose any model meeting response and uptime SLAs?

The Government wants the offerors to propose their own model. Preference for 0730-1630 to align with local duty hours.

90. Will the Government define minimum expectations for incumbent cooperation and Government-furnished artifacts (CAIRS/CVC exports, as-builts, inventories) to inform realistic transition-in plans?

The incumbent will provide everything up to proprietary information.

91. Does the Government intend to evaluate staffing plans against a Government-developed notional staffing model, and if so, will that baseline be shared to promote consistency?

No.

92. Are the seven positions (2 ops, 4 techs, 1 manager) in paragraph 1.2.5 a minimum required FTE baseline, or may offerors propose different mix/numbers if all performance and OSHA requirements are met?

Yes, as long as PWS objectives/ work orders are being met.

93. Are there preferred quality frameworks (ISO 9001, ITIL, etc.) or specific KPIs/dashboards the Government would like contractors to adopt in their Quality Control Plans?

EIA/TIA

94. Can the Government provide planning assumptions for crisis scenarios (base operating status, access restrictions, required on-site presence) to inform realistic continuity of operations plans?

No.

95. How will repeated near-threshold performance (frequent CARs but within limits) be reflected in CPAR ratings and affect option-year exercise decisions?

Poor performance will be reflected in CPAR ratings, there are no option years.

96. Will the Government specify a standard recurring reporting schedule and preferred formats for CAIRS, CVC, traffic, and capacity reports so offerors can plan automation and LOE?

Bidders must be capable of providing all reports listed in the PWS upon request from the COR.

97. Beyond the workload estimates in Appendix 1.0, can the Government provide 3-5 years of historical data on annual ROM, survey, and special-project work-order counts?

Bidders shall use the workload estimates provided in Appendix 1.0 for proposal development.

98. Will the Government provide examples or decision criteria to distinguish between

CLIN 0003/0004 work vs separate special projects to ensure consistent pricing across offerors?

Please see PWS for this information.

99. Can the Government define what it considers similar in size, scope, and complexity (e.g., subscriber counts, multi-site, 24/7 ops, Avaya/hybrid SIP, Federal vs commercial)?

No, please see PWS for size, scope, and complexity.

100. How will the Government define a significant subcontractor for PP purposes (% of value, mission-critical functions), and is there a minimum threshold?

This is a small business set-aside.

101. Are there specific past CPAR ratings, D&B metrics, or external risk indicators that will automatically trigger performance risk concerns?

Please see the COMBO to see how past performance will be evaluated.

102. Will the Government perform cost realism or unreasonably low price analysis on labor rates and PID prices beyond checking for unbalanced pricing?

The Government will use any means necessary to check for unbalanced pricing.

103. Can the Government provide estimated annual $ or % of total effort expected under CLINs 0001/0002 (recurring) vs CLINs 0003/0004 (work orders) to support cost allocation strategies?

No.

104. Will the Government provide wage rate escalation assumptions or GDP-PI projections for the option years, or must offerors project per FAR 49.201?

There are no option years.

105. Beyond SCA minimums, should offerors cost for redundancy, surge capacity, training overhead, and other risk mitigation to achieve stated uptime and response SLAs?

The Government has no position.

106. Which labor categories under the PWS will routinely qualify for the 4% or 8% hazardous pay differentials, and what percentage of annual hours should offerors estimate?

None of the positions are deemed to be hazardous.

107. Can the Government estimate annual hours per person for Government-mandated training (security, OPSEC, AT/FP, EMS, etc.) so offerors can appropriately cost non-productive but billable time?

Approximately 1 hr. annually.

108. Can the Government please provide this Appendix 13 (mentioned 26 times)?

Appendix 13 was retitled and will be corrected in the PWS.

109. Does the Government intend that contractors include the costs of all 7 FTE completely in CLINS x0001 and x0002?

Yes.

110. CLIN x0003 and x0004 both state NSP (not separately priced) in the UNIT PRICE & TOTAL PRICE columns, which implies that contractors must have included the costs of labor and materials for these CLINS x0003 and x0004 in the above CLINS x0001 and x0002 as well. To be certain, nothing required in CLINs x0001 – x0004 include costs for any work or support required PWS 4.0 Switchboard Operations, or 4.1 – 4.7 (work orders and other related tasks), and all such requirements found in PWS 4.X will be funded solely in the PIDs Attachment 3, correct?

PWS 4.1-4.7 tasks are funded via PIDs. PWS 4.0 Switchboard Operations is a routine service and must be included in your base CLIN pricing.

111. In the Total Evaluated Price:, it states “Only the total evaluated price (TEP) submitted in the quote will be evaluated; this includes the total proposed price for CLINS 0001 and 0002 and all parts on the Specification (PID) LIST as well as Federally mandated wages for position stated in the Manning Plan.” How will the Government evaluate “all parts on the Specification (PID) LIST”?

Each item on the PID list will be evaluated as the cost of a single item. All items’ prices will then be added together for the total price.

112. The only PARTS listed on the PID LIST are under Column E, header titled:

“PURCHASE PRICE A”. Will the Government use a formula such at =SUM(E6:E278) on Attachment 3, spreadsheet TAB titled “PIDS” to calculation the total “ALL PARTS” referenced in the TEP above? This information is necessary for contractors to be able to understand and model the TEP for competitive submission.

Each item on the PID list will be evaluated as the cost of a single item. All items’ prices will then be added together for the total price.

113. Historically, over the last 5 years, the PIDs have had minimal use. The PID utilization for all 5 years is relatively small: Median = $102,355/yr, and the Average (if the Year 3/Option period 2 is removed as an outlier) the Mean of the other four years = $102,818.50/yr. Assume at least half of that is for materials, then there is expected labor only for a part-time personnel (less than 1 FTE) to support ALL PID requirements historically. This essentially means that all 7 FTEs must be included in the CLIN x0001 and x0002. Would the Government please validate the factual nature of this question and correct any assumption errors?

No.

114. Does the government allow the on-site contract manager to also fulfill one of the two telephone switch operator roles if they meet all required certifications?

No.

115. Do the four field technicians require the DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification, or is this requirement limited to personnel working directly with the Avaya CM8?

No, they do not. The two call managers need Avaya CM10 (PWS Revised).

116. Are there specific years of experience requirements for the key personnel beyond the certifications listed in the PWS?

No.

117. Will the government provide a definition for Federally Authorized Avaya Partner to ensure all bidders are evaluated on the same standard?

Use open source to define Federally Authorized Avaya Partner.

118. Is the contractor required to have a specific number of personnel with active flightline driving privileges at the start of the contract?

No, must obtain within a reasonable time (during transition period).

119. Are there any specific security clearance levels, such as Secret or Top Secret, required for the seven on-site positions, or is a favorable Criminal Background Investigation sufficient?

No.

120. Can the contractor utilize remote technical support from a home office for complex Avaya or Sonus troubleshooting, provided the on-site response times are met?

See answer above.

121. Will the government allow for the substitution of key personnel during the transition-in period if a proposed candidate becomes unavailable?

Yes.

122. Are the two training seats at Sheppard AFB available for both the prime contractor and any significant subcontractors?

The seats would be for the two Call Managers.

123. Is there a requirement for a dedicated Quality Control Manager, or can this role be performed by the Site Manager?

Can be performed by the site manager.

124. What is the current software version for the Avaya CM8 system?

The current version of the CM10 is v10.2.

125. What are the specific model numbers for the media gateways currently in use?

We cannot provide this information.

126. Is the Avaya Voice Portal environment running on a specific version of VMWare?

Information is proprietary to current contract.

127. Which Linux distribution and version are currently associated with the LSC environment?

128. Which version of Windows Server is currently used for the IX voicemail applications?

129. Will the government provide the most recent Joint Interoperability Test Command configuration documentation to the winning bidder upon award?

Yes.

130. Does the government currently have a valid Avaya Single Sign On account that will be transitioned to the new contractor?

The successful offeror will be responsible for establishing the necessary account access to perform the PWS requirements.

131. Are the Sonus Session Border Controllers currently under a separate manufacturer maintenance agreement?

Assume all systems listed in the PWS are to be maintained by the contractor unless explicitly covered by the VSS contract in Section 6.0.

132. Does the government or the incumbent contractor currently hold the administrative credentials for the hypervisors?

Administrative credentials will be provided to the successful offeror upon award.

133. Will the government provide a list of all current Military Unique Deployment Guide standards required for the Dover enclave?

Yes

134. Regarding the high volume water pumps for manholes, is the contractor expected to furnish these, or are they available for use at the site?

Contractor must supply the pumps.

135. What are the specific model requirements for the Global Positioning System equipment needed to achieve the 18 inch horizontal accuracy?

The Contractor is responsible for this information.

136. Are any of the 250 manholes classified as Permit Required Confined Spaces that require specialized atmospheric testing equipment?

Bidders must comply with all OSHA regulations for Permit-Required Confined Spaces as required by PWS 1.2.1.

137. Does the government provide the manhole lid lifting tools mentioned in the PWS?

Contractor supplied.

138. For the 120,000 feet of cable marking requirement, does the government provide the marking paint and flags?

No.

139. Is the CVC database currently populated with 100 percent of the base's communication features, or is there a backlog of data entry required?

Bidders should assume that data entry and updates will be required per PWS Section 2.4.

140. Will the government provide the coordinate and projection system data for the

GeoBase Common Installation Picture upon contract start?

Yes.

141. Are there known areas of the Outside Plant that contain hazardous materials, such as asbestos conduits?

No asbestos, however, mold does exist.

142. For the medical paging system in building 300, is the contractor responsible for the individual ceiling speakers or only the distribution amplifiers?

No.

143. Does the 10 day completion window for routine work orders include the time required for Civil Engineering to process Digging Permits?

No.

144. How many user accounts for the Cyberspace Infrastructure Planning System will the government provide to the contractor?

As many as needed.

145. Is the CAIRS.net Telecommunications Management System hosted locally at Dover AFB or at a remote data center?

This information is not required for quoting. The contractor will be granted access to perform the required duties.

146. Will the contractor be provided with a government-furnished workstation to access the Base LAN and Remedy systems?

Yes.

147. Does the government currently have an approved Remote Monitoring solution for the switch, or must the contractor propose and implement a new one?

No, see answer above.

148. Which version of SQL is used for the Callware server application listed in the equipment inventory?

This information is not required for quoting. The contractor will be granted access to perform the required duties.

149. Is the Lot for Work Order Support in CLIN 0003 a Firm Fixed Price amount or a Not to Exceed ceiling for the 60 month period?

It is Firm Fixed Price at work order execution.

150. How should the contractor price the Emergency response for after-hours calls if the Manning Plan is based on normal duty hours?

As per the PWS, the contractor should be able to respond to calls after hours.

151. Will the government provide a Restoration Priority List during the solicitation phase to help bidders assess risk?

No.

152. Does the Total Evaluated Price include the potential for Special Projects that are not yet defined?

No.

153. How many base exercises typically occur per year that might interrupt normal contractor operations?

CUI.

154. Will the government provide a dedicated vehicle for on-base transport of technicians and heavy tools?

Contractors are responsible for their vehicles.

155. Is the limited storage area provided sufficient for storing large cable reels and 500 plus telephone sets?

Yes.

156. Will the incumbent contractor be required to provide a Phase-Out briefing to the new contractor during the 30-day transition?

Yes.

157. Will the government provide Common Access Cards for all contractor personnel within the first 7 days of the transition period?

Cannot guarantee 7 days.

158. Is the Voice Protection System currently managed by the MAJCOM NOSC, or is the on-site contractor responsible for configuration changes?

Per PWS 1.6.8, the contractor is responsible for local maintenance as directed by the

COR.

159. Who is responsible for the cost of freight when shipping defective parts to the AFNet Response Center for repair?

Contractor.

160. Does the government provide the gray wiring and cross-connect wiring required for the Main Distribution Frame?

No.

161. What is the current accuracy percentage of the existing CAIRS records?

The contractor is responsible for maintaining 90% accuracy as stated in PWS 3.0.

162. Are the 21 Gateways listed in the equipment approximation all located within the same facility?

No.

163. Will the government provide the AF Logistics Support Spares Records to the contractor on day one of the contract?

We will do our best to provide this information in a timely manner.

164. Although the solicitation states that a site visit will not be conducted, will the Government provide any of the following to assist offerors in developing accurate staffing and pricing?

• Logical drawings, floor plans, or telecom room layouts

• Current cable routes, outside plant (OSP) maps, or demarcation locations

• Photographs or diagrams of BTS switch rooms and associated infrastructure

No, CUI.

165. Section 4 states the acquisition is set aside for HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB.

Please confirm:

• Is this a multiple-award socioeconomic set-aside where offerors qualifying under any one of the listed categories HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB are eligible?

• Or does the Government intend to make award based on a priority order among

HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB concerns?

The contractor must be one of the three set-asides listed.

166. If subcontracting is proposed, are there any limitations on subcontracting percentages beyond those required by FAR 52.219-14 for the applicable socioeconomic category?

There is no limitation on the percentage.

167. Please confirm whether CLINs 0001 and 0002 (monthly maintenance) are intended to be fully fixed-price inclusive of all preventive maintenance labor, travel, and routine materials, excluding only work order–driven tasks under CLINs 0003 and 0004.

Yes.

168. For work orders under CLINs 0003 and 0004:

• Will the Government issue individual task authorizations, or may work be initiated via COR direction?

Work order initiated by the CO.

169. Regarding response times in the PWS Performance Summary:

• Are response times measured from notification to on-site arrival, or notification to troubleshooting commencement (including remote response)?

Notification to on-site arrival.

• Are response times 24x7, or only during defined core hours except for emergencies?

Only during defined core hours except for emergencies.

170. We respectfully also ask if the Government will provide an opportunity to answer these questions, to reconsider a site-walk or provide an extension to the April 8th deadline?

171. Per PIDs 4080, 4081, 4082: the 96xx and 94xx series phones are End of Sale, does the Government require refurbished or new J100 series phones?

New.

172. Per PID 4083: For the B199, does the Government require the price with or without mic?

Bid the base unit, without optional microphone attachments.

173. Per PID 4123: For the Server (Dell) R630, there are multiple models; which model/configuration does the Government require, e.g. there are four in the Ax series?

Bid the Server (Dell) R630 base model. Configurations are CUI.

174. Per PID 4124: Please define “Main Brain MB 450”? What specific model/configuration/part number(s) is the Government requesting?

The PID list has been updated.

175. Per PID 4125: For Gateway G450 MP160, does the Government require the gateway with the built in MP160 or does it include the separate DSP MP160 daughterboard that can be added to a G450?

Bid the base G450 chassis. Any required daughterboards are considered separate components. Configurations are CUI.

176. Per PID 4123 labor for installation, would the Government please define the applications that are to be loaded on the server, for more accurate pricing?