Atch 5 DWDM Expansion Q and A 20220906.pdf

Solicitation FA461022R0014 DWDM Expansion

1. Will the government consider using a Best Value Trade Off methodology for the basis for award?

In accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3), offers will be evaluated in an efficient and minimally burdensome fashion. Offers will be evaluated in accordance with Addendum 52.212-2 Evaluation Factors for Award from the solicitation and will consider Price, Technical and Schedule for the offer that represents the Best Value to the Government.

2. When the Government states: “Interchanges: The Government may conduct Interchanges with one, some, none, or all vendors at its discretion.” By vendors, does the government mean solely prime offerors, or the offeror’s suppliers and subcontractors?

By vendors the Government means interested parties who submit a proposal for evaluation for the requirement.

3. The Government states – The Contractor shall be Ciena 3926, 5142, 6500 certified and have a minimum of five (5) years verifiable experience successfully installing and working with network systems. Installers must have certification to ensure warranty coverage continues for existing and newly installed DWDM/OTN components. To satisfy this requirement, is it acceptable for a prime contractor’s suppliers and/or subcontractors to hold these specific certifications/levels of experience?

Yes, the contractor’s subcontractors or suppliers, those individuals that will design and implement the network upgrades, may hold these specific certifications/levels of experience.

4. These CLINs are arranged in groups per set of buildings, with the first CLIN described as “Labor, Installation, Configuration, Travel, Per Diem” and the second CLIN described as “Testing and As-builts”. Both types of CLINs reference Attachment 1 SOW with any further detail. To support accurate CLIN pricing, we request the Government state which elements of the SOW are part of “Labor, Installation, Configuration, Travel, Per Diem”, and which elements of the SOW are part of “Testing and As-builts”.

Testing and as-builts refers to sections 9 and 11, Testing and Test Results, and As-Built Documentation/Deliverables, respectively.

5. In the solicitation, FA461022R0014, descriptions for CLINs 0025-0028. These four CLINs do not specify which buildings are linked to their scope. We request the Government specify which buildings are linked to these 4 CLINs.

CLINs 0025-0028 refer to the buildings in the Statement of Work as they correlate to the worksheet of Attachment 4 Table 1.

6. In the solicitation, FA461022R0014, descriptions for CLINs 0008, 0016, 0024 and 0028.

These CLINs are described as “Materials”, but there are also multiple “Labor, Installation, Configuration, Travel, Per Diem” CLINs that include, in their descriptions, equipment and other items. Should data communication and related products being supplied for all buildings be included in the “Materials” CLINs’ prices, or should they be distributed across the corresponding “Labor, Installation, Configuration, Travel, Per Diem” CLINs, or does the government have another distribution in mind?

The Materials CLINs are intended for the hardware and software that will be used by Contractor team members to implement the DWDM Expansion. Please review the Statement of Work to quote accurate materials for each CLIN.

7. The section states that “New equipment shall come with a minimum 1-year full warranty”, but later says that “The entire DWDM/OTN configuration shall have 3-year warranty”. It appears that new equipment would be part of the DWDM/OTN configuration and thus have a 3-year warranty required. Is there any new equipment that the Government considers to be not part of the entire DWDM configuration (and, thus, all equipment supplied must hold a 3-year warranty)?

No, there is no new equipment that the Government considers to be not part of the entire DWDM Expansion configuration.

In the two sentences of the paragraph that is section 12, 3-year warranty should have referred to the minimum 1-year warranty on the new equipment.

8. What is the Government’s milestone for the start of the one year or three year warranty?

Amendment 1 removes language regarding a three year warranty. The minimum one year warranty should start from the date of Government acceptance of the system after testing and accreditation.

9. It is suggested that the Government consider using NAICS code 334210 for data communication equipment as more appropriate for the requirement, instead of the services code 541519.

Market Research has indicated that this effort should be classified as a service requirement.

NAICS 334210 is more closely aligned with a product requirement. Due to the significant installation and technical services required the Contracting Officer determined that NAICS 541519 best describes the work to be performed under this requirement.

10. Is the required Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), 1) to be created in MS Project? and 2) need to conform to a USAF format/standard?

Yes, the IMS should be in MS Project.

No, the IMS need not conform to a USAF format/standard.

11. Will the government remain open to additional questions after the site survey?

Questions are due no later than 9 September 2022 at 9:00 A.M. PST.