DoD USAF SONET Part 2B Question Submission_Govt Response.pdf

No. Solicitation Section Paragraph Page Number Offeror's Question Response

1 Section 6: Government-Furnished Items 1 6

Section 6.0.1 states the Government will furnish optical fibers, copper cabling, splice enclosures and DSX patch panels in support of the migration. 1) In the event that damage occurs, by no fault of either the Government nor the offeror, who will be responsible to purchase such items?

2) In the event that the supply of the Government Furnishes Items above is exhausted due to certain circuits needing to remain intact until late in the migration plan, thus "stranding" DSX1 patch panels and T1 wiring/Amphenol connectors, who will be responsible to purchase these items?

1) The Government will be responsible for resolving damage that occurs by no fault of either the Government nor the offeror.

2) This paragraph refers to existing SONET components that are to be migrated from. Those circuits remain in place as connected until migrated. No related additional materials will be required.

2 Section 6: Government-Furnished Items 2 7

Section 6.0.2 states the Government will furnish the Ciena DWDM equipment that is already installed and configured as part of the baseline network to be used to terminate the migrated circuits.

1) In the event that unforeseen additional Ciena DWDM equipment is needed due to the nature of the migration and its' inherent room for error and oversights, who will be responsible to purchase such items?

The Government will be responsible for unforseen/additionally-required equipment.

Section 3: Requirements Section 6: Government-Furnished Items Section 15: List of Materials

3.3, 6.0.1,6.0.2 3, 6, 12 Can the Government characterize how many DS1, DS3, and other types of circuits by type are included in the 500 circuits or is that to be determined during performance?

To be determined during performance. The majority are DS1.

Section 3: Requirements Section 15: List of Materials

3.3, 3.5, 15 3,4,12, 13 Please confirm that required additional equipment includes patch panels, miscellaneous Ciena equipment, and associated items.

Confirmed

Section 2: Objectives Section 3: Recommendations

2,3.3., 3.4, 3.6 3,4 The per circuit pricing leads to a single productized offer for that pricing item independent of circuit type. Can the Government confirm this assumption?

Because of circuit type being "determine during performance," confirmed.

6 Section 6: Government-Furnished Items 1 6

Section 6.0.1 states the Government will furnish optical fibers, copper cabling, splice enclosures and DSX patch panels in support of the migration. 1) In the event that damage occurs, by no fault of either the Government nor the offeror, who will be responsible to purchase such items?

2) In the event that the supply of the Government Furnishes Items above is exhausted due to certain circuits needing to remain intact until late in the migration plan, thus "stranding" DSX1 patch panels and T1 wiring/Amphenol connectors, who will be responsible to purchase these items?

See Response to No. 1, above.

7 Section 6: Government-Furnished Items 2 7

Section 6.0.2 states the Government will furnish the Ciena DWDM equipment that is already installed and configured as part of the baseline network to be used to terminate the migrated circuits.

1) In the event that unforeseen additional Ciena DWDM equipment is needed due to the nature of the migration and its' inherent room for error and oversights, who will be responsible to purchase such items?

See Response to No. 2, above.

Section 3: Requirements Section 6: Government-Furnished Items Section 15: List of Materials

3.3, 6.0.1,6.0.2 3, 6, 12 Can the Government characterize how many DS1, DS3, and other types of circuits by type are included in the 500 circuits or is that to be determined during performance?

See Response to No. 3, above.

Section 3: Requirements Section 15: List of Materials

3.3, 3.5, 15 3,4,12, 13 Please confirm that required additional equipment includes patch panels, miscellaneous Ciena equipment, and associated items.

See Response to No. 4, above.

Section 2: Objectives Section 3: Recommendations

2,3.3., 3.4, 3.6 3,4 The per circuit pricing leads to a single productized offer for that pricing item independent of circuit type. Can the Government confirm this assumption?

See Response to No. 5, above.

1. BACKGROUND; 9. VSFB DWDM/OTN

BASELINE; 3.6 Testing & Acceptance

1; 9; 3.6 p.2 What current SONET vendor is in place that the solicitor is responsible for migrating services off? What management software is currently used to monitor the existing 500 circuits?

VSFBs SONET equiopment is Lucent.

The management software is Navis.

2. OBJECTIVES; 6. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED

ITEMS

2; 6.0.1 p.2 We assume that all 500 services to be migrated are active & operational. Is this correct?

That is a good assumption.

1. BACKGROUND; 3.5 Implementation/Migration;

6.0.2 DWDM Equipment; 9. VSFB DWDM/OTN

BASELINE

1; 3.5; 6.0.2; 9 p.2; p.7 Our current understanding is the migration is to replace EOL SONET equipment with Ciena 3926s and other pre-purchased equipment, and to move the connections from one transport equipment to another. Is this correct?

Correct.

3.5 Implementation/Migration; 9. VSFB

DWDM/OTN BASELINE; 10. CONTRACTOR

QUALIFICATIONS; 11. INDUSTRY STANDARDS

3.5; 9; 10; 11 p.2 Ciena transport equipment requires timing input to transport TDM circuits via SYNC-E across Ethernet. Will timing be configured and accessible for connecting to Ciena equipment?

Timing IS configured and operational.

9. VSFB DWDM/OTN BASELINE; 6.0.3

Documentation/Data; 13. WARRANTY

9; 6.0.3; 13 p.2; p.7 What versioning is MCP and the Ciena equipment currently utilizing? MCP and 6500's are version 15.4. 3926s and 5142s are version 6.21.

3.4 Equipment; 3.5 Implementation/Migration;

6.0.2 DWDM Equipment; 9. VSFB DWDM/OTN

BASELINE

3.4; 3.5; 6.0.2; 9 p.2; p.7 Will the solicitor be required to design, configure, and install the Ciena equipment, or will the equipment already be operational?

While the Design is set, the solicitor may have improvement suggestions.

If new equipment is required, yes, configuration and installation will be expected.

3.3 Migration Survey & Design Solution (LoM

approval prior to requisition); 4.4.4(d) List of Materials; 11. INDUSTRY STANDARDS; 7.5 Compliance

3.3; 4.4.4(d); 11;

7.5 p.2; p.5 Aside from American made requirements for the LOM(List of Materials), what other requirements do we need to account for when acquiring the LOM?

Additional terms associated with the list of material are found in the PWS and clauses/provisions attached to the solicitation. Those additional terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, Buy American/trade restrictions, excluding banned suppliers/equipment, use of authorized sources for Ciena equipment/modules, and environmental compliance.

7. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS; 7.9 Facility Access Requirements; 7.10 Contractor Personnel; 7.7 Base Access Letter

7; 7.9; 7.10; 7.7 p.2 When coordinating access upon award, will VSFB sponsor clearances for the solicitor? We are an SDVOSB with prior DOE Q clearance.

A DD254 will be an element of the contract.

VSFB will sponsor access as necessary.

6.0.1 Circuits & Infrastructure; 2(b) Objectives

(provide DSX and cabling); 3.4 Equipment; 15.

LIST OF MATERIALS

6.0.1; 2(b); 3.4; 15 p.2 Will the DSX equipment and cables be in place prior to the final migration plan implementation?

No.

2(b) Objectives; 3.4 Equipment; 3.5 Implementation/Migration; 6.0.1 Circuits & Infrastructure

2(b); 3.4; 3.5;

6.0.1 p.2 If not, is the solicitor responsible for wiring, designing, and installing all DSX equipment and cables?

Yes. With Government support as necessary.

9. VSFB DWDM/OTN BASELINE; 13. WARRANTY;

15. LIST OF MATERIALS; 10. CONTRACTOR

QUALIFICATIONS

9; 13; 15; 10 p.2 Given the sole-source justification references Ciena 3926m hardware, our understanding is this platform is EOL with limited U.S.-based support. Has this been verified with the vendor, and does this present concern for VSFB?

VSFB is aware of the 3926 status. 5142s are the more immediate concern. We will acquire 3926s and 5142s as appropriate and change the model when necessary.

3.3 Migration Survey & Design Solution (LoM

approval, ECP/IRR); 15. LIST OF MATERIALS

3.3; 15 p.2 May we propose form‑fit‑function equivalents if Section 15 parts are EOL or have a long lead time? What is the approval path?

Please do propose form‑fit‑function equivalents.

The Government Project Manager is the decision-maker.

3.5 Implementation/Migration (disconnection

from SONET); 6. GOVERNMENT‑FURNISHED

ITEMS

3.5; 6 p.2 Is the solicitor required to decommission old SONET equipment and infrastructure post‑migration?

No.

1. BACKGROUND (DWDM operational;

priorities/plan/templates tested); 6.0.3 Documentation/Data (General Migration Plan);

9. VSFB DWDM/OTN BASELINE

1; 6.0.3; 9 p.2; p.7 This solicitation is Part 2B. Can you summarize what was completed in previous parts to inform expected sequencing for Part 2B?

Resolving inconsistencies and a few issues within the current DWDM data transport, planning and pilot migration, migration of the first 500 circuits with requirements similar to Part 2B.

9. VSFB DWDM/OTN Baseline; 10. Contractor Qualifications; 13. Warranty

9; 10; 13 p.2 Does VSFB currently have Ciena support/access to the Ciena MyPortal for opening tickets, RMAs, and retrieving upgrades?

Yes. However, such access is not expected to be extended to contractors under this solicitation.

4.1 Documentation; 4.4.4 As‑Built

Documentation; 6.0.3 Documentation/Data

4.1; 4.4.4; 6.0.3 p.2; p.5; p.7 With the documentation requirement, is there existing documentation to build from (e.g., General Migration Plan, baseline diagrams/templates), or will our deliverables serve as the initial standard?

Part 2A (migration of the first 500 circuits with requirements similar to Part 2B) is a work in process. Some documentation exists, some is in-development.

Section 3: Requirements Section 6: Government-Furnished Items Section 15: List of Materials

3.3, 6.0.1, 6.0.2

Will the government characterize how many DS1, DS3, and other types of circuits by type are included in the 500 circuits, or is that to be determined during performance? The separation of these circuits by type will prevent overestimating and support accurate pricing for the government.

Based on our current records there are 43 DS0, 1992 DS1 and 105 DS3. Part 2A discovered the total circuits count may be twice the records count.

Question Submission Template

Section 3: Requirements Section 15: List of Materials

3.3, 3.5, Will the government confirm that the required additional equipment includes patch panels, miscellaneous Ciena equipment, and associated items to ensure requirements are accurately priced and planned?

Confirmed

Section 2: Objectives Section 3: Recommendations

2,3.3., 3.4, 3.6

The per circuit pricing leads to a single productized offer for that pricing item independe,nt of circuit type. Will the government confirm this assumption to ensure they receive pricing information at the right level of detail?

See Response to No. 5, above.

Will the government confirm that "Factor 2: Price" is limited to an Excel workbook and that no written narrative is required?

Confirmed. Factor 2: Price is limited to an excel workbook. Reference 'Attachment 2 - SONET Migration Pricing'

Will the government confirm that it is the contractor's responsibility to store equipment until installation, or will the government provide storage on-site? This will inform accurate planning and schedules for equipment receipt and storage costs.

On-site storage is provided.