Attachment 5-Dorm Wi-Fi QA.pdf

Wi-Fi Internet for McConnell AFB Unaccompanied Housing Questions & Answers FY26-Wifi internet for McConnell AFB Unaccompanied Housing-FA462126Q0012

Q1. We would like to know if this is a brand-new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services. If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

ANSWER: This is a brand-new contract.

Q2. Are Buildings 196, 340, 342, and 350 currently interconnected via existing government fiber infrastructure, or must each building be treated as an independent network enclave?

ANSWER: Government will provide 1 strand of dark fiber from buildings to the KTR selected hub building. The Hub building should not be 196.

Q3. Where does the provided “single strand of government-owned fiber” terminate in each building (MDF, IDF, telecom room, etc.)?

ANSWER: In the main telecommunications closet located on the first floor of each building.

Q4. Is the government-provided fiber dark fiber only, or is any active transport/network service already present?

hub building. The Hub building should not be 196.

Q5. Will the Government permit the contractor to use the provided fiber for Layer 2 transport between dormitories?

ANSWER: Government will provide 1 strand of dark fiber from buildings to the hub building; the Hub building should not be 196. The contractor can use the dark fiber as needed.

Q6. Is there a designated central demarcation location where commercial ISP service can be delivered? What is the address?

ANSWER: Commercial ISP would be delivered to Bldg. 515/739.

Q7. Can the contractor install a centralized core network architecture serving all dormitories from one headend location, or does the Government require separate internet circuits per building?

ANSWER: Government will provide 1 strand of dark fiber from buildings to the

Q8. What type of fiber connectors and optics are currently installed or expected (LC, SC, single-mode, multimode)?

ANSWER: The fiber will be Single-Mode. Most buildings are ST connectors, we need to validate the connections type in each building.

Q9. Are there existing telecommunications rooms, rack space, grounding, and UPS power available for contractor equipment in each building?

ANSWER: The Government is not providing rack space, grounding, nor UPS units.

The contactor will need to install backboard, run power and ground to their equipment

Q10. Are there existing conduit pathways or cable trays between telecom spaces and resident floors?

ANSWER: Yes, in most cases there is conduit connecting Comm Rooms and different floors. Please reference the As-Builts.

Q11. Are there any restrictions on running new cabling in hallways, ceilings, stairwells, or common areas?

ANSWER: Cabling can be run where needed, but they must be concealed. No surface mounting.

Q12. Do you have any existing Wi-Fi network infrastructure in the buildings for the commercial Wi-Fi, or does this solicitation require all new infrastructure installation including CAT-6 cable run?

ANSWER: No existing Wi-Fi infrastructure exists for use. New installation will be required.

Q13. Are the government networks (e.g., NIPRNet, SIPRNet) existing in the same buildings, what are the infrastructure, does or would it share IT room with the commercial Wi-Fi network?

ANSWER: Share the IT room with Government, the contractor must mount backboard and should lock cabinets.

Q14. Is this solicitation to build a government network for (e.g., NIPRNet, SIPRNet), then create a Captive Portal for dormitory use?

ANSWER: This solicitation will NOT build a government network. This is only to provide commercial Wi-Fi access to dormitory residents.

Q15. In separating from government network, would that include operating in different radio channels entirely or just ensuring interference free interoperability?

ANSWER: Ensuring interference free interoperability will be adequate.

Q16. Which ISP is the provider for any existing network data circuit, any preference, is the existing government owned fiber for the commercial Wi-Fi independent of the government network, do the buildings already fiber linked to one another, which has the demarcation point, would you require any new fiber-optic cable run?

fiber as needed. Cox Communications services dormitory residences.

Q17. How many networks (SSIDs) are expected on the commercial Wi-Fi network?

ANSWER: One SSID per building is adequate. The government will provide the SSID names.

Q18. Please would you share if there exists any or previous network contract number for this location?

ANSWER: This is a brand-new contract.

Q19. Please would provide a contact for Base Spectrum Manager to identify usable frequency for the Wi-Fi design?

ANSWER: 2.4 or 5 ghz can be used in the dormitories

Q20. Would there be any requirement for wired Ethernet ports in the building?

ANSWER: Currently, there is not a requirement for wired Ethernet ports in the building. Not required but can be included.

Q21. Do you have any desirable brand (OEM) for this network?

ANSWER: There is no desirable brand for this network.

Q22. Is it the expectation/requirement that the network remains the contractor’s property and should be removed entirely from the building at the end of the contract, would that include CAT-6 cable conduit and wirings?

ANSWER: The contractor should be prepared to remove all installed property if the contract is not renewed at the end of the term. Anything left would require government approval.

Q23. With the understanding that this project is a firm-fixed-price contract, do you have a budget/fund that could be shared?

ANSWER: There is not a budget that can be shared.

Q24. Given that responses to questions are scheduled to be returned on the 13th, leaving only two business days to review the answers and develop a complete solution, would the Government consider extending the final proposal due date to allow offerors adequate time to digest the responses and submit a thorough proposal?

ANSWER: Quotes are due 18 May 2026 at 10:00am CST.

Q25. Please confirm whether the “turnkey commercial Wi‑Fi solution” includes providing and paying for all ISP circuits/backhaul at each building, including all recurring monthly charges, taxes/fees, and any construction/installation charges from the carrier

ANSWER: Yes, that is correct.

Q26. Please provide the street address for each building on base requiring Internet access (or each proposed service demarcation/MPOE location) so potential circuit providers can accurately price circuit availability, construction, and recurring service.

ANSWER: Bldg. 196 – 53050 Glen Elder Dr., McConnell AFB, KS 67221 Bldg. 340 – 53396 Lawrence Ct., McConnell AFB, KS 67221 Bldg. 342 – 53398 Lawrence Ct., McConnell AFB, KS 67221

Bldg. 350 – 53438 Lawrence Ct., McConnell AFB, KS 67221

Q27. Please clarify whether the contractor or the Government will own the equipment (e.g., access points, switches, routers, firewalls, cabling) purchased/installed as part of the solution during the contract term and at contract end. Additionally, please confirm whether all hardware provided under this requirement must be Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliant.

ANSWER: The contractor will retain ownership and be responsible for maintenance of the hardware they install. Because this is a small business set-aside, the Trade Agreements Act (TAA) is not applicable however the Buy American statute is.

Q28. Please confirm whether the Government requires redundant/dual ISP circuits with physical path diversity (and/or diverse carriers) per building and whether both circuits must be active/used for load-sharing, or if a single circuit per building is acceptable provided the contractor meets the 97% monthly uptime requirement.

ANSWER: A single circuit is acceptable if the contractor meets the 97% uptime requirement.

Q29. Are there constraints on where the provider demarcation (MPOE/hand-off) must be located in each dormitory (e.g., telecom room, MDF/IDF), and will the Government provide space/power/cooling for provider equipment?

ANSWER: Government will provide 1 strand of dark fiber from buildings to the hub building; the Hub building should not be 196. The contractor can use the dark fiber as needed. Cox Communications services dormitory residences. The government will provide power at the breaker panel, the contractor must run power to their equipment. The outdoor closets are not climate controlled.

Q30. Please clarify whether the Government will allow any shared building pathways (e.g., conduit, cable trays) as long as logical separation is maintained, or if physical separation must extend to raceways/pathways as well.

ANSWER: Yes, pathways maybe used to distribute cabling, cables must be clearly labeled.

Q31. Are there existing building cabling systems (fiber/copper) that the contractor is allowed to use for the commercial network distribution, or must the contractor furnish all new cabling end-to-end?

ANSWER: Fiber is provided to a location in each building. The contractor must run new lines from there.

Q32. Please confirm the areas considered “common areas” in each dormitory (laundry, day rooms, hallways, lobbies, offices, etc.) and whether coverage is required in stairwells, mechanical rooms, and exterior entry/vestibules.

ANSWER: Coverage is required in laundry rooms, day rooms, hallways, lobbies, offices, kitchens, etc. No coverage is needed in the stairwells, mechanical rooms, or exterior entrance vestibules.

Q33. Are there restrictions on antenna/AP mounting types and locations (e.g., ceilings only, no wall mounts, no surface raceway)?

ANSWER: No surface raceways. Antenna mounting is preferred on ceilings, but the walls would be acceptable, as well.

Q34. Are there any asbestos/lead or other environmental constraints in the buildings that affect installation methods?

ANSWER: There are no asbestos or lead constraints in these facilities.

Q35. What is the Government’s definition of “connected user device” for performance objectives (per device, per user, per room), and will testing be performed using wired backhaul to APs or fully over-the-air end-to-end tests?

ANSWER: Performance objectives is per device. Test will be over the air end to end to ensure required coverage is achieved.

Q36. What is the required Government acceptance test plan/process (site survey validation, post-install walk test, throughput tests, coverage maps, and documentation deliverables)?

ANSWER: Coverage maps would be preferred.

Q37. Are performance objectives required simultaneously across all four buildings, or measured per-building/zone?

ANSWER: Performance should be measure simultaneously.

Q38. The SOO references FCC speed benchmarks “currently” 100/20 Mbps. If FCC benchmarks change during contract performance, does the required minimum change accordingly or remain 100/20?

ANSWER: The SOW states “The provider should describe their plan to meet future FCC speed benchmark increases.”

Q39. Is 100/20 Mbps required per device at peak usage times (busy hour), or measured under defined test conditions (e.g., number of active clients, specific test tool, time-of-day)?

ANSWER: It should be 100/20 per device at peak usage times.

Q40. Are there minimum latency, jitter, and packet loss requirements (especially for gaming/streaming), and if so, what are the thresholds?

ANSWER: There is not specific requirement, but the government would prefer Latency = 20-50 ms or better, Jitter < 30 ms or better, Packet Loss < 1-2% or better.

Q41. The SOO specifies “minimum signal strength of -50 dBm to -65 dBm.” Please confirm the target measurement (e.g., RSSI at the client), the band(s) (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz), and the measurement height/location (e.g., 4 feet above floor, center of room).

ANSWER: Measurement should be RSSI at the client in bands 2.4 GHz and 5GHz.

Measurement should be from 3 feet – 4 feet above the floor.

Q42. Are there minimum SNR requirements, and should coverage be designed for a specific minimum data rate (MCS) or only RSSI?

ANSWER: SNR should be 25dB +. Contractor can design coverage for a specific MCS or RSSI or both.

Q43. Please confirm whether coverage is required in hallways outside dorm rooms and behind closed doors, and whether any “dead zones” are acceptable (e.g., closets, utility chases).

ANSWER: Hallways are considered common area and should have coverage. Dead zones are acceptable in closets, utility chases, and other typically unoccupied areas.

Q44. Is the Government providing current floorplans/as-builts for all buildings referenced in

Section 2.0, and will the Government provide escorted access to validate site conditions prior to final design?

ANSWER: Floorplans have been provided. As-builts available upon request. Yes, the Government will provide escorted access to validate site conditions prior to final design.

Q45. Please confirm the areas considered common areas in each dormitory (for example, laundry rooms, day rooms, hallways, lobbies, and offices) and whether coverage is required in stairwells, mechanical rooms, and exterior entry/vestibules.

ANSWER: Coverage is required in dorm rooms, laundry rooms, day rooms, hallways, lobbies, offices, kitchens, etc. No coverage is needed in the stairwells, mechanical rooms, or exterior entrance vestibules.

Q46. What are the construction materials for the internal and external walls in each building (for example, 4-inch drywall, 8-inch block, concrete, or other wall types)?

Please identify the wall types by building and by area if they vary.

ANSWER: As-builts are available upon request.

Q47. What are the material types and approximate thicknesses of the doors in each building?

ANSWER: The vast majority of interior doors are solid core would doors that are 1-¾" in thickness. Exterior door materials vary; thickness is usually 1-¾". Please refer to As-Builts.

Q48. What types of ceilings are in each building and area, such as drop ceilings, exposed structure, hard-lid ceilings, or other ceiling types?

ANSWER: Most ceilings are 5/8” drywall with some drop ceilings and hard ceilings. See as-builts.

Q49. Will a Wi‑Fi signal be required outside the exterior walls of the dorms, and if so, please identify the specific exterior areas where coverage is required.

ANSWER: There is no requirement for Wi-Fi beyond the exterior walls.

Q50. Please confirm whether the “concurrent users” numbers are a hard minimum design requirement, and whether they represent concurrent active clients or concurrently associated devices.

ANSWER: There is the possibility of having 444 concurrent users.

Q51. What is the assumed devices-per-resident ratio for design sizing (e.g., 2–4 devices per resident), and does the Government expect the network to support IoT/streaming devices beyond those listed?

ANSWER: Estimated devices per user is 2-3. Streaming devices are not limited to those listed.

Q52. Are there any per-user bandwidth caps, QoS, or fair-use policies the Government expects the contractor to implement to maintain performance?

ANSWER: No bandwidth caps.

Q53. Please confirm whether “Adult Themes” includes all adult content categories or only explicit pornography, and whether the Government will provide an approved category taxonomy/vendor list for filtering.

ANSWER: Adult Themes is for explicit pornography. The government will provide a list for filtering.

Q54. What is the required level of filtering enforcement for encrypted traffic (HTTPS), and is

TLS inspection allowed/expected?

ANSWER: Full TLS inspection is allowed but not required.

Q55. The SOO requires block-lists to be auditable by the Government upon request. What format and cadence is required (on-demand exports, monthly reports), and what information must be included (categories, URL samples, timestamps)?

ANSWER: Please refer to 4.8 Metrics Reporting listed in the SOO. This information should also be available upon Government request, within 48 hours.

Q56. Is there a required process for residents to request unblocking/appeals, and does the

Government expect the contractor help desk to manage that workflow?

ANSWER: The contractor help desk should be able to handle unblocking requests.

If it requires unrestricted internet access, this will be at the requesters expense.

Q57. Please provide the complete definition of uptime and downtime (the paragraph appears truncated). Specifically, does downtime include ISP outages, planned maintenance, power outages, and/or force majeure events?

ANSWER: Downtime refers to planned maintenance and trouble with installed equipment. ISP outages and power outages would not be considered downtime for the provider.

Q58. Are service credits, remedies, or penalties associated with failing to meet 97% monthly uptime, and if so, where are they defined?

ANSWER: If 97% monthly uptime is failed, the Government will request a corrective action plan. If terms and conditions are continued to not be met, contractor will be considered for termination.

Q59. Are there any maximum allowable outage durations (e.g., MTTR targets) beyond the monitoring/dispatch requirements stated in 3.7?

ANSWER: MTTR targets should be under 120 minutes

Q60. Please define “normal duty hours” for the 4-hour notification requirement, and confirm whether the contractor must notify outside duty hours for major outages or security incidents.

ANSWER: Normal duties hours are Monday – Friday 0700-1600. Notification outside of normal duties hours is not required.

Q61. The SOO calls for a “(2-week) notice for maintenance actions that could impact the end-user.” Is that notice required for all changes/patching, or only for planned outages exceeding a specific duration?

ANSWER: This should be for planned outages that will cause downtime to exceed 60 minutes.

Q62. The SOO states maintenance personnel shall be dispatched to correct deficiencies within “(1) business day.” Please define what qualifies as a “deficiency” versus a non-service-impacting alert, and whether remote remediation satisfies this requirement.

ANSWER: Service outages or severe degradation of service is a deficiency. Remote remediation will satisfy the requirement.

Q63. Please confirm expectations for monitoring deliverables (NOC operations, alerting thresholds, monthly reporting, and retention period for logs/analytics).

ANSWER: Please use standard commercial practices for monthly reporting requirements. See SOO 3.0 (3.7) Network Monitoring.

Q64. The SOO requires a self-service portal/captive portal and “unified onboarding” including devices without browsers. Please confirm whether a device registration workflow (MAC-based) is acceptable and whether WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise, PPSK, or Passpoint/Hotspot 2.0 are permitted/desired.

ANSWER: Prefer to avoid the Mac-based registration. WPA2/WPA3 is preferred.

Passpoint/Hotspot 2.0 are allowed.

Q65. The SOO states the network should provide “VPN encryption to prevent unauthorized access.” Please clarify whether this means an always-on VPN tunnel per client or simply encrypted Wi‑Fi (WPA2/WPA3) and secure management channels.

ANSWER: Encrypted Wi-Fi and secure management channels are acceptable.

Q66. Please clarify whether the cyber security plan is a deliverable subject to Government approval, and what framework/standard should be used (e.g., NIST 800-53 moderate, NIST CSF), if any.

ANSWER: It is not subject to government approval but should follow the DoD RMF referencing NIST 800-53.

Q67. The SOO requires notification within 1 hour of detection of any cybersecurity threat or infiltration. Please define the reporting channel(s) (phone/email/ticket), what constitutes “detection,” and whether suspected events qualify or only confirmed incidents.

ANSWER: Confirmed incidents will be reported to the dormitory managers. The reporting channel will to the dormitory managers. Phone numbers and emails will be provided by the government.

Q68. Are there specific requirements for vulnerability scanning, patch management cadence, penetration testing, or third-party audits during the contract?

ANSWER: Scans should be at least quarterly, critical patches should be within 30 days, penetration testing annually.

Q69. Please confirm whether any connections to Government power/UPS systems are permitted?

ANSWER: The government will provide power at the breaker panel; the contractor must run power to their equipment and provide their own UPS unit if needed.

Q70. Does the Government require separate service provider circuits per building, or may a shared backhaul design be used as long as the commercial network remains isolated from Government networks?

ANSWER: Government will provide 1 strand of dark fiber from buildings to the fiber as needed. Cox Communications services dormitory residences.

Q71. Please confirm whether the contractor is required to implement specific DoDI 8420.01 controls (e.g., encryption/authentication posture, banners) or simply display warnings and allow use “at the user’s own risk.”

ANSWER: Yes, DoDI 8420.01 controls should be implemented.

Q72. Are there restrictions on allowing government-issued devices to connect (e.g., deny by default), and does the Government want the contractor to enforce device type restrictions?

ANSWER: No device type restrictions.

Q73. Will the Government provide the acceptable use policy (AUP), privacy statement language, and disclaimers, or is the contractor expected to draft these for Government approval?

ANSWER: The government can provide this.

Q74. Is there a required authentication method for the captive portal (open with click-through only vs. credential-based), and is resident identity verification required?

ANSWER: Open with click-through only. No resident verification required.

Q75. Are there accessibility requirements for the portal (e.g., Section 508 compliance) and any branding requirements (base logo, unit information)?

ANSWER: None

Q76. Please clarify what it means operationally for a resident to “opt out” (e.g., disable service to a specific room, disable billing, disable access), and what records/reporting the Government requires for opted-out users.

ANSWER: “Opt Out” simply means that the residents are not required to use the service. They can obtain a different service from a provider of their choice at their own expense.

Q77. Does the Government expect the contractor to provide physical demarcation options in rooms (e.g., Ethernet jack) for residents using alternate providers, or is this strictly wireless?

ANSWER: Wireless only.

Q78. What is the coordination process and lead time with the Base Spectrum Manager, and what documentation must be submitted (channel plan, EIRP levels, antenna specs, survey results)?

ANSWER: The lead time is ~90-120 days and could take 45 days to process. The ISM would need antenna: make/model, power required, the coordinates and location the antenna would be used at, the frequency band(s) and amount requested.

Survey results will detail exact placement of WAPs and any EMC studies. If you have an emission designator or a J/F 12 number for the equipment that would help as well.

Q79. Are 6 GHz (Wi‑Fi 6E/7) operations permitted on base, and are there any specific channel/band restrictions for 2.4/5/6 GHz?

ANSWER: Yes Wi-Fi 6E/7 are authorized for use in the 6 GHz band. 2.4 GHz band (range: 2400-2483.5MHz) are limited to channels 1-11 with three overlapping channels (1,6, and 11). Channels have a 5 MHz spacing. Please reference FCC rules Part 15.

Q80. Please clarify what evidence the contractor must provide to demonstrate Section 889 compliance for all telecommunications/video surveillance equipment and services used in the solution.

ANSWER: The Government will pull records to confirm Section 889 compliance.

Q81. OPSEC restrictions prohibit photography of certain areas. Please confirm whether the contractor is allowed to use electronic surveying tools that may capture images (e.g., Wi‑Fi mapping apps) and what approvals are required for any documentation that includes facility diagrams.

ANSWER: There are no restrictions in the dormitories for capturing images for Wi-Fi Mapping.

Q82. Please confirm the specific metrics required for each listed objective (3.1–3.4, 3.6–3.7, 4.4–4.6) and whether the Government has a preferred report format/template.

ANSWER: The contractor will need to provide in their SOW how they plan to meet these specific objectives.

Q83. Are there data retention, privacy, or PII constraints related to usage analytics (e.g., MAC addresses, user identifiers), and what level of aggregation is required in reports?

ANSWER: For privacy, personal identifiers and PII should be separated from any reporting. Only the minimum necessary PII should be collected.

Q84. Please clarify the minimum physical security controls expected for publicly accessible devices (lock boxes, tamper switches, secured closets), and whether specific compliance standards apply.

ANSWER: For publicly accessible devices there are no specific requirements. The government recommends tamper-resistant enclosures when reasonable.

Q85. If equipment theft/vandalism occurs, is replacement considered part of “ongoing maintenance” (Section 2.0) or a separately billable event?

ANSWER: The Government will be liable for any theft/vandalism and will compensate the contractor via direct payment or contract modification.

Q86. The installation period is listed as “XX-month.” Please confirm the required installation duration (and whether it is a maximum) and the required substantial completion/acceptance milestones.

ANSWER: The contractor will need to provide their installation period for buildings 190, 340, 342, & 350.

Q87. Please confirm the start date assumptions (award date vs. NTP date vs. site access date) and whether phased building-by-building cutovers are required.

ANSWER: The installation phase is up to the contractor and how long it will take to complete. Once installation phase is complete, the base service period will begin.

Q88. For the building square footages listed, please confirm whether they include only interior conditioned space, and whether basements/attics/mechanical spaces are included in scope for coverage and/or cabling.

ANSWER: The square footages do include mechanical spaces, but not basements/attics. The mechanical rooms, basements and attics do not require coverage.

Q89. Please confirm whether the Government expects the offeror’s SOW to be incorporated into the final contract as a binding deliverable, and how conflicts between the SOO and the offeror’s SOW will be resolved.

ANSWER: Yes, the offeror’s SOW will be incorporated into the final contract as a binding deliverable. Any clarifications or ambiguities will be resolved prior to award.

Q90. The SOO notes a “single strand of government owned fiber is available for use in each building.” Please clarify where that fiber terminates, fiber type/connector, whether it is dedicated to the contractor for the contract term, and what the Government will provide for patching/hand-off.

ANSWER: The fiber will be Single-Mode. Most buildings are ST connectors, we need to validate the connections type in each building. Government will provide 1 strand of dark fiber from buildings to the hub building; the Hub building should not be 196. The contractor can use the dark fiber as needed. Cox Communications services dormitory residences.

Q91. The SOO states that “a single strand of government owned fiber is available for use in each building.” Please clarify whether this refers to a strand available within each individual building only, or whether the Government-owned fiber provides (or is part

of) an inter-building fiber interconnect between the dormitory buildings that the contractor is expected/allowed to use for backhaul between buildings (and, if so, please identify endpoints/route and whether all four dorms are interconnected).

ANSWER: The fiber will be Single-Mode. Most buildings are ST connectors, we need to validate the connections type in each building. Government will provide 1 strand of dark fiber from buildings to the hub building; the Hub building should not be 196. The contractor can use the dark fiber as needed.

Q92. The SOO states the Government will install patch cables “where needed.” Please define what scenarios qualify (e.g., within telecom closets only), and who is responsible for labeling/testing/documentation.

ANSWER: The Government will patch from sub buildings to the hub building, building 196 should not be the hub for the network. The government will label cables that are patched for the interconnect. The contractor will clearly label all cables they install.

Q93. Please confirm whether the contractor must return buildings to current condition at end of contract (patch holes/remove wiring). Does this apply to all cabling/equipment or only surface-mounted items? Are there specific restoration standards and inspection/acceptance criteria?

ANSWER: Yes, when/if the contract ends the contractor will return the building to the current condition by patching holes, etc. Equipment and wiring can only be left with government approval.

Q94. Please clarify whether there are required minimum help-desk hours, languages, contact channels (phone/email/chat), on-site support requirements, and escalation paths.

ANSWER: Help Desk hours should be M-F 0800-1600 minimum. Language:

English. Contacts by phone or email. On-site support required when issue cannot be resolved remotely.

Q95. Please confirm whether background checks are required for all contractor staff

(including remote NOC/help-desk staff) or only personnel physically accessing the installation.

ANSWER: Background checks will only be required of personnel that will physically access the installation.

Q96. Are there additional base security training requirements beyond carrying photo identification (e.g., annual briefings, cybersecurity awareness, safety orientations)?

ANSWER: Initial security training will be provided upon initial installation (i.e.

Anti-Terrorism level 1 training & traffic plan).

Q97. Please confirm lead times and expectations for processing passes/credentials for installation teams and whether delays in credentialing affect schedule obligations.

ANSWER: Processing passes typically takes 3-5 business days.

Q98. Please specify the required format(s) (if any) for the network and architectural drawings to be delivered by the Contractor as part of their response.

ANSWER: Drawing can be in PDF format.

Q99. Will the Government please provide a Site Visit Attendee List?

ANSWER: Site Visit Attendee List will not be provided.

Q100. Who is the current Internet Service Provider (ISP)? If multiple providers for differing locations, please identify by location

ANSWER: Cox Communication are used by dorm residence.

Q101. Does the government have a preferred captive-portal landing-page language and

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) wording per SOO 4.3 — government-furnished template or contractor-drafted with Government approval?

ANSWER: Government will provide the language for the landing page.

Q102. Does the Government have a template (or specify required fields) for the monthly metrics report required under SOO 4.8 (covering objectives 3.1 through 3.7, plus 4.4 opt-out, 4.5 spectrum, and 4.6 cyber)?

ANSWER: There is no specific template. Contractor can provide in their preferred format.

Q103. How is the user opt-out (SOO 4.4) tracked and reported? Is the contractor responsible for capturing opt-out elections, the Government, or shared — and what is the reporting cadence?

ANSWER: There is no requirement to report/track users “opt-out”.

Q104. Per SOO 6, building must be returned to current condition (patch holes, removal of unused/undesired wiring) at end of contract — is the de-installation / restoration work priced under CLIN 5001 (extension) or to be priced as a separate close-out activity?

ANSWER: De-installation / restoration work should be included in the monthly service.

Q105. Please confirm the boundary of 'common areas' and 'designated public spaces' that require -50 to -65 dBm coverage per SOO 3.2 — are stairwells, mechanical rooms, basements, exterior breezeways, and laundry rooms in scope?

ANSWER: Coverage is required in dorm rooms, laundry rooms, day rooms, hallways, lobbies, offices, kitchens, etc. No coverage is needed in the stairwells, mechanical rooms, or exterior entrance vestibules.

Q106. Are there any restricted floors, rooms, or sensitive areas within the four buildings where contractor access requires escort or where APs cannot be installed?

ANSWER: Escort will be provided when access to an occupied dormitory room is needed. There are no restricted areas.

Q107. Are there any DoD STIG (Security Technical Implementation Guide) configuration requirements or hardening baselines that must be applied to the commercial Wi-Fi infrastructure, given it is air-gapped from NIPRNet/SIPRNet?

ANSWER: This network will not interfere with current / programmed NIPR for dorm manger.

Q108. Can we co-locate our equipment in the main distribution facility (MDF), intermediate distribution facility (IDF), and telephone rooms (TRs)?

ANSWER: Equipment can by co-located in the Comm Rooms at each facility.

Q109. What is the Telecom DEMARC location (physical address, building #, and room number)?

ANSWER: Fiber is provided in a Comm Room on the 1st floor of each facility.

Q110. Please confirm the specifications of the single govt-owned fiber strand available in each building (SMF/MMF, OS1/OS2/OM3/OM4, connector type, distance from base demarc to building IDF, splice/loss budget).

ANSWER: The fiber strands are LC Single Mode strands, OS2. Unknown distance from demarc & splice/loss budget.

Q111. Will the Government provide secure on-site storage for materials and network equipment? If not, will the Government provide a location for storage pod?

ANSWER: The government can provide temporary space for a storage pod during the installation period. Any storage pod will be at contractor expense.

Q112. Will Wi-Fi installation activities be coordinated with dorm leadership and resident schedules (per SOO 6) — what is the expected resident notification lead time before working in occupied rooms?

ANSWER: The dorm manager will coordinate with the installers to give residents adequate notice.

Q113. Will the government own all the cabling infrastructure once installed or will the vendor have to decom once contract expires?

ANSWER: The contract will retain ownership of all installed equipment.

Q114. Will the government allow the contractor to utilize the existing conduit for installation?

ANSWER: Yes. In some cases, the old Cat3 wiring can be used as a pull cable for installing new Cat5/Cat6/Fiber.

Q115. Building 350 Availability: Site visit notes indicate Building 350 is undergoing a retrofit with completion estimated between August and February 2027. As the solicitation lists a PoP start of 1 June 2026, how should contractors price CLIN 0001 (Installation) and CLIN 0002 (Service) for this building? Will the government accept a phased implementation?

ANSWER: It is acceptable to include building 350 in the bid even though the installation and service activation will be at a later date.

Q116. Interbuilding Connectivity: The SOO states one single strand of fiber is available in each building. During the site visit, it was noted that a hub-and-spoke design (e.g., using Building 350 as the core) would require three strands of fiber to reach the other dormitories. Does the existing Government-owned fiber plant support this interconnected 'hub' architecture, or must each of the four buildings be designed as a standalone site with its own dedicated ISP backhaul?

ANSWER: Government will provide 1 strand of dark fiber from buildings to the

Q117. ISP Circuit vs. Dark Fiber: The SOO requires the contractor to provision ISP circuits , but walkthrough notes mention using government provided dark fiber.

Does the contractor provide the actual internet bandwidth/data circuit to the base, or only the hardware to light the government's existing fiber backhaul?

Q118. Backhaul Capacity: Does the single strand of fiber provided in each building have sufficient capacity to support the mandatory aggregate load (e.g., ~18.8 Gbps for Building 350 )?

ANSWER: No, all buildings besides bldg. 340 have SC and do not have sufficient capacity to support the aggregate load. Building 340 has LC however it does not have sufficient capacity as well. High db loss.

Q119. Electrical Requirements: Site notes indicate the contractor must provide electrical circuits and outlets. Does the government require these to be installed by a licensed electrician back to the main building breaker, or are there existing 120V/20A outlets available for contractor use?

ANSWER: Most breaker boxes are located in the same room. The contractor must run their own electric outlets. It is recommended that a licensed electrician complete any electrical installations.

Q120. Building 340/342 IDFs: Since Building 340 and 342 has no IDFs, will the government permit the installation of new wall-mounted, secure cabinets on upper floors, and is core drilling permitted between concrete slabs for vertical cabling?

ANSWER: Yes, cabinets will be mounted on fire retardant backboard

Q121. Bandwidth Interpretation: Does the "100 Mbps/20 Mbps to each connected user device" represent a guaranteed Committed Information Rate (CIR) at all times, or a commercial "best effort" burst speed?

ANSWER: The speed requirement as defined by the FCC is for best-effort burst speed.

Q122. Cloud Management: Is there any restriction on using cloud-managed platforms

(e.g., for system monitoring) provided all management traffic is encrypted and isolated from government networks?

ANSWER: No restrictions on using cloud-managed platforms if they are encrypted.

Q123. Acceptance Testing: To verify the mandatory -50 dBm to -65 dBm signal strength , will the government require a physical walkthrough survey of all 444 rooms, or is a predictive heat map sufficient for Volume I?

ANSWER: A predictive heat map is sufficient. Although, the government may do some random room testing in addition.

Q124. SLA Exclusions: Will the 97% uptime requirement exclude outages caused by base-wide power failure or damage to infrastructure caused by other contractors working on the Building 350 retrofit?

ANSWER: The 97% uptime excludes power outages and infrastructure damage caused by others.

Q125. Audit Requirements: For the content filtering and logical isolation requirements, does the government require a dedicated administrative login to the contractor's platform, or are periodic exported reports/logs sufficient?

ANSWER: Periodic reports are acceptable, but the government will need to be able to request changes to filtering when needed if no admin login is provided.

Q126. What building amongst the dorms will be the hub for the network since there is one strand fiber cable to each of the buildings?

ANSWER: It can be any of the dorm buildings but not building 196.

Q127. Since building 350 is under renovation/reconstruction, what cabling infrastructure will be available in the rooms?

ANSWER: The conduit to the rooms for communication lines is not being disturbed during the current renovation and will be available at the time of installation.

Q128. With building 350 being under renovation/reconstruction, what cabling infrastructure will be available in the rooms?

ANSWER: The conduit to the rooms for communication lines is not being disturbed during the current renovation and will be available at the time of installation.

Q129. What building will the govt fiber run back to for the ISP connection, or is that something the contractors must provide?

ANSWER: The government fiber does run back to a building on base for the ISP connection. The information will be provided after contract award.

Q130. Requesting a 1-week extension to 05.25.26 for proposal submittal.

ANSWER: Extension to 20 May 2026 at 1000 CDT has been approved. Please see updated solicitation.

Q131. Existing Network Wiring and Building Construction Type The floor plans show dedicated Communications Rooms in Buildings 196, 342, and

350. Are there existing network data cables (such as Cat5e or Cat6 ethernet cabling) already running from those rooms to individual dormitory rooms or hallway locations in any of the four buildings? If so, are those cables in usable condition? Knowing whether we need to install new cabling throughout the buildings will significantly affect our installation plan and pricing.

ANSWER: No usable Cat5e/Cat6 exists for use. New wiring will need to be installed.

Q132. Location and Type of Government-Provided Fiber

The SOO states that one strand of government-owned fiber is available for contractor use in each building. Could you confirm exactly where that fiber strand ends in each building — for example, in the Communications Room or another specific location — and what type of fiber it is? This will allow us to design our network connections correctly and ensure we bring the right equipment.

ANSWER: Government will provide 1 strand of dark fiber from buildings Comm Room to the hub building; the Hub building should not be 196. The contractor can use the dark fiber as needed. LC Single Mode fiber

Q133. Internet Service Provider Access to the Buildings What is the process for a commercial internet provider to bring service into the four dormitory buildings? For example, is there existing underground conduit or pathways from the base perimeter that an ISP can use, or would we need to work through base civil engineering to establish a pathway? Are there any existing agreements with internet providers on base, or any restrictions we should be aware of when selecting an ISP? This is important for us to confirm reliable service delivery by the required start date.

ANSWER: Commercial ISP provided by Cox Communications is on base already in a specific building on base.

Q134. Available Infrastructure in the Communications Rooms Do the Communications Rooms in any of the buildings currently have equipment racks, backup power (UPS), or dedicated electrical outlets already in place that the contractor could use? If not, is there sufficient electrical capacity in those rooms to support networking equipment without requiring an electrical panel upgrade? This will help us determine what infrastructure we need to provide as part of our installation.

ANSWER: No. These is sufficient electrical capacity, but contractors will need to install required outlets, UPS, and racks.

Q135. Communications Room Location in Building 340 The floor plans for Building 340 show an electrical room and mechanical spaces near the entrance, but we were not able to identify a clearly labeled Communications Room. Could you confirm where the government-provided fiber strand terminates in Building 340, and whether there is a designated telecom or equipment room available for contractor use in that building?

ANSWER: There is fiber in the 1st Floor Comm Room. The Comm Rooms are on across the walkway on either side of the center Day Room/Laundry Room/Office Space.

Q136. Access to Occupied Dormitory Rooms During Installation Since the dormitories will be occupied by Airmen during the installation period, we want to plan our work in a way that is as non-disruptive as possible. Are there specific procedures or advance notice requirements for accessing individual rooms or common hallways? Additionally, are there any periods during June 2026 — such as base exercises, inspections, or command events — when building access may be limited or unavailable? This will allow us to build a realistic and considerate installation schedule.

ANSWER: The dorm manager will coordinate with the installers to give residents adequate notice. There should not be any obstacles in June for installation. June 19th is a Federal Holiday.

Q137. Ownership of Installed Equipment at Contract End To confirm our understanding: all network equipment installed by the contractor — such as wireless access points, switches, routers, and associated cabling — remains the property of the contractor for the duration of the contract and is removed by the contractor when the contract ends, correct? The Government does not take ownership of any installed equipment at any point during or after the period of performance. We want to ensure our pricing and equipment planning aligns with the Government’s intent on this point.

ANSWER: Yes, this is correct. The contractor will retain ownership.