UASOCS_Industry_Day_Q_and_A_(updated_5_Jun_2014).pdf

UASOCS Industry Day Q & A

1. What are the programs hot buttons?

A. The requirements noted in the PWS.

2. Will the Govt provide a QASP?

A: Yes.

3. Will the work be maintaining or creating SOCs?

A. Primarily maintaining; however, if the government exercises the optional relocation CLIN, then a new SOC will be created to relocate too. In addition, depending on combat operational requirements a new SOC may be required; however, that effort will be negotiated at that time.

4. How much feedback has the government received on its proposed proposal response time?

A: Quite a bit. The Govt is considering extending the time. Site visits will be scheduled after the issuance of the draft RFP, but before the Final RFP.

5. Will this be a SB set aside?

A: No.

6. What does the Govt intend to put in the bidder’s library?

A: Rack elevations, configurations, classified workload data. Classified data will be hosted on

Creech AFB, NV. Unclassified data and GFP/GFE is being posted to FBO.

7. What is the risk of someone adding classified information to an unclassed proposal?

A: The Government will be following the same safe guards that were used during the last re-compete. Ultimately, it is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure no classified data is included in their proposal.

8. Are resumes required for CONUS key personnel?

A: No. Resumes are only required for OCONUS personnel due to TESA requirements.

9. Will the Government add “or equivalent” in Appendix K for key personnel?

A: Yes. The Govt will adjust App K.

10. What is the blue suit / contractor mix?

A: There are no blue suiters providing work.

11. Will all trouble tickets be put into CMMS and IMDS?

A: Yes, all trouble tickets will be uploaded into CMMS. In addition, all Reachback maintenance actions will be annotated in IMDS.

12. Time frame of RFP release?

A: Draft in July/Aug. Final in Nov. Dates may change due to scheduling OCONUS site visit to selected reachback site.

13. Is the classified Data Management System to be hosted from the contractor’s facility?

A: No. It will be hosted on Govt furnished classified network sites.

14. Will new sites be stood up during the period of performance?

A: Yes the Govt intends to stand-up the Signolla Reachback site, during the PoP; however, there may be additional sites, as well.

15. If the ATM/IP migration happens will the government cover the cost.

A: The Govt will cover this cost in a separate contract. UASOCS contractor will not be responsible for the initial installation; however, the contractor will be responsible to maintain the systems once installed.

16. Have you established your approach to the competitive range?

A: The Government will probably limit CR. Full details will be included in the RFP.

17. What cyber security responsibilities are associated with this contract.

A: Contractor cyber security responsibilities are outlined in detail in the UASOCS PWS.

18. Are there established upgrade or refresh plans established or would this be part of CDRL 0004

Technical Report – Study/Service?

A: This is not part of CDRL 0004. This is part of CDRL 006 Life-Cycle Management and is the contractor’s responsibilty.

19. Does relevant experience in network operations or sat comm require past performance within

USAF RPA operations or can similar experiences demonstrate capability?

A: Similar type work will be considered relevant regardless of being USAF or not.

20. Are there WD or CBA positions associated with this contract?

A: There are no CBA positions; however, there are a some WD postions. We will include the

WDs with the RFP.

21. Is it anticipated that any future RPA CAP requirement changes will result in similar manning level changes in affected network and reachback facility support? If so, what is the established methodology used for planning?

A: There is no direct correlation between CAP changes and manning levels.

22. Do you have a number for surge increases?

A: Reference the final PWS as your guide as to what to propose to. The Govt will address changes at the time of the change.

23. What type of Network Management System is in use?

A: Solar Winds is one example; however, please reference the PWS hardware/software lists.

24. Is there a ticket tracking system in use by the Help Desk?

A: Yes, Microsoft Service Manager is used. It is govt owned system and will be provided at contract start.

25. Is there any integration between the ticket tracking system and Configuration Management

Data Base?

A: It is not automated. The maintenance management system is not connected to the configuration management database.

26. How is employee turnover risk going to be quantified in the LPTA evaluation process?

A: Draft L&M addresses that. The Govt expects the KTR to propose how they would mitigate this risk.

27. Is the contractor required to obtain formal certification at each location?

A: The contractor must be ISO 9001-2008 compliant at each site location, but does not have to be certified.

28. Under Projects Management what types of projects are anticipated?

A: One such example is tech refresh.

29. Does the contractor have operations and maintenance responsibilities for TFT/FSST/SETSS at any CONUS OCS sites?

A: No, at this time it is not anticipated that there will be any CONUS location support sites.

30. Is there depot level maintenance on Fixed Site SATCOM Terminals (FSST) and SATCOM Earth

Terminal Sub-System (SETSS)?

A: No. There is no depot level requirement at this time. Definitions are provided for clarification only.

31. Do contractor long-haul maintenance requirements extend beyond the OCS facilities?

A: PWS p.17 addresses this. The points of demarcation are identified and will be included in the bidders library.

32. Are the Operations Centers configured similarly?

A: Configuration depends on their mission. There are similarities but some uniquenesses.

Bidders library will detail how they are configured.

33. Appendix K has Sr. Network Engineers required to have Juniper and CCIE certifications. Are these required at each location?

A: Not both, Appendix K has been adjusted to state one or the other “or equivalent”.

34. Will the Govt be providing a list of staffing?

A: No. It’s the contractor’s responsibility to propose staffing requirements.

35. How confident do you feel about the timeline.

A: The timeline will be adjusted due to the addition of the reachback sites and to accommodate a CONUS and a possible OCONUS site visit. Site visit(s) will be scheduled before the Final RFP is issued. Notices will be posted on FEDBIZOPPS when finalized.

36. Is the stated value of $100M with or without the reachback sites?

A: Without. The reachback sites will be added to this RFP.

37. How will a company get credit for innovation in the LPTA environment?

A: You would not get credit in an LPTA. Innovations could come after award. Since this is an

LPTA, propose to the RFP and the requirements in the PWS.

38. Is it possible to visit with 432 WG leadership?

A: No. The only visits will be the site visit to Creech and and Reachback site.

39. How many training SOCs are there?

A: Six (6) total: 4 at Holloman, 1 at Nellis and 1 at Creech.

40. Will the bidders library be available to make electronic copies?

A: No. Classified information may NOT be copied.

41. Is there more information about the Award Fee?

A: Award Fee plan is still under development. It will be posted at a later date.

42. What is the number and description of the current vehicles supporting UASOCS?

A: Under contract, there is only one (1) stake-bed truck with a tommy-lift gate.

43. Will the Past Performance volume be due prior to the other responses?

A: Yes, Past Performance volume will be required prior to other volumes.

44. Will the Govt have a minimum small business goal?

A: No. The Govt will not dictate a percentage. The contractor subcontracting plan will be reviewed on a acceptable/unacceptable basis.

45. Does the govt anticipate any reduction in the systems served by the contract?

A: No

46. How will transition and associated costs be evaluated?

A: Transition costs and evaluation is still being determined.

47. Will any plug numbers be provided for transition?

A: No plug numbers.

48. Will the Govt release budget information?

49. What UASOCS challenges keep you awake at night?

A: Lost links, not supporting the guys on the ground, criticality of combat operations support is higher than training support, not having fully qualified personnel, fudging of qualifications.

50. Will Industry Day slides be posted to FBO?

A: Yes. Done.

51. Is it ok if the Prime doesn’t have FMV if it is subcontracted out?

52. Who is responsible for sustainment of the new IP hardware?

A: The UASOCS contractor will maintain. A separate contractor will install.

53. In PWS 2.2.1.1 and Appendix K are all of these personnel considered Key Personnel?

A: Appendix K will be updated to clarify which are key personnel.

54. Is Appendix S correct?

A: No. It should be Appendix Q. It will be corrected.

55. Is the proposal going to be unclassified?

56. Is the work generally the same as in 2009?

A: Yes, but the reachback sites will now be included on this new contract for UASOCS.

57. Will a complete list of software and hardware be provided?

58. For transition of GFP, will inventory problems be reconciled prior to a new contractor assuming responsibility?

A: Yes. The current contract requires a complete physical inventory during contract transition of all GFP. The government will perform oversight of the process.

59. Is a subcontracting plan part of the proposal?

A: Yes. Large businesses are requried to submit a subcontracting plan and meet FAR requirements.

60. Is there a requirement for the site manager to be located at Creech?

A: See PWS p.7. Up to contractor to determine how site manager will work this.

61. How does an Award Fee work with a Fixed Price contract?

A: Key is above and beyond performance. See Award Fee plan when posted.

62. Is there a requirement for contractor to supply vehicles?

A: Contractor should propose under technical approach if they feel they need vehicles.

63. IRT Past Performance, does the Govt look at it as an total or per contract?

A: Per contract.

64. Does the Govt look at companies with no past performance?

A: Yes. Due diligence will be done. However no past performance is viewed as “acceptable”.

65. Will the Govt be doing the initial TESA paperwork and will there be sufficient lead time?

A: Refer to hyperlink in Appendix C of the PWS.

66. How will Engineering Support be evaluated?

A: Factors listed in L&M will be used to evaluate proposals.

67. Who will be represented on the SSEB?

A: We do NOT release the names of members on the SSEB.

68. Does the Draft PWS reflect the number of sites that have been active since 2012? What is new?

A: PWS reflects what is currently being done to date. New will be the reachback sites and the

556 TES.

69. Which equipment falls under MICAP, Repair Cycle, Awaiting Parts and SPRAM?

A: The equipment at the reachback sites.

70. Are the confined spaces all at the reachback sites? How many are there? How many respiratory protection places?

A: Yes, all at the reachback sites. Will clarify PWS p29 with additional information.

71. What is the difference between the master/functional libraries and the DMS?

A: See PWS p.9.

72. Is the intent of the Help Desk to support Circuit, VTC, RPA Video and network admin or a subset of these?

A: Help Desk function is the central call unit for opening all trouble tickets.

73. Is the relocation requirement limited to repositioning equipment at the same base?

A: Relocation of a SOC, not a GCS, may or may not be at the same location or base.

74. How many orbits/CAPS does each site support?

A: It may vary. The SOC is what you will support not the GCS. This contract is working the connection to the GCS not the internal workings of the GCS.

75. What is the demarcation to the SOC?

A: Refer to the configuration diagram in the bidder’s library.

76. Does the number of orbits/CAPS determine the size of the SOC?

A: No, it is not CAP driven.

77. For the new facility requirement, how many orbits/CAPS should it be able to support?

A: the contract is not CAP driven.

78. Is there a standard horse shoe configuration for each SOC?

79. Should we assume Appendix K skill sets are the range of labor categories required?

A: Appendix K identifies personnel positions.

80. What is the difference between the 432nd ACMS NOC Help desk and the ACMS PEB Tier II Help

Desk? Are we manning both desks?

A: The locations are the difference. Yes, the contractor will be required to man both.

81. Of the squadrons listed are they all ACC or are some ANG?

A: All ACC.

82. Under the Firm Fixed Price contract what areas follow under the FFP?

A: Labor is FFP. CR CLINs cover material, government directed travel, government directed overtime.

83. Is the KTR responsible for identifying critical points of failure?

84. Will there be a limit to the number of personnel accessing the bidders library at one time?

A: Yes. We will post instructions and how to schedule at a later date.

85. Will there be a NETCENT2 requirement?

A: No, not at this time.

86. Will demarcation points be better specified?

A: Will be better defined in configuration diagrams.

87. What is “unknown performance”?

A: When a business lacks relevant performance history or for whom no information is available.

88. Will all TESA requirements for all 3 OCONUS locations be spelled out?

A: MOAs will be added to FBO.

89. What is the expected page count for the RFP?

A: See the draft RFP and L&M when posted mid-July timeframe.

90. Previous RFP required Prime to demonstrate “the same type of work, magnitude of effort and complexity sustaining two or more C2 Operations Centers in Geographically-separated locations” in order to receive Highly Relevant ratings on PP. Will the upcoming UASOCS RFP be the same?

A: See L&M for rating requirements.

91. Will site visits to other locations such as Holloman or Ellsworth be scheduled and will an opportunity to meet senior government program officers at each site be made available?

92. Will the govt provide lab facilities to design and test prior to operational integration?

A: No, not required of contractor.

93. Will a list of Industry Day attendees be posted to FBO for subcontracting opportunities?

A: Yes. Done. Posted list to FBO.

94. Has a “should cost” been established?

A: No. Will not be used.

95. Will there be a min/max of PP required? If so what will be the numbers? How many for prime and how many from subs?

A: At this time, a limit of six (6) for the Prime and any sub, which can be up to (3) for the Prime and an accumulative total of (3) for any sub(s). However, see draft RFP and draft L&M that will be posted July timeframe for actual numbers.

96. Will there be additional meetings with AMIC/UASOCS Solicitation team prior to RFP?

A: Yes. There will be a pre-proposal conference after the draft RFP and prior to Final RFP. All site visits will allow interaction with solicitation team with site Q&A.

97. Do Network Administrators require specific certifications like Cisco Certified Network

Professional (CCNP)?

A: The Senior Network Engineer is required to have either Juniper Networks Certified Internet

Professional (JNCIP) or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP. All other Network Engineers are required to have the certificationsmatched to assigned duties. For additional information please review Appendix K.

98. Do System Administrators require any specific certifications like Microsoft Certified Information

Technology Professional (MCITP)?

A: The Senior Systems Administrator is required to have Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer

(MCSE) or Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional (MCITP) with Enterprise

Administrator. All other System Administrators are required to have the certifications matched to assigned duties. For additional information please review Appendix K.

99. What does DISA control now?

A: Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) controls the “pipe lines” long-haul communications t0-from processing centers.

100. How does Global Hawk come into play for the reachback sites?

A: This has not been defined as of yet. We will have answers for Global Hawks involvement at a later time to be determined.

101. What does “TFT” throughout PWS fit?

A: Tactical Field Terminal (TFT) is directly related to the Global Hawk operations and will be added or removed pending Global Hawk involvement with this effort.

102. Will Contractor Support Services be available at Ramstein and Sigonella?

A: The standard “host base” support will be given according to their governing requirements. We will post some type of listing of offered services.

103. Will the Govt RFP include a tech refresh solution, overall tech refresh mitigation plan and pricing for the same at each location?

A: No the RFP will be directed to support “as is” posture, no future solutions/technologies will be considered as we are looking for the support of the UASOCS contract as it is currently configured.

104. What information will be included in the Bidders library for each of the relay sites?

A: Unclassified Workload data will be posted on FBO.

105. When will the site visit to Creech happen?

A: To be determined at this time, this information/schedule will be advertised on FBO.

106. Will there be site visits to the relay sites?

A: The government is currently planning a visit to the Ramstein Reachback site, depending on interest shown.

107. Is the Govt going to organize the CLIN structure by squadron where the CLIN includes

SOC, Server room, Briefing rooms and specific outer offices?

A: Yes

108. What will be considered pre-priced CLINs?

A: At this time, only the Relocation CLIN will be pre-priced.

109. What will be the RPA-SOC SPO role at Warner Robins with respect to the engineering and approval of UASOCS software/hardware solutions?

A: At this time, the RPA-SOC SPO will work with the requirements owner and management authority to coordinate any future UASOCS software/hardware solutions. Any bidder’s involvement would be post award.

110. Will the FSST and SETSS support include terminals on Creech and Hollomans AFBs? If so, will it require maintenance of the terminal(s) or operations of the terminal(s) or both?

A: FSST/SETSS support for Creech/Holloman AFBs are not part of this effort.

111. Will JWICS support for other non-RPA direct support buildings be included in the PWS?

A: No, the only supported operations are detailed/outlined in the current PWS.

112. If there is a company dedicated PM for this effort, will the government consider designating a PM position which would allow for the cost to be built in?

A: Appendix K identifies the PM as a Key position. Any costs should be included in the labor/overhead consideration

113. In the security portion of the PWS please elaborate on the AFISRA (sp?) role.

A: AFISRA is the governing authority that assures certification/accreditation of networks, SCIFs and so forth.

114. When would overtime be required? Surge support? And what is the process the Govt uses to direct OT?

- A: Government directed overtime is not limited to surge support, but by operational requirements. CO notification will direct overtime.

115. What network tool is presently used to develop metrics?

A: System availability rates are determined by the government and are outlined in the PWS

Service Summary table. One tool, as an example, used to provide that information is Solar

Winds Network Monitoring tool.

116. Elaborate on the FMV requirement?

A: The contractor is responsible to ensure that FMV is at point of presence within 5 seconds or less to DISA refer to PWS. Site visit at Creech may help to clarify.

117. Is VDH support only at Creech?

118. What is the difference between Full and Admin in Section O?

A: Please review paragraph 3.2.4 and sub-paragraphs where levels of support are clearly defined.

119. Secure VOIP, is that a homegrown network?

A: No, it’s Secure voice over internet protocol.

120. INOSC patches, are they pushed from Peterson or is there an exclusionary list?

A: There is an exclusionary list for mission assets.

121. Would the Govt provide electronic access through SIPRNet or JWICS to the Bidder’s library?

A: No

122. Will the Govt permit a fee (profit) on purchasing?

A: Yes, that is part of contractor’s handling rate.

123. Would the Govt provide a NTE amount for purchases so contractor can quantify impact and adjust Labor accordingly?

A: The government will insert a NTE amount for all cost reimbursable CLINs.

124. Will the Govt provide a plug number for overseas ODCs and state what the Govt would support (ex DoDDS tuition, Housing, Overseas premiums, Defense Base Act (DBA) payments and relocations?

- No, plug numbers will not be provided; however, MOAs denoting types of support will be posted to FBO.

125. Is Kadena operating under a SOFA?

- Yes

126. Are all support services at Kadena provided to employees and their dependents or just the employees?

A: Employees and their dependents

127. Govt stated 556 TES could be added. A recent RFI under CAAS IV to provide A&AS support to 556 TES listed requirements. Is this the same scope of work that is being contemplated for inclusion under UASOCS contract?

A: No, The portion of the 556 TES under this effort would fall in line with the SOC support requirements only.

128. Is the fact that UASOCS is considered a weapon systems the reason this opportunity will not be advertised under NETCENTS II?

129. Slide 32 of briefing “if exeuted as Full & Open mandatory SB subcontracting requirement may be considered…”, has AMIC conducted this type of acquisition? If so, on what program? If not, then with NAICS 541513, how strongly is the Govt entertaining this option?

A: There will be no mandatory percentage set-aside for subcontracting.

130. Will Civil engineering requirements continue to be part of this requirement?

A: All Civil Engineering requirements are listed in paragraph 4.3 Civil Engineering