Attachment 7 - RFI Notice 1 (4 jun).pdf

Request for Information (RFI) Project: 36 WG Cell Phone IDIQ Solicitation: FA5240-20-R-0002

Questions on the RFI

1. Based on Post Award, 1.2 please confirm this service will be awarded to one Contractor as a single award (SAC) and not awarded as a Multi Award Contract (MAC) as it has been awarded in the past.

a. Answer: The Government intends on awarding a single award IDIQ. Refer to SF1449, FAR

52.212-2, Evaluation of Commercial Items.

2. Please confirm if Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQ) are required for this BID if it is, please provide the details needed to submit the PPQ.

a. Answer: No. Past Performance Questionnaires are not required.

3. Please advise if DISA approved devices will be required for all activations, the latest iPhone approved device is the iPhone X, however since the launch of the iPhone11, most telco’s have started replacing the iPhone X devices with the iPhone11 device

a. Answer: Per the PWS, mobile phones must be DISA approved.

4. Please advise if Contractor can provide the latest iPhone11 device upon award of contract.

a. Answer: Per the PWS, mobile phones must be DISA approved. Delivery will be required upon task order award.

5. If the iPhone11 device will be on the DISA approved pricing list later this year, can Contractor recommend utilizing the current unlocked devices the users have. Can the users be issued the

Contractors sim cards in their current devices and once the iPhone11 device is on the DISA approved listing, issue the users new iPhone11 devices?

a. Answer: Only phones on the DISA approved list may be ordered. If it is not on the list, it may not be ordered.

6. If the iPhone11 devices are approved, can Contractor provide E-Sims to activate the device, so the sim slot can be used for traveling Sims or other purposes?

a. Answer: Yes. This is acceptable as long as the phone is unlocked.

7. In the event DISA devices are required, can you advise if the Contractor will be allowed time to order the DISA approved devices and in the interim, if the Command will allow, can the Contractor to issue

Sims cards that can be used on the current Government unlocked iPhone devices?

a. Answer: Yes. The contractor will be allowed time to order the DISA approved devices.

b. The contractor can issue sim cards to be used on the government’s current unlocked DISA approved devices.

8. Based on the unit count on the ELIN’s, please confirm that a total of 90 mifi devices will be needed.

Please advise if mifi devices are required to be US branded devices.

a. Answer: Per attachment 3, Price Proposal Structure, only 40 mi-fi/wi-fi devices are estimated each year. That estimate includes a surge element. There is no guarantee that the estimated quantity will be ordered.

b. Answer: We are currently using MiFi 7000 devices. Websites for approved product list:

https://aplits.disa.mil/processAPList.action https://www.niap-ccevs.org/product/

9. Based on the unit count on the ELIN’s, please confirm that 480 data smart phone devices are needed. If DISA approved devices are needed can the Contractor issue a mix of Apple and Samsung

Devices?

a. Answer: Per attachment 3, Price Proposal Structure, only 260 Apple and 20 Android phones are estimated each year. That estimate includes a surge element. There is no guarantee that the estimated quantity will be ordered.

b. The contractor shall provide the DISA approved devices in accordance with the requested

ELIN. The amounts listed on Attachment 3 are estimated quantities. There is a minimum of

$500 guaranteed on this IDIQ, which is inclusive of any and all devices that may be requested on any order.

10. In the event the Contractor needs to order DISA approved devices, can the Contractor work with

AAFB on the ETA of the arrival of the DISA approved devices?

a. Answer: The delivery date will be stated on each Task Order. If needed, delivery dates can be negotiated.

11. On the PWS page 4 of 30, Mandatory Requirements Inside and Outside of the U.S., it states that

“Devices may be provided with local phone numbers for the country in which they are to be used so that domestic calls made will not appear as long distance or international calls and long distance roaming charges are not incurred”, please advise:

a. Can the Contractor provide an international sim which will allow the user roaming ability?

a. Answer: This language has been deleted from the PWS.

b. In the event the Contractor does not have roaming agreements with a particular country would the command be open to purchasing a prepaid sim and the Contractor can credit the account for the services used?

a. Answer: No. If no coverage is available, the government will seek alternative methods for coverage.

c. Can the Contractor provide international roaming Sims of which can be delivered prior to the users traveling? Will the command allow the Contractor ample time of 24-48 hours to deliver the roaming sim card to the user that will be traveling?

a. Answer: No. Government is unable to provide advance notice earlier than 48 hours.

d. Please confirm what the acronym COTS stands for.

a. Answer: Commercial off the shelf

12. In reference to PWS Page 5, c. 4 Products, 1. Local Domestic Voice-Only Calls, will this plan require calls / roaming to the CNMI (Saipan, Tinian, and Rota)?

a. Answer: No; CNMI (Saipan, Tinian, and Rota) are included in the PREMIUM category of services.

13. Can you advise if there any required handsets for the non-smart phone devices?

a. Answer: Yes. Refer to ELIN B003 on attachment 2, ELIN Price List.

14. In reference to PWS Page 7, c. 4 Products, 4. Local / Domestic Combined Voice and Data Services, can you advise if this plan will also require calls, SMS, and data, to include long distance and roaming to the CNMI (Saipan, Tinian, and Rota)?

a. Answer: Refer to question #12.

15. Can you advise that SMS roaming is included in both the Local Domestic Voice- Only call plan and the Local/ Domestic Combined Voice and Data services plan?

a. Answer: Yes. Refer to PWS, C.4 Products and Services for definitions.

16. Can you confirm what GB of data the command expects for each plan ELIN? Will the command require an unlimited plan or can the Contractor provide 25GB of data service that can be throttled to XXX kbps should the users reach the allotted 25GB data plan. If there is a cap on data for each phone, can you confirm what bucket of data will be required for the plans?

a. Answer: Per the PWS, plans require unlimited data; speed shall NOT be throttled to 256Kbps regardless of local or premium. However, data shall be disabled on phones if taken outside of the region, country, or area that isn’t covered on the plan to which the phone is linked.

i.e a local phone can be disabled outside the local area; a premium phone can be disabled if taken outside of any of the countries on the countries list. See C.4 for definitions.

17. In Reference to Page 7 number 5 Premium Combined Voice and data “ Unlimited Guam only Data” can you confirm if the Contractor can cap the data or if the requirement is for a truly unlimited data plan without any shaping or throttling of data on the back end?

a. Answer: Unlimited data is required for Premium Combined Voice and Data.

18. In Reference to Page 7 number 5 Premium Combined Voice and data “ Unlimited USA Data” can you confirm if the Contractor can cap the data or if the requirement is for a truly unlimited data plan without any shaping or throttling of data on the back end?

Answer: Unlimited data is required for Premium Combined Voice and Data.

19. In Reference to page 8 on the PWS, please confirm that all CMD’s must be unlocked at the start of when the CDMD is issued by the Contractor to the end user.

a. Answer: Yes, devices must be unlocked when the task order is awarded.

20. In Reference to page 9 of the PWS “Suspension of Active Services” please advise if the device will be returned to the Contractor if services are suspended under 24 months.

a. Answer: No. The devices become Government property.

21. We have sites surrounding AAFB, can you advise if AAFB will allow the Contractor to install repeaters to enhance indoor coverage for buildings that have little penetration?

a. Answer: The successful offeror may submit a request to the Government.

22. Please advise if SF1449 REPS and Certs need to be submitted if the Contractor has updated their information in SAM.

a. Answer: Yes.

23. The Contractor shall support incorporation of additional levels of bill viewing on the web page as required by Government: Need clarification if this levels of bill viewing pertains to different viewing access thru logins or the ability to provide more granular details for the amount.

a. Answer: The contractor requires a system that can track phone usage (minutes, data, etc.)

in case the government requests it. The government requires access to view phone usage information when needed. The government requires access to billing information that would be consistent with contractor’s business rules.

24. Payment - The Contractor web site shall support on-line bill payment. We currently have an online bill site for all customers. Can we just use this and put the URL link in the portal that directs you to the online bill site?

a. Answer: This language was deleted from the PWS.

b. No. Payment for each Task Order will be made through WAWF.eb.mil

25. On interface requirements – what type of interfaces and to which systems will we interface with.

What information will be shared between the portal and the Government system and would you be able to provide API documentation and the programming language required?

26. On invoice formats – We have a standard invoice format generated from our billing system. For your requirements though we can create canned reports to support those invoices in the format that you prefer. Is this acceptable to you?

a. Answer: PWS language clarified in paragraph C.7, Invoicing.

b. A standard commercial invoice for each Task Order shall be required monthly and shall contain an itemized breakout. Monthly Invoice shall contain an itemized price breakout for everything billed in that month. Itemized breakout shall include list of all phone numbers, amount charged for each phone number, total amount billed on that invoice and any other charges.

27. On the website requirements – can you provide a POC who will work with us in the detailed specifications of the website?

28. On reporting requirements – can we just make it available on the portal and available on demand when you generate that report instead of Email? We can control viewing access by logins so we can restrict certain reports to certain access levels.

29. On the customer account – Is it ok to create different accounts for the different ordering entities so we can track as you requested?

30. On the End user reporting, we can also use the portal to make the reports ready for viewing on your side (again, we can limit viewing access per login)

31. Will there be an ADMIN/POC on your side that we can send notifications to if the reports are available and ready for downloading

a. Answer: Removed requirement language from PWS.

32. Can you confirm if the 1800 number needs to be setup or can the contractor provide a local hotline for this service?

a. Answer: A 1-800 number is not required in the PWS. A dedicated crisis number and a support line is required for emergencies as outlined in PWS C.4.

33. Can you clarify the DISA approved internet hotspot make and model?

a. Answer: See the Approved Products list.

34. Can you advise if all 690 services will be for AAFB users and tenants or is part of the 690 service belong to users of the Navy and JRMO?

a. Answer: The total quantity outlined in Attachment 3, is an estimate that includes surge elements and other factors. There is no guarantee that we will order the full amount. The only guarantee on this IDIQ is the $500 minimum order value. As for users, the ordering office is set to be only 36th Contracting Squadron.

35. Can you advise if this contract will include Navy and Marines phones?

a. Answer: The phones will support Department of Defense (DoD) users.

36. Please clarify what is the timeline for us to deliver this portal?

37. Please confirm if the portal delivery can be done in phases. For example:

Phase I: Contractor will prioritize the functionalities on the tasks/ordering.

Phase II: Contractor will provide reports module development.

Although while Phase II is being developed, Contractor can provide the reports through email based on the agreed upon timelines and frequencies.

38. Can you provide the Governments Top 10 roaming destinations? If so can we get the list of the countries?

a. Answer: The government is unable to provide a list of the Top 10 roaming destinations.

39. Would the command be able to provide an analysis of the past roaming usage so contractor can gauge the amount of roaming that will be involved in this service, understandably knowing the data will not tie the Government or limit the roaming services the contractor provides to the Government users.

a. Answer: The Government is unable to provide this information.

40. Based on the quantities of each ELIN can you confirm that these quantities are set minimum activations per contract year?

a. Answer: These quantities are yearly estimates.

41. Mandatory Requirements Inside and Outside of the U.S. states:

a. “In order to provide complete coverage, the Contractor shall provide CMDs and supporting services through parent operating companies, partner markets, affiliates, teaming arrangements, or subcontracting as necessary.”

i. Question: Are there requirements or restrictions as to the affiliates or subcontracting of services relative to this section?

ii. Answer: The government does not currently have a list of partners you cannot do business with. However the prohibitions established by law are still in effect.

b. “Devices may be provided with local phone numbers for the country in which they are to be used”.

i. Question: Please confirm that they will require additional devices (phones) or if

SIMs (eSIM or pSIM) can be accepted.

ii. Answer: This language was deleted from the PWS.

42. Section 5, Commercial Mobile Devices (CMDs)

a. “Devices shall support, without device modification, the option of using a Government-owned and/or Government-operated cell network, or virtual cell network, during national emergencies, training exercises, and overseas requirements.”

i. Question: Is this in reference to FirstNet? If so or if there are additional spectrum operating requirements, please provide.

ii. Answer: Yes. This is in reference to FirstNet network. Modifications or service changes should not be required.

iii. Question: Does the customer expect or require the need for Private LTE network support?

iv. Answer: Yes.

43. Section 5, Surge

a. “The Contractor shall provide surge capabilities through the temporary deployment of network infrastructure, equipment and support.”

b. Question: Relative to crisis response and coverage augmentation, what is the expected response SLA under this section?

c. Answer: The government expects an initial response time from the vendor of 30 minutes –

1 hr to the initial request for additional support. This initial response is to determine what specific support is needed and how quickly it needs to be put in place.

44. Section 5, Contingency Communication Capability (CCC) – Emergency Service

a. “The following capabilities are required: (1) A dedicated crisis phone number (2) A live support line for assistance 24/7 (3) Deploy temporary mobile cellular sites as requested (4) Provide Wireless Priority Service (WPS) to all devices (5) An emergency response process plan”

b. Question: Part 4, WPS, is this is reference to Class-14 Cellular access or preemption?

c. Answer: Wireless Priority Service (WPS) is a Federal program that authorizes cellular communications service providers to prioritize calls over wireless networks. Specific details can be obtained at https://www.fcc.gov/general/wireless-priority-service-wps (Federal Communications Commission).

d. “All CMDs will be capable of receiving emergency texts, and these texts will be provided at no charge.”

e. Question: Please clarify “emergency texts”. Is this in reference to WEAs or IPAWS or just generally used text (SMS) messages being sent from the customer side? Please note, there are not operators in the region that participate in WEA or IPAWS integration.

f. Answer: This is a reference to Guam’s emergency notification system (i.e. 3-1-1) and any message issued from one of the military notifications systems.

https://www.fcc.gov/general/wireless-priority-service-wps

45. IDIQ, Firm fixed price – Questions

a. Question: Since no quantities are provided, please confirm that firm fixed price is on the rate plan based on quantity?

b. Answer: The ELIN pricing will be used as the baseline pricing for the each Task Order. Each

Task Order will be Firm fixed price. Each Task Order price will be calculated based on the quantities and price for each ELIN ordered on each individual task order.

46. Per the PWS these CMD’s are for official government use.

a. Question: Since these are official phones, can all social media and entertainment sites/apps be blocked from access to avoid abuse when roaming?

b. Answer: No. Some business may be conducted on some of these sites; i.e. Facebook. The Air Force has an official Facebook site. With current DISA STIG regulations once BUEM is installed on a government device the device now operates as an official computer/mobile device which will not allow users to access unauthorized websites and apps.

47. Attachment 2 – Set Plan –

a. Questions: - Unit of Issue is monthly – Since no quantities for plans are provided, Unit = 1?

b. Answer:

i. ELINS B001 thru B004 are for Phones/Devices and price is per device (EA).

ii. ELINS B101 thru B106 are for Plans and price is per month of service (MO).

iii. ELINS B201 thru B203 are for Hotspots/Mi-Fi/Wi-Fi devices with a set amount of data (10GB) and price is per device with the amount of data listed in the ELIN (EA).

48. Attachment 5 – SF 1449 Solicitation, Page 3 Item 0001

a. Question: Unit refers to Lot. Since no quantities are provided. Does lot = 1 unit? Please provide a minimum qty per ELIN to use as a baseline for the IDIQ pricing structure.

b. Answer: The SF 1449 Solicitation, Page 3, Item 0001 refers to the IDIQ Contract as a whole, with a minimum order of $500 and a maximum of $4.5M over the life of the contract.

Pricing will be submitted on Attachments 2 and 3 respectively. Attachment 2 is for the individual phones, devices, and plans and Attachment 3 is where the pricing evaluation will be submitted based on ESTIMATED quantities for each ELIN that will be covered under this contract.

49. Section C.3 Basic Plan Requirements

a. Question: Can you provide and estimated quantity per ELIN to use as a baseline for the IDIQ pricing structure.

b. Answer: See attachment 3 Price Proposal structure. This is the government’s estimated quantities. However the only guaranteed order is the minimum order value of $500.

50. Will multiple vendors be awarded this contract?

a. Answer: No. The government intends to award a single award IDIQ.

51. Since this is FFP and option years are to be provided, please confirm if there will be an annual RFQ before next year task order is issued?

a. Answer: No. The Government will exercise options if the requirement still exists.

52. Wireless Requirements Inside and Outside of the U.S.

a. Government “Premium Service” and “International” subscribers may require global voice and data wireless communications services and commercial off the shelf (COTS) wireless/cellular telephones/voice mail/smart phone/internet hotspot devices throughout the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), U.S Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), and Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Areas of Responsibility (AORs). Global service includes wireless coverage throughout the 48 contiguous United States, Afghanistan, Alaska, Albania, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia Herzegovina, British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Caribbean, Chile, China, CNMI, Cook Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Diego Garcia, District of Columbia, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hawaii, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Midway Islands, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Samoa, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, the Federated States of Micronesia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, U.S. Territories of American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wake Island, Yemen.

b. Question: Currently some of the locations mentioned above do not have roaming capabilities. Is there a minimum requirement of locations?

c. Answer: The vendor is responsible for identifying which locations with which they don’t have roaming capabilities and also which locations cannot provide roaming?

53. Cellular Service Changes A cellular service change is defined as, any Government requested change from one cellular service to another for a specific phone number. Cellular service changes are only authorized by the issuing Contracting Officer and may be made without penalty upon the issuance of a new Task Order. A cellular service change at any time other than the issuance of a new Task Order shall result in a 365-day lock on the changed telephone number into the new cellular service requested. A 365-day lock does not preclude the Government from completely terminating the service provided to the telephone number in question. The intent is to limit the quantity of cellular service changes and thus mitigate the administrative burden on all parties caused by these changes.

Cellular service changes outside the issuance of a new Task Order shall take effect in concurrence with the beginning of the next billing cycle to avoid pro-rated charges. Only changes made by the Contracting Officer by order of a modification to the Task Order are billable. The contractor assumes all risks and fees associated with changes made without the order of a modification, as these changes will not be authorized or paid for by the Government.

a. Question: Please clarify if the 365 lock will remain on the number assigned the service change.

b. Question: Please clarify if service change requests will only be for upgrades in services and not downgrades in services.

c. Question: Will a maximum number of changes per number, per contract period be applied?

d. Answer: Removed requirement language from PWS.

54. Overages Due to all task orders being Firm Fixed Price, overages will not be allowed. Service shall be rendered inoperable when a user attempts to utilize a service outside of their covered plan. Unless notified, in writing, by the contracting officer, the contractor shall suspend services for devices that have reached the end of their periods of performance prescribed in the task order.

a. Question: Since this is a firm fixed price, how will the vendor be protected or compensated if a change in services is requested?

b. Answer: Pricing is firm fixed-price. Each task order will be made in accordance with the ELINs outlined in the attachments. The full definitions of each plan requested is outlined in the PWS. If a user takes a phone into a region, or country, not covered by the contract (based on the phone and the plan on that phone), the contractor shall disable service to that phone. The contract shall not be required to provide service outside the scope of this contract.

i. For example, a local phone taken outside of Guam shall have services disabled.

1. Note: the PWS states that local/domestic includes:

a. Free nationwide (includes from Guam to Continental US, Alaska, or

Hawaii) long distance

b. Free domestic/local roaming (calls originating from Guam, Continental US, Alaska, or Hawaii will be considered domestic/local)

c. However, if a change to the contract is required, it must be bilateral in nature; meaning both the Contracting Officer and the Vendor shall agree in writing, via a formal modification.