AFRC_C2_System_Site__Visits_Questions_and_Answers__31_May_19.pdf

Questions and Answers

Site Visit at HQ AFRC and Dobbins ARB Marietta GA

31 May 19

1. Does AFRC expect each individual site to continue full functional operations if that sites AFNET circuit is down for any reason?

ANSWER: Yes

2. The PWS para 1.1 Scope states “The scope includes removal of legacy systems”. Paragraph 1.5.3 states “The Government will remove the system.” Please clarify if contractor will or will not be responsible for removal of the legacy system.

ANSWER: Contractor will be responsible for removal of the legacy system. The Government will handle the disposal of the removed equipment.

3. The PWS para 1.1.1. Please define contractor’s responsibility regarding disposal of the legacy equipment.

ANSWER: The Government will dispose of the removed legacy equipment. The contractor will be told where to put the equipment for the Government to take to DRMO.

4. Can the Government provide the attachments embedded inside the PWS?

ANSWER: The embedded attachments were posted on FBO 9 May 19.

5. PWS Para 1.2.1. Can Government provide more than likely number of interfaces (lines and radio) requiring recording?

ANSWER: The Contractor shall provide a new voice recording system to support documentation and recall of all voice communications (telephone and radio). The number of phone lines will vary at each location.

6. Once existing equipment is removed, will Air Force collect the decommissioned equipment?

ANSWER: Yes

7. Will “audio” utilize speaker boxes for monitoring purposes?

ANSWER: Yes. The Contractor shall include all peripherals and miscellaneous parts not listed as a major component, including but not limited to handsets, headsets, speakers, microphones, IP phones, hardware, media convertors and multiplexers as needed for system operation.

8. Is new equipment to sit beside the old equipment until the cutover?

ANSWER: The contractor shall coordinate with each location to determine if the equipment will be installed in the primary or alternate location first. If a location does not have a working alternate location then the equipment may be required to be installed side by side until cutover. Coordination with the representative at each location will be required.

9. Can some console units be decommissioned, yet leaving some working to still be used so as to free desk space for some new consoles?

ANSWER: The contractor shall coordinate with each location to determine if the equipment will be installed in the primary or alternate location first. If a location does not have a working alternate location then the equipment may be required to be installed side by side until cutover. Coordination with the representative at each location will be required.

10. Do the CP, Alt CP, AMOPS and MOCCs at the 19 remote bases need to operate autonomously, including telephony, radio, conferencing and recording, at the local remote bases level if the AF WAN connections to the hosts at Robins AFB and Dobbins ARB are inoperable?

ANSWER: Yes

11. If the answer is yes to question 10, will the remove bases provide VM environments for remote site servers if applicable and that UPS will be government furnished at server locations? -

ANSWER: The ten AFRC Host Bases have been set up to use VOIP which ties into Cisco phone systems.

Attachment 1 to this Question and Answer identifies the VM and VoIP availability for nine Tenant Units.

12. Regarding VMs at either the hosts or remote bases, please confirm the following:

a. VMWare licenses will be Government provided?

ANSWER: Yes

b. Applicable OSs license (CentOS, Server 2012R2, Server 2016 etc.) will be Government provided?

ANSWER: Yes

13. It has been stated the telephone and radio sessions will need to be recorded. Will conferencing sessions need to be recorded as well?

ANSWER: Yes. All communications on a CP line must be recorded

14. Number of “hotline” circuits that need to be terminated at each base and each location?

ANSWER: At a minimum, each location will have 1000 hotlines available for use. Each location has the ability to program hotlines via Siemens console.

15. With reference to Q&A from 19 April 2019, Q61. The Government response stated that MLPP is required which is consistent with the requirements for C2 systems. This is not explicitly stated in the PWS. Can the PWS be amended to clarify this?

ANSWER: No, It has been determined that MLPP is not required for the system. Consider Q61 (19 Apr 2019) changed to read: MLPP is not required for the system.

16. Will the Government please provide the port count for the existing configuration?

ANSWER: Port count is at least one for each existing configuration.

17. Will the Government please provide the port count for the new configuration?

ANSWER: At least 1 port will be provided for each base.

18. What are the existing system types and manufacturer?

ANSWER: It is a Siemens HiPath System

19. Please clarify what you mean by “Enterprise” solution.

ANSWER: Enterprise simply means the government is the purchaser of the C2 System for 19 locations rather than each location purchasing the solution respectively.

20. Please clarify requirements for local “autonomy” or “survivability” in light of the answer to the previous question.

ANSWER: Local autonomy means each location must be provided permissions to make all administration changes for the system.

21. Please clarify what VMware capabilities are available at the 19 sites.

ANSWER: Attachment 1 to these Questions and Answers provides the VMWare capabilities at the 19 sites.

22. Will the Government please clarify enterprise and local survivability requirements?

ANSWER: Enterprise simply means the government is the purchaser of the C2 System for 19 locations rather than each location purchasing the solution separately. Local autonomy means each location must be provided permissions to make all administrative changes for the system.

23. Will each of the 19 bases require 99.999 availability?

ANSWER: Yes.

24. Will local processing survivability, local conferencing, and voice trunking be required at each of the 19 locations?

ANSWER: Yes. Each respective location will require autonomy.

25. Will Secondary Crash Network (SCN) phone only ring the Command Post system? Full visual supervision is not required.

ANSWER: The Contractor shall provide a solution where the SCN will ring at the primary and alternate location. A visual “hot button” showing the line ringing and picked up is required.

26. Will the Government please consider a 2 week extension for the proposal due date to be June 28, 2019?

ANSWER: The RFP will be amended to extend the proposal due date until 2 Jul at 2:00 P.M. EST.

27. Will the Government please clarify why Schedule B reflects a quantity of 125 for CLIN 0001 whereas the price matrix shows 19 each?

ANSWER: Price matrix will be corrected to reflect “Section B”. Both have been amended to have two subCLINS for 0001. 0001AA for the removal of the legacy systems and 0001AB for the installation of the new systems.

28. RFP Can the government please remove the signature section so that the model DO RFP document can be edited?

ANSWER: CON IT releases it in this format. Might try saving it under a new name or you can hand write the fill ins and scan the document.

29. RFP, FAR 52.222-44 The model do incorporates 52.222-44 Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards-Price Adjustment, however no wage determination is provided. Can the government confirm this clause is applicable? If so, please provide the applicable wage determinations

ANSWER: This clause is NOT applicable. Our new contract writing system will not allow deletion of certain clauses, they are trying to fix the issue.

30. PWS Section 4.1 Services Summary Services Summary Please clarify how exceeding, meeting, or not meeting the performance thresholds outlined within will be addressed during the performance of this contract (for example, via CPARs)?

ANSWER: There will be monthly Performance Assessment Reports (PARs) initiated by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) that will assess the contractor’s performance. Performance documented in the PARs will be reflected in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS).

31. Attachment 2 PWS Please clarify, what constitutes final acceptance of the entire program? 1. Attachment 3 Instruction to offerers Section L.II.A.2 Section L.II.A.2 states that "Print shall be no smaller than a font size of 12."

The Offeror assumes that this requirement applies to narrative text. In order to present graphical material that is clear and easily readable to the evaluators and is not overly complicated or overcrowded, can charts, graphs, drawings, diagrams, supporting illustrations, or spreadsheets use a font size smaller than 12 point?

ANSWER: Yes, the RFP will be amended to add the following: Print shall be no smaller than a font size of

12. Times New Roman, Arial, or similar font preferred. The font size shall be no less than 12 point except table cell, chart, graph or figure labels or text in tables, charts, graphs or figures shall be no smaller than 8 point.

32. Attachment 3 Instruction to offerers Section L.II.A.3 Section L.II.A.3 states the page limitations include the cover page. The Offeror suggests that a cover page is an administrative element, rather than something to be evaluated, and exits purely to identify the volume for the convenience of the Government. In this way it falls into a category similar to a table of contents or list of acronyms, neither of which count against the page limits. Can the Government exclude the cover page from counting against the page limits?

ANSWER: Yes, the cover page will be added to the excluded pages list in the RFP.

33. Attachment 3 Instruction to offerers Section D. Responsibility Determination and Supporting Documentation Please clarify, where should the financial information outlined within this section be within the proposal?

ANSWER: Financial information required shall be submitted under the general terms and conditions and can be included in Vol I. The Volume Organization will be amended to add Financial Data.

34. Attachment 3 Instruction to offerers, How long should proposals remain valid in support of this opportunity?

ANSWER: Block 12 on the face page of the RFP states 60 days unless an alternate number of days is inserted by the offeror.

35. Will the Government allow contractor proposed payment terms in support of this opportunity?

ANSWER: If the contractor would prefer to offer discount terms, that is acceptable. There are no progress payments or any other special payment terms on this acquisition.

36. PWS Para 2.1, 2.1.1, 2.1.2 General Question Are there 2 VMware instances at each base we can use to install survivable systems? If so can we assume the VMware host servers are backed up with 2 hour or more UPS systems? Also can you describe the VMWare version available at each location and can we assume they are the same version across all 19 locations?

ANSWER: The VMware virtual suites are not survivable regarding standardized backup or UPS systems across the host bases. We do not provide VMware virtual suites at any tenant location. Please see Attachment 1 to this Q&A for VMware capabilities.

37. Please confirm that Questions and Answers dated 19 April also form part of the solicitation.

ANSWER: No, they are not a part of the solicitation. They clarify and answer questions concerning the requirement.

38. From the Dobbins Site Visit we understand that Giant Voice is not required to be integrated at any of the 19 locations. Please confirm.

ANSWER: The Giant Voice will not be integrated into the system.

39. From the Dobbins Site Visit we understand that the Command Post is only an end point on the Secondary Crash Net and not an initiation point at any of the 19 locations. Please confirm.

ANSWER: Yes that is correct. The SCN is only a “hotline” in which the CP can pick up.

40. From the Dobbins Site Visit we understand that the 2 hour UPS requirement is for rack equipment and for consoles. Please confirm.

ANSWER The Contractor shall furnish and install UPS and power components that ensure continuous and full system operability in the event of primary distribution system malfunction.

41. From the Dobbins Site Visit we understand that the cutover must result in no system down time.

ANSWER: Yes. The contractor shall coordinate with each location to determine if the equipment will be installed in the primary or alternate location first. If a location does not have a working alternate location then the equipment may be required to be installed side by side until cutover. Coordination with the representative at each location will be required.

42. What is the make and model of base telephony system that the new C2 System will connect to at each of the 19 locations?

ANSWER: Cisco Unified Communication Manager, system version 11.5.1.15900-18

43. We understand that the role of the central storage on Virtual Machines at Robins and Dobbins is primarily for archiving voice recordings. Is that correct?

ANSWER: Archiving voice recordings and base system configurations

44. Please confirm that LMR radios are not required to be integrated at any of the 19 locations.

ANSWER: Yes - The Contractor shall provide for the integration of existing radio equipment including Land Mobile Radios (LMRs) into new/upgraded touch screen systems at all console positions. The system shall be capable of integrating with newer Ultra-High Frequency/Very-High Frequency (UHF/VHF) radio technology such as the Army- Navy/Portable Radio Communications (AN/PRC) 117G Multiband radio. This will depend on the current configuration of each location.

45. Regarding the document, “Console Operational Checklist”, how is this to be used? Some of the questions now seem inconsistent with the information provided by the Government. Are these questions to be interpreted as requirements?

ANSWER: Console Operational Checklist consists of requirements within the PWS and will be used during oral proposals for technical evaluations and will be used after installation for acceptance.

46. If the “Console Operational Checklist” contains requirements, please advise how many hotlines are required at each location. If these are not provided through the VOIP telephony Interface, then the quantity to be delivered will impact cost.

ANSWER: Hotlines required at each location will vary by mission supported. With a VoIP solution they should be provided through the VoIP telephony interface.

47. “Console Operational Checklist”, Attachment 3 – C2 Operational Checklist, Section II, 12. refers to a relay input for the Secondary Crash. We have seen at some Air Force locations where SCN is connected through the base telephony system. If so, this would appear as a VOIP connection which is preferred. Please confirm whether these inputs are only analog with relay indications?

ANSWER: Current system uses Analog with relay indications appearing on the displays. The new solution will be VoIP so will have VoIP inputs and relay indication appearing on display.

a. Section III, 4. Asks whether the system integrates with LMR radios. Is this required? Also refer to Question above.

ANSWER: Yes - The Contractor shall provide for the integration of existing radio equipment including Land Mobile Radios (LMRs) into new/upgraded touch screen systems at all console positions. The system shall be capable of integrating with newer Ultra-High Frequency/Very-High Frequency (UHF/VHF) radio technology such as the Army- Navy/Portable Radio Communications (AN/PRC) 117G Multiband radio. This will depend on the current configuration of each location.

b. Section IV, 6. Asks if there is limited access to recordings. What is meant by “limited”?

ANSWER: It means only the administrative computer at each location can access the recordings.

c. Section VI, 3. Asks for 12-24 hour battery back-up. Should this be changed to 2 hour?

ANSWER: Yes. This will be changed on the checklist. The checklist will be used by each location to conduct acceptance.

d. Section II, 4. Asks for unlimited directory capacity. This is an impossible requirement to meet or test against.

What is a realistic number of entries for the directory?

ANSWER: Like your cell phone, directory capacity should be unlimited

48. Attachment 1 needs to be updated with regard to the number of conferences, radio interfaces, battery back-up duration.

ANSWER: Attachment 1 of the RFP and Attachment 3 of the PWS have been amended. The vendor should provide a solution that will conference a minimum of 30 participants and a minimum of 10 conference lines.

Radio interfaces are all achieved through the Siemens HiPath switches located in the main CP facilities.

Battery backup requirements have been answered already as 2 hours minimum for UPS equipment.

49. How is the VPN between the sites architected? This information is needed to ensure that failures in the network do not cause a loss of connectivity to servers at both Robins and Dobbins.

ANSWER: All other bases come to HQ AFRC via VPN in order to access resources here and get out to commercial. If there are issues in the DMZ here at Robins, there will be issues at our other bases.

50. In the event of a conflict between the PWS and AFMAN 10-207, please confirm that AFMAN 10-207 takes precedence.

ANSWER: PWS takes precedence and is more specific in some areas.

51. There are requirements to connect hotlines and the secondary crash net. Are these configured as extensions off the base PABX? We would typically access these end points through a direct connection to the base PABX. Is that the intent of AFRC?

ANSWER: Hotlines are programmed on the system touchscreens as buttons for all instances. They are currently connections off of the HiPath switch and routed through Call Manager at AFRC locations and either Call manager or PRI lines direct to the host PBX at tenant locations.

52. During the survey, it was mentioned no giant Voice integration was required. Please verify that there is not a requirement to access Giant Voice at each base?

ANSWER: The Giant Voice will not be integrated into the system.

53. Paragraph 1.2 of the PWS states... “An Enterprise configuration allowing multiple installations to share resources.” Does this mean that the Government would like a command post at one base to access resources such as radios, and hotlines at another base and be able to provide the CP function remotely? Could the Government elaborate further on what is meant by “share resources”?

ANSWER: Enterprise refers to the purchase of equipment and support for this contract. Each base will have their own resources and operate independent of all other locations. Only shared resources is the virtual server space used for voice recordings and system configurations we identified to be located at Dobbins ARB and HQ AFRC.

54. Should we assume that the legacy systems are currently in use and need to remain operational until the new system is accepted?

ANSWER: Yes. There must be no interruption between the removal of the legacy system and installation of the new system.

55. Given the importance of a smooth transition without loss of service and the need for an ATO before systems are connected to the AFNET, would the Government consider more than the proposed 4 months from award to completion of installation? There are multiple approvals to be secured from INOSC centers for SIP connections to the DISN and SIP connections on base.

ANSWER: At minimum contractor will have an Interim Authority To Test (IATT) which allows for connection to live network for testing toward achieving ATO. Contractor will need to provide all documentation and meet requirement to process request for ATO. Contractor is responsible for answering any/all questions immediately so as not to delay ATO process. Contractor is not responsible for government delays. Completion of installation is revised to 30 Apr 20.

56. No equipment is to be shipped to a site without prior approval. What is required before that approval would be provided? Test report? Installation plan? Agreed facility requirements?

ANSWER: Coordination with the COR for awareness and also to ensure unit knows equipment is being shipped and unit will have personnel aware to receive the equipment.

57. Do secondary crash systems need to be provided with the new system or will those remain separate? If so, we assume these can be integrated with the new system as an inherent part of the system? If required to be included with the system, can you please provide the numbers of secondary crash users at each base please?

ANSWER: The Contractor shall provide a solution where the SCN will ring at the primary and alternate location. A visual “hot button” showing the line ringing and picked up is required.

58. Is the recording system capability required at each site with storage pushed to Robins and Dobbins perhaps during off duty hours?

ANSWER: The recordings are to be cloud based storage only accessible through the local base administrator at each location. No downtime expected.

59. Each site has currently T1/PRI connections to the host base telephone switch at this time, is this a correct assumption? Does the Government require an AS-SIP connection to the host base LSC's as the preferred method of connection?

ANSWER: At AFRC host bases we have SIP connections to the Call Manager. At tenant locations that have TDM capability this would be a correct assumption. For AFRC host bases yes AS-SIP and tenant locations depends on VoIP capability available at that location. See attachment 1 of these Q&As.

60. Please confirm no Emergency Mass Notification System (EMNS) integration is required.

ANSWER: Correct. The EMNS is not to be integrated.

61. A preliminary analysis of the schedule indicates that there is significant risk to completing all installations before 20 December. With two installation teams and no delays installations would need to commence by 1 October 2019. (Assumes 1 site per week to install, cutover, test and train) This leaves only 1 month after award to complete all site surveys, order and receive equipment, configure, test and ship, and ensure facility requirements are met and ATOs are received. This does not allow much time for Government personnel to configure the network, ensure sufficient ports are available, and make configuration changes to base telephony systems. Will the Government please reconsider the schedule in light of these issues? Also refer to question 55 above.

ANSWER: Priority list has been modified to provide a tiered approach. Should be noted that scheduling is being reviewed and evaluated as part of trade-off.

62. Is it desirable or the Government’s preference that the local systems be virtualized on AFRC server farms? Will approaching the design or portions of the design in this fashion be a plus for a best value perspective? If so, will AFRC provide servers that meet the requirements to host the applications? During the survey, AFRC indicated virtualized servers were available at almost each site.

ANSWER: Government’s preference that all systems phone recordings and individual base system configurations be virtualized on AFRC servers at Dobbins ARB and HQ AFRC. AFRC will provide servers that meet reasonable virtual infrastructure requirements (i.e. not take physical infrastructure requirements and implement on the virtual) to host the applications. If virtual servers are requested, the offeror and gov’t will negotiate physical system specifications translating into virtual performance standards.

63. Please refer to page 7 of Attachment 3 for the L and M sections of the RFP. In the description about the demonstration, it states that system will be connected to a test database to determine interoperability. Demonstration systems typically have their own database. If the test database is required, will AFRC please provide the database to the bidder so we can ensure we can import the data? Also, if we must connect to your system directly, we will need the make, model, and the interface required – can you please provide that information if this connection is required?

Since the system to be provided for the solution must be a VoIP based system, we assume the interface would definitely be SIP or AS-SIP if direct connection is required.

ANSWER: AFRC can create a closed virtual environment for contractor to connect a Windows based system and test database.

64. During the survey it was stated that cover pages and table of contents do not count towards the page count. Can you please verify this?

ANSWER: The cover page will be added to the excluded pages list in the RFP.

65. PWS Para 1.4 “Required Features/Functions” lists “Multi-line Phones”. Please this is referring to a feature on the touch screen console and not a separate physical phone instrument. If the requirement is a separate multi-line phone instrument in addition to the touch screen, please inform quantity of physical phones required for each console position.

ANSWER: “Multi-phones line” mean the console is capable of operating multiple lines on one phone console.

66. Please provide interface type and quantity of trunk between the new C2 system and the base phone system. For example, SIP, AS-SIP, ISDN-PRI, FXO, FXS etc.

ANSWER: Anticipate trunks between the new C2 system and the base phone system will be SIP, AS-SIP, or PRI. Quantity will vary by each site.

67. Based on the site survey, it is our understanding that the requirement is stand-alone system at each base and the only the recording storage will be centrally located (GFE storage) at Robbins and Dobbins. Please confirm.

ANSWER: The requirement is for a VoIP solution that will connect to the network, not a stand-alone system. They all operate independent of each other. Storage for recordings and system configurations will be GFE at Robins AFB (HQ AFRC) and Dobbins ARB.

68. Will each base require its own recorder?

ANSWER: Yes. The Contractor shall provide a new voice recording system to support documentation and recall of all voice communications (telephone and radio). The Contractor shall configure the system to record all radio and voice communications to include the ability to retrieve recordings for a minimum of 90 days.

69. Will each of the 19 bases have sufficient VMWare servers available that we can install our systems on? Or are we required to provide our own VMWare server? If GFE, please provide details, such as GFE VMWare version.

ANSWER: Attachment 1 to these Questions and Answers provides the VMWare capabilities at the 19 sites.

70. PWS 1.4 Regarding the Secondary Crash Net (SCN) in PWS para 1.4, is the Government requesting contractor to provide a new SCN or utilize existing SCN? Which office is the initiating SCN? Will Command Post a initiator or a subscriber of the SCN? If the requirement is to interface to existing SCN, please provide the manufacturer and Model number.

ANSWER: The Command Post is not an initiator. The Contractor shall provide a system to ring and display a SCN indicator.

71. Attachment 2 PWS, Please clarify what constitutes final acceptance of the entire program?

ANSWER: (Attachment 2 of the PWS is photos of the systems) The site acceptance is achieved with the successful completion of the operational system check (Attachment 3). (See Question and Answers #35, 19 Apr 19.) The acceptance of the entire program, will be the awarding of a contract to the offeror who is evaluated to be the best value to the Government per Section M of the RFP.

72. Can AFRC provide following information during or prior to the Robins and Dobbins site surveys?

a. Host base/installation Telephone System Model and Version/Release

ANSWER: AFRC Host Bases have Cisco Unified Communication Manager, system version 11.5.1.15900-18

b. AFRC specific telephone system Model and Version/Release

ANSWER: Robins AFB host 78 ABW has an AVAYA S8800 Hybrid Switch with a COMM MGR version 7.1.

c. List of radios to interface with type, model and specific interface connection type

ANSWER: The vendor should prepare to bid for all makes and models of HF, UHF, VHF and LMR radios at all 19 sites. The vendor should provide at least one interface per workstation for UHF, VHF, HF, and LMR radio systems.

d. List of any other interfaces on the existing console, such as telephone lines (Hotlines, FXO, FXS etc.), Giant Voice, etc.)

ANSWER: Telephone lines, radios, and hotlines.

e. List of telephone numbers and lines associated with the existing console

ANSWER: Information not necessary for proposal.

f. List of pre-programmed lines or interfaces, to include soft and hard buttons

ANSWER: Information not part necessary for proposal.

g. Main system location floor plan

ANSWER: Information not necessary for proposal. Site visit offered look into two sites.

h. Console location Floor Plan

ANSWER: Information not necessary for proposal. Site visit offered look into two sites.

Attachment 1 to the Q&As 31 May 19

Base Host CS VoIP Solution Version VMWare Y/N VMWare Version

Beale AFB (ACC) 9 CS Cisco CM 11.5 Yes EXSI Ver 6

Seymour‐Johnson AFB (ACC) 4 CS Cisco CM 11.5 Yes EXSI Ver 6

Whiteman AFB 509 CS Cisco CM 11.5 Yes VMware vSphere 6.0

Joint Base San Antonio 502 CS Cisco IPC 8.6.1.0 Yes VMware ver 6.0

IPC Software 8.6.6.0

Robins AFB 78 CS

AVAYA S8800

Hybrid Switch with Cisco COMM MGR 7.1 Yes vSphere 6.7

Tinker AFB 72 CS CUCM 5.7 Yes

HQ AFRC 78 CS CUCM

11.5.1.15900‐ 18 Yes vSphere 6.7

JB Andrews 744 CS CUCM 11.5.1.16900‐ 16 Yes

4VCTU E7‐

4890Z V2

Wright‐Patt AFB 88 CG AVAYA CM 7.1.3.3 Yes VMware S‐VDI

AS 5300 Rel 3 SP 15.2

Eglin AFB 96 CS AVAYA CM 7.1 Yes

AS 5300 Rel 3 SP15.2