Altus Solicitation Q A.pdf

FA8773-09-R-0002

Solicitation Questions and Answers

Q1: 3.1. Air Force-Provided Spares/Contractor Logistic Support

Contractor logistic support for Voice Switching System (VSS) is managed by Ogden ALC 84 SCSG/GBSVS and CITS GIG SG/KZ through a contract with General Dynamics Network Systems. This contract awarded in FY 2005 covers depot level support for Nortel, Avaya, Lucent and Siemens telephone switches. Detailed procedures are described in CITS Life Cycle Supportability Customer Service Guide 2005 published by General Dynamics.

Question: Does the CITS Life Cycle Support contract of FY 2005 expire with the new Maintenance Contract?

A1: That question is outside the scope of this contract. Sustainment information has been provided in reference to the requirement under this solicitation and contractor’s sustainment requirement has been identified under Appendix 5.2.

Q2: 5.2.2. Contractor-furnished equipment (CFE)/contractor-furnished material (CFM).

Equipment listed below will require the Contractor to provide replacement parts or repair the defective items, and provide all technical support. Contractor shall operate and maintain these items IAW the requirements specified in this PWS.

Question: The items listed in 5.2.2 will require the contractor to provide replacement parts or repair the defective items, but what items are covered under the Air Force Provided Spares in section 3.1 and are applied to the CITS Life Cycle Supportability contract identified?

A2: All items listed under 5.2.3 are Air Force provided spare parts as per information in Section 3.1 and Appendix 5.4.

Q3: Please advise if any additional temporary storage space will be available when new projects arise (this will be needed to stage projects). Can you confirm that only 200 SF of space will be provided at Altus?

A3: The amount of space provided to the contractor is 600-800 square feet, approximately.

Q4: Does the current Altus contract have a dedicated FTE that covers LMR for the Base and Hospital? Can you advise the total FTE count per site?

A4: The amount of full time employees (FTE) will be a business decisions for the contractor.

It is not required to have an employee ―dedicated‖ to a specific job/function.

Q5: Can Altus supply repair and replacement records for the equipment that the contractor is expected to supply replacement parts for?

A5: Yes, the current contractor will turn over all manuals, etc. for the base equipment.

Q6: Can Altus supply the age of the equipment that the contractor is expected to supply repair and replacement parts for?

A6: The condition of the equipment is ―aged.‖

Q7: Are the Wage Determinations that were originally posted accurate?

A7: The wage determinations were updated by Amendment 0001 to the Solicitation.

Q8: Why are routine work orders required to be completed in 5 days instead of 10 days?

This puts a burden on procurement to have materials delivered almost overnight for each job.

A8: The routine work order response time has been updated to 10 days. This was an error which was overlooked.

Q9: Regarding CVC Training—Is the Government still performing the 2-day training classes?

A9: The Government will provide CVC training upon request unless it is provided by the Stem B.

Q10: Work Orders----Emergency and Priority work order numbers appear to be very high. Can these be verified?

A10: These numbers have been reviewed and are correct as stated.

Q11: How does the government want the contractor to dispose of water/mud that is pumped out of manholes/hand-holes, and leftover dirt from outside plant jobs i.e. trenching, splice pits etc.? Is this an environmental issue?

A11: This process will be based on base procedures.

Q12:

1. Any cable over 2100 pair is not manufactured anymore. Both Essex and Gen Cable have discontinued these cables.

2. All of the Tellabs products listed have been discontinued and refurb is also not available.

3. The Polycom Sound Station 100 has been discontinued. Sound Station 300 is available for small office applications and 500 is available for larger applications.

This is going to leave several PID’s we will not be able to price:

Cable PID’s:

3530, 3594, 3597, 3628 & 3629

Tellabs PID’s:

4236, 7, 8, 9, 40, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 4248, 9, 50, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 4960

Polycom PID: 4342

Do you foresee any modification to the schedule B spreadsheet to delete these items?

A12: Cable PID’s: 3594, 3597, 3628 & 3629 are not PIDs listed on our pricing table. Also, 3530 – 2400 pair metallic cable – was located during a Google search.

After a Google search of theTellabs items, we found these were available as new or available as refurbished.

Polycom Sound Station 100 was shown to be discontinued. It has been reduced to a quantity of zero on the pricing table.

Q13: What records management system is used?

A13: Please see paragraph 1.3.15.14 of the PWS for specifics.

Q14: Will contractor have access to the automated Government work order generation and reporting system?

A14: Yes. Please see paragraph 1.3.15.14 of the PWS for specifics.

Q15: Please provide CLIN/SLIN report for the last 3 years.

A15: That report cannot be provided. Please see the estimated workload under 5.1 in the PWS, which is based on historical data.

Q16: Where is the lay down (storage) area located?

A16: Storage area is located in the telephone frame room in building 215.

Q17: Is cable list accurate?

A17: The cable list is as accurate as possible. The contractor will only be responsible for what is listed in the PWS 5.2.

Q18: Are there any scheduled down times for exercises which could affect work effort?

A18: Scheduled down times will affect the work effort, but will be managed by the QAP.

Q19: Please identify Land Mobile Radio (LMR) actual locations (base stations and remotes).

A19: Please see the updated PWS.

Q20: Where is the BTS manager’s office located?

A20: The location is to be determined.

Q21: Please provide a list of future major projects coming in the near future.

A21: That information is not releasable due to security reasons. The contractor has a requirement to attend monthly project meetings.

Q22: Is the Definity G3r R11 Host Telephone Switch in B215 the only switch, or is there one located in the hospital?

A22: There is only one switch which is located in building 215.

Q23: Are there any plans to replace the Host Telephone Switch in the near future?

A23: Yes, as was discussed in the pre-proposal conference.

Q24: How are the telephone operators being provided? Section 5.3 has a definition for Switchboard Operations, but there are no workload estimates under 5.1.2.

A24: This requiremnet is not part of our contract. 5.3 is as stated for definitions only.

Q25: Due to the complexity of this Solicitation will you consider extending the RFQ response date?

A25: The RFP response date has been extended due to unavialble personnel to obtain LMR information for adequate requirements identification.

Q26: During the site visit it was mentioned that the upgrade to the system was awarded. Who was awarded the contract? Can we be provided with the system design?

A26: That information cannot be provided – it is proprietary to the base. If equipment is not listed in 5.2 of the PWS, the contractor will not be required to maintain.

Q27: Is it correct to assume that the pricing table is taking the place of pages 3 thru 48 of the

RFP? If this is correct, you would like for the contractors to complete the attached government pricing table included in the RFQ and not created their own for submission?

A27: Please review directions in the solicitation (Section L) for pricing submittal information.

Q28: 0001AE, 0011AA, 1001, 011are missing from the pricing table along with the corresponding years. Have those items been deleted from the RFQ?

A28: The CLINs and pricing table that are currently posted on FedBizOps are the current versions. Please review directions in the solicitation (Section L) for pricing submittal information.

Q29: Per the government response the equipment list provided in the RFQ was just an estimate of quantities. Is the contractor responsible for replacing phone equipment that was not included on the equipment list that was documented in the RFQ?

A29: If equipment is not listed in 5.2 of the PWS, the contractor will not be required to maintain. Pricing table quantities are estimates. 5.2 is not an estimate.

Q30: Do you have any hybrid systems (VOIP and TDM?)

A30: No, please see the EIPS for specifications.

Q31: Is the wiring (fiber, Cat 3, 5. 5e, 6 etc.) infrastructure hard specified to a particular manufacture? If so, who is the manufacture, is there a current warranty and what certification does the mfg require the technician to complete or have completed to install or repair the wiring?

A31: No, we do not specify manufacturers.

Q32: When do you anticipate replacement of the Merlin systems? Who is replacing the systems? What type of equipment is replacing the systems?

A32: The replacement time is unknown. The type of equipment is unknown. The awarded contractor will be kept abreast of any information when it comes to systems of Altus AFB.

Q33: IN PWS performance work statement, pg 6, 1.3.5.3.5 Telephone Management System, is government owned, and what system?

A33: Altus AFB uses NetPlus and the Government handles all licensing.

Q34: 1.3.6, clarify remote monitoring, they state no dedicated telco lines (INADS).

―Notification of switch outages shall not be through a continuous direct line to the switching system for security reasons‖. How are you currently remote monitoring the system?

A34: There is no remote monitioring of the system due to security issues.

Q35: Can we have copies of current switch config reports for Definity and Intuity? Alternately, can we have temp access to dial in and view switch config reports?

A35: No, due to security concerns.

Q36: 5.2.3, pg appendix 5.2 Clarify on the Definity if there are 144 PRI cards, or 144 PRI DID circuits on 6 PRI cards?

A36: There are 144 PRI DID circuits on 6 PRI cards and 2 PRI cards for DSN Trunks.

Q37: Can the same technician who are on site complete the work orders or do they have to be separate?

A37: That will be a business decision for contractors. The awarded contractor will have to respond IAW the PWS requirement.

Q38: What is the ceiling price percentage set forth in the solicitation?

A38: This is an IDIQ contract. We don not set ceiling prices.

Q39: Please explain 52.232-36 section a. In what cases would a third party pay the contractor? I have not seen this clause under a solicitation. Unless you are referring to WAWF.

A39: A third party in this instance would be if payment is made to a bank or lending institution as per the assignement of claims.

Q40: Please explain page 92 item number 7, contract modification to withhold amounts from its billing until a reserve is set aside. What is the purpose of this modification?

A40: This gives the Government the right to withhold payment in the event the contractor does not deliver/perform IAW the contract requirements.

Q41: PWS 1.3 ―The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools. Labor and any other items and services necessary to perform O&M of the BTS. Is this on the current system not the upgrade and refreshed systems that the government is purchasing? If not do you have a complete list of the new systems and upgrades?

A41: The contractor will only be responsible for what is listed under PWS 5.2.

Q42: If parts requested to replace or repair are unavailable due to market conditions what latitude is given to the contractor?

A42: The Government will not hold the contractor liable for parts that are obsolete or no longer available upon proof of such status.

Q43: During the pre-solicitation conference, a request that the locations of the LMR equipment, per building, be provided.

A43: Due to the mobility of the equipment, it would be difficult to adminstratively track locations of all equipment. Therefore, building numbers, per the LMR equipment, cannot be provided.