Vendor Questions and Answers.pdf

1. Will the solution need to use separate physical access points for NIPR and SIPR ANSWER: The solution needs to comply with current NSA CSfC standards, and the PWS. Any solution that complies with these requirements is acceptable.

2. Are the equipment on the equipment list available for the contractor to use?

ANSWER: Yes, all equipment on the list must be implemented into the contractor’s final solution.

3. How will users authenticate to the network? CAC, Yubikey, username/password, etc.?

ANSWER: There may be multiple points of authentication for an EUD in a CSfC solution. For NIPR/SIPR SIE services, users will authenticate to SOCOM ISE and AD with CACs for network access.

4. Will the contractor need to provide an authentication/authorization service; radius, tacacs, ISE etc.?

ANSWER: The solution needs to comply with the PWS and NSA CSfC standards and requirements. The on-hand equipment list includes HPE Aruba ClearPass licenses, which is available to use.

5. How many users are expected on each network?

ANSWER: 200 users per network are expected.

6. What type of traffic is expected on the WLAN; YouTube, Voice, VTC, downloads, etc?

ANSWER: Traffic is expected to be typical business applications: Outlook, Teams (text, voice, video), SharePoint, VTC, file transfers, downloads, etc.

7. Will you need a separate network/vlan for guest acces? For example consultants that need internet access?

ANSWER: No guest network is required.

8. What material are the walls made of?

ANSWER: Walls are 5/8” Drywall. Some walls have a double layer.

9. Will a floor plan be provided prior to proposal submission?

ANSWER: The floor plan has been provided.

10. Will the contractor be responsible for providing a WIPS/WISDS solution? Is there any existing solution that can be used or will any existing solution need to be replaced with a new contractor provided one?

ANSWER: The solution must comply with the PWS, and NSA CSfC standards and requirements. Any existing WIPS/WIDS system would not be used.

11. Is a facility level clearance of TS and being an NSA TI required to bid on this contract?

ANSWER: From PWS: Contractor personnel performing on-site work shall possess, at minimum, active Secret clearances at time of award.

The Government will not sponsor new clearances for this effort.

Subcontractors may be utilized provided the Prime Contractor remains compliant with FAR 52.219-14 and all applicable small business subcontracting limitations.

A proposed subcontractor listed on the NSA CSfC Trusted Integrator List satisfies the Trusted Integrator requirement when proposed as part of the Prime Contractor team.

12. Is NSA Certification required for this project?

ANSWER: Yes, NSA CSfC Registration and the use of NSA-approved components are required.

13. The PWS requires that wireless deployment activities not disrupt SOCNORTH missions or daily operations, but does not specify allowable contractor on-site working hours. To support an accurate labor estimate under the LPTA structure: (a) What are the allowable daily working hours for on-site installation, cabling, penetrations, and configuration activities in Building 30? (b) Will the government permit — or require — after-hours, weekend, or night work for disruptive tasks (e.g., fire-rated penetrations, cabling, network cutovers) to avoid impacting operations? (c) What is the expected escort/sponsor availability window, given all on-site personnel require at minimum active Secret clearances and an approved VAR? (d) Are there any facility-specific quiet hours or mission blackout periods we must plan around?

ANSWER:

a. 0600-1800, M-F excluding holidays

b. No after-hours, weekends or night-work. Work will be coordinated with each section to minimize disruption.

c. Escorts will be available throughout the estimated timeframe for the work to be completed.

d. No

14. To optimize the aggressive 120-day period of performance, we request clarification on whether the Government will permit off-site integration, configuration, and verification testing of GFE prior to final on-site installation: (a) May the contractor ship designated GFE to its cleared CONUS integration lab (Tampa, FL) for staging, configuration, and verification testing, and if so, what property-accountability, transportation, and COMSEC/CSfC custody requirements apply? (b) Alternatively, will the Government permit the contractor to hand-carry GFE to a local cleared facility in the Colorado Springs area for the same purpose? (c) Are any GFE items (e.g., the TACLANE encryptor or other COMSEC/CSfC components) categorically prohibited from leaving Bldg 30 / the SOCNORTH boundary? (d) What FCL/storage level and DD254 provisions must the receiving facility meet to hold GFE off-site?

ANSWER: GFE that is currently in building 30, including all items on the on-hand equipment list, will not leave the building.

15. Are there any page limitations on the proposal submission?

ANSWER: No current Limitation

16. On SAM.gov I see Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5) called out in the posting header, but I did not see any further details in the PWS or other documentation on details regarding the set aside.

1. Are non-small businesses allowed to participate in this proposal opportunity?

2. We plan to potentially leverage what would be defined as a FAR small business as a part of our proposal effort, IE X% of award, I am not sure if this would help make our participation allowable if it is not.

ASNWER: This requirement is 100% Small Business Set Aside 1 : non-small business would not be eligible to participate in solicitation 2 : If you as the prime are not considered a small business then no.

17. The attachment, Appendix 3_DD254_WLAN_SOCNORTH_vendor name, will not correctly open on our systems. Please let me know if this document contains pertinent information we need at this time. If required at this time, can you please pass this document along to us?

ANSWER: the DD250 is blank and just a placeholder nothing pertinent on it until award.

NOTE: SOCNORTH will not be sponsoring clearance for this project.

18. We plan to leverage potentially local contracting outfits for some installation SOW to keep costs down by mitigating travel. Is there an approved onsite contractor list that we could be provided?

ANSWER: There is no developed list of potential contractors that can support this effort at the local level.

19. Your solution is specifically requesting the NSA CSfC WLAN capability package. Were there any trades in selecting this package over the MACP (Mobile Access Capability Package) or is there any interest from SOCOM regarding the benefits of utilizing MACP over WLAN?

ANSWER: SOCNORTH is open to any solutions that comply with NSA CSfC standards and requirements, and the terms of the PWS.

20. Is there an expected award target date?

ANSWER: Target award date is as soon as possible but no later than mid August

21. Please let me know if you are able to share any budgetary or milestone constraints regarding this effort aside from the 120day PoP and milestone charts listed so we can formulate our efforts to meet your cost and schedule mission requirements.

ANSWER: At this time, we are unable to share any specific funding limitations beyond the 120-day Period of Performance and the milestone charts already provided. We do, however, encourage vendors to submit comprehensive proposals that clearly outline all cost and schedule components.

This will allow us to fully evaluate each submission and determine whether any elements can be adjusted or deferred based on available funding. Our goal is to ensure we understand the complete scope of your proposed effort so we can align it with mission requirements and budget realities.