Answers to ques recd 12 Feb 10_Amend 4.doc

Responses to HC101310R2002 Questions Received on February 12, 2010

(1) per kilobit usage rate

(2) flat rate per aircraft (high individual tail number – (e.g. C-17A, Fleet ID # 21107A) usage discount that caps the maximum charge per aircraft

(3) flat rate for all aircraft within a single MDS per delivery order - all MDS tail numbers (e.g. all C-17A aircraft) bulk fleet discount that caps the maximum charge for each MDS on a delivery order

Yes, it should be megabyte. This change has been made to the CLIN spreadsheet and is reflected in RED.

ORT tables will likely still give preference to I-3 satellites, so usage will be minimal.

DO 1, 2, and 29 will be zero. Pricing is for current and future DO cabin users. Provides opportunity to consolidate other contracts under a single contract vehicle.

Or is the Government requesting one tier three price that can be applied to any MDS, and then multiplied by the MDS fleet size to obtain a maximum MDS monthly amount?

Requesting one three-price tier that can be applied to a MDS fleet to contain monthly costs (e.g. KC-135 fleet usage).

Also, it appears that the threshold values for SLINS 000102, 000103 (and similar) are to be entered into Column F, but entries into that column for the SLINs referenced, return a $ value. Does the government want a $ value in Column F for these SLINs? If so, what does that $ amount represent?

Also, there a many other white cells in column D, which would indicate that the government wants us to bid “Non-Recurring Charges” for those SLINs. Is this correct?

Pricing is to be filled in on the spreadsheet in the GREEN cells. The tier pricing (per tail and per MDS) is reflected as a Non-Recurring Charge as it will be billed once per month if that happens to be the most cost effective way to bill for the government. Any GREEN cells under Monthly Recurring Charge will be billed once per month for unlimited usage.

Page 38, ITEM 0015 – Transition Cost, Since an incumbent’s transition costs would presumably be significantly less than a new awardee, will this CLIN be evaluated independently or in some fashion, differently?

“Yes, this CLIN will be evaluated separately as a one-time cost (not included in service pricing). The Air Force is mandating changes to our current interfaces to comply with requirements of the RFP. Therefore, all vendor solutions will require new interface transition costs.”

Page 78, Para 6.6.1.1 (5), Should there be an additional CLIN for circuit access fees? If not, under which CLIN should these fees be included?

“Depends upon the interface solution implemented (Internet VPN vs. dedicated circuit) for each delivery order customer. AMC prefers Internet VPN solution as most desirable, dedicated circuit solution as second most desirable.”

Reference PWS Paragraph 6.6.1.3, Rates for Communications Services: “The third tier in the pricing structure will automatically be applied when the delivery order total kilobit levels reach a designated threshold.” In the Pricing CLINs/SLINs, the third tier references aircraft model design series (MDS). Please clarify whether the third tier pricing is tied to delivery order or MDS. Was it intended that the CLINs/SLINs for third tier pricing be a:

a. “Flat Rate per Aircraft Model Design Series (MDS) across all delivery orders that include that MDS”. For example, in the information provided, the C-40 appears in delivery orders DO 5, 6, 7, 10, 15 and 19. Would the third tier price be a summation of usage for all C-40s under those delivery orders, to determine if the third tier volume discount threshold has been met; or

b. “Flat Rate per Aircraft Model Design Series (MDS) within a delivery order”. For example, again referencing the C-40 example above, would the third tier price be a summation of usage for only the C-40s within a given delivery order; or

c. “Flat Rate per delivery order inclusive of all Aircraft Model Designs (MDS) within the delivery order”. For example, delivery order DO 2 includes 5 MDS platforms. Would the third tier price be a summation of usage for all 5 MDS platforms within delivery order DO 2?

We respectfully request clarification as to which of these three scenarios is correct, and updated verbiage in PWS 6.6.1.3 and/or the CLINs/SLINs in the Excel spreadsheet to reflect the appropriate scenario.

Answer: b. is correct.

Wording for the next to last sentence in paragraph 6.6.1.3 is changed from:

“The third tier in the pricing structure will automatically be applied when the delivery order total kilobit levels reach a designated threshold.”

To:

“The third tier in the pricing structure will automatically be applied when the total kilobit level within a delivery order MDS reaches a designated threshold. The third tier rate will apply only to the specific delivery order and specific MDS within the delivery order that meets the third tier criteria.”

We presented the following information regarding Swift Broadband pricing:

“Swift Broadband supports two types of DATA services: Background and Streaming. Background Internet Protocol (IP) data is priced by the megabyte (MB). Streaming IP data is priced by the minute based on the rate (8, 16, 32, 64, 128 kbps) selected. Suggest the government modify the CLIN structure to outline pricing for both types of service.”

In the updated CLIN pricing spreadsheet, SLIN 001003 is asking for a unit of issue of “Megabit”. Standard industry pricing is based on a unit of issue of “Megabyte”. SLINs 001004 – 001008, Swift Broadband Streaming Internet Protocol (IP) 8-16 kbps show units of issue of “Megabit”. The industry standard pricing is based on a unit of issue of “Minute”. Suggest the government update the pertinent base and option year pricing units of issue for Swift Broadband services accordingly.

We will change Unit of Issue for CLIN 001003 to Megabyte (reflected in RED in revised CLIN pricing spreadsheet). Change CLINs 001004-001008 from Megabit to Minute (reflected in RED on revised CLIN pricing spreadsheet).

Page 78, Para 6.6.1.1 (5), Should there be an additional CLIN for circuit access fees? If not, under which CLIN should these fees be included?

“Depends upon the interface solution implemented (Internet VPN vs. dedicated circuit) for each delivery order customer. AMC prefers Internet VPN solution as most desirable, dedicated circuit solution as second most desirable.”

Vendor will need to recommend additional CLINs as part of the solution in their proposal.

Table Page and Paragraph column references taken from HC101310R2002_CONFORMED.doc