DHQCSD17MPC0001_RFI.pdf

Request For Information (RFI)

DHQCSD17MPC0001 Offsite Tape and Media Storage HC1028-16-T-0132

1. In your statement of work, in paragraph 8.1.1, you state:

8.1.1 Location: The Contractor’s facility must be removed from high-risk areas including flood plains, earthquake fault zones, and know landslide or mudslide geographical hazards. The off-site facility must be a sufficient distance from the primary (DISA) site to significantly reduce the likelihood of a single catastrophic event or terrorist attack affecting both sites. The prevailing standard within the Disaster Recovery industry is a minimum of 25 miles between sites. The 25-mile standard is endorsed by DISA as minimally acceptable, but it is recommended that each site review the potential for a regional disaster (i.e., hurricane, flood, earthquake, etc.) to determine if the 25-mile minimum is a sufficient distance from the primary processing site to safeguard critical backup resources. Waivers to the minimum distance requirements will be considered on a case-by-case basis when advantageous to the Government.

We have a four part question related to this provision:

Q: What do you require the bidders to provide you to ensure compliance with this provision?

A: Each bidder should provide the name and address of their storage facility that will service each of the DISA locations listed in paragraph 3 of the Statement of Work and the distance between the two locations. In addition, the bidder may address any known location geographical and environmental hazards with a plan of action to minimize impact to the Government.

Q: How will you validate compliance?

A: The Government will review the information provided and validate it with the Storage Managers at the individual DISA locations based on their local knowledge.

Q: Does a bidder have to meet these requirements at all locations to be considered responsible for this solicitation, or can they compete on just the locations where they meet all of the requirements?

A: This is a single award. Only one contract will be awarded for this effort. The contractor must meet all requirements and be able to provide off-site tape storage service to all DISA locations listed in

Paragraph 3 of the Statement of Work at the start of the contract.

Q: Finally, if a bidder knows that another bidder cannot meet this requirement because they are located in a flood plain or earthquake zone and don’t meet the 25 mile requirement, how can they challenge if that bidder were to win?

A: Paragraph 8.1.1 Location, includes the most-ideal location requirements. As stated in Paragraph

8.1.1 above, ‘Waivers to the minimum distance requirements will be considered on a case-by-case basis when advantageous to the Government.’ In addition, the Government will review any known location risks to determine the impact on the contract effort. The Government acknowledges that geographical and environmental hazards can be unpredictable. The Government will evaluate the risks in conjunction with the benefits to the Government.

2. Q: Has a contractor performed similar work to this for the government in the past? If available, please provide the incumbent contract number.

A: HC1028-11-P-0392