Inventory Management Software Questions Answers JULY 2026.docx

Q: Can the Government confirm the cutoff for submitting questions, and confirm that responses will be issued by amendment before the due date?

A: A new solicitation has been posted.

Q: Are you looking for an off-The-Shelf solution or a custom software solution?

A: Either would work as long as they meet the Government’s requirements.

Q: Is there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project?

A: It is a brand-new project

Q: Would this be one self-contained instance, or would this deployed in thousands of warehouses? Would such separate instances need to interoperate? Would one instance handle thousands of warehouses?

A: Scope restricted to this center.

Q: Same sense of scale, but in terms of users, items, actions, etc. Dozens of users and thousands of items, or thousands of users and billions of items?

A: Requirement is localized to a single isolated team at DEVCOM Solider Center. 10 end-users would be the max at this time. Max of 100,000 items predicted

Q: Usage scenario when software is fully operational?

A: There are three storage areas/warehouses for a single team at DEVCOM Soldier Center.

Q: What evaluation criteria will be used to assess quotations?

A: The questionnaire will assist the Project Team and the IT Team with their evaluations.

Q: Will award be based on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA), Best Value Tradeoff, or another evaluation approach?

A: Yes, LPTA

Q: Are technical and price factors weighed equally, or is one factor considered more important than the other?

A: Project Team will only see the technical factors. The Contract Team will redact the quotes before sending them for evaluation.

Q: Beyond compliance with the Purchase Description and IT Questionnaire, are there any additional evaluation factors that offerors should address in their submission?

A: No, please focus on the PD and IT Questionnaire.

Q: Please confirm the number of users that will access the system.

A: 10

Q: Please indicate the number of sites (e.g. warehouses) where the solution will be used to track assets.

A: 3 sites

Q: Please identify the make and model number of the barcode scanners that will be used for this solution.

A: Default will be to software vendor (recommendations work best with their own software). Scanners must be compatible with USB. Wireless scanning is prohibited on government computer systems. Must have compatibility with 2D and QR (quick response) code scanners.

Q: Please identify the make and model number of the printers that will be used for this solution.

A: Specific printers are not required. The “enterprise printers” on base are suffice. CAC card required.

Q: Please confirm the number of printers that will be used for this solution.

A: See above

Q: Please indicate the number of barcode scanners that will be used for this solution.

A: 10 or less

Q: Please confirm that there is no requirement for the system to integrate (pull or transmit data) into another system. If there is a requirement, please describe each system that the software will require integration.

A: The system we intend to implement needs to be standalone and does not communicate or integrate with any other government inventory systems.

Q: Please clarify if you are seeking a browser/web-based solution, a stand-alone mobile based solution or both.

A: Stand-alone

Q: With respect to the requirement for “Picking, Manufacturing, Bill of Materials”, please clarify what is intended by “Manufacturing”.

A: In our Manufacturing process we need to log a manufactured product and a barcode via scanner. For example, we will require the ability to record weight, time, specific parameters etc. for traceability.

Q: Please confirm if customer support requirements are 24 x 7 or business hours only.

A: We don’t need 24/7 support. Business Hours are sufficed.

Q: Please clarify that consulting, development and/or training is not required post UAT. If required post UAT, how will this be handled.

A: Not required

Q: Please indicate if a disaster recovery or development instance is required in addition to the production version.

A: Not required

Q: The pricing table only provides for “Annual Support and Maintenance”, how should other requirements (e.g., Annual license, implementation services, on-site support, travel, etc.) be included.

A: The implementation will be solely under our local ATO for the network and will be required to abide by all DISA STIG requirements and be supported by the vendor to provide necessary security patches when identified by the company or through the DoD IAVA program.

Q: Please confirm if customer support requires an online portal, and archive of all trouble tickets during the term of contract.

A: Not required

Q: Our software providers offer no assurances their product will be supported or licensable for 5 years. Will this render our proposal non-compliant?

A: The Government solicitation outlines the period of performance as a 12-month base and four 12-month option periods.

Q: Our software providers offer no assurances that they will customize their product. Will this render our proposal non-compliant?

A: Off the shelf will work if it meets the Government’s requirements.

Q: Will the government consider quotes for custom-developed solutions built to the specifications outlined in the purchase description, or is the evaluation limited to existing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products?

A: We will not exclude custom developed software if it meets the Government’s requirements.

Q: Please confirm whether DEVCOM-SC intends to provide a single-server instance or multi-server/data center/DMZ architecture for the on-premises inventory management software. Please also confirm whether DEVCOM-SC will configure, maintain, patch, and secure all hosting infrastructure including server/VM resources, Windows Server operating system, Microsoft IIS, Microsoft SQL Server instance, SSL certificates, network ports, firewall rules, Active Directory services, service accounts, backup storage, and STIG baseline configuration.

A: Data from incumbent software provider will be pulled as a .csv and uploaded into the new software as a .csv.

Q: Please confirm whether the contractor’s responsibilities are limited to inventory software installation, application configuration/customization, data import support, implementation support, training, documentation, UAT support, go-live support, and post-live technical support.

A: Yes, all the above

Q: Please confirm that DEVCOM-SC personnel will perform all day-to-day inventory operations after training, including physical inventory handling, labeling, data entry, receiving, put-away, transfers, cycle counts, inventory adjustments, picking, kitting/BOM transactions, report generation, and system administration, with contractor support limited to training, technical assistance, issue resolution and software support.

A: Yes, day to day inventory operations will be completed by DEVCOM SC personnel.

Q: Please identify the required number of on-site days to be included in the firm-fixed-price quote for implementation, data import assistance, go-live support and end-user/admin training. Please also confirm whether all travel, lodging, per diem, and on-site support costs must be included in the firm-fixed-price quote, or whether the Government will separately address travel.

A: Please include travel in the quote. Include as many on-site training days as needed to become familiarized with the system.

Q: The Purchase Description requires the vendor to provide analysis of inventory needs and set up a test environment within 12 weeks of contract initiation. Please confirm how long the test software environment must remain available. If the required test environment period exceeds 30 calendar days, please specify the required duration.

A: Until new inventory software has been installed on the network.

Q: Please provide the minimum number of named user licenses required.

A: 10

Q: Please confirm whether legacy data imports include only current master data and balances. Please also confirm whether historical transaction detail data is excluded from the required import scope.

A: Three storage areas/warehouses, approximately 100,000 SKUS at one time.

Data from incumbent software provider will be pulled as a .csv and uploaded into the new software as a .csv.

Q: Please confirm whether the Government intends this RFQ to include any hardware, or whether the requirement is limited to inventory management software and support.

A: Limited to inventory management software and support.

Q: Please confirm whether RFID capability, RFID readers, RFID printers/encoders, or RFID tags are required under this RFQ. If RFID is required, please provide required quantities, tag types, item/material use cases, environmental conditions, read-range requirements, density/read-rate requirements and acceptance test criteria.

A: No RFID required

Q: Please confirm whether any barcode label media is required at initial deployment or during the annual option years. If label media is required, please identify the required label types, approximate quantities and any durability or format requirements.

A: Currently we use 5160 labels, but the label making capability should be flexible to allow printing on other label sizes.

Scanner should function as a keyboard macro, there should be no concern for makes and models. Printing labels should be sent through standard government printing devices.

Q: Please confirm whether DEVCOM-SC will provide the existing SQL Server instance, SQL Server licensing, database administrator support, database backup jobs, database maintenance plans, and backup storage locations of whether an included SQL Express configuration should be used.

A: Windows Authentication is used for access to web applications after a user has logged into their system with CAC authorization. Users do not have direct access to IIS or SQL.

Q: Please confirm whether DEVCOM-SC will provide management support for Army Active Directory, two-factor authentication, single sign-on, and user access auditing.

A: Windows Authentication is used for access to web applications after a user has logged into their system with CAC authorization. Users do not have direct access to IIS or SQL. Users do not use Username & Password for applications.

Q: Please confirm whether DEVCOM-SC will provide SSL certificates and certificate-management support. Please also identify whether any API integrations are required at go-live, or whether the SSL-secured API endpoint is only a system capability requirement.

A: Windows Authentication is used for access to web applications after a user has logged into their system with CAC authorization. Users do not have direct access to IIS or SQL. Users do not use Username & Password for applications.

Q: Please identify the cybersecurity artifacts required from the contractor, if any, including STIG checklists, configuration guides, RMF/eMASS artifacts, vulnerability scan support, software bill of materials, ports/protocols/services documentation, or administrator hardening documentation. Please also confirm whether the Government is responsible for final STIG implementation and compliance validation on Government-furnished infrastructure.

A: The implementation will be solely under our local ATO for the network and will be required to abide by all DISA STIG requirements and be supported by the vendor to provide necessary security patches when identified by the company or through the DoD IAVA program.

Q: Please define the acceptance criteria for:

Test environment availability within 12 weeks Data import completion UAT completion Go-live readiness review Final delivery within 15 weeks WAWF acceptance and invoicing approval A: Solicitation amended to include evaluation criteria

Q: Please confirm whether option years cover software support and maintenance only, whether they also include remote configuration changes, customization requests, quarterly evaluation meetings, training refreshers, cybersecurity support and additional data import assistance or the number of on-site days required.

A: Software support and maintenance only

Q: Please confirm whether all on-site work will be performed at U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center, Warehouse 20, Natick, MA, DODAAC W56YHX. Please identify any access, badging, escort, security, training or installation requirements for contractor personnel.

A: Yes, that is the location. All installation access requirements will be discussed with vendor after the contract award.

Q: What is the maximum page count for the quote, and does any page limit apply to the entire submission or to individual volumes (technical, price, and past performance)?

A: No max page count

Q: What are the required page margins, and the minimum and maximum font size and approved font types for the submission?

A: 1-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman

Q: Do tables, charts, graphics, the cover letter, the compliance matrix, and the completed IT Questionnaire count toward any stated page limit, or are they excluded from the count?

A: Does not count towards page limit.

Q: In what file formats should the quote be submitted (for example PDF for the narrative and Microsoft Excel for pricing), is there a maximum file size, and is submission by email or through a portal?

A: Submission through email. Files should be in Excel, Word or PDF

Q: Should the completed IT Questionnaire and the signed SF 1449 blocks (12, 17, 24, and 30) be returned as separate files or combined into the quote package?

A: Please send all files separately in one email

Q: How many named users and concurrent users should be priced, and how many physical sites or warehouses are in scope for the Base Year and for each Option Year?

A: Three storage areas/warehouses. 10 end users would be the max at this time.

Q: What is the approximate inventory record count and the volume of historical data to be migrated from the legacy software, and in what format can that legacy data be exported?

A: Data from incumbent software provider will be pulled as a .csv and uploaded into the new software as a .csv. Approximately 100,000 SKUS at one time.

Q: The CLIN structure lists Annual Support and Maintenance for the Base Year and each Option Year. Should the one-time software license and the 15-week implementation be priced inside Base Year CLIN 0001, or does the Government prefer a separate line item for license and implementation?

A: Please annotate the costs as separate line items in the Base Year costs

Q: The Product Service Code is 7A20 (perpetual license software), while the CLIN titles reference annual support and maintenance. Does the Government intend a perpetual license with annual maintenance, or a term or subscription license?

A: Should not be a problem. To be clear, this is regarding the product license not the User Seats/Licenses.

Q: Will the Government provide the Windows Server, Microsoft IIS, and Microsoft SQL Server infrastructure, along with the workstations, USB scanners, and label printers, as Government furnished equipment, or should any hardware or third-party licenses be carried in the price?

A: That depends on if it can use the same SQL instance as the one we already support, or it requires its own. Standing up a new one would incur additional costs by the Government IT office.

Q: The Purchase Description lists Other Direct Costs as not applicable yet requires on-site implementation and on-site go-live support at Natick. Should travel and per diem for on-site work be included within the firm fixed price, and how many on-site trips or on-site weeks should be assumed?

A: The implementation will be solely under our local ATO for the network and will be required to abide by all DISA STIG requirements and be supported by the vendor to provide necessary security patches when identified by the company or through the DoD IAVA program.

Q: Beyond Avery 5160 address labels and the 5.5 by 8.5-inch label, are there specific label stocks, scanner makes and models, or printer models that the solution must support?

A: Currently we use 5160 labels, but the label making capability should be flexible to allow printing on other label sizes. Scanner should function as a keyboard macro, there should be no concern for make and model. Printing labels should be sent through standard government printing devices.

Q: The IT Questionnaire states that only on-premises solutions will be considered. Please confirm the expectation that the solution runs entirely within the local enclave with no external or cloud dependency, which Advent can meet.

A: Yes, only an on-premises solution.

Q: Will the Government provide the applicable DISA STIG baselines and the current Risk Management Framework or Authorization to Operate package and boundary, and what authorization path and timeline are expected for the application?

A: The implementation will be solely under our local ATO for the network and will be required to abide by all DISA STIG requirements and be supported by the vendor to provide necessary security patches when identified by the company or through the DoD IAVA program.

Q: For the Microsoft SQL Server requirement, should the application use the Government existing SQL Server instance for all data, including the application configuration store, or only for the inventory data?

A: That depends on if it can use the same SQL instance as the one we already support, or it requires its own. Standing up a new one would incur additional costs by the Government IT office.

Q: The IIS hardening items reference handler mappings (V-218744) and request filtering (V-218745). Please confirm whether the application must be served specifically through Microsoft IIS, or whether an equivalent hardened web tier that satisfies the same control intent is acceptable.

A: Microsoft IIS would be the preferred method. Alternate means such as Apache would incur additional costs for system administration.

Q: Is Common Access Card authentication through the Army Active Directory required for all users, and can the Government provide the integration details for single sign on and two factor authentication?

A: Windows Authentication is used for access to web applications after a user has logged into their system with CAC authorization. Users do not have direct access to IIS or SQL. Users do not use Username & Password for applications.

Q: The Purchase Description refers to replacing legacy software but does not identify the incumbent product or contract. Please provide the incumbent solution name, the incumbent contract number, and its period of performance.

A: Naming the incumbent software provider is not necessary. Data from that software will be pulled as a .csv and uploaded into the new software as a .csv.

Q: Is the incumbent contractor funded and obligated to provide knowledge transfer, data export, and transition support during the phase-in period? If so, please describe the scope and duration of that support.

A: No, data will be pulled from the incumbent software as a .csv.

Q: Will the Government provide a data dictionary and a sample export from the legacy system to support data migration planning?

A: Existing data will be pulled as a .csv to be uploaded to the new software as a .csv

Q: SAM.gov shows the set-aside field as blank for this notice. Please confirm that the acquisition is unrestricted or open to all small businesses, so that offerors can confirm eligibility.

A: Acquisition is unrestricted.

Q: Will the Government consider placing this requirement as an order against the GSA 8(a) STARS III Best in Class GWAC (Contract No. 47QTCB22D0684), under which Advent holds prime status, to streamline award and to leverage pre-competed rates?

A: Unknown.

Q: Please confirm the basis of award (lowest price technically acceptable or best value tradeoff), and the evaluation factors and their relative order of importance.

A: Lowest priced, technically acceptable.

Q: Please confirm whether all Option Years will be evaluated for award, and the method that will be used to evaluate total price.

A: Yes, Lowest priced, technically acceptable.

Q: What is Database size expectations?

A: The current Wasp database is 15MB, with the Wasp_log db at 874MB.

Q: The requirements indicate that the proposed solution will replace a legacy inventory management system and support migration of existing inventory data. Can the Government identify the current inventory management application and provide an estimate of the data volume expected to be migrated, including inventory records, transaction history, item masters, and storage locations?

A: Data from incumbent software provider will be pulled as a .csv and uploaded into the new software as a .csv.

Q: We noted the requirements for receiving, put-away, manufacturing, assembly, kitting, inventory adjustments, and warehouse control processes. Can the Government provide the approximate number of warehouses, stockrooms, inventory locations, and storage bins that will be managed within the solution?

A: Three storage areas/warehouses, approximately 100,000 skus at one time.

Q: The requirements reference manufacturing, assembly, kitting, quality control, and traceability. Please clarify whether lot tracking, serial number tracking, batch tracking, or all three are required.

A: All three will be required.

Q: Beyond Active Directory integration, are there any Government systems, manufacturing systems, procurement systems, reporting systems, or external data sources that must interface with the proposed solution at initial deployment?

A: No requirements to integrate with any existing systems.

Q: We understand the solution must operate within a fully STIG-compliant environment. Beyond installation documentation and product configuration guidance, are there any cybersecurity artifacts, security documentation, or implementation deliverables required from the contractor as part of system deployment and acceptance?

A: The implementation will be solely under our local ATO for the network and will be required to abide by all DISA STIG requirements and be supported by the vendor to provide necessary security patches when identified by the company or through the DoD IAVA program.

Q: The requirements include user account management, Active Directory integration, role-based access controls, training, and audit capabilities. Can the Government provide the anticipated number of end users, administrators, and concurrent users expected to access the system?

A: 10 would be the max at this time.

Q: To ensure offerors provide an appropriately scaled solution, can the Government clarify whether the intended deployment is limited to the DEVCOM Soldier Center identified in the Purchase Description or if future expansion to additional organizations, facilities, or user groups should be anticipated during the contract period?

A: No future expansion planned during the contract period.

Q: Can the Government provide any sizing assumptions or resource constraints for the SQL environment, including database size expectations, storage limitations, and available server resources?

A: VM - Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (64-bit), Virtualization Based Security – Enable SQL - Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Enterprise Edition CPU - 6 CPU(s), 2645 MHz used Memory - 64 GB, 4 GB memory active Hard disk 1 (of 4) - 500 GB | Thin Provision Hard disk 2 (of 4) - 1.5 TB | Thin Provision Hard disk 3 (of 4)- 1 TB | Thin Provision Hard disk 4 (of 4) - 2 TB | Thin Provision

Q: The Purchase Description references a “test Point of Sale (PoS).” Please clarify whether a Point of Sale function or interface is required, or whether “test PoS” refers only to sample test data or a legacy term.

A: Yes, we just need to validate the system with a test protocol. There isn’t any actual PoS system we are trying to introduce.

Q: If a past performance questionnaire is required, will the Government accept Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) records in place of questionnaires, in order to reduce the burden on Government points of contact?

A: Yes, CPARS records are acceptable.

Q: How many past performance references are required, and what recency and relevance window applies?

A: Refer to Section L of the Solicitation Amendment Q: With respect to the requirement for “Configuration (based on client specific workflows)", please provide the specific requirements for the client specific workflows.

A: Client specific workflows will be shared with vendor after contract award