M6700126Q1005 Questions-Answers - completed.docx

M6700126Q1005 – Telephone Services Questions & Answers

1) request a 30-day extension on the opportunity Response – Due to the urgency and importance of this requirement, the due date will not be extended.

2) Please clarify the current PRI architecture and expected handoff configuration for the proposed SIP solution.

Specifically:

a) Are the existing 10 PRI circuits distributed across multiple PBX chassis or centralized into a single switching platform?

Response – Single PBX

b) Are all 16 required PRI interfaces expected to be active concurrently?

Response – Yes. All PRI’s will be connected available for traffic at all times.

c) Please provide the expected PRI handoff type, framing, and signaling standards (e.g., NI2, DMS100, 5ESS, etc.).

Response – NI2

d) Is the Government expecting physical T1/PRI presentation directly into the legacy switch or via intermediate gateway infrastructure?

Response – We expect your SBC(s) to receive SIP for the carrier side and deliver 16 PRI’s on ethernet cable to the interface card(s) on our SBC(s).

3) Please provide the manufacturer, model, software version, and current operational configuration of the existing legacy telephony switching equipment located in Building 4397.

Additionally:

a) Is the current system configured for centralized or distributed PRI termination?

Response - Centralized

b) Are there any known interoperability requirements or restrictions for SIP-to-PRI integration?

Response – Your SBC(s) and the output PRI’s must be compatible with Gov’t Cisco 8300 series ISR(s) with NIM-8MFT-T1/E1(s).

4) Please clarify the expected fiber service handoff requirements for the SIP solution.

Specifically:

a) Will the Government provide existing fiber pathways and demarcation space?

Response – Yes.

b) What fiber handoff type is required (single-mode vs multimode)?

Response – 2 strand single-mode for full duplex operation.

c) What connector types are required or preferred?

Response – We will accept either SC(UPC) or LC(UPC)

d) Is diverse carrier pathing or redundant provider connectivity required or preferred?

Response – Not required.

5) Please clarify the number of supported phone numbers.

Specifically:

a) Approximately how many DIDs are currently active/in-service?

Response – More than 8500.

b) Approximately how many numbers are expected to be ported during transition?

Response – all 25000 DID’s should be available for use after transition.

c) Are all referenced number blocks actively utilized?

Response – Yes.

6) Please clarify the expected number of concurrent calls.

Specifically:

a) Is the requirement for 368 concurrent calls based on historical peak utilization or projected future growth?

Response – Growth.

b) Is call bursting above 368 concurrent sessions desired or required?

Response – Not required.

c) Can historical call utilization reports be provided?

Response – No. we have determined our required call volume and this meets or exceeds our requirements.

7) Please clarify the international calling requirements.

Specifically:

a) Please provide estimated international calling usage and destination regions.

Response – As needed to support military deployments to any clime and place.

b) Are there any international calling restrictions or compliance requirements?

Response – No restrictions or compliance requirements.

c) Is international fraud mitigation expected as part of the proposed solution?

Response – No.

8) Please clarify the existing carrier transition requirements.

Specifically:

a) Does the Government require phased migration/cutover procedures?

Response – We require a bank of numbers for testing to confirm calls are routed successfully, then the remainder of numbers call all be ported simultaneously.

b) Are maintenance windows available for staged PRI migration activities?

Response – Yes. We can support weekends and evenings on an approved schedule.

c) Are rollback procedures required as part of implementation planning?

Response – Yes.

9) Please clarify the security requirements.

Specifically:

a) Are DISA STIG hardening requirements applicable to proposed SBC/gateway infrastructure?

Response – Yes.

b) Are there specific cybersecurity controls, logging, or monitoring requirements expected for SIP infrastructure?

Response – No.

10) Please clarify Rack / Power / Space Availability.

Specifically:

a) Please provide available rack space, power specifications, and environmental details for Building 4397 telecom equipment installation.

Response – we can provide up to 30 rack units of space. Power is 120V provided from an A/B/C distribution device with up to 30 Amps available per phase.

b) Are A/B power feeds available?

Response – Yes A/B/C is available.

c) Is UPS infrastructure Government-furnished?

Response – No, but feeds will be supported by generator backup. UPS must provide sufficient runtime for generator cutover (up to 30 minutes).

11) Please clarify existing LAN/WAN integration expectations.

Specifically:

a) Is the contractor expected to provide switching infrastructure as part of the SIP modernization effort?

Response – No. SIP service and SBC(s) that will be connected to our SBC(s) using PRI interfaces.

b) Will the Government provide existing network connectivity and VLAN segmentation for SBC infrastructure?

Response – NO. Your equipment will not have an ethernet connection to our equipment. Just PRI’s.

c) Are there existing QoS policies or network standards that must be maintained?

Response – No.

12) Please clarify the Government’s expectations regarding ongoing operational support for this requirement.

Specifically:

a) Is routine on-site contractor presence required after implementation?

Response – No routine presence other than for maintenance actions.

b) Are remote monitoring and remote operational support acceptable for normal operations?

Response – Yes.

c) Are there specific on-site response time requirements for hardware failures or outage events?

Response – Please see section 14.0.

d) Does the Government expect dedicated local support personnel within a specified geographic distance of MCAS Cherry Point?

Response – We expect the MTTR stated in section 14.0 to be upheld.

13. Does the contracting office consider the purchase of commercial carrier services, including fiber access and SIP trunking, to be a subcontract subject to the FAR 52.219-14 limitation? Or does the Government treat that kind of utility purchase differently?

Response – Yes, the government considers purchase of commercial carrier services, including fiber access and SIP trunking to be a subcontract. This solicitation and subsequent contract is and will be subject to FAR 52.219-14. All vendors must meet the requirement for performance of 50% or more of the work under the contract and cannot subcontract more than 49%. Prime contractors must do more than mere administrative work and subcontracting for 50% or more of the work will not be approved to include purchase of commercial carrier services.

14. If the limitation does apply, is there a teaming or performance structure the Government would consider acceptable for an SDVOSB prime on a requirement like this?

Response – Only a teaming arrangement that meets the requirements of 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting) could potentially be accepted. All vendors must meet the requirement that they will perform at least 50% of the work under the contract. Prime contractors cannot do only administrative work and subcontract the rest.

15. For CLIN x001, can you confirm this covers 368 concurrent SIP call paths and clarify whether pricing should be a monthly flat fee for all paths or a per-path recurring charge?

Response – We expect a flat monthly fee for the 368 CCP’s

16. For CLIN x002, can you confirm this represents 1,000 Direct Inward Dial numbers billed on a monthly basis?

Response – The solicitation should be updated to reflect 1000 DID blocks, qty 25 for 25000 DID’s.

17. For CLIN x003, can you confirm this is 200,000 minutes of use per month and let us know whether the Government expects bundled flat-rate pricing or per-minute metered pricing?

Response – We expect an allowance of 200,000 local and commercial long-distance minutes to be provided in a flat pricing model monthly with any local or long-distance usage above that metered. All International calling is anticipated to be billed using a metered model.

18. Is there an anticipated award date or notice-to-proceed window available? Fiber provisioning to a military installation typically takes 60 to 90 days from carrier order to activation. Knowing the general timeline would help us price the transition accurately and put together a realistic project plan.

Response – Not at this time.

19. Existing Fiber Infrastructure Can the Government clarify whether existing fiber infrastructure currently services Building 4397, or whether the contractor should anticipate providing new fiber extension/connectivity to support SIP service delivery?

Response – Yes, there is currently fiber infrastructure to 4397.

20. Existing Pathway / Conduit Availability Can the Government clarify whether existing conduit, pathway, or telecommunications infrastructure is available for any required fiber installation activities?

Response – Existing pathway exists from off base to 4397.

21. Local / Onsite Support Expectations

a) Can the Government clarify the anticipated onsite support expectations following system cutover, including whether local field response resources are expected to support outage restoration requirements associated with the stated 4-hour MTTR objective?Installation / Deployment Schedule Expectations Response – We expect provider to have all resources needed in place to restore any outage within a 4 hour time limit from First call to providers NOC or Trouble line.

b) Can the Government provide the anticipated implementation timeline or desired installation/cutover window associated with the PRI-to-SIP migration effort?

Response – Soonest possible upon award.

22. Existing Copper Removal / Legacy Equipment Can the Government clarify whether removal and disposal of legacy copper cabling, PRI equipment, or other retired telecommunications infrastructure is within scope of the requirement?

Response -No removal actions of legacy cabling, PRI equipment or retired telecommunications infrastructure are required in this solicitation.

23. What is the expectation / format for responses? Technical proposal and/or pricing? Pricing only? Is there a preferred response/proposal format ?

Response - Please see Section L – Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Offerors or Quoters of the solicitation for instructions on submitting quotes.