EUHW Late RFP Questions Received - Pt 4 - 9JAN2019 Final.docx

EUHW LATE RFP QUESTIONS RECEIVED ON 12/21/2018 and 1/8/2019

RESPONSES POSTED TO INDUSTRY ON 1/9/2019

PWS Section: 3.2.3.1.7; Attch 10, Technical Threshold Tab, Rows 3, 9, 10, 13 Current commercially available PCoIP Zero Clients are based on Teradici Tera Chipsets, do not have general purpose CPUs with multiple cores, have minimal RAM (512MB) since they do not run an operating system and do not support USB 3.0. The Government’s current firmware-based PCoIP Zero Client requirements for a dual core processor, 1 USB 3.0 port and 2 GB of memory are not commercially available and preclude all vendors from offering a commercially available solution. Request the Government consider listing corresponding TERA 2321 PCOIP Zero Client processor, 512 MB of memory, and USB 2.0 only, removing the requirement for USB 3.0 in an amended Attch 10 document, to allow compliant solutions to be bid, as listed in table below. Table items highlighted below are suggested changes.

Cores/Threads

Base/Boost Clock Speed GHz

TDP (maximum accepted) vPro

Cache

An amendment to the RFP will update the Zero Client requirement from “Zero Client” to “Zero/Thin Client.” Attachment 1 (PWS) and Attachment 10 (Device Specifications) will update Zero/Thin Client requirements. The suggested changes to the Processor and USB recommendations were not taken, as market research has found several Zero/Thin Client devices from several manufacturers that meet or exceed the thresholds.

PWS Section: 3.2.3.1.7; Attch 10, Technical Threshold Tab, Rows 2, 9, 11

There is no Zero Client (ICA) firmware-based device on the market. PWS 3.2.3.1.7 defines Zero Client as “a lightweight computing device (firmware based) developed for remote connection”. Based on current commercially available information, Citrix Receiver (ICA), as specified in Attch 10 is not supported in firmware and requires either a Linux or Windows Operating System. There is no Teradici ICA Receiver on the market, meaning that ICA is not a Zero Client device and should be referred to as a thin client.

We request the Government remove the “firmware-based” requirement from Zero Client (ICA) category in an amended PWS document, to allow vendors to propose a valid solution and rename the Zero Client (ICA) category to Thin Client (ICA), since there are no Zero Client (ICA) products on the market. In addition, request the Government specify the storage required for the Zero Client (ICA) based upon the required operating system, which has not yet been specified for this category, whether it be Linux or Windows. Only a single operating system can be loaded on the Thin Client (ICA) from the vendor, therefore, vendors require the Government’s guidance on the required operating system, to avoid assumptions. If the Government’s intent is to have a Windows and a Linux option, please consider adding an additional Thin Client (ICA) category, with specifications listed accordingly for each required operating system, Linux and Windows. Please reference table below for potential changes highlighted in yellow.

supporting ICA; Linux or Windows

Cores/Threads

Base/Boost Clock Speed GHz

TDP (maximum accepted) vPro

Cache

An amendment to the RFP will update the Zero Client requirement from “Zero Client” to “Zero/Thin Client.” Attachment 1 (PWS) and Attachment 10 (Device Specifications) will update Zero/Thin Client requirements. The Government’s market research has identified multiple Zero/Thin Client devices from several manufacturers that meet or exceed the thresholds.

PWS section 3.2.2.3

The full peripheral bundle is ordered separately from the EUHW device.

Row 41, Row 11

Row 66

Rows 4-6 Based on commercially available information, by requiring a 7th Generation processor in combination with other technical specifications for the Rugged Laptop, it is our understanding the Government has eliminated all viable solutions. Those that have transitioned to the 8th Generation no longer offer compliant 7th Generation processors. It is therefore requested that the Government allow flexibility to offer either 7th or 8th generation processors by specifying corresponding Cores/Threads, Base/Boost Clock Speed GHz, TDP, vPro, and Cache for both processor generations on the Rugged Laptop category.

An amendment to the RFP updated Attachment 10 (Device Specifications) for the Rugged Laptop and Rugged Tablet. Specifications for the Base/Boost Clock Speed GHz for the Rugged Laptop have been updated to 1.7/2.9 and Base/Boost Clock Speed GHz for the Rugged Tablet have been updated to 1.7/3.5.

Rows 4-6 Based on commercially available information, 2-in-1 Detachable devices are long life cycle products and various vendors offer either 7th or 8th Generation processors. Those that have transitioned to the 8th Generation no longer offer compliant 7th Generation processors. As such, it is requested the Government allow flexibility to offer either 7th or 8th Generation processors and insert the table below in Attch 10, 2-in-1 Detachable Category:

Base/Boost/Clock Speed GHz

Furthermore, there appears to be only one compliant device on the market in the 2-in-1 Detachable category. It is requested the Government also consider allowing a 360° convertible hinge device to allow the Government more options. A 360° hinge allows the device to flip and fold into notebook, stand, tent, and tablet modes and still falls below the Government's specified maximum weight requirement.

The Base/Boost Clock Speed GHz specifications found in Attachment 10 for the 2-in-1 Detachable will remain unchanged at 1.7/3.6.

The government will not consider allowing a 360° convertible hinge device for the 2-in-1 Detachable category.

Technical Thresholds tab, Rows 12 and 13

The following is an explanation on the appropriate way to interpret the USB requirements:

Attachment 10, General Purpose Desktop, Column B,

A total of six (6) USB ports is the minimum threshold required. Out of the 6 USB ports total, a minimum of three (3) must be “High-end” USB ports (3.0 or C).

SUBCLIN 1007AF

SUBCLIN 1007AF specifies that the Contractor shall provide and install a Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) compliant internal ST-Type Connector 100/1000 MB Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI-e) Fiber Network Interface Card (NIC) into the EUHW. A 100/1000 MB Fiber NIC does not exist in the industry. Fiber NICs do not auto-negotiate between 100 and 1000 Mbps speeds and are instead fixed speeds of either 100 Mbps or 1000 Mbps. It is recommended that the Government specify four different CLINs for Fiber NICs if the Government requires both 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps Fiber NICs. The four CLINs would be identified as listed in the following table:

An amendment to the RFP will update the Fiber NIC requirement.

PWS section 3.2.6 a. i. EUHWaaS Deployable Computing

PWS section 3.2.6 a. i. EUHWaaS Deployable Computing states "Five percent (5%) whole unit (i.e., additional EUHWaaS devices) and five percent (5%) replacement device storage (i.e., replacement internal storage) of total deployed hardware devices (fractional percentages will be rounded up to the next whole number) with a minimum of one (1) each." Will the Government define what EUHWaaS device categories are included in Deployable Kits? Will the Government provide additional CLINs to allow the Contractor to provide a price per category of device?

An amendment to the RFP will update the Deployable Seat Uplift requirement, including the PWS, Attachment 1, section 3.2.6, EUHWaaS Deployable Computing. PWS section 3.2.6.a.i will be removed.

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