JMPS_Responses_to_Questions.docx

This document contains the answers to questions posed by respondents to date. An amendment will be forthcoming to address any changes in the documents already attached to Solicitation N6833518R0035.

1. Is Windows 7 a hard requirement? Intel 7th generation processor is limited to Windows 10 support only.

a. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4012982/the-processor-is-not-supported-together-with-the-windows-version-that

All planned fielding of new Mission Planning software is expected to be on Windows 10 and hence Windows 7 would have been great to have for backwards compatibility but is indeed NOT a hard requirement.

2. Can the microphone option be removed versus disabled? Solicitation states "disabled in BIOS".

Yes, either disabling or removing is acceptable.

3. Processor PassMark requirement seems low. Please confirm CPU mark of 5000 is correct.

The requirement is only a minimum. Any CPU above this level is fine.

4. GPU PassMark requirement seems high for a rugged laptop solution (due to excessive heat produced by the GPU). Please confirm if PassMark of 5000 is correct. This requirement is typically found on desktop solutions.

The PassMark score of 5000 is achievable with the latest GPUs. But, after further research we have to agree on the heat component is a problem and not GPU meant for a laptop will achieve this level or performance. Hence, the proper PassMark score would be above 1500.

5. Appendix B: BIOS Update

a. The following options are not available on the device we plan to propose. Do you foresee this to be an issue?

i. TPM State

ii. PCI SCSI

It is acceptable to not have the exact TPM State setting in the BIOS as long as there is a way to enable and disable the TPM in the BIOS.

The PCI SCSI reference in the BIOS section only refers to the boot order. Since we have no devices that would boot the OS from a PCI SCSI device, the setting is not mandatory.

6. When are bid samples due? The solicitation states "TBD".

The bid samples are due on 01 March 2018, 4PM Eastern Standard Time using the earliest delivery shipment possible.

7. Please provide details of CLIN 0007 requirement.

CLIN 0007 has two Contract Data Requirement Lists (CDRLs). Please see the Statement of Work Section 2.3 for the Provisioning Technical Documentation for CDRL A001 and please see the Statement of Work Section 2.6 for the Hardware Availability Data for CDRL A002. Please note that this CLIN is Not Separately Priced.

8. “The BIOS battery must be easily accessible and removable without voiding the system warranty to support system declassification."

a. We assume that the Government is referring to the CMOS battery. Is our interpretation correct?

Yes, correct.

9. Once the system board is exposed, the Lithium coin battery is easily accessible and removable. However, getting the system board completely exposed is not. As the Government is well aware, the notebook the Government requires must have a certain degree of ruggedization. As such, the system board must be enclosed in some structure for its protection. To avoid confusion, would the Government revise the requirement to read:

"The CMOS battery must be easily accessible and removable from its system board without voiding the system warranty to support system declassification."

Yes, the “easily accessible” is a subjective call. We can accept with a minor extra caveat: “The CMOS battery must be accessible and removable from its system without voiding the system warranty to support system declassification. Ease of this accessibility and removal will be considered as one of many factors by the government when making a product selection.”

10. The Government is willing to accept a "USB-attached or Integrated Smart Card Reader". At the same time, the Government mandates an integrated DVD+/-R/RW & Blu-Ray drive. If a vendor chooses to propose a notebook computer with an integrated Smart Card Reader but USB-attached optical drive, would it be acceptable to the Government?

The vendor can submit that configuration and it will be evaluated. Typically, the fleet does not like the larger peripheral devices connected as external components and this would be evaluated during the human factors analysis.

11. A number of very competitive notebooks would be able to enter the competition if the Government would accept a USB-attached PCMCIA slot and RS-232 serial port.

The answer is No. The problem is twofold. With this and other questions are that this laptop gets fielded to the Navy and Marines. The fleet does not want external cables as they get lost and forgotten yielding them not able to fulfill their mission. Therefore, we try to reduce connected external devices. In this case, after testing, our data transfer device has shown it only functions if the PCMCIA slot is internal.

12. There does not appear to be an objective method to evaluate the "Human Factors." While we understand that it is difficult to develop an objective basis for this type of evaluation, we urge the Government to narrow it to the extent possible to avoid complications after contract award.

As part of the evaluation, we have actual military personnel involved in the evaluation. We could not describe a quantifiable method for this evaluation. Ergonomics will not be a factor since laptops can be positioned in a variety of situations. The following are a list of factors to be evaluated:

a. Clarity - How clear is the screen.

b. How legible are graphics and symbols

c. Monitor brightness controls

d. Accessibility for ports

e. Touchpad/mouse usability/responsiveness

f. Keyboard usability/responsiveness

g. Externally connected components

13. The Government states that the drop test will be "similar to the MIL-STD-810 standardization but only from a height of 6 inches …" Could the Government please advise vendors onto what type of floor surface will the notebook be dropped? Concrete? Hardwood? Or Carpeted?

Concrete.

14. Could the Government please disclose the version number of the Passmark Performance Test software that was used to collect the scores listed in the referenced paragraph?

Version 9.0

15. The Government requires PCMCIA Slot eject buttons be able to "eject cards to an easily retrievable distance (minimum of 1 inch chassis clearance desired)". Could the Government please disclose if the card the Government used to conduct the 1-inch clearance test is situated completely inside the slot when it is inserted? Or is it protruding from the slot? If so, how far out does it protrude?

When inserted, the PCMCIA card should be flush with the chassis and not protrude at all. Upon pressing the release button, a clearance of 0.5” from the insertion point would be acceptable. The main factor here is to ensure that a hand can easily pull out the card.

16. Also requiring 4 USB Slots on the unit is a challenge because most vendors have transitioned to USB-c and don’t contain 4 USB slots.

Standard USB slots are required based on peripherals in the fleet that require this type of connection.

17. Serial (RS232) is also a challenge in notebooks

Both PCMCIA and serial ports are challenging but both are required because of peripherals in the fleet that require this type of connection.

18. Can there be a better defining description on what "semi-rugged" entails? (Drop test, other qualifications, etc.)

The “semi-rugged” requirement is defined in MIL-STD-810.