Trusted Internet Connectivity Q A 2.pdf

“Trusted Internet Connectivity”

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.: RFP- NIH-LM-2012-351-TIC-AS

AMENDMENT NO.: 02

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 8, 2012

ISSUED BY:

Nation Library of Medicine, NIH 6707 Democracy Boulevard Room 105 Bethesda, Maryland 20894-5488

Point of Contact: Amy Sheib, Contracting Officer

NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR: To All Offerors The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth below. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is NOT extended. Offerors must acknowledge receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED

AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND

DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

All other terms and conditions of the RFP remain unchanged.

DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

PURPOSE: To modify/clarify the RFP requirements and respond to questions submitted under the RFP. Unless specifically noted, all specifications remain unchanged.

The responses to questions are as follows:

Question 1. The subject RFP does not reflect a due date for clarification questions. Please advise of a date for the submission of final RFP clarification questions.

Answer 1. Questions will be answered on an as needed basis until May 11, 2012 at noon. Proposals are due on May 14, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. EST.

Question 2. May we submit the proposal electronically via email (and to what email address), and not as hardcopy?

Answer 2. soft copy may be sent via e-mail to ap370t@nih.gov, 1 signed original must be sent to: National Library of Medicine, Office of Acquisitions, 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 105, Bethesda, Maryland 20894-5488 (20817 for courier services), Attention: Amy Sheib, Contracting Officer, on ap370t@nih.gov.

Question 3. The RFP contains references to sections that are not included in the RFP PDF files, or the referenced sections do not contain the instructions indicated. The instructions begin at “SECTION L -

INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS,” “2. INSTRUCTIONS TO

OFFERORS.” Do we have all the RFP files? These references include the following:

a) p. 31, section “2. Authorized Official and Submission of Proposal” The proposal must be signed by an official authorized to bind your organization and must stipulate that it is predicated upon all the terms and conditions of this RFP. Your proposal shall be submitted in the number of copies, to the addressees, and marked as indicated in the Attachment entitled, PACKAGING AND DELIVERY OF PROPOSAL, Part III, Section J hereof. Proposals will be typewritten, paginated, reproduced on letter size paper, printed/copied double-sided, on at least 30 percent post consumer fiber paper, as required by FAR 4.302(b), and will be legible in all required copies. To expedite the proposal evaluation, all documents required for responding to the RFP should be placed in the following order…

b) p. 31, section “3. Proposal Summary and Data Record (NIH-2043)” The Offeror must complete the Form NIH-2043, attached, with particular attention to the length of time the proposal is firm and the designation of those personnel authorized to conduct negotiations. (See SECTION J, Attachment entitled, PROPOSAL SUMMARY

AND DATA RECORD).

c) p. 31, section “4. Separation of Technical and Business Proposals” The proposal must be prepared in two parts: a "Technical Proposal" and a "Business Proposal." Each of the parts shall be separate and complete in itself so that evaluation of one may be accomplished independently of, and concurrently with, evaluation of the other. The technical proposal must include direct cost and resources information, such as labor-hours and categories and applicable rates, materials, subcontracts, travel, etc., and associated costs so that the offeror's understanding of the project may be evaluated (See SECTION J, Attachment entitled, TECHNICAL PROPOSAL COST SUMMARY.) However, the technical proposal should not include pricing data relating to individual salary information, indirect cost rates or amounts, fee amounts (if any), and total costs. The technical proposal should disclose your technical approach in as much detail as possible, including, but not limited to, the requirements of the technical proposal instructions.

Answer 3. The above listed attachments: PACKAGING AND DELIVERY OF

PROPOSAL, PROPOSAL SUMMARY AND DATA RECORD, & TECHNICAL

PROPOSAL COST SUMMARY are not required.

Question 4. Specific to Solicitation NIH-LM-2012-351-TIC-AS/Trusted Internet Connectivity – Please confirm Internet circuit requirements for the Atlanta & Albuquerque locations? Will HHS have dual internet facing routers at each location, each requiring 10G circuits for local fail-over?

Answer 4. Yes.

Question 5. NIH-LM-2012-_____was officially released as an RFQ, however everything outside of the SOW documents for WAN A and WAN B are titled and asking for a full RFP.

Please clarify what is expected from vendors when responding as it pertains to information outside of the attached SOWS within the RFQ.

Answer 5. Based on the anticipated dollar threshold, NLM anticipates the award of a contract rather than a purchase order; therefore, NLM issued a request for proposals

(RFP).

Question 6. Pricing B.3 (f) What is PRISM/NBS Payment requirement? Can you please clarify is this section? Are we required to complete this table?

Answer 6. This will be completed at time of award by the contract specialist.

Question 7. Ref: Section 1.A.6 of the Technical Statement of Work outlines complex diversity requirements. The identified level of bandwidth will require additional time to ensure route diversity is achieved as requested. In order to offer a cost effective and comprehensive solution, we respectfully request a 3 week extension to the date for the submission of a response to this solicitation.

Answer 7. No extensions are being granted at this time.