ResponsestoQuestions_8-15-2016_NIHLM2016864.docx

Solicitation No. NIHLM2016864

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. QUESTION: Does the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation contain requirements similar to a current contract? If possible, please provide the current contract number. Or, is this a new requirement for the Government?

ANSWER: This is a requirement for renewal of services and the current contract number is HHSN276201400074U.

2. QUESTION: Ref. Statement of Work (SOW), Pg.3, Paragraph 4B Description of Work-Leased Circuits – SOW states, “Additionally, NLM’s Internet connections must be physically diverse from NIH/CIT’s Internet connections.”

Please provide clarification of terminating location, provider and level of diversity required.

ANSWER: Terminating location: National Institutes of Health Campus Building 38A, Room B2N29, Bethesda Maryland. Current provider Level 3, requires physical diversity to provider’s POP.

3. QUESTION: Ref. SOW, Pg.4, Paragraph 8 Deliverable/Delivery Schedule – SOW states, “Due: High Speed Internet Service 9/16/2016, Leased Lines 9/16/2016.”

The Industry Standard Interval for the service solicited is 90 days. Would NLM amend the solicitation to allow an installation interval of 90 days upon award?

Would NLM allow a deployment of 120 days from award?

ANSWER: We would allow for 90 days, but not 120 days.

4. QUESTION: Will NLM amend the solicitation to allow an extension of 3 weeks after release of question responses?

In order to create the diverse solution requested in this solicitation, a two week extension until September 6, 2016 to the response date is requested.

ANSWER: We are unable to extend this solicitation beyond the current response date.

5. QUESTION: Ref. SOW, Pg. 1, Paragraph 2 Objectives – SOW states, “These connections must be physically diverse from the HHS Trusted Internet Connections located at the NIH Campus in Bethesda, MD, since the NLM uses the HHS Trusted Internet Connections as a backup.” There is not enough information to address this requirement. We need to understand the current provider and routs for the TIC connections so that we develop a diverse solution. Additionally, does NLM have a ring architecture in place today with dual entrances to satisfy your current internet requirements? Dual ring, protected circuits, Please clarify whether the protected circuits are required if this circuit is also to be diverse from the NIH CIT connections.

ANSWER: Current provider is Level 3. NLM presently has dual entrances, dual ring, protected circuits.

6. QUESTION: Ref. SOW, Paragraph 6 Please of Performance – SOW states, “Point of Presence is located at: Building 38A, room B2N29…”

Is Building 38A, Room B2N29 also the telecom demarcation point for NIH? If the circuits need to be extended from another location to Building 38A, will NIH be responsible for extending the circuit via their own internal fiber ring?

ANSWER: Building 38A, Room B2N29 is the demark for NLM and not for NIH.

7. QUESTION: Ref. Technical Evaluation Factor c. Network security – The solicitation states that the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack mitigation will be evaluated.

Will the offerors be required to provide a quotation for this service as a separate line item in the pricing?

ANSWER: DDoS Services are optional, and if provided must include the pricing.

8. QUESTION: The Government states, the contractor must be considered a Global Tier 1 ISP. We are a global Satellite and Telecommunications firm but do not qualify for Global Tier 1 ISP. However, we have a large business subcontractor that qualifies as a Global Tier 1 ISP. Would the government consider a subcontractor/and or team member who is a Global Tier 1 ISP to be sufficient?

ANSWER: We require direct relationship with a Global Tier 1 provider to support the mission requirements. The evaluation factors state that the “contractor” must be considered a Global Tier 1 ISP, and the indirect relationship with a subcontractor is not sufficient.