Response_to_Questions_for_RFP_NNG16534898R.pdf

Responses to Questions

RFP NNG16534898R

May 20, 2016

QUESTION 1: In order to provide NASA with their Best Value proposals vendors should be allowed adequate time to prepare their Firm Fixed Price (FFP) proposals. We request that proposals be due no less than 15 business day after vendor receipt of answers to all vendor’s questions.

RESPONSE 1: The government has extended the proposal response date. Proposals are due not later than 2pm EST on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.

QUESTION 2: Given the accelerated proposal delivery schedule would NASA consider the submittal of Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQ) via email? If email submittals are not acceptable would NASA consider extending the due date of questionnaires one week beyond the proposal due date?

RESPONSE 2: The Government will accept past performance questionnaires via email. Past Performance questionnaires may be sent to Keisha.S.Willingham@nasa.gov. The due date of the questionnaires remains unchanged.

QUESTION 3: Please provide and define what a Global Positioning System (GPS) Locator is and what you want it to do at each NASA site.

RESPONSE 3: The term ‘GPS locator’ represents a device that could provide timing for the simulcast deployment at Wallops. NASA expects the Vendor to populate Attachment B Firm Fixed Price Matrix and Equipment List with all hardware and software that could potentially be of interest or use to NASA over the Term of the contract. This includes the primary LMR components, ancillary components, license fees, accessories, and items that may be required for future requirements. NASA’s goal is to facilitate budgetary planning and greatly simplify the task order procurement process by including all required items on the Price Matrix and Equipment List.

QUESTION 4: Please provide additional subscriber specifications/requirements for the portables in the category of basic, mid-level, advanced, ruggedized mobiles and desktops (i.e. channel capacity, number of Radio Frequency (RF) bands, keypad, display, number of encryption keys, etc.), and provide answers to the following questions:

1) Do subscribers have to be equipped with AES encryption or capable of AES encryption at a future date?

2) What power level is required on the mobiles, 50W or 100W?

3) What corresponding portable category do you want the vehicle mounted unit to line up with? (For example High Tier Dual band)

4) Are radios required to support multiple frequency bands for interoperability (i.e.

UHF/VHF 700-800 MHz)?

5) What are the configuration of the vehicle mounted units, dash mount or remote mount? If both please provide the quantity breakout.

6) How will the desktop base station unit be controlled, locally or remotely?

mailto:Keisha.S.Willingham@nasa.gov

7) Should the Desktop base stations include antenna systems? Please provide the distance between the antenna and the desktop base station transmitters so that we can quote the proper line length.

RESPONSE 4: NASA will convey desired quantities and types to the Vendor at the Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) and purchase the radios by issuing a Task Order.

NASA expects the Vendor to populate Attachment B Firm Fixed Price Matrix and Equipment List with all hardware and software that could potentially be of interest or use to NASA over the Term of the contract. This includes the primary LMR components, ancillary components, license fees, accessories, and items that may be required for future requirements. NASA’s goal is to facilitate budgetary planning and greatly simplify the task order procurement process by including all required items on the Price Matrix and Equipment List.

The Government anticipates the desktop base stations to be controlled locally.

QUESTION 5: Please confirm all the subscriber radios are required to be GPS and Over-the-air Re-keying (OTAR) equipped.

RESPONSE 5: NASA will convey these quantities to the Vendor at the TIM and purchase the radios by issuance of orders. NASA expects the Vendor to populate the Price Matrix and Equipment List (Attachment B) with all hardware and software that could potentially be of interest to NASA over the Term of the contract. This includes the primary LMR components, ancillary components, license fees, accessories, and items that may be required for future requirements. NASA’s goal is to facilitate budgetary planning and greatly simplify the task order procurement process by including all required items on the Price Matrix and Equipment List.

QUESTION 6: Attachment B calls for intrinsically safe batteries. Portables in the industry now have UL ratings instead of Factory Mutual Approved Intrinsically Safe. Please identify which types of hand held radios (basic, mid-level, high end, or ruggedized) require a Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rated battery? Are the separately listed batteries to be used as spares? If so, please provide a breakout of batteries by type of hand held radio (basic, mid-level, high end, or ruggedized).

RESPONSE 6: The radios are used at Greenbelt and Wallops by personnel supporting Facilities, Protective Services, Environmental and Health & Safety. The radios are also used by the Fire Department and Airport personnel at Wallops.

NASA expects the Vendor to populate the Price Matrix and Equipment List (Attachment B) with all hardware and software that could potentially be of interest to NASA over the Term of the contract. This includes the primary LMR components, ancillary components, license fees, accessories, and items that may be required for future requirements. NASA’s goal is to facilitate budgetary planning and greatly simplify the task order procurement process by including all required items on the Price Matrix and Equipment List.

QUESTION 7: Please confirm the winning vendor is not required to maintain the existing EDAC system. Per the solicitation, it appears the winning vendor is not required to maintain the existing EDACs system. Therefore, the requirement, "Contractor must be a certified M/a-Com/Harris authorized service provider (for 5 years or more) for a multi-site trunked Enhanced Digital Access Communications (EDACS) system", is irrelevant. We respectfully request this portion of the requirement be removed from the questionnaire.

RESPONSE 7: The chosen vendor will not be required to maintain the existing EDACS system.

The PPQ has been updated to reflect this change. (See amendment 2 for revised questionnaire). Any Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) received with the “Contractor must be a certified M/a-Com/Harris authorized service provider (for 5 years or more) for a multi-site trunked Enhanced Digital Access Communications (EDACS) system" will be accepted however it will not be evaluated by the Government.

QUESTION 8: Exhibit 1 lists subscriber equipment (Vehicle Mounted Radio, Desktop Radio, Hand-Held Radios) to be priced. Is the vendor to include programming and installation of this subscriber equipment with the price of the equipment?

RESPONSE 8: The Offeror shall include the IDIQ price to program each type of radio. This will allow NASA to issue orders for the initial procurement of radios and for the Vendor to program such radios for the Site Acceptance Test (SAT) and the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) period. This will also allow NASA to purchase programmed radios through the task order process for the Term of the contract. NASA will also have the ability to program radios that are not programmed and program the radios by themselves using programming interfaces provided under contract.

QUESTION 9: In order to provide all vendors with adequate information to develop their best value proposals, will the Government consider holding a vendor site survey to allow vendors to see the equipment sites?

RESPONSE 9: A Site Visit has been scheduled. (See Amendment 2)

QUESTION 10: The Operations and Maintenance (O&M) milestone event has a quantity of 8 months. The start of the O&M period begins upon final system acceptance. Since the exact day that final system acceptance will occur is difficult to predict for the initial contract due to unanticipated delays, typically the O&M start date begins upon system acceptance and continues for 12 months. This coincides with the typical warranty period of 12 months. Would the Government consider having the price for the Base Year include the price for equipment and services required to achieve system acceptance and each option year be the price for each full year of O&M (Year 1, 2, 3 and 4)?

RESPONSE 10: Due to fiscal law concerns this request cannot be accommodated.

QUESTION 11: Please specify the time duration in hours for the hand held radio battery's operation before charging for a 5% receive, 5% standby, 90% transmit duty cycle.

RESPONSE 11: The radios are used at Greenbelt and Wallops by personnel primarily supporting Facilities, Protective Services, Environmental and Health & Safety. The radios are also used by the Fire Department at Wallops. Because of these critical responsibilities, use of the radios and batteries range from constant use for 8 hours to a 16 hour duty cycle (fully loaded) before needing to be recharged.

NASA expects the Vendor to populate the Price Matrix and Equipment List (Attachment B) with all hardware and software that could potentially be of interest to NASA over the Term of the contract. This includes the primary LMR components, ancillary components, license fees, accessories, and items that may be required for future requirements. NASA’s goal is to facilitate budgetary planning and greatly simplify the task order procurement process by including all required items on the Price Matrix and Equipment List.

QUESTION 12: Will all radios require Bluetooth operation? If not, please identify which tier of radios require bluetooth.

RESPONSE 12: NASA expects the Vendor to populate the Price Matrix and Equipment List (Attachment B) with all hardware and software that could potentially be of interest to NASA over the Term of the contract. This includes the primary LMR components, ancillary components, license fees, accessories, and items that may be required for future requirements. NASA’s goal is to facilitate budgetary planning and greatly simplify the task order procurement process by including all required items on the Price Matrix and Equipment List.

QUESTION 13: Please specify the requirements for the hand held radio battery chargers (i.e. multi-unit charger, single unit charger, rapid charger, chargers with display, battery reconditioning).

RESPONSE 13: NASA expects the Vendor to populate the Price Matrix and Equipment List (Attachment B) with all hardware and software that could potentially be of interest to NASA over the Term of the contract. This includes the primary LMR components, ancillary components, license fees, accessories, and items that may be required for future requirements. NASA’s goal is to facilitate budgetary planning and greatly simplify the task order procurement process by including all required items on the Price Matrix and Equipment List.

QUESTION 14: Can the government provide coordinates for the RF site as well as the antenna height at the Greenbelt site?

RESPONSE 14: The coordinates for the Greenbelt RF site is N38°59'58.17695" (latitude) and W76°51'17.63260” (longitude). Elevation at the base of the tower is 216.95 feet. The elevation at the light bulb is 417.93 feet and elevation of the two platforms are 391.92 and 307.28 feet

(NAVD88).

QUESTION 15: Can the government provide coordinates for the RF sites as well as antenna heights at the Wallops sites?

RESPONSE 15: The coordinates for the RF site at Wallops’ Main Base Tower (Building F-165) is Latitude 37D 56M 13.67S N (latitude) and 75D 28M 27.71S W (longitude) (format is in Degrees, Minutes, Seconds). The Antenna Platform on Top of Tower is at approximately 54.6 Meters amsl. Ground elevation at tower base is 12.6 meters amsl.

The coordinates for the RF site at Wallops’ Island Water Tower (Building X-046) is 37D 50M 34.63S N (latitude) and 75D 28M 43.83S W (longitude). The Antenna Platform on Top of Tower is at approximately 44.2 Meters amsl with ground elevation at tower base at 2.1 meters amsl.

QUESTION 16: How many system administration terminals does the Government require?

RESPONSE 16: The Government requires two system administration terminals at both Greenbelt and Wallops.

QUESTION 17: Per the SOW, the system shall be configured to provide wide area trunking, roaming, seamless handoff when roaming, and Linear (CQPSK) Simulcast to Subscribers. There is a contradiction between this requirement and requirement 2.1.2 of the SOW. P25 Phase II standards define TDMA voice modulation to be H-DQPSK for Linear Simulcast. Please clarify.

RESPONSE 17: The Statement of Work (SOW) has been updated to documenting the Phase II linear simulcast modulation scheme is H-DQPSK.

QUESTION 18: Does this items refer to the option for voice encryption or link (network) encryption?

RESPONSE 18: This refers to over-the-air voice encryption.

QUESTION 19: From how many locations does NASA desire to be able to access the recorded audio? How many should be priced into vendors' proposals? How many talkgroups will there be in the system?

RESPONSE 19: NASA requires the ability to access recordings from 3 locations at Greenbelt and 2 locations at Wallops. There are currently 35 talk-groups at both Greenbelt and Wallops but that number is expected to increase. The Vendor is expected to provide the ability to expand to at least 100 talk-groups per location.

QUESTION 20: System shall include a secure Internet Protocol (IP) interface to data networks to enable software applications on GFE computers or mobile phones. For how many initial devices should vendors equip the system with this capability?

RESPONSE 20: NASA requires the LMR System to contain an IP interface that operates at a minimum of 100 mbps, which NASA will integrate with a data network to allow software applications to function as radios on the LMR system. NASA does not know the specific number of software clients that are required for the initial delivery. NASA will convey the number of software clients that are initially required to the Vendor at the Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM). This will allow the Vendor to install the required number of software clients, and for the testing of software clients to be included in Acceptance Testing. NASA also requires that additional software clients be available for IDIQ purchase for the Term of the contract.

QUESTION 21: How many subscribers will have text messaging capability?

RESPONSE 21: NASA will convey the number of subscribers that require text message capability at the Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM). This will allow the Vendor to install the required number of subscribers with text messaging, and for the testing of the text messaging capability to be included in Acceptance Testing. NASA also requires that Subscribers with the text messaging capability be available for IDIQ purchase for the Term of the contract.

QUESTION 22: The future features listed in Section 2.2.3 are not reflected on the IDIQ Fixed Rate Price Matrix & Equipment List (Attachment B). Please update the matrix to include these items.

RESPONSE 22: NASA expects the Vendor to populate the Price Matrix and Equipment List (Attachment B) with all hardware and software that could potentially be of interest to NASA over the Term of the contract. This includes the primary LMR components, ancillary components, license fees, accessories, and items that may be required for future requirements. NASA’s goal is to facilitate budgetary planning and greatly simplify the task order procurement process by including all required items on the Price Matrix and Equipment List.

QUESTION 23: Multi-part Question:

1) Does the government desire a centralized mapping application be priced into this feature, or is the requirement simply for subscribers to be able to read their own coordinates?

2) If the government desires a centralized mapping application, does the government also desire vendors to price in a mapping solution, or does the government have their own mapping application that they will interface with the LMR system?

3) If the government desires vendors to provide a mapping solution, should the mapping solution be Information Assurance (IA)-compliant?

RESPONSE 23: Section 2.2.3 lists features that are not immediately required, therefore, these features should not be priced in to the FFP proposal. The Vendor is encouraged to include the mapping application - and any other hardware or software that augments the GPS location - for IDIQ purchase for the Term of the contract.

QUESTION 24: How many MOVE interfaces are required to be interfaced with the trunked LMR system?

RESPONSE 24: NASA requires 10 talk-groups from the LMR system to be integrated with the MOVE switch, where each talk-group is assigned to a discreet DS0. A T1 interface is the preferred method to integrate the LMR system and the MOVE system at Wallops.

QUESTION 25: Per TSB-88, a Bit Error Rate (BER) of 2.6% is associated with uplink (inbound from subscriber to system) at Delivered Audio Quality (DAQ) 3.4, while 2.4% is associated with downlink (outbound from system to subscriber), based on the modulations that are used in P25 Phase II Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA). Should vendors assume for outbound predictions and verification that a maximum BER of 2.4% be used, per TSB-88?

RESPONSE 25: Section 2.3.4 of the Statement of Work (SOW) has been updated to reflect the requirement for bi-directional testing with a DAQ of 3.4 or better, with a BER of 2.6% for the uplink from the Subscriber to the RF site, and a BER of 2.4 for the downlink from the RF site to the Subscriber.

QUESTION 26: Per TSB-88, a BER of 2.6% is associated with uplink (inbound from subscriber to system) at DAQ 3.4, while 2.4% is associated with downlink (outbound from system to subscriber), based on the modulations that are used in P25 Phase II TDMA.

Should vendors assume for outbound predictions and verification that a maximum BER of 2.4% be used, per TSB-88?

RESPONSE 26: Section 2.3.4 of the Statement of Work (SOW) has been updated to reflect the requirement for bi-directional testing with a DAQ of 3.4 or better, with a BER of 2.6% for the uplink from the Subscriber to the RF site, and a BER of 2.4 for the downlink from the RF site to the Subscriber.

QUESTION 27: Should vendors assume only outbound (fixed site to subscriber) voice coverage testing is required, as outlined in TSB-88?

RESPONSE 27: NASA requires bi-directional testing as specified in Section 2.3.4 of the SOW.

Bi-directional testing is required to verify function of the multi-coupler and other new electronics installed under contract.

QUESTION 28: Will the prices in Attachment B be used as a part of the price evaluation factor, or will it be used solely for price reasonableness? How will each of the three matrices be evaluated? Please provide what additional Services and Equipment are desired?

Response 28: The rates proposed in Attachment B IDIQ FIXED PRICE RATES MATRIX, will also be assessed for reasonableness. The Total Core and Components (CY1 - CY5) dollar amount under Exhibit 1 will be presented to the Selecting Official as well as any price risk associated with the proposal.

NASA expects the Vendor to populate the Price Matrix and Equipment List (Attachment B) with all hardware and software that could potentially be of interest to NASA over the Term of the contract. This includes the primary LMR components, ancillary components, license fees, accessories, and items that may be required for future requirements. NASA’s goal is to facilitate budgetary planning and greatly simplify the task order procurement process by including all required items on the Price Matrix and Equipment List

QUESTION 29: With the potential for variances and flexibilities granted by NIST SP 800- 53 relative to applicable controls and audits, what is the specific process, tools, and timelines to be used for the audit? What level of participation is required of the vendor?

RESPONSE 29: Continuous monitoring is an ongoing activity which may include vendor support. There are annual full Assessment and Authorization procedures necessary to achieve an Authorization to Operate (ATO). This may require occasional vendor support to demonstrate the Government has sufficiently addressed the required security controls. If those requirements are not met, the Government must demonstrate how to plan and mitigate the threat/weakness. There are also annual contingency tests that will occur as well which may include but are not limited to: table top exercises, interviews, disaster recovery scenarios, etc.

QUESTION 30: Specifically what vulnerability scanning tools does the Government plan to use and what do they scan for?

RESPONSE 30: NASA uses both Foundstone (McAfee) and Nessus (Tenable Network Security) and scans for vulnerabilities.

QUESTION 31: What are the specific NASA patch management requirements?

RESPONSE 31: Specific Patch Management requirements may be found at the following:

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publications (800-37 rev 1, 800-53 rev 4 and 800-53a rev 4) (http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/PubsSPs.html#SP%20800)

NPR 2810.1a, Security of Information Technology (http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?t=NPR&c=2810&s=1A)

NASA standard anti-malware software (i.e. Symantec Endpoint Protection (32 and 64 bit)) (https://etads.nasa.gov/public/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/NASA-STD-2804-Spring- 2015.pdf) http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/PubsSPs.html#SP%20800 http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?t=NPR&c=2810&s=1A https://etads.nasa.gov/public/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/NASA-STD-2804-Spring-2015.pdf https://etads.nasa.gov/public/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/NASA-STD-2804-Spring-2015.pdf

QUESTION 32: Can the government qualify the scope of the vendors' support for annual and ad-hoc A&A continuous monitoring activities?

RESPONSE 32: Continuous monitoring and A&A are ongoing activities which may require vendor support. There are annual full Assessment and Authorization procedures necessary to achieve an Authorization to Operate (ATO). This may require occasional vendor support to demonstrate the Government has sufficiently addressed the required security controls. If those requirements are not met, the Government must demonstrate how to plan and mitigate the threat/weakness. There are also annual contingency tests that will occur as well which may include but are not limited to: table top exercises, interviews, disaster recovery scenarios, etc.

QUESTION 33: Can product descriptive sales literature/specification sheets be included in a vendor response and not count against page limitations?

RESPONSE 33: Offerors must comply with the page limitations set forth in section A.5.6.

QUESTION 34: Will the CSS infrastructure be co-located with either the RF site or the dispatch location at the Greenbelt facility or will the infrastructure be in a separate location?

RESPONSE 34: The CSS infrastructure will be located in a building adjacent to the RF site at Greenbelt.

QUESTION 35: Will the primary and backup consoles at the Greenbelt facility be co-located?

RESPONSE 35: The primary and back-up consoles at the Greenbelt facility are not co-located.

They are in two different buildings that are approximately 1 mile apart.

QUESTION 36: Will the interface to the Cisco IP telephony system be a SIP interface?

RESPONSE 36: NASA requires capacity for five (5) simultaneous calls between the LMR System and the telephony system. NASA operates a Cisco telephony system that uses Cisco Unified Call Manager version 10.5, which is compatible with both analog and SIP interfaces.

QUESTION 37: Will either of the RF sites be co-located with the simulcast prime site equipment?

RESPONSE 37: The Government intends on co-locating the WFF simulcast prime equipment with the main base RF site.

QUESTION 38: Can NASA please clarify how many hardcopies are required for the Price Volume?

RESPONSE 38: The Government is requesting 1 original and 2 electronic copies of the Price Volume.

QUESTION 39: Will supporting documentation, such as appendices to the Technical Approach Proposal Volume count against the 20 page limit?

RESPONSE 39: Appendices to the Technical Approach Proposal Volume will count against the 20 page limit.

QUESTION 40: We understand that GFE resources will be used to interconnect core, Dispatch locations and RF sites. Will the interfaces provided to Contractor at each location be Ethernet ports on GFE MPLS routers?

RESPONSE 40: Offerors shall provide their specific Ethernet requirements for both locations.

QUESTION 41: RE: “Continuous system monitoring, and incident tracking.” Does this requirement mean that the system needs to continuously monitor for alarms, or that a person should continuously monitor the system? Also, could NASA further define “incident” and what the specific requirements/standards for incident reporting are?

RESPONSE 41: NASA requires the system to continuously monitor itself for alarms, and if possible some sort of way of relaying the alarm can be sent to a System Administrator.

QUESTION 42: How many personnel at each facility require operational training on dispatch consoles?

RESPONSE 42: The Government requires training for 20 dispatch operators at both locations.

Do we need to update the SOW? Section 2.8.4 of the SOW has been updated with training requirements for Dispatch Operators.

QUESTION 43: This is a complex, high-value solicitation with a lengthy period of performance. In order to ensure the vendor community has enough time to review and prepare responses to a solicitation of this complexity and magnitude, as well as incorporate responses to vendor questions, would NASA grant a 30-day extension to the proposal due date?

RESPONSE 43: Refer to question number 1.

Question 44: Is this a follow-on requirement? If so, could you please provide the incumbent contract number for this opportunity?

Response 44: The current contract NNG10FG01C is for maintenance of the current LMR System. This procurement is for the installation and maintenance of a new P-25 system.