NTIA FSDS PM Q_A Questions and Answers.pdf

FSDS PM Q&A Event

DATE: 11/06/2023

VENDOR ATTENDEES: 95 (SEE “PM Q&A VENDOR ATTENDANCE LIST” FOR DETAILS)

Government (8 total): Alan Rosner, David Wicker, Tamara Severe, Danielle Green, Michael Sears, Wendy Lozano, Tony Whitt, Michael Litwack

MITRE (9 total): Adam Bouffard, Chris Barlow, Ryan Novak, Rachel Giachinta, Mark Gray, Tom

Taylor, Susan Hanson, Dr. Robert Knapper, Dr. John Stine

High-Level Hitters: Q&A

1. Is NTIA looking for a feasibility study to capture workflow, analytical, and data requirements holistically? Basically, is NTIA going to take this opportunity to analyze whether certain processes need to be added/improved upon for existing capabilities, or is NTIA looking to replace the functionality of the existing systems only?

Answer: The FSDS evolves, not replicates, spectrum IT system capabilities, in alignment with evolution of spectrum regulations, processes and data. In certain cases, yes, we can make tweaks or adjustments to the business processes – it depends on what those changes are, as well as their associated impacts on the user. Not out to “redo” everything.

2. Is the draft management plan from NSIS (NTIA-22-0001-01) NTIA’s definition of Agile or the desired management approach for FSDS to include Waterfall level pre-planning?

Answer: (1) An appropriate level of planning will occur for a project of this size and complexity. The planning must ensure the IT remains in alignment with evolving spectrum regulations, processes and data.

(2) The management plan is under revision.

3. Will the agency consider sponsoring the Secret Clearance/FCL if all technical requirements are met for this effort?

Answer: A successful offeror must meet security requirements at contract award in order to begin contract execution in a timely manner.

Chat Provided: Q&A

1. Is FSDS envisioned to replace Spectrum XXI?

Answer: Still up in the air. We work closely with DoD on Spectrum XXI, they’ve been doing work to modernize it, and we haven’t had an opportunity to participate in testing it yet but if it is successful, that may be an opportunity going forward. Interested in something web-based.

2. Is the intent to move away from MCEB Pub 8 SSRF?

Answer: The only NTIA system that uses SSRF is EL-CID online. There’s not much alignment with

MCEB Pub 8, that’s a DoD standard. Obviously, interoperability is very important to us as we adopt any and all of our data structures and will be coordinating with DoD throughout. That’s why I emphasize that with this first version of the .xml being forwards and backwards compatible.

3. Can you discuss more about the physics-based mod and sim work being done with the group in boulder? are these services meant to replace those currently used as part of the frequency nomination process (i.e., interference analysis)?

Answer: There are possibilities there. The work that is being done, if you’re familiar with the ITS

Institute for Telecomm Sciences, as part of their work, they develop models. We are working with them to encapsulate those models into web services. Others are working with them to build or enhance models in certain bands. I would anticipate that there will more and more enhancements and we want to apply those as quickly as possible to our engineering tools that support the business processes. We want to use them. Alternatively, they will end up in some kind of customized tool that will have to be form-fitted/plugged into our processes.

4. Besides the lift and shift Cloud work, do you need any help in modernizing your Applications for moving it to the Cloud?

Answer: There are a number of things that may need to be done under the hood to make it more secure for a Cloud environment. Also, we have 6 different relational database systems. I’d like to whittle that down to 2, so how do we accomplish this in a common data lake?

5. Should industry expect a single award or multiple award contract?

Answer: The government is not addressing this question. as it is part of the acquisition strategy.

6. Are the agencies open to moving away from using Card3?

Answer: Some of them, some we’ll have to work with – i.e., those with their own tools. We recognize that and have already started some conversations.

7. Has the NTIA investigated hybrid data model solutions?

Answer: The NTIA has investigated a variety of data model solutions. This market research activity is intended to inform technical and acquisition strategies. We welcome innovative solutions that simplify our number of database technologies, efficiently and effectively satisfy the statement of need, protect data at rest and in transit, ensure continuous interoperability such as with backwards compatibility, and empower the business processes.

8. Have you considered a JSON data exchange standard instead of the XML standard currently being investigated? this would foster more efficient data exchange between modern APIs (e.g., REST, GraphQL)

Answer: We are presently using XML but we have an open mind about different data technologies if they offer improvements that make the switch worthwhile or can be used with XML.

9. Can you expand on Data Policy: SQL/Relational, NoSQL, Database provider?

We will consider any data technologies that meet FSDS needs.

10. Is there still an option to join the Spectrum Modernization Working Group?

No, the IT modernization working group is not for industry – unless you are with one of the agencies.

SAM.gov Submissions: Q&A

4. Can you explain the reasons and differences between the Sources Sought and the previously released RFI? Namely, removal of the product matrix?

Answer: An RFI collects information about vendors’ offerings to inform a possible future acquisition. A sources sought solicits interest in a potential acquisition. (The product matrix was not needed in the RFI.)

5. Is the Sources Sought targeted at a specific need within the FSDS enterprise? It reads more oriented to the need for a Services contract.

Answer: NTIA is the enterprise. The Statement of Need articulates the need being addressed by the

FSDS.

6. Regarding Question 4 under Market Information, will the services portion of the FSDS be a

Performance Based Contract?

Answer: The government is still in the market research phase; therefore, given the acquisition strategy is still in development, we are not prepared to answer this at this time.

7. Will the Sponsor procure products separately and an architectural solution will be procured to satisfy the need for a services contractor?

Answer: The government is still in the market research phase; therefore, given the acquisition strategy is still in development, we are not prepared to affirmatively answer this at this time.

8. If the government pools one solution under one prime contract will products be selected by that prime or determined by the government?

Answer: The government will control which technologies and products are used for the FSDS project.

The government is not addressing the contractual question.

9. Must subcontractors have a facility security clearance or does this requirement apply only to the prime contractor?

Answer: All prime and sub-contractors must have an active Facility Clearance Level (FCL) at the level commensurate (or higher) to the highest classification level contained within the specific classified contract. This remains the same for all classified contracts regardless of whether classified processing will take place at a contractor facility or government location. If the classified work will take place at the contractor’s facility then the company FCL must also state a document safeguarding level commensurate to the level of work to be performed.

Information concerning FCL is provided at Facility Clearances (dcsa.mil).

The government intends to address this in the solicitation; if the government proceeds with a solicitation.

10. Sources Sought required capability question e) Software Information Technology (IT) Systems Development states: “Describe your experience conducting the following activities as a prime systems integration contractor on software development projects valued at greater than $100M over a five-year period or less." Does this mean the project must have been completed in 5 years or less, OR at a rate of $100M per five years, OR $100M project that occurred sometime within the past 5 years?

Answer: At a rate of $100M over five or fewer years https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcsa.mil%2FIndustrial-Security%2FEntity-Vetting-Facility-Clearances-FOCI%2FFacility-Clearances%2F&data=05%7C01%7CTSevere%40ntia.gov%7C440de29fcdfe425f27cc08dbdef1faf9%7Cd6cff1bd67dd4ce8945dd07dc775672f%7C0%7C0%7C638348903121785823%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=AVpeGdbqtcM7tjHPjWRnJKPmGVSLLbRhn27Mi%2FBa8kM%3D&reserved=0

11. For Figure 2 in the GAO report, does the scope of the other tools mentioned need to be implemented in FSDS from an analytical/workflow perspective or support data exchange with them only?

Answer: Figure 2 includes systems that are out of scope of the FSDS modernization, such as MAX.gov.

FSDS scope information augmenting the sources sought will be available in the Program Briefing.

(Reference in the sources sought, "NTIA FSDS Modernization – Industry Engagement Events" section).

12. Is the government looking for an FSDS offer that is a complete functional replacement planned from the beginning or looking for a team velocity to work in an Agile framework over time to iteratively build an FSDS solution?

Answer: The government intends to pursue an agile system development approach. Further specifics of a potential future solicitation are not available at this time.

13. Will the technical data package described in NSIS (NTIA-22-0001-01) be a requirement in FSDS?

Answer: The government is still in the market research phase; therefore, given the acquisition strategy is still in development, we are not prepared to affirmatively answer this at this time.

14. Will NTIA prioritize rapid replacement of legacy systems over long-term sustainment/licensing costs? Which is a higher priority for NTIA?

Answer: (1) The question implies that will all be replaced, which is not correct. Some legacy systems might be evolved instead of replaced. (2) Regarding priorities, long-term costs and system requirements such as legacy system evolution/replacement must be balanced. There is no clear prioritization of one over the other.

15. What is the annual funding allocated to this program?

Answer: The government is not addressing this question.

16. What is the anticipated contract period of performance for FSDS?

Answer: The government is not addressing this question.

17. Will NTIA define IOC and FOC

Answer: The government is not addressing this question.

18. On page two of the Sources Sought, the paragraph referencing the GAO report states that the legacy systems will be re-architected, re-factored, replaced, or retired and that the modernization strategy for each legacy system has not yet been specified. Does this mean that the scope of the re-architecting, re-factoring, replacing, or retiring of these systems is outside of FSDS, and FSDS is meant to establish an architecture/framework to facilitate this modernization? Or is the scope of the re-architecting, re-factoring, replacing, or retiring within the FSDS bounds?

Answer: Modernizing the legacy NTIA spectrum Information Technology (IT) system capabilities is in scope. The mechanism (e.g., refactoring, replacing) has not been selected for each legacy system.

19. EL-CID is referenced in the GAO report dated 2/22. Is EL-CID a synonymous term for both Desktop and Online versions, or is the GAO report only referencing one of those systems?

Answer: Those questions would need to be answered by the GAO. However, EL-CID Desktop is expected to be replaced by EL-CID Online before FSDS development occurs.

20. If we are not responding to the Sources Sought with a written submission, can slides still be considered for the Lightning session?

Answer: The "Sources Sought Response Requested" section of the sources sought contains instructions for written submissions, and the "Lightening Networking Session" section contains instructions for the related presentations.