Q and A for NRESS-II RFP.pdf

5 Is it possible to get a copy of

Existing NSPIRES requirements or any historical requirements?

Current requirements are stated in the current SOW.

6 What are the anticipated document formats to be supported in the

NRESS / NSPIRES processes described SOW (i.e. Word, PDF, other)?

All proposals are stored in PDF format.

7 Where is the current NSPIRES solution hosted? Will this be changing in any way?

NSPIRES is hosted at an off-site data center. No plans to change.

8 Is there any information on the current service level agreement

(SLA), including disaster recovery and archiving of data?

A Contingency Plan is in place that documents the approach to system recovery and data retention.

9 What are the current technologies that are being used for NSPIRES development and maintenance etc.?

NSPIRES is primarily Java, using

WebLogic as the application server, and Oracle as the database.

10 Will any portion of the future

NSPIRES be expected to be a cloud-based solution?

Likely, but development of such a solution is not part of this scope.

11 Who is expected to incur the cost of software licenses, hosting costs or subscriptions in support of the

NSPIRES solution? Is this cost information expected to be part of the bid and proposal response?

The awardee would be responsible for procuring the listed items as

Other than Direct Costs on behalf of NASA. A reasonable estimate for these costs should be included in the proposal.

12 Is the expectation to provide APIs for NSPIRES to facilitate connectivity to other tools or systems?

NSPIRES does not currently support any external API’s.

13 Is NSPIRES expected to interface directly with any other platform or system at NASA / External to

NASA?

Yes. Interface diagram will be available on e-library

14 RTO 3 Is RTO 3 focused on only a plan and approach for the migration plan of NSPIRES or does it also include the execution levels of effort to implement post migration?

RTO #3 states that the

“Contractor shall maintain the system performance requirements of Activity 1 for the second-generation NSPIRES system after the migration is complete.”

15 Will there be any data or trending analysis on historical data expected as part of the new

NSPIRES system?

Data management and analysis will continue on the new NSPIRES system.

16 Main RFP

RTO 3

L.13.(c). Subfactor B

Page 70 It is not 100% clear from the RTO3 instructions in

Subfactor B and Exhibit 14 whether the NRESS bidders are to propose an approach to developing a next generation NSPIRES system, or if bidders are to propose a design for the system itself.

Will the Government please clarify whether offerors are to provide an approach to migrating from the current NSPIRES system to the intended second-generation

NSPIRES implementation as developed by an external vendor, OR if we should provide a technical plan and specification for the development and implementation of the second-generation NSPIRES system, including proposed architecture, hardware / software, end-user functionality, system interfaces, etc…)?

Neither. The only requirement is to manage the migration to the new NSPRIES system and to operate it after migration.

17 Main RFP L.10.(g).1 OCI

Assessment

Page 60 Referenced section states: “The Offeror shall identify any organizational interests (financial, contractual or other) that would be affected by performance of the Statement of Work requirements, whether by it or its proposed subcontractors. This includes recently performed (within 2 years prior to the proposal due date), currently performed, or planned work (including future competitive proposals) (our emphasis), whether as a prime contract holder or a subcontractor”

1. Is this listing of future competitive proposals required from the proposed subcontractors as well as from the prime contractor / offeror?

2. If so, can proposed subcontractors submit this listing directly to the Government given the competition sensitive nature of the data?”

1.Yes, if there are subs that the prime knows that they are going to use on the contract and the work that the sub is going to perform is of the type that is going to cause a conflict, and if the amount of work is substantial. Future competitive proposals includes grants.

2.No. In the context of OCI, the prime needs to understand the conflict in order to prepare a plan that will mitigate the conflict.

18 RTO 2 Page 3 Task Order #2 states: “Contractor Support Scientists will be assigned as peer review administrators

(PRAs.)”

Is the contractor expected to identify and secure a scientist(s) to support this requirement?

Yes.

19 SOW 7 Page 11 Will the government provide the contractor with user and system documentation on NSPIRES?

Training manuals and user guides available on NSPIRES site. Admin manuals not available.

20 RTO 3 Page 2 Task Order #3 states: “NASA is currently developing a second-generation NSPIRES system through a separate procurement effort.”

Task Order #3 requires the contractor to evaluate the existing

NSPIRES system and plan a migration to the second-generation system.

Clarification is needed regarding why the contractor is evaluating the old system if the new system is already under development.

Is the contractor being asked to validate if the new system addresses deficiencies previously voiced by reviewers and NASA staff?

Yes. RTO 3 states that “The contractor shall also develop and provide a baseline of functional evaluation that will serve as a performance guideline for the new system, and validate new system performance against baseline and user requirements.”