Request_for_Information_(RFI)_Telecommunications_Services.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Local and Long-Distance Telecommunications Services and Transition

Planning

Document Control Number: RFI

Release Date: 20 August 2026

Response Due Date: 4 September 2026 at 5:00 PM MDT

Issuing Agency: 341st Contracting Squadron/PKB Malmstrom AFB, MT

Primary Point of Contact:

Jean-Denis Ducimetiere, Contract Specialist - DAF, jean-denis.ducimetiere@us.af.mil, 406-731-4031.

DISCLAIMER: FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or Request for Quotation (RFQ), nor does it restrict the Government/Organization to any ultimate acquisition approach. No contract will be awarded based on responses to this RFI. The issuer will not pay for information requested, nor reimburse any costs associated with preparing responses. All information submitted will become the property of the issuer and will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law.

1. Description and Purpose

Malmstrom AFB is seeking information, capabilities, and industry feedback from qualified telecommunications providers regarding upcoming requirements for installation-wide local and long-distance telecommunications services.

Key Objectives

• Service Continuity: Ensure uninterrupted, highly reliable local dial tone, emergency services connectivity (E911), and long-distance voice infrastructure.

• Transition and Convergence: Due to a change in procurement strategy, the issuer is preparing to transition services away from the incumbent contractor to a new service provider. We wish to identify best practices, potential risks, and required lead times to successfully migrate and converge services with a new provider.

mailto:jean-denis.ducimetiere@us.af.mil

• Modernization & Scalability: Assess opportunities to optimize current voice infrastructure (e.g., transitioning traditional PRI/analog lines to SIP Trunking or hosted/converged IP services where appropriate).

• Cost Estimation: Secure preliminary, non-binding cost estimates to support internal budgeting and market research.

2. Background & Scope of Services

The upcoming service contract will cover comprehensive telecommunications support throughout the installation, serving approximately 5980 users. The target environment requires a seamless mix of traditional and IP-based voice transport, secure connections, and reliable failover mechanisms.

Core Technical Components (Estimated Needs)

1. Local Voice Services:

• Primary Rate Interfaces (PRIs): Direct connectivity to existing on-premises

PBX systems (Cisco).

• SIP Trunking: Scalable Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunks to support unified communications.

• Analog/POTS Lines: Support for legacy applications including fax machines, elevator phones, security alarms, and environmental monitoring systems.

2. Long-Distance Services:

• Inbound and outbound domestic long-distance.

• Inbound Toll-Free services with advanced routing capabilities.

• Limited international dialing capabilities for designated lines.

3. Directory and Emergency Services:

• Full E911 configuration, location mapping, and compliance.

• Directory assistance and listing services.

3. Transition and Convergence Challenge

A primary focus of this RFI is the transition phase. The issuer is migrating from an incumbent provider. Consequently, we require detailed strategies on how a new provider will:

• Cooperatively orchestrate the porting of existing Direct Inward Dialing (DID) blocks and Toll-Free Numbers (TFNs).

• Install new physical circuit drop-offs and Network Interface Devices (NIDs) without disrupting active business operations.

• Map, test, and cut over services during off-peak hours to minimize operational downtime.

4. Information Requested from Industry

Please provide a Capabilities Statement and response addressing the following structural elements:

Section A: Corporate Overview & Experience

4. Company Profile: Company name, address, point of contact, CAGE/UEI number, and relevant contract vehicles (e.g., GSA MAS, EIS, or local state/cooperative contracts).

Section B: Technical & Convergence Capabilities

5. Service Architecture: Describe your network backbone, redundancy models, and how you guarantee 99.999% uptime for local and long-distance voice delivery.

6. Modernization Path: How does your team recommend converging legacy voice systems (like analog/PRI) into a modern cloud or hybrid SIP environment? What infrastructure upgrades would be required on the customer's side?

7. Hardware & CPE: Detail the Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) typically deployed for this scope of work, including service demarcations and router requirements.

Section C: Transition, Porting, and Risk Management

Please provide thorough feedback on the following specialized questions designed to address our transition challenges:

• Question 1 (Porting Timelines): What is the industry standard and realistic lead time required to port approximately 5980 DID numbers from an incumbent to your network? What escalations can be utilized if the incumbent is unresponsive?

• Question 2 (Parallel Run Capabilities): Do you support parallel/dual-active service structures during the transition phase to guarantee zero down-time? If so, how is this typically architected and billed?

• Question 3 (On-Site Integration): What access, space, power, and structural provisions will you require at our facilities to install your edge equipment prior to the actual cutover?

• Question 4 (Critical Path Dependencies): In your experience with similar municipal, state, or federal transitions, what are the top three (3) risks that delay execution, and what proactive measures should our agency take to mitigate them?

• Question 5 (Testing & Acceptance): Describe your standard User Acceptance

Testing (UAT) and validation protocols before a site is officially declared "live" on your network.

Section D: Preliminary Cost & Estimate (Optional)

To help us formulate budgetary planning, we invite respondents to submit a preliminary, non-binding quote or cost model based on the template in Appendix A.

Please note: Submission of pricing is entirely optional and will be used strictly for market research and budgetary estimation. It does not bind the respondent to these rates in any future formal solicitation.

5. Submission Guidelines

• Submission Format: Submissions should be provided in PDF or MS Word format. Appendix A (if completed) may be submitted in MS Excel.

• Delivery: Send responses via email to jean-denis.ducimetiere@us.af.mil, or jennifer.lodmell.1@us.af.mil with the subject line: "Response to Telecom RFI:

[Your Company Name]".

• Due Date: No later than 4 September 2026 at 5:00 PM MDT.

Attachment 1: Performance Work Statement mailto:jean-denis.ducimetiere@us.af.mil mailto:jennifer.lodmell.1@us.af.mil

Appendix A: Optional Preliminary Cost Estimate Template

Respondents may utilize the table below or attach their standard enterprise pricing model to estimate monthly recurring costs (MRC) and one-time non-recurring costs

(NRC).

Ite m #

Description / Service Component

Est.

Qty

Unit of Measur e

Monthly Recurri ng Cost

(MRC)

Non- Recurri ng / Install Cost

(NRC)

Notes / Assumptio ns

PRI Circuit (including local minutes)

[e.g.

, 4]

Each $ $

SIP Trunks (Concurrent Call Paths)

[e.g.

, 50]

Paths $ $

Analog POTS Lines (Elevator, Fire, Fax)

[e.g.

, 20]

Line $ $

Outbound Long Distance (Intrastate/Interst ate)

Per Min

Minute $ $ Specify flat or usage rate

Toll-Free Service Inbound Voice

[e.g.

, 10]

Numbe rs

DID Number Block Allocation (per block of 100)

[e.g.

, 5]

Block $ $

One-Time Transition, Porting & Setup Fee

1 Lot N/A $ Includes

PM,

engineering, porting

Managed CPE / Router Rental (Optional)

[e.g.

, 5]

Each $ $

Tota l

Estimated Cost Profile