RFI Questions to Industry Final 5.21.2024_FE.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS)

U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE)

Request for Information (RFI) for the

Information Technology Field Office (ITFO) Infrastructure Hardware

05/21/2024

1.0 Background

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the largest investigative arm in the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is responsible for identifying and shutting down vulnerabilities in the nation’s border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security. The ICE/Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) is responsible for the overall management, planning, development, deployment, operation, maintenance, coordination, and evaluation of ICE technology programs and activities.

In order to fulfill the OCIO’s strategic planning initiatives and address ICE community requirements, ICE/OCIO will establish a contract vehicle to support Information Technology Field Office (ITFO) requirements for various information technology hardware and other related information technology products that can be shipped nationwide in the United States (U.S.) and surrounding U.S. territories.

2.0 Purpose of Request for Information

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes, and it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, ICE is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Interested offerors are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.

3.0 Description of Requirements

ICE is exploring procurement strategies to establish a complete simplified acquisition for ITFO infrastructure hardware support. The prime Reseller Contractor will be required to provide specific brand name products to include information technology products from Cisco, Schneider Electric, Juniper, Cradlepoint, Hewlett Packard, Tripp-Lite, and goTenna information technology products and other server products based on various specification. In addition, the prime Reseller Contractor will be expected to provide simultaneous deliveries at various site locations for the continental United States (CONUS) and outside the continental United States (OCONUS).

4.0 Responding to this RFI

4.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with the completion of all questions within the Microsoft Forms link located below in Section 6.0 (Submissions).

4.2 Requested Information:

Administrative Information:

1. Name, address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail of designated Company’s point of contact.

2. Current contract number on your contract vehicle or schedule, i.e. GSA Multiple Award Schedule, etc.

3. Identification of business type (large business, small business, small-disadvantaged business, 8(a) certified small-disadvantaged business, HUBZone small business, woman-owned small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business), North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code(s), Product Service Code(s), and Special Item Numbers (SINs) on your contract vehicle or schedule, i.e. GSA Multiple Award Schedule, etc.

ITFO Infrastructure Hardware Questions:

1. Is your company able to resell and provide 51% or more of the required brand name products and similar server products to meet the specifications listed in Attachment # 1 (ITFO Infrastructure Hardware List/Build of Materials (BOM))?

2. What are your replacement options for product changes due to end of life or product discontinuations and the timeframe of availability for product replacements?

3a. What is your process when handling multiple bulk product purchases when providing simultaneous deliveries at various site locations for CONUS and OCONUS?

3b. What is your process when preparing products at the Contractor’s site location and then shipping products to multiple site locations?

4. How does your company handle liability in the instances of damage or loss of products during transit to site location?

5. What unique challenges has your company experienced with shipping delivery services in the Federal Government Sector and how did you mitigate them?

6. Can you provide details on your supply chain management practices?

7a. What is your process with White Glove delivery services?

7b. How will a product requiring White Glove delivery services be packaged to ensure safe transport?

7c. What precautions will be taken to prevent damage during handling, loading, and unloading a product requiring White Glove delivery?

7d. What unique challenges has your company experienced with White Glove delivery services in the Federal Government Sector and how did you mitigate these challenges?

Please note that White Glove delivery services refers to specialized handling and transporting freight with extreme care, and faster delivery speed of required products.

8. Are there any ancillary products that you recommend with this offering as it relates to the products listed in the ITFO Infrastructure Hardware List of Products listed in Attachment # 1)?

9. Is your company an authorized reseller of the manufactured brand products for Cisco, Schneider Electric, Juniper, Cradlepoint, Hewlett Packard, Tripp-Lite, and goTenna as listed in Attachment # 1 (ITFO Infrastructure Hardware List/BOM)?

10. Is your company a certified partner of Cisco, Schneider Electric, Juniper, Cradlepoint, Hewlett Packard, Tripp-Lite, and goTenna for the products listed in Attachment # 1? If so, what level partner affiliation or certification are you with Cisco, Schneider Electric, Juniper, Cradlepoint, Hewlett Packard, Tripp-Lite, and goTenna for the products listed in Attachment # 1?

11. Does your company have a published pricelist, related to Attachment # 1 (ITFO Product Hardware List/BOM)?

12. Does your company have any volume discounts or tiered pricing discounts? If so, please provide detailed pricing information.

13. As it relates to Attachment # 1 (ITFO Infrastructure Hardware List/BOM), does your company know of any limitation or constraints of the listed products: Cisco, Schneider Electric, Juniper, Cradlepoint, Hewlett Packard, Tripp-Lite, and goTenna? If so, please describe.

14 Does your company have a post-purchase support (i.e. initial one-year warranty on all parts, labor, workmanship, and unlimited on-site and phone support 24 hours/365 days, call number for support on all products related issues during the warranty period, etc.) for the brand products listed in Attachment # 1 (ITFO Infrastructure Hardware List/BOM)? If so, please describe.

15. Has your company encountered supply chain issues of delivery of products that resulted in a delay with the manufacture? If so, provide relevant example and how did you resolve the issue?

16a. What shipping documentation (i.e., bills of lading or delivery tracking number) will be provided to track the product during transit?

16b. How does your company ensure accurate record-keeping of successful shipment of products to the destination site?

17. What are alternative products of the brand name products of the manufacturers (Cisco, Schneider Electric, Juniper, Cradlepoint, Hewlett Packard, Tripp-Lite, and goTenna) as listed in the Attachment # 1 (ITFO Infrastructure Hardware List/BOM)?

Contracting Strategy Questions:

1. Can your company source the entire BOM listed in Attachment # 1 (ITFO Infrastructure Hardware List/BOM)?

2. What contract vehicle(s) are you on as the prime Contractor?

3. Do you foresee any issues with using the General Service Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule under the Multiple Award Schedule for a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)?

4. List the contracts where you have been a prime or subcontractor as a reseller of information technology products to support deliveries to multiple locations for CONUS and OCONUS?

a. Name of the Company or Agency

b. Contract Name

c. Contract Number

d. Total Awarded Amount

e. Period of Performance

f. Description of Work Performed

g. Percentage of Work Performed

If you don’t have this experience, please describe how you would mitigate the risks associated with interpreting and implementing as prime or subcontractor as a reseller of information technology products to support deliveries to multiple locations for CONUS and OCONUS?

5. Recommended contracting strategy, Contract Line Item/Number Structure, and recommended pricing structure in accordance with Attachment # 1 (ITFO Infrastructure Hardware List/BOM).

6.0 Submissions

Responses shall be received via e-mail with a subject line that includes “RFI – ICE/OCIO – ITFO Infrastructure Hardware”. Responses to the questions shall be completed using the following Microsoft Form link:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=KmGHG2ww1kmB5pfG4akZf2gtIvPEnkJN gh1YEtgH5JpUQ1pIT0xQRUtFQVdQUFRKRkpQQTZDTElNTS4u

Submissions must be received no later than 06/07/2024 by 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Early submissions are encouraged. ICE reserves the right to review late submissions.

All company proprietary information must be clearly identified and marked to specify whether segregation of proprietary information is required.

Notes:

• All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

• Unsolicited proposals received in response to this RFI will not be considered.

• Information shall not be delivered beyond the parameters defined above.

7.0 Questions

Questions to this RFI must be received no later than 05/28/2024 by 12:00 PM EDT and submitted to George.B.Rivers@associates.ice.dhs.gov. Early submissions are encouraged. Questions to this RFI shall be received via e-mail with a subject line that includes “Question(s) RFI – ICE/OCIO – ITFO Infrastructure Hardware”. Verbal questions will not be accepted. Questions shall not contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after the due date deadline will be answered.

8.0 Summary

This is a RFI only to identify sources that can provide ITFO Infrastructure Hardware. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. ICE has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.