Questions and Answers.pdf

Questions and Answers

Enterprise Virtualization and Data Management Platform

1) What are the specific open-source products that the FBI uses in Tanzu App Catalog?

• The FBI does not use tanzu.

2) For VCF Edge. Is that measured by Cores or VMs? If by cores, how many VMs are there per edge site?

• The FBI does not use vcf edge.

3) What tool does the FBI use for guest OS security standards?

• This is inherited from the enterprise.

4) What are the mix servers / model #s that the FBI is currently running for these 70,486 cores?

• The FBI is using Dell 760c servers + 3 Dell R640s

5) How does the FBI use desktop virtualization?

• The FBI does not use VDI.

6) What are the SIEM products in use at the FBI?

• The FBI is using the enterprise Splunk setup.

7) What specific products within the Tanzu Data Suite does the FBI use?

• The FBI does not use Tanzu

8) What specific products within VCF is the FBI actively using?

• The FBI is using Vcenter & ESXi currently.

9) What is the difference between VCF- CLD-FND-5 (qty 336) and VCF -TD-TL-1P F (qty 70,486)?

• The FBI cannot answer this question.

10) What % of your apps are using Site Recovery Manager? What other backup products are the FBI using to support this workload?

• The FBI is not using SRM on prem. However, they do have some Vms in

SCOP that are using SRM.

11) What is the current utilization % of the 70,486 cores?

• The FBI is working on an answer for this question.

12) How many VMs are running in this environment?

• The FBI is currently at 16 on prem + 10 VMS = 26 total on prem

13) How many containers are running in this environment?

• Zero

14) How many VDI users are supported by this environment?

• The FBI has ZERO vdi

15) Does the FBI intend to link servers to support one or more of the following environments:

• (i.e., Kubernetes/OpenShift)?

o Yes

• If more than one, is there a primary intended use case or priority among these?

o High Perf computing workloads.

16) Is the intent to form a compute cluster primarily to host virtual desktops (VDI), or are there additional workload types envisioned (i.e., containerized services, analytics, AI inference)?

• The FBI does not have VDI nor have intentions to.

17) Would the FBI consider supporting both VDI and container-native workloads (i.e., OpenShift/Kubernetes) within the same infrastructure?

• N/A

18) Mission Data Volume: How much mission-related data (i.e., applications, analytics, virtual machines, and container data) does the FBI anticipate storing in this environment?

• 50 TB

19) Log Data Volume: Given requirement 7, what is the estimated volume of system log data to be collected, retained, and archived?

• Unknown as this is not on prem.

20) SIEM Data Volume: With requirement 8 in mind, how much Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) data is expected to be stored and queried regularly?

• Unknown as this is not on prem.

21) Visualization, Alerting, and Reporting Data: Under requirement 9, what volume of data does the FBI anticipate generating for dashboards, alerts, and real-time monitoring?

• Unknown as this is not on prem.

22) Additional Data Types: Are there other classes of data such as training datasets for analytics/AI, imaging, or unstructured files that the FBI anticipates managing in this platform?

• Unknown as this in not on prem.

23) Will the questions and answers be made public?

• Yes, the questions will be posted to SAM.gov.

24) Does the FBI have existing contracting personnel from VMware, or a mix of partners?

• EISU has existing VMWare personnel that work with the Cloud on

Premise (COP), Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Servers & Non- Data Center Virtualization (SNDV) FBI and Contractor teams.

25) How many personnel (both contracted and government) support this contract today?

• EISU had 6 VMWare personnel working closely with 6 FBI and 21 contractors. VMware skills are prevalent throughout the bureau across the many teams to support the many environments of the FBI

26) Is there an existing contract vehicle (Task Order or contract ID) with this RFI?

• There is not a Task Order associated with this RFI

27) Will this initiative be providing hosting for Windows or Linux client/workstation workloads, or only server workloads?

• EISU provided hosting for Windows and Linux workstations and server workloads.

28) Do the workloads require any sort of specialized hardware or hardware passthrough?

• EISU uses Widows Server 2019, 2022, 2025, RHEL 9, RHEL 9, Debian, Ubuntu, Windows 10, Windows 11, Cisco appliances, Photon appliances, and other vendor appliances.

29) Will the FBI require a proof of concept, or some form of demonstration of the product?

• The FBI reserves the right to ask for a proof of concept or demonstration of the product.

30) What is the expectation for cost estimates in the potential initiative?

• The respondent may provide cost estimated but the government is not requesting official quotes or proposals

31) Can the FBI specify the location(s) (e.g., city, state, or specific facilities) where onsite services for the Enterprise Virtualization and Data Management Platform will be performed?

• The services will be performed at Clarksburg WV, and Pocatello ID.

32) If multiple data-centers or facilities are involved, are there primary or preferred locations for onsite support?

• Clarksburg WV and Pocatello ID are the primary and preferred locations.

33) If there are multiple data-centers, is the high availability requirement strictly within a datacenter or cross datacenter/region?

• Yes, high availability is required.

34) Is the FBI open to including training for new technologies for the current staff of this environment

• Yes we are open to training.

35) Can the FBI clarify and prioritize the primary drivers for issuing this RFI? For example, is the OCIO seeking to replace an existing virtualization platform? Address specific performance or cost challenges? Or, explore modern cloud-native solutions like container-based virtualization?

• The FBI is issuing this RFI to gain knowledge and information regarding this requirement.

36) Are modernization, security, scalability, interoperability, security, or reliability being considered as the drivers for this RFI?

• The FBI is looking for ways to provide modernization, security, scalability, interoperability, security, or reliability in the services provided.

37) Can the FBI provide additional details on the specific cost-saving objectives for the Enterprise Virtualization and Data Management Platform? As examples: Are there target cost reduction percentages, preferences for open-source versus proprietary solutions, or specific cost drivers (e.g., licensing, maintenance, or operational expenses) the FBI aims to address?

• The FBI cannot provide details as this RFI is to gain information and knowledge of this requirement.

38) Are there specific challenges or goals the FBI aims to address with the new platform?

• EISU has specific challenges and goals relating to the services we provide.

39) Is there a specific timeline which the FBI would like to adhere to for migrating the virtual machines to a new platform?

• Currently the FBI does not have a timeline for migration.

40) Does the FBI envision a phased approach, where the new platform would coexist for some time with the current environment?

• The FBI does not intend to coexist the platform with the current environment.

41) What is the approximate count of the virtual machines and physical hosts?

• COP has roughly 4,000 VMs and 400 ESXi servers, SNDV has roughly 1271 VMs and 445 hosts, VDI has roughly 4200 VMs and 280 ESXi servers.