Q and A.docx

Questions/Answers Whiteriver Cisco Network Upgrade Project

PROJECT & EQUIPMENT CLARIFICATION

1. Confirm total switch quantities, including (2) C9500-4874C core switches referenced in the SOW but not shown in the BOM.

Government will provide two (2) C9500-4874C core switches from existing inventory. The contractor shall install and integrate these switches in accordance with the SOW.

2.Confirm whether any equipment is provided outside of the supplied BOM.

All equipment required for this project is included within the provided BOM or Government-furnished inventory.

3. Clarify discrepancy between SOW and BOM for Garret Building (C9300 vs C9200L).

The SOW reflects the correct requirement for the Garret Building: one (1) C9200L-48P-4X switch.

4. Confirm intended use of Advantage licensing at WR Power Plant and Cibecue Health Center (e.g., routing functions).

Advantage licensing at WR Power Plant and Cibecue Health Center will support standard enterprise network functionality, including routing where required.

5. Confirm correct quantity and placement of stacking kits, specifically at Cibecue Health Center where locations appear split across IDFs.

Stacking kits quantities and placements are correct as reflected in the BOM and SOW. Final placement will be validated during implementation.

6. Clarify intended use of 40G AOC cables listed in BOM and associated switch connectivity.

40G AOC cables will be used for uplink connectivity between core and distribution switches and for stack interconnects where applicable.

NETWORK DESIGN & CONFIGURATION

1. Provide network topology diagrams showing MDF to IDF relationships.

Network topology diagrams (MDF to IDF relationships) will be provided upon contract award.

2. Provide port mapping and patch schedules for all switches.

Port mapping and patch schedules will be provided upon contract award.

3. Provide rack elevations and MDF/IDF layouts if available.

Rack elevations and MDF/IDF layouts are not available.

4. Confirm whether existing configurations will be provided for replication.

Existing configurations will be provided upon contract award for reference.

5. Clarify expected level of configuration complexity (number of VLANs, routing requirements, routing protocols).

The environment includes a moderate level of complexity consisting of multiple VLANs, inter-VLAN routing, and standard enterprise services. No advanced routing protocols beyond typical enterprise configurations are anticipated.

6. Confirm whether configurations are to be replicated or redesigned.

Existing configurations shall be replicated as a baseline. The contractor shall normalize and optimize configurations in accordance with Cisco best practices, subject to Government approval.

7. Provide any required network standards or configuration templates.

The contractor shall follow Cisco Validated Designs (CVD) and industry best practices for configuration and security hardening.

8. Confirm expected system functionality and performance requirements at turnover.

At project completion, the network shall meet or exceed existing functionality, with full restoration of connectivity, routing, and wireless services.

CUTOVER & OPERATIONS

1. Provide cutover plan if available.

The contractor shall develop and submit a detailed cutover plan, including rollback procedures, for Government approval prior to execution.

2. Confirm approved maintenance windows to minimize disruption to hospital operations.

Maintenance windows will be coordinated with Service Unit staff to minimize operational disruption.

3. Identify any critical systems or departments requiring coordination during cutover.

Critical areas requiring coordination include Emergency Departments and patient care areas.

4. Clarify expectations for troubleshooting during and after cutover.

The contractor shall provide on-site and remote troubleshooting support during cutover and stabilization to ensure minimal downtime and rapid issue resolution.

WIRELESS ACCESS POINTS

1. Clarify scope for 65 wireless access points referenced in the SOW.

The contractor shall remove and replace sixty-five (65) existing wireless access points using Government-furnished equipment.

2. Confirm make and model of all wireless APs.

Access point model: Cisco 9130AXI-B.

3. Confirm whether APs are existing, replacement, or new installations.

All access points are replacements of existing deployed units.

4. Confirm whether AP hardware is part of this procurement or provided separately.

Wireless access point hardware is Government-furnished and currently in inventory.

5. Confirm whether APs will be installed in existing locations or new locations.

Access points will be installed in existing locations.

6. Confirm whether any new cabling is required for AP deployment.

Existing cabling will be reused; no new cabling is required under this scope.

7. Identify wireless platform (Cisco WLC, Meraki, etc.) and confirm licensing availability.

Wireless platform: Cisco 9800-L-C-K9 controller with existing licensing.

8. Clarify expectations for AP configuration and integration into the network.

The contractor shall configure and integrate access points with the existing wireless controller, ensuring full operational wireless coverage and service continuity.

9. Identify any special installation requirements (ceiling access, lifts, after-hours work).

Work in clinical and patient care areas may require after-hours execution. The contractor shall coordinate all activities to minimize disruption.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

1. Confirm condition of existing cabling and infrastructure.

Existing cabling infrastructure is assumed to be serviceable. The contractor shall report any deficiencies encountered during installation.

2. Confirm whether existing cables are labeled and documented.

Existing labeling and documentation may be inconsistent. The contractor shall validate connections during implementation.

3. Identify any known issues with the current network environment.

The current network environment consists of end-of-life equipment targeted for replacement under this project.

TESTING & CLOSEOUT

1. Define required testing and certification standards.

The contractor shall perform end-to-end testing, including connectivity validation, VLAN verification, uplink functionality, and wireless performance.

2. Confirm if certification reports are required.

Test results and certification reports shall be provided as part of project closeout.

3. Define required closeout documentation (config backups, as-builts, test results).

Closeout documentation shall include configuration backups, as-built documentation, and test results.

LOGISTICS & ACCESS

1. Confirm site access requirements and restrictions.

Site access will be coordinated with the Service Unit.

2. Confirm if work must be performed after-hours.

Work hours, including any after-hours requirements, will be coordinated with the Service Unit.

3. Confirm if all locations are within the same campus or require travel coordination.

The project includes work at both Whiteriver Indian Hospital and the Cibecue Health Center. The contractor shall account for all required travel and logistics.

4. Confirm equipment staging location.

Equipment staging will occur at Whiteriver Indian Hospital unless otherwise coordinated.

5.For the Cisco 9300 switches, will the existing switches be decommissioned, or does the current rack environment have sufficient space and power to support the new equipment?

The contractor shall replace existing switches and decommission legacy equipment. Existing racks, space, power, and cooling are assumed adequate. The contractor shall verify power and environmental conditions during site assessment. Any required remediation beyond minor adjustments (e.g., PDUs, circuits, HVAC) shall be identified and submitted as a separate recommendation and is outside the base scope unless otherwise directed by the Government.

For the 65 existing access points

1.What models are currently deployed?

The Government will provide 65 Cisco 9130AXI-B access points as Government-furnished equipment (GFE) for installation. These APs are currently in inventory and shall be used to replace existing deployed access points. The contractor shall remove existing APs, install the provided units, and ensure full operational integration with the existing Cisco 9800 series wireless controller.

2.Will we have access to the wireless controller?

The Government will provide controlled administrative access to the wireless controller for authorized contractor personnel in accordance with security policies.

3.Will these APs be repatched to the new switches being installed?

Existing AP cabling will be reused. The contractor shall reconnect access points to the new switches as required and verify full operational status. Replacement of defective or non-functional cabling shall be identified and submitted as a recommendation and is outside the base scope unless otherwise directed by the Government.

4.Will any modifications or updates to VLANs or switch configurations be required, or is this expected to be a like-for-like migration of the existing configuration?

Migration shall be functionally equivalent (like-for-like) for VLANs, port assignments, and routing behavior. Contractor shall upgrade switch software to Cisco-recommended stable releases. Contractor shall perform limited configuration remediation to address critical issues impacting stability or performance (e.g., spanning-tree inconsistencies, port-channel misconfigurations). Any redesign, re-architecture, or non-trivial configuration changes shall require Government approval and may be handled as out-of-scope work.