DLA_Responses_to_Solicitation_Questions.pdf

SP7000‐16‐R‐1004 DLA Response to Solicitation Questions Page 1 of 8

Question 1:

In the first Q&A regarding the CAC equipment it was asked if the end users would be doing their own CAC install as is the standard procedure today your reply was the contractor needed to be responsible for providing and installing the CAC. This is something almost all agencies would never allow due to security procedures. It is also something that could literally add millions of dollars to the requirements. CAC configurations can take up to several days and numerous meetings to accomplish. It would require a small business to hire a pool of technicians that would travel for several days to set up a single location. And most if not all DoD agencies are not going to give network privelages to an outside third party so we are not sure how we would perform this activity. Again the current SOP is to supply the plug and play reader and software with the equipment and the customers set it up them self’s with remote technical support via the third party vendor if needed. Please confirm the requirement.

Response:

Vendors are responsible for providing technical assistance and support for the CAC installation and configuration.

Question 2:

When you mention the equipment ”Color device with optional scanning and copying functionality” are you requesting equipment with scan and copy functionality or are you requesting equipment that has the ability to add those capabilities? The CLIN description is being interpreted differently by different people. Some read it as the device needs that functionality and some are reading it like the device just needs to be upgradable (option to add) that functionality. I can see both sides of the coin.

Response:

The color device with optional scanning and copying functionality, must have the scanning and copying functionality.

Question 3:

In the SOW you have reference to maintaining items through the “duration of the lease.” This looks like legacy language from another solicitation. Please confirm the lease references do not apply.

Response:

The “duration of the lease” language have been removed.

Question 4:

On the 36” printer only specifications it appears you may have copied and pasted some specifications but not all. The requirement for 96GB minimum memory is easy enough but the

SP7000‐16‐R‐1004 DLA Response to Solicitation Questions Page 2 of 8 requirement for the 100 page stacker is only available in the MFP configuration and the stand alone printers that we have found only have a 50 page max stacker in the 36” size. Maybe we are missing something. Please confirm the 100 page stacker requirement for the 36” printer only version.

Response:

The memory requirement has been changed and the stacker requirement have been removed.

Question 5:

42” printers usually cannot print 44” paper: In the 3rd amendment in both SOWs, the Scan and Copy requirements for 42" and 44" Printers are identical. This might be a typo or oversight since the media width requirement is inconsistent with the other requirements for that CLIN. See the following table. Based on this comparison and our research of products from all OEMs, there is not a single product that meets the requirements for Scan & Copy for a 42” printer (CLINs 0009-0012 and CLINs 0039-0042). However, if these requirements are revised as per our recommendations, there is only one OEM that manufactures this product.

Scan & Copy (SOW Requirements) Printer 44” Printer 42” Comments and

Recommendations

• Scan Speed Color: Up to 15 cm/sec (6 in/sec)

• Grayscale: Up to 33 cm/sec (13 in/sec)

• Enhanced Resolution 9600 dpi

• Optical Resolution 1200 dpi

• Maximum Scan Width 1118 mm (44 in)

• Supported File Formats: PDF, TIFF, JPEG, JPEG2000, DWF, CALS (B&W), multi-page, PDF generation.

• Scan preview, scan to file, scan to HDD, scan to network folder, scan to e-mail, scan to USB, scan to print, scan to FTP

• Scan Settings: Type of original-preset, color mode, resolution (dpi), batch, single/multi-page, file format, customizable file naming, de-skew, image crop and align preview, enlarge/reduce, blueprint, lightness, saturation and RGB controls, sharpen/blur, background removal, invert, mirror, accounting

• Copier Settings: Print mode, output size, paper type, copies, page order, collate, printer output destination

• Scan Speed Color: Up to 15 cm/sec (6 in/sec)

• Grayscale: Up to 33 cm/sec (13 in/sec)

• Enhanced Resolution 9600 dpi

• Optical Resolution 1200 dpi

• Maximum Scan Width 1118 mm (44 in)

• Supported File Formats: PDF, TIFF, JPEG, JPEG2000, DWF, CALS (B&W), multi-page, PDF generation.

• Scan preview, scan to file, scan to HDD, scan to network folder, scan to e-mail, scan to USB, scan to print, scan to FTP

• Scan Settings: Type of original-preset, color mode, resolution (dpi), batch, single/multi-page, file format, customizable file naming, de-skew, image crop and align preview, enlarge/reduce, blueprint, lightness, saturation and RGB controls, sharpen/blur, background removal, invert, mirror, accounting

• Copier Settings: Print mode, output size, paper type, copies, page order, collate, printer output destination

All the requirements are same.

1) For 42” Printer, current Maximum Scan Width 1118 mm (44 in) needs to be revised. We recommend 1067 mm (42 in).

DLA Response: The SOW requirements have been changed to 42 in.

2) For 42” Printer current Media Size: Up to 1168 mm (46 in) wide needs to be revised. We recommend Up to 1118 mm (44 in) wide.

DLA Response: The SOW requirements have been changed to 42 in

3) For 42” Printer current Media Thickness: Up to 2 mm (0.08 in) needs to be revised.

We recommend Up to 15 mm (0.6 in).

SP7000‐16‐R‐1004 DLA Response to Solicitation Questions Page 3 of 8

• Size Detection: Automatic and manual width detection

• Media Handling: Straight-through scan paper path for sheet and cardboard originals

• Media Size: Up to 1168 mm (46

in) wide

• Media Thickness: Up to 2 mm (0.08 in)

• Scanner Memory: 4 GB memory, 500 GB hard disk

• Connectivity: Interfaces (standard) dual Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T), Hi-Speed USB 3.0 certified

• Size Detection: Automatic and manual width detection

• Media Handling: Straight-through scan paper path for sheet and cardboard originals

• Media Size: Up to 1168 mm (46

in) wide

• Media Thickness: Up to 2 mm (0.08 in)

• Scanner Memory: 4 GB memory, 500 GB hard disk

• Connectivity: Interfaces (standard) dual Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T), Hi-Speed USB 3.0 certified

DLA Response: The SOW requirements have been decreased to up to 1mm.

Question 6:

Most of the CLINS have requirements for which there is only one solution, however there is no brand name justification: Based on the revised specifications required by the government, only HP (OEM) fits with exact requirements for 36” & 44” Wide format printer, for 42” even HP has no complete solution for Wide format printer color device with optional scanning & copying functionality (see question 1 above). We have completed a fairly comprehensive survey of the major printer manufacturers, including Epson, Canon and Xerox etc., and find that there is no printer solution, even with available accessories, which can meet the minimum specifications for all required elements. There are many solutions which come close but miss due to one or more required elements. To be specific, see below the table for a survey that compares the products from different OEMs showing that none of the products from these OEMs, other than HP, meet the requirements for CLINs 0017-0020. Only HP equipment fully meets the requirements.

OEM Epson Canon Canon HP

Compliancy Non-compliant Non-compliant Non-compliant compliant

Model Epson SureColor T7270D imagePROGRAF iPF830 MFP M40

Canon imagePROGRAF iPF9400

L3S81B HP

DesignJet SD Pro Multifunction Printer

Formats up to 2400 dpi Yes Yes Yes

Yes

Multi-roll system for both print and copy function Yes Yes Yes

Yes

Image preview on controller or built-in display unit Yes Yes Yes

Yes

Scan-to-file system must be CAC enabled and network compatible Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Yes

SP7000‐16‐R‐1004 DLA Response to Solicitation Questions Page 4 of 8

Retrieve scanned image files with integrated Windows compatible client software to network share directory Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Yes

The software must be compatible with Windows 7, Windows 10 Yes Yes Yes

Yes

Both PC and Mac compatible Yes Yes Yes

Print Option:

Printer 44” 64" 44" 60" Yes

Print Speed Line drawings 28 sec/page on A1/D, 103 A1/D prints per hour Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Yes

Print Resolution 2400 x 1200 optimized dpi Yes Yes Yes

Yes

Margins Roll: 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 mm (0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2

in) Yes

Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes

Yes

Ink Types Dye-based (C, M, Y, G, pK); Pigment-based (mk)

Doesn’t Meet this requirement (No Dye-Based Only applies pigment-based ink technology with UltraChrome XD ink)

Doesn’t Meet this requirement (Dye:

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black - NO

GRAY INK)

Pigment: Matte Black

Doesn’t Meet this requirement (No Dye-Based -Only applies LUCIA EX Ink (Pigment-based)

Yes

Handling Two automatic roll feeds; smart roll-switching; sheet feed; media output bin;

automatic cutter Only auto-loading Applicable

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Applicable only Front-loading Roll Feed, Front-loading Manual Feed

Yes

Size 210 to 1118-mm (8.3 to 44-in) wide sheets; 279 to 1118-mm (11 to 44-in) rolls Yes Yes

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Yes

Thickness min 0.5 mm (19.7 mil) Yes Yes Yes

SP7000‐16‐R‐1004 DLA Response to Solicitation Questions Page 5 of 8

Memory 32 GB (virtual), 160 GB hard disk

1GB Standard can be extended up to 5 GB Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes 640MB Standard

Yes

Connectivity CAC enabled

(FIPS 140-2

Complaint) Interfaces (standard) Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Base-T), Hi- Speed USB 2.0 certified, Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Yes

Print Languages Adobe PostScript 3, Adobe PDF

1.7, TIFF, JPEG,

CALS G4, GUI Yes

Doesn’t Meet this requirement (GARO (Graphic Arts language with Raster Operations), HP-

GL/2, HP RTL)

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Yes

Printing Paths Printer driver, USB, email printing Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

Yes

Drivers PostScript Windows and Mac drivers Compatible Yes

Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes

Yes

Scan & Copy PostScript Windows and Mac drivers Compatible Yes

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Scan & Copy:

Scan Speed Color: Up to 15 cm/sec (6 in/sec) Yes Yes

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Grayscale: Up to 33 cm/sec (13 in/sec) Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Enhanced Resolution 9600 dpi Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Optical Resolution 1200 dpi Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Maximum Scan Width 1118 mm (44 in) Yes

Doesn’t Meet this requirement (Upto 42")

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Supported File Formats: PDF, TIFF, JPEG, JPEG2000, DWF, CALS (B&W), JPEG or PDF with optional PostScript Yes

No Scan or Copy

SP7000‐16‐R‐1004 DLA Response to Solicitation Questions Page 6 of 8 multi-page, PDF generation.

Scan preview, scan to file, scan to HDD, scan to network folder, scan to e-mail, scan to USB, scan to print, scan to FTP Yes

Doesn’t Meet this requirement Scan to File & Scan, Copy, Colud Availbale

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Scan Settings:

No Scan or Copy

Type of original-preset, color mode, resolution (dpi), batch, single/multi-page, file format, customizable file naming, de-skew, image crop and align preview, enlarge/reduce, blueprint, lightness, saturation and RGB controls, sharpen/blur, background removal, invert, mirror, accounting Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Copier Settings:

Print mode, output size, paper type, copies, page order, collate, printer output destination

Quality,Density,Contrast,Remove Background, Sharpness, Document Type (5 types), Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Size Detection:

Automatic and manual width detection Yes

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Media Handling:

Straight-through scan paper path for sheet and cardboard originals Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Media Size: Up to 1168 mm (46 in) wide Yes

Doesn’t Meet this requirement

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Media Thickness:

Up to 2 mm (0.08

in) Thickness: 0.05 to 1.3mm Yes

No Scan or Copy

SP7000‐16‐R‐1004 DLA Response to Solicitation Questions Page 7 of 8

Scanner Memory:

4 GB memory, 500 GB hard disk Doesn’t Meet this requirement Yes

No Scan or Copy Function Available

Yes

Connectivity:

Interfaces (standard) dual Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T), Hi- Speed USB 3.0 certified Yes Yes

No Scan or Copy

An agency requirement may not be written so as to require a particular product or feature of a product that is peculiar to a single manufacturer, which thereby precludes consideration of a product manufactured by another company. FAR § 11.106; See also FAR §16.505 for the analogous IDIQ Order clause and FAR § 8.405-6 for the analogous FSS clause. The only exception to this requirement is if the particular product or feature is “essential to the Government’s requirements,” the agency has conducted market research, and that market research indicates that other companies’ products, or products lacking the required feature or features don’t meet and can’t be modified to meet the agency’s needs. If the proposed solicitation or order is above $25,000 the Agency must publicly post the justification for the particular product or feature.

Although we have pointed out this 'brand name' requiring justification problem with CLINs 0017-0020, in reality, this problem exists for the other CLINs for solicitation # SP7000-16-R- 1004 (but not solicitation # SP7000-16-R-1002). Solicitation # SP7000-16-R-1004 has such exacting requirements that, as the example above shows, for every CLIN, there is some requirement that eliminates every other OEM solutions (often this is the high memory or disk space requirement). While we have done the above analysis for other CLINs than 0017-0020, we present only 0017-0020 above as our documented example of this issue.

Here, the Government has not posted a justification for and documentation of its requirement for particular features. Yet the solicitation requires the successful respondent to procure equipment with a set of required features is only available from a single manufacturer. Specifically, the Government’s requirements for CLINs 0017-0020 limit the available manufacturers of products which conform to all of the requirements to a single manufacturer as mentioned in the table above.

Response:

See the revised specifications.

Question 7:

Can the Government please consider a minimum of a 2 week extension to the proposal due date after the Government adjusts the solicitation due to the issues above so that once other solutions become possible to meet the Government's requirements, offerors may have time to approach

SP7000‐16‐R‐1004 DLA Response to Solicitation Questions Page 8 of 8 new OEMs and manufacturers to obtain best pricing for the government. We request the Government to consider these questions and provide further guidance to the offerors.

Response:

The Government will extend the close date.