QUESTIONS_AND_ANSWERS_SRS500-16-Q-0005.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Solicitation Number: SRS500-16-Q-0005 Cellular Telephone and Data Services

1. For the 1500 SIM cards, what unlimited traffic is included in the monthly fee at this rate (in Russia, inside the home area)?

ANSWER: Paragraph 1.2 of the Schedule of Services outlines requirements for calls within the Russian Federation.

2. For the 1500 SIM cards, does the package include outgoing calls to international numbers from Russia?

ANSWER: Yes. Paragraph 1.3 of the Schedule of Services outlines requirements for international calls.

3. For the 1500 SIM cards, does the package include calls made to international roaming?

ANSWER: Yes. Paragraph 1.4 of the Schedule of Services outlines requirements for international roaming.

4. For the 1500 SIM cards, is there a limit on the number of minutes in each direction included in the monthly fee

ANSWER: No. The requirements for this solicitation are unlimited number of minutes.

5. Are you using direct Moscow numbers (+7495) now? If yes, how many?

ANSWER: We are not using direct Moscow numbers that have the +7(495) exchange.

6. For the 10 SIM cards, what unlimited traffic is included in the monthly fee at this rate (in Russia, inside the home area)?

ANSWER: Paragraph 1.2 of the Schedule of Services outlines requirements for calls within the Russian Federation.

7. For the 10 SIM cards, does the package include outgoing calls to international numbers from Russia?

ANSWER: Yes. Paragraph 1.3 of the Schedule of Services outlines requirements for international calls.

8. For the 10 SIM cards, does the package include calls made to international roaming?

ANSWER: Yes. Paragraph 1.4 of the Schedule of Services outlines requirements for international roaming.

9. For the 10 SIM cards, is there a limit on the number of minutes in each direction included in the monthly fee

ANSWER: No. The requirements for this solicitation are unlimited number of minutes.

10. It is requested that you provide us with the following details before we buy the document:

1) List of Items, Schedule of Requirements, Scope of Work, Terms of Reference, Bill of Materials required.

2) Soft Copy of the Tender Document through email.

3) Names of countries that will be eligible to participate in this tender.

4) Information about the Tendering Procedure and Guidelines

5) Estimated Budget for this Purchase

6) Any Extension of Bidding Deadline?

7) Any Addendum or Pre Bid meeting Minutes?

ANSWER TO POINTS 1, 3, 4: Please reference the solicitation document, which is available free of charge.

ANSWER TO POINT 2: The solicitation document is available via FBO and the Embassy’s website.

ANSWER TO POINT 5: Prospective offerors are responsible for completing pricing information requested in the solicitation document. The Embassy will not release its Independent Government Cost Estimate.

ANSWER TO POINTS 6 and 7: Any extensions to the bidding deadline, addendums or pre-bid meeting minutes will be uploaded to FBO and the Embassy’s website.

11. Do you have to sign each page of the proposal?

ANSWER: No

12. How much evidence and how many examples must we provide to meet the requirements set forth in Section 3, paragraph A.2?

ANSWER: The offeror may provide the requested information in any fashion or manner that will leave no doubt regarding its authenticity or validity. This may range from official Government of Russia forms to certifications affixed on the offeror’s letterhead.

13. What constitutes ‘unlimited’?

ANSWER: Unlimited is defined as: without any limits or restrictions. Not limited in number or amount.

14. How many SIM cards apply per region?

ANSWER: Moscow: approximately 1,230

Vladivostok: approximately 50 Yekaterinburg: approximately 60 St. Petersburg: approximately 160

15. Will the Embassy change its equipment to conform to the awardee’s data services?

ANSWER: The Embassy’s cellular platform is detailed in Section 1, paragraph 5.2 of the solicitation.

Offerors should compare this platform against their data services and confirm in their proposals the ability to support said cellular platform.

16. Is proof of coverage required in Moscow?

ANSWER: Yes, per Section 3, A.2(7)

17. In what form must proposals come?

ANSWER: Proposals must be submitted in written form and delivered as instructed on the solicitation’s cover page. Please also reference Section 3, FAR

52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(OCT 2015)

18. What happens to the proposals after they are submitted?

ANSWER: The proposals undergo a review by a Technical Evaluation Panel and an award is issued to the lowest priced, most technically acceptable proposal.

19. Can we not register with SAM before award?

ANSWER: Registration in the System for Award Management Registration (SAM) is a mandatory requirement in order to be considered for award.

Please also reference FAR 52.204-7 SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (Jul 2031) which is in Section 3, Addendum to Solicitation Provisions.

20. Are the 10 SIM cards referenced in Section 1 of the solicitation dedicated or for travelers?

ANSWER: These SIM cards are for dedicated employees of the Embassy and its three constituent Posts.

21. What does “rental” of SIM cards mean?

ANSWER: Per paragraph 1.9 of the Schedule of Services (RENTAL OF SIM CARDS), upon receipt of written notification, the Contractor shall provide up to 50 (fifty) SIM cards for rent within three (3) days of notice and up to 100 (hundred) SIM cards within the next five (5) days. Requests for SIM cards rental shall be issued by the Contracting Officer and any rentals for SIM cards that apply to the above-referenced Consulates shall be issued by contractor’s local office(s).

22. What are the evaluation criteria?

ANSWER: All evaluation criteria can be found in Section 4 of the solicitation document.

23. In what language must the proposal be submitted?

ANSWER: English

24. Do you require a manager in each city where there is a Consulate or just one in Moscow?

ANSWER: Per Section 3, paragraph A.2(1) of the solicitation, we require a Project Manager (or other liaison to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate) who understands written and spoken English. In addition, Section 1, paragraph 3.1 of the solicitation requires that the Project Manager must be able to converse in the English and Russian languages. Also, Section 1, paragraph 3.2 requires that Project Managers or Contractor’s local representatives shall be assigned by the Contractor to each constituent Consulate where the services shall be provided.