Internet_Service_PPC_Minutes_QA1.docx

Chapter 4 - Solicitation Documents October 2004 March 10, 2015 U.S. Embassy, Freetown South Ridge, Hill Station

Minutes from Pre-Proposal Conference of March 10, 2015

Introduction

The Contracting Officer welcomed all attendees, introduced:

· IMO Jerry O’Neil

· IMS Rick Melton

· Systems Administrator Alusine Fornah

Discussion of the Solicitation Package

· Contracting Officer displayed the solicitation package via digital projector and noted that the definitive version would be available online through FedBizOps.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

QUESTION 1: Internet Service Quality: Internet Services Provider (ISP) Round Trip Time (RTT) reports the total time in milliseconds (ms) time to send a small data package and obtain a reply back; must be the faster than 100ms for the Round Trip Time (RTT) for internet service. Also, RTT must be faster than 7ms for local data service (for instance: point-to-point channels or web pages accessed through the US Embassy Freetown Network Access Point (NAP)

ANSWER: We will prefer the best available RTT within Sierra Leone and hopefully upgraded as/when changes are made to the Optical Fiber Backbone Network within a limited time.

Note: Attendee disagreed with the requirement set above. However, Requiring Office staff agrees that the best possible option will be eligible for consideration

QUESTION 2: Network Identification: Internet Service Provider (ISP) must provide IP addresses used to identify the single subnet address in classless Inter-Domain Routing address specification (Network IP address /25) or equivalent, its subnet mask 255.255.128, and ISP Gateway IP address

ANSWER: We will prefer the above (Network IP address /25) or equivalent, its subnet mask 255.255.128, and ISP Gateway IP address as stated in the contract.

The attendees wanted to have a clear meaning of the working (Network IP address /25). The Requiring office promised to look into this, and post answer on FedBizOps.

QUESTION 3: Network Devices: Power standard sources must be dual voltage (110v/60hz and 220v/50hz)

ANSWER: Power standard source must be dual voltage (110v/60hz and 220v/50hz). Anything other than this; contractor must provide alternative power solution.

Attendee wanted a more detail explanation, which the requiring office promised to look into, and post answer on FedBizOps.

QUESTION 4: Description 4.1 Contention Ratio Internet Channel. Two (2) shared Internet Channels. Digital bandwidth 512 Kbps (down/up). This circuit will require the ability to separate traffic on two separate VLANs so that two distinct types of data traffic can be provided with one wireless-to-fiber optic connection.

ANSWER: All contractors must be able to comply with the above as stated in the contract or give us your best possible solution.

Attendee wanted a more detail explanation, which the requiring office promised to look into, and post answer on FedBizOps.

QUESTION 5: Service Support and Contingencies: F. the circuit shall be completely transparent to the 1.544 mbps data, with no bit added to or deleted from the bit stream provided to the interface of the Department of State equipment. The circuit shall be supplied for the transmission of a multiplexed aggregate bit stream for the telegraphic and data signals. All other characteristics will be in accordance with International Telegraph and Telephone consultative committee (CCITT) specification

ANSWER: The circuit shall be completely transparent to the (available data package) in mbps data, with no bit added to or deleted from the bit stream provided to the interface of the Department of State equipment. The circuit shall be supplied for the transmission of a multiplexed aggregate bit stream for the telegraphic and data signals. All other characteristics will be in accordance with International Telegraph and Telephone consultative committee (CCITT) specification.

Attendee wanted a more detail explanation, which the requiring office promised to look into, and post answer on FedBizOps.

Conclusion

The conference concluded and attendees were thanked for their presence and expression of interest in Embassy Freetown’s Contract for Internet Services. A short site visit to the Internet frame room took place, and the meeting was adjourned.

Sincerely,