Cell_Phone_Solicitation_Pre-Proprosal_Conference_Questions_and_Answers_-_OPE_Approved_Sept_3_2015.docx

Chapter 4 - Solicitation Documents October 2004 Questions and Answers Cell Phone Solicitation

The information contained within these questions and answers is provided for informational purposes and under no circumstances shall it be construed to change any terms and conditions or requirements within the solicitation. If any answer does address a change in the solicitation, it will reference an Amendment. Therefore, it is each offeror’s decision on whether to use or not to use this information. However, under no circumstances shall the U.S. Government be liable for this data or shall it become basis for a request to adjust the contract rates once the contract is awarded.

1. For Blackberry service, do you need server troubleshooting or mobile support?

Only mobile support is required. Blackberry service is provided from Washington, D.C.

2. Page 4. 2. Calls within Thailand: Are you looking for a price per minute tariff plan (pay per use) for each subscription or a pooling service plan for a group of 1,000 users?

For calls within Thailand, the pricing shall be on a per minute basis for the estimated yearly quantities identified. Offerors are advised since this is an IDIQ contract, the estimated yearly quantities could change but the unit and unit price shall remain the same regardless of any changes in the estimated yearly quantities.

3. Page 4. 2. Calls within Thailand: How do you define the “unit price (tariff rate)” which is to be input into the table? Does this refer to the rates and charges for usage in excess of the quotas given in the proposed packages? Or does it refer to the average unit price within the packages?

See the answer to question 2 above.

4. Page 4. 2. Calls within Thailand: Do we have to include free minutes from the proposed packages into the table? Are we allowed to attach the proposed packages in the separate annexes/addendums?

See the answer to question 2 above.

5. Page 4. 2. Calls within Thailand, Item 2A: Calls within the Embassy “Mobile” Group with estimated yearly quantity of 100,000 minutes. Is this considered usage for “in group free” It is the decision of each offeror to determine the prices it will propose. However, if an offeror elects to propose “free usage” then the amount it would insert in its pricing quotation would be “$0 for the unit price and $0 for the total yearly price.”

6. Page 4. 2. Calls within Thailand, Item 4A and 4B: Incoming and Outgoing Calls. Please specify origination-destination mobile network for international roaming. If you cannot specify the information, please provide history of usage for the last six months for international roaming.

U.S. Embassy personnel can be temporarily deployed anywhere in the world. However, typically our staff travels to the United States or within the East Asia/Pacific region. See changes to subparagraph 1.3, in Amendment A002.

7. Page 4. 2. Calls within Thailand, Item 4A and 4B: Incoming and Outgoing Calls. Are the International Roaming top 10 countries the same as the International Call countries?

See answer to Question 6 above.

8. Page 4. 5. Multimedia Messaging Services/General Packet Radio Services (MMS/GPRS Services): Are the 200 users per package annually separated from the 1,000 SIMS in line item 1, or included? For Item 5B. GPRS, please confirm the usage.

See Amendment A002.

9. Page 5. 6. SIM cards for 2G/3G data services. Are the 700 users per package annually separated from the 1,000 total SIMs needed, or included?

See Amendment A002.

10. Page 5. 6. SIM cards for 2G/3G data services. Our data comes in various packages depending on customers’ usage behaviors. How much data do you think you would require? Do you need various options reflected in the proposal? Low data usage, 1GB for typical emails; Medium data usage (2-3GB) for moderate e-mail usage with attachments and internet surfing; High data usage (4-5 GB) for video streaming. What is the preferred option of the Embassy?

Embassy users typically use approximately 3Gb per month.

11. Page 5. 7. SMS. We charge for SMS based on 2 different rates. Free SMS offered as part of the package. It is quite difficult for us to average out the per unit rates as it is free. There are also tariff rates for SMS which are per unit charges for usage in excess of the free SMS quota given in the package. However, this may not accurately reflect the actual cost impact to the Embassy as the users may still be within the free SMS quota as offered in the package. How do we best reflect the unit charges based on the above offering?

It is the decision of each offeror to determine the prices it will propose. However, if an offeror elects to propose “free usage” then the amount it would insert in its pricing quotation would be “$0 for the unit price and $0 for the total yearly price.”

12. Page 5. 7. SMS. Please estimate the volume of SMS and emergency SMS annually.

The volume of regular SMS (cell phone to cell phone, within and outside of 1,000 SIMs for a three-month period from May – July 2015) was 100,257.

The volume of emergency SMS will vary depending on crisis conditions. The total number will depend on the number of messages and the total number of recipients. In 2014, there were a total of 467,733 emergency SMS. Of the 467,733 recipients, approximately 28% were to cell phone numbers outside of the Embassy’s mobile group. The volume of SMS can and will vary based on crisis conditions.

13. Page 5. 7a. SMS. Does the unlimited SMS refer to normal out-going SMS sent from one mobile phone to another, within the 1,000 SIM mobile users? Does the pricing to be quoted in this column include the total amount of THB/year/user for unlimited out-going SMS or the total amount of THB/year/group of 1,000 SIM mobile users?

SMS refers to normal out-going SMS sent from one mobile phone number to another both within the 1,000 SIMs as well as “out of network” phone numbers. SMS also refers to bulk messaging to all, or a group, of users. For group/bulk messaging, we need a web-based system that allows a user to send messages to pre-determined groups of users from a PC or mobile device. See Amendment A002.

14. Page 5. 7b. SMS. Do you intend to use Web-based emergency SMS services to just 1,000 SIMs or to others outside of this group (e.g. other U.S. Embassy mobile group or other mobile operators)?

We will use for the emergency web-based SMS for both the 1,000 SIMs as well as other user phone numbers that we have registered. Some of those numbers will be outside of the Embassy group.

15. Page 5. 8.III B. Temporary Additional Services - Base Year of Services. Rental of Cellphone with SIM Card, Qty 100: Which brand or model do you require? Please specify. Are the conditions of usage the same as 1,000 SIM cards or not? Can you utilize a pre-paid SIM and have users top-up by themselves?

See Amendment A002.

16. Page 11. Performance Work Statement: Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). Please confirm if this is a “web application” or not?

This is a web application.

17. Page 11. Performance Work Statement: Emergency SMS Messaging. Is this a “corporate SMS” that sends out one time from a web feature?

Yes, this is sending “one” message to multiple recipients. We will have pre-set groups of recipients.

18. Page 12: 1.8: 2G/3G INTERNET DATA SERVICE. By “the Contractor shall provide 2G/3G Internet Data services for Smartphone type hardware which the Department of State approved”, do you mean that only a vendor who receives the license can provide 2G/3G services?

It is the responsibility of the vendor to have the licenses (concessions) to operate on certain frequencies for each speed (2G or 3G). Also, see Amendment A002.

19. Page 12. 1.8: 2G/3G INTERNET DATA SERVICE. For the Department’s Enterprise Email Server, is this “Blackberry Service” or “Push Mail.”

It is push mail.

20. Page 12. 1.8: 2G/3G INTERNET DATA SERVICE. Currently, we operate mobile service in 3G & 4G LTE technology, and 2G is no longer available. Will this disadvantage us?

No, it will not.

21. Page 14. Please define “Electronic Funds Transfer” (EFT).

Electronic funds transfer (EFT) is the electronic transfer of money from one bank account to another, either within a single financial institution or across multiple institutions, through computer-based systems and without the direct intervention of bank staff. Also, see Section 2, contract clause 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer – System for Award Management.

22. Page 15. Project Manager. How does the Embassy determine if the Project Manager has Level 3 General Professional Proficiency? Does the Project Manager need to receive approval from the U.S. Embassy first?

As outlined in the RFQ, the quotation must include the complete resume of the Project Manger that reflects his/her ability to communicate as a Level 3 General Professional Proficiency in English.

23. Page 15. Project Manager. Please provide the scope of responsibilities of the Project Manager.

The requirements for the Project Manager are outlined on Page 15 and Page 16 of the solicitation.

24. Page 35: Please explain in more detail about the Certificate of Insurance. Is this required for this solicitation, and what do you need?

See Section 2 clauses 52.228-4 and 52.228-5, both address insurance.