Telco RFI 05.24.2024.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION – TELECOMMUNICATIONS MASTER AGREEMENTS

TELCO- RFI 2024

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) INSTRUCTIONS

Project Magnitude: Individual Master Agreements will be dependent on scope awarded

Schedule: RFP issuance: 08/15/2024;

Awards by: 01/15/2025

Intent: Information Gathering

Please review all the detail provided to ensure you have a complete understanding of this RFI.

This is a Request for Information (RFI) announcement only. This is not a solicitation of proposals and no subcontract will be awarded from this Request. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this Request or any follow-up information requests related to this RFI. No telephone calls will be accepted requesting a bid package or solicitation because there is no bid package or solicitation available. In order to protect the procurement integrity of any future procurement, if any, that may arise from this Request, information regarding the technical point of contact will not be given and no appointments for presentations will be made.

Responding to this RFI does not provide any advantage or disadvantage to potential offerors if LBNL chooses to issue a solicitation for the delivery of goods or services regarding the subject matter.

Proprietary Information: Because information received in response to this RFI may be used to structure future programs and may be made available to the public, respondents must NOT include any information in their responses that might be considered business sensitive, proprietary, or otherwise confidential. Responses must be submitted with the understanding that their contents may be publicly disclosed and, in the event of a public disclosure, LBNL will NOT notify respondents or provide any opportunity to revise or redact submitted information.

If your company believes it can provide Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (“Berkeley Lab” or “LBNL”) the goods or services described below, we encourage your company to:

· Complete this form electronically as comprehensively as possible ensuring that all details are typed out clearly, and return by 06/18/2024

· An attachment with the requested information, in the same format as the tables of this form, may be included with your response.

· Also include in your response:

· Completed Representations and Certifications form; and

· Acceptance of, or any exceptions to, the General Provisions for Commercial (Domestic), 12/22/2023.

Submit this form and any attachments via email to the following address:

KFRoque@lbl.gov

The main point of contact for this RFI is:

Kathee Flanagan Roque Procurement Manager Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory KFRoque@lbl.gov

OVERVIEW & BACKGROUND

The Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) is the Office of Science’s high-performance network user facility, delivering highly-reliable data transport capabilities optimized for the requirements of large-scale science. In essence, ESnet is the circulatory system that enables the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) science mission. ESnet is stewarded by the Advanced Scientific Computing Research Program (ASCR), and managed and operated by the Scientific Networking Division (SND) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), which is managed by the Regents of the University of California under Prime Contract to the U.S. Department of Energy.

ESnet interconnects the DOE’s national laboratory system, dozens of other DOE sites, and approximately 200 research and commercial networks around the world—enabling tens of thousands of scientists at DOE laboratories and academic institutions across the country to transfer vast data streams and access remote research resources in real-time. ESnet exists to provide the specialized networking infrastructure and services required by the national laboratories, large science collaborations, and the DOE research community. ESnet provides the high-bandwidth, reliable connections that enable many thousands of the nation’s scientists to collaborate on some of the world's most important scientific challenges, including energy, biosciences, materials, and the origins of the universe.

This project to establish telecommunications Master Agreements (MAs) with telecommunications suppliers in support of the ESnet network operations. This RFI is intended to discern sources that are able provide services as described in the scope of work. Orders for commercial telecommunications/networking and operational services will be placed under the pre-negotiated MAs.

For clarification and for purposes of this RFI, the term “telco” refers to a telecommunications or communication service provider (CSP) company that transports information electronically through telephony, data communication services, and Internet service providers (ISPs) in the networking industry.

Additionally, references to telecommunications transport networks comprise the largely unseen infrastructure that provides local, regional, and international connections for voice, data, and even video signals.

SCOPE OF WORK

The required services are comprised of the following:

· Colocation services (also known as “colo”) offer a secure environment for hardware and access to network connectivity that enables reaching customers worldwide. Typically, a colocation service provides racks or a suite (or “cage”) in the building, cooling, power and physical security while the customer provides servers, routers, and other required networking equipment.

· Dark Fiber is fiber-optic infrastructure that is not yet “lit”, or put into use by a service provider. Dark fiber access and usage requires the customer, rather than the service provider, to maintain and operate the equipment required to “light” the fiber, and use it for telecommunications and Internet access.

· Telecommunication Circuits are point-to-point Ethernet transport between specified endpoints. These circuits will be connected to ESnet provided equipment at both endpoints. These circuits range in speed from 1Gbps to 400Gbps. Depending on the specific use case, Ethernet delivery via either a dedicated Optical Wavelength Service (OWS) or dedicated capacity via Ethernet Private Line (EPL) may be acceptable.

· A Cross-Connect is a physical, hardwired cable that provides a direct connection between two different termination locations within a data center.

· Peering is a process by which two Internet networks connect and exchange traffic. It allows them to directly hand off traffic between each other’s customers, without having to pay a third party to carry that traffic across the Internet for them.

· A network fabric is the mesh of connections between network devices, such as access points, switches, and routers, that transports data to its destination.

· Optical Spectrum – Unmanaged Optical Spectrum provides access to a designated spectral frequency range over which the University is responsible for procuring and installing its own Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) equipment and transponders.

Telecommunications services described in the scope of work above are required across the ESnet Network’s United States domestic and European locations. The locations are divided into the following Regions:

Region 1: Pacific

· California

· Oregon

· Washington

Region 2: Mountain

· Arizona

· Colorado

· Idaho

· Nevada

· New Mexico

Region 3: Midwest

· Illinois

· Iowa

· Missouri

· Texas

Region 4: Atlantic

· Georgia

· North Carolina

· Tennessee

Region 5: Mid-Atlantic

· Maryland

· New Jersey

· New York

· Pennsylvania

· Virginia

Region 6: Northeast

· Connecticut

· Maine

· Massachusetts

· New Hampshire

· Rhode Island

· Vermont

Region 7: Europe

· Amsterdam, Netherlands (NL)

· Geneva, Switzerland (CH)

· London, England, United Kingdom (UK)

· Paris, France (FR)

Company Information Section 1 – Company Information

Section 2 – Contact Information

Section 3 – Organization & Management

In 300 words or less (For Each Question in this Section)

Yes No

Small Business 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business Women-Owned Small Business HUB Zone Veteran-Owned Business Service Disabled Veteran-Owned

< 2 years 2-5 years 5-10 years >10 years

Section 4 – Business Activities

In 300 words or less (For Each Question in this Section)

Section 5 – Technical Ability

In 300 words or less (For Each Question in this Section)

In the space provided below, provide your company’s capability, expertise, facilities, for each service item in each region.

Colocations

Dark Fiber

Telecommunication Circuits

Cross-Connects

Peering

Network Fabric

Optical Spectrum

Describe how you will work with other telecommunications partners to provide the services described above (installation, maintenance and operations, invoicing, Smart Hands) Click here to enter text.

Any other considerations or items LBNL should be aware of?

List any attachments to the RFI including drawings, budgetary quotes, specifications documents, etc. (please do not attach sales literature or white papers unless requested by LBNL):

1. Completed Representations and Certifications form

2. Acceptance of, or exceptions to, General Provisions for Commercial (Domestic), dated 12/22/2023

3. GSA Schedule (if applicable)

4.

(Add lines as needed)

[END RFI DOCUMENT]

2/21/2019 1 | Page image1.jpg