Copy_of_Government's_Responses_to_Vendor_Questions_073117_Addiional_Questions_.xlsx
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- Treasury Dept. & Bureaus Managed Print Services
- Solicitation number
- TIRNO17R00012
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Govt response additional Q & A
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Instructions
# RFP Reference Page# Section# Sub-Section# Line # Requirement ID Question
(For OPR Use Only) (For OPR Use Only)
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Insert question being asked related to the MPS documentation or other areas of interest Enter the section name and number Enter the sub-section name and number
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3. General Comments: enter a 0 (zero) for page, para, and line number, and “General Questions” in the Question column
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6. If the same comment applies to several line numbers, enter the first line number applicable and additional applicable line numbers in the “question” column. Do not combine comments or questions.
Question Matrix
| Question | Section# | Sub-Section# | Page#3 | Line# | Questions/Comments | Government's Responses | Government's Updated Response | |
| 19 | 3 | CLIN 0006 | 2 | 33 | Please clarify if CLIN 0006 "Color", refers to MFDs, Single Function Printers, or both. Appendix B states the device inventory will be released only upon award of a Task Order. Without knowing how many devices need to be replaced, or where to quote that cost, attaining a reasonable FFP for these CLINs will be at best a guess. | The IRS does not want color copiers as part of the MPS solution. See response to Question 20. | CLIN 0006 is for Color Single Function Printers not MFD's or MFP's | |
| 66 | Contract Clauses | Paragraph 2.1 | ||||||
| ( c) | 90 | Please confirm whether the Service Contract Labor Standards will apply to this contract. FAR 52.222-41 is not checked but a wage determination has been requested for this contract. | Yes | The Service Contract Labor Standards apply to this contract. FAR 52.222-41 has been checked. | ||||
| 121 | Attachment 7 - Task Order 1 | 2.1 Phase 1 | C - 6 | What is the anticipated timeframe for the assessment phase? Will this be done on a site by site basis? If so, what is IRS priority? | 6 months for IRS and will be done at all sites. Priority will be on the large sites that have onsite technicians. | Not to exceed 6 months for IRS and will be done at all sites. Priority will be on the large sites that have onsite technicians. | ||
| 135 | Phase 1 | 2.1 | C-6 | Does IRS plan to acquire the current Canon MFP devices under lease until March 2018? Can you clarify that all equipment terminates on that date? | The IRS will make that decision at a later time. | Yes, IRS will purchase the Canon devices outright. | ||
| 137 | C-8 | Who is expected to supply the behind the firewall server hardware for IRS and all other Bureaus? ("Responsible for acquiring and installing, including the ongoing management and maintenance of the required print servers behind the IRS’s firewall") | The IRS will acquire virtual print servers. | The IRS will utilize a virtual print queue provided by the winning supplier. IRS will provide the OS/software licensing for the provisioned virtual machines. | ||||
| 138 | C-8 | Who is expected to provide OS/software licensing for the servers? ("If the Ordering Organizaton already has print servers, then the IRS will provide access for the MPS Supplier to its print servers, and the MPS Supplier will take over the ongoing management and maintenance of the print servers") | The IRS will acquire virtual print servers. | The IRS will utilize a virtual print queue provided by the winning supplier. IRS will provide the OS/software licensing for the provisioned virtual machines. | ||||
| 158 | Tab IDIQ Print Service Rates | Are those volumes for each category in not-to-exceed volumes or volumes based on actual measured usage history? | ||||||
| Volumes in the excel pricing workbook (IDIQ Print Service Rates, row 5): | Yes | Volumes based on actual measured history. | ||||||
| 172 | Instructions | 1 | 10 | Does the Treasury factor in the pages that are scanned and not printed into these expected numbers? |
| The IRS anticipates that cost per page will decrease at least 5% year over year. This is based on the decrease in the cost of technology year over year and the experience the contractor will gain each and every year in delivering cost optimizations to the IRS from a total program perspective. This decrease is unrelated to any cost optimization that may occur per section H clause titled Cost Optimization. | No | No. Scanned pages will not be charged separately. | |||||
| 176 | IDIQ Print Services Rates Tab | 17 | Does CLIN 0005 for the B&W Non-MFD need to be PIV enabled? Is CLIN 0006 a MFD or Non-MFD? | All devices must be PIV enabled. | All devices must be PIV enabled. CLIN 006 is a color single function printer, non-mfd. | ||
| 182 | Attachment 7 | 3.1.1 | 10 | Is it the CSP has to be FedRAMP "In-Process" or be "FedRAMP Ready" by time of response submission? |
| 3.1.1.5 The MPS Supplier must implement a cloud management reporting and performance monitoring tool that is FedRAMP compliant to monitor the performance of the MPS Solution across Treasury and the IRS. | FedRAMP ready | The Offerors must demonstrate that they are FedRAMP Ready meaning that their systems are ready to begin the FedRAMP Security Assessment Framework to obtain FedRAMP authorization for their product. The Offeror must demonstrate that they are in the queue for FedRAMP authorization at time of award. The IRS will sponsor the selected Offeror to get an ATO for their FedRAMP authorized product. | ||||||
| 183 | Is it the Government’s intent under the RFP to be indifferent in its evaluation of proposals received from Chinese owned, foreign owned and/or U.S. owned MPS suppliers? The RFP terms appear to allow the Government to treat a similar proposal received from a Chinese owned MPS supplier and a US owned MPS supplier, as equivalent. Is it the Government’s intent under the terms of the RFP to afford a Chinese owned MPS supplier equal status for consideration to a US owned or foreign owned MPS supplier? | This acquisition is restricted to designated countries as identified in FAR 52.225-5 Trade Agreements.. | “The IRS intends to follow all applicable statutes and regulations including the Buy American Act, FAR part 25, and FAR clause 52.225-5. The agency is unaware of any basis for not considering an otherwise eligible Chinese-owned supplier that proposes BAA/TAA compliant products.” | |||||
| 185 | Task Order | Scope of Task Order #11 (also from Phase 1 and 3) | Is your objective for IT staff to only setup and maintain one universal driver for all Treasury bureaus? | No, each bureau is unique and their requirements will be reflected in future Tos. | No, each bureau is unique and their requirements will be reflected in future Task orders. | |||
| 186 | IRS TO 001 Print service Rates vs Instructions tab in price book | It appears the IRS print volume increases 5% per year over year. Is this a correct assumption? | The IRS has no assumptions on future volume. | The IRS is making a reasonable estimate as to what overall print volumes could look like. | ||||
| 192 | Not Stated | Does the Government require optional accessories that assist handicapped persons - such as Document Feeder Access Handle, Braille Label Kits, etc.? Using Present CLIN structure, how do Bidders account for this and other device options specific for locations? Does the Government wish to include additional CLINs? | See Response to Question #20 . Once the assessment is completed in Phase 1, IRS will negotiate with the Offeror as to what optional accessories are required. | See Response to Question #20 . Once the assessment is completed in Phase 1, IRS will negotiate with the Offeror as to what optional accessories are required for the number of devices that require them. | ||||
| 212 | 4 | 4.3.3.3 | 17 | 1 | The MPS Supplier must ensure that MPS devices can only be accessed within Treasury and Bureaus’ networks. The MPS Supplier must centrally manage MFDs from the Treasury Bureaus’ Data Centers. The MPS Supplier solution must be compatible with each Treasury and Bureau’s baseline server configuration. |
| While the Contractor understands that the MPS Supplier must centrally manage MFDs from the Treasury Bureaus' Data Centers, will the Contractor be allowed to remotely monitor the MFD fleet from outside of the Treasury network? | No | Yes, utilizing a FedRamp Moderate monitoring, reporting and management solution. | |||||
| NEW | Amendment 0003 | Wage Determinations | 4 | The Government requests Bidders go to http://www.wdol.gov for applicable wage determinations. We have visited this website and it does not populate answers for the three (3) labor categories identified in Amendment 0003 for any location. Please provide the wage determinations for the 3 suggested labor categories. | N/A | The applicable wage determinations have been included in Amendment 0004 to the solicitation. | |
| NEW | Amendment 0003 | Wage Determinations | 4 | Please add Labor Category for HelpDesk Support. | N/A | Offerors can propose alternate or additional labor categories they deem necessary. | |
| NEW | Q&A Matrix | General | 0 | Please confirm that the Q&A Matrix is part of the solicitation. | N/A | Q&A matrix is a vehicle for combining all vendor questions and Government answers. Since it is part of Amendment 0003, it is part of the solicitation. | |
| NEW | Q&A Matrix | Question 183 | Please clarify the answer on Question 183. The Government's answer is repeated here: "This acquisition is restricted to designated countries as identified in FAR 52.225-5 Trade Agreements." But that FAR clause covers Products -not companies. Question 183 regards Company(ies) that are China-owned. We ask the Government to answer that question repeated here. Question: "... The RFP terms appear to allow the Government to treat a similar proposal received from a Chinese owned MPS supplier and a US owned MPS supplier, as equivalent. Is it the Government’s intent under the terms of the RFP to afford a Chinese owned MPS supplier equal status for consideration to a US owned or foreign owned MPS supplier? | N/A | “The IRS intends to follow all applicable statutes and regulations including the Buy American Act, FAR part 25, and FAR clause 52.225-5. The agency is unaware of any basis for not considering an otherwise eligible Chinese-owned supplier that proposes BAA/TAA compliant products.” | ||
| NEW | Q&A Matrix | Question 66 | Please confirm that FAR Clause 52.222-48 Exemption to the Service Contract applies for those companies for which it may apply. We understand that the Service Contract Act may apply to some companies and some might be exempt. | N/A | Yes. However, offerors must clearly state how they are exempt from the Service Contract Act. | ||
| NEW | Q&A Matrix | Question 36 | Please clarify the time (award or delivery) at which Section 508 compliance and FedRAMP ready status must be demonstrated. The amended solicitation contains conflicting information. Specifically, the solicitation states on page 158, #2 Basis of Award, that it be at time of delivery, and in the same section it is to be at the time of award. Also, page 159, #3 - Evaluation Factor it is stated "...at time of delivery." We believe that the product must be Section 508 compliant and FedRAMP Ready (as this term is used at www.fedramp.gov) at time of delivery and not time of award. Please confirm. | N/A | 508 compliance must be at time of award. FedRamp Ready must be at time of delivery. Offerors must demonstrate that they are FedRAMP Ready meaning that their systems are ready to begin the FedRAMP Security Assessment Framework to obtain FedRAMP authorization for their product. The Offeror must demonstrate that they are in the queue for FedRAMP authorization at time of award. The IRS will sponsor the selected Offeror to get an ATO for their FedRAMP authorized product. | ||
| NEW | Q&A Matrix | Treasury Response to Question No. 183 | Clarification Question: |
The Government’s answer to question 183 requires additional clarification. The question, “Is it the Government’s intent under the terms of the RFP to afford a Chinese owned MPS supplier equal status for consideration to a US owned or foreign owned MPS supplier?”, has not been fully answered. The posted answer is “This acquisition is restricted to designated countries as identified in FAR 52.225-5 Trade Agreements”.
The answer leaves open more than one reasonable interpretation surrounding the Government’s intent under the terms of the RFP. On one hand, the answer can be seen as an obvious confirmation that a Chinese-owned MPS supplier is excluded from consideration under the RFP because China is not one of the designated countries, as identified in FAR 52.225-5. On the other hand, while less obvious, it is our concern that one could also reasonably interpret the answer to mean that a Chinese-owned MPS supplier who includes TAA compliant products under a proposed solution could receive equal consideration to that of a U.S.-owned MPS supplier or to a MPS supplier whose ownership status is represented under any of the designated counties identified under FAR 52.225-5.
Respectfully, we are seeking an answer to the question so that there can only be one interpretation concerning the Government’s intent. We are seeking the Contracting Officer’s clarification to the following question:
Is it the Government’s intent under the RFP to limit its evaluation of proposals to only those suppliers whose ownership status, public or private, resides within one of the designated countries found under FAR 52.225-5?
| N/A | “The IRS intends to follow all applicable statutes and regulations including the Buy American Act, FAR part 25, and FAR clause 52.225-5. The agency is unaware of any basis for not considering an otherwise eligible Chinese-owned supplier that proposes BAA/TAA compliant products.” | ||||
| NEW | Q&A Matrix | Treasury Response to Question No. 19 | Should "copier" be replaced with "printer" in this answer? | N/A | Yes. CLIN 0006 is for Color Single Function Printers not MFD's or MFP's |
| NEW | Q&A Matrix | Treasury Response to Question No. 94 | Will you please confirm that CLIN 0006 should be a MFD? | N/A | CLIN 0006 is for Color Single Function Printers not MFD's or MFP's |
| NEW | 1. The requirement for a FFP price based on the data available to offerors without the benefit of a basic assessment renders a competitive quotation impossible. If the awardee is to provide pricing for CLINs that involve replacement of equipment based solely on output volume estimates, without any prior knowledge of the current equipment age and condition, then all vendor pricing must factor the cost of an all new fleet of devices over the life of the POP, which is variable. Since the assessment is only allowed post-award, please allow for adjustment of the FFP by the awarded vendor post assessment, or provide at the very least basic device inventory data, by OEM and model. | N/A | The previous answer IRS provided stands. | ||
| NEW | 2. Please note that dual NICs (Network Interface Cards) are required for simultaneous connectivity to both Treasury and Dept. of Defense Networks for a single device or workstation. This is the only scenario in which both PIV card encrypted and CAC encrypted authentication could ever occur on a single device or workstation. It is generally understood that the Department of Treasury operates on a civilian network and domain and is not on a DoD network or domain, where CAC PKI certificates are used for user authentication. All U.S. Federal Government civilian non-military networks and domains must utilize PIV PKI certificates for user authentication and are not compatible with CAC PKI certificates. The requirement for simultaneous connectivity to both CAC and PIV authentication is untenable and has never been a requirement in any previous Government solicitation, except in error. Please remove CAC. | N/A | IRS agrees with this suggestion. IRS will remove the requirement for CAC and keep the requirement for PIV. | ||
| NEW | 3. It was stated in the Q&A responses that all output devices must be enabled for PIV authentication, including both MFDs and Single Function Printers, (SFPs), without allowance to place PIV enabled MFDs in place of SFPs. SFPs do not in general have any capability for connections with PIV card readers, which renders this requirement untenable for any one vendor. Please remove the PIV authentication requirement for Single Function Network Printers, or allow placement of desktop MFDs in these locations. | N/A | The IRS requirement stands. | ||
| NEW | 4. Regarding the Buyback Program, please confirm if you would allow the awarded vendor to put the intermediary in direct contact with the Treasury to accept payment for sold devices rather than the awarded vendor being in the middle of that transaction. | N/A | The IRS requirement stands. | ||
| NEW | 5. Due to the complexity of this opportunity as well as the number of Q&A provided, we respectfully request a final extension of no less than 3 weeks after these and any other vendor questions are distributed. | N/A | 5. The closing date and time remains unchanged. |
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