Combined Questions Answers (QA) for RFI Information Technology (IT) Services and Support - 23JUL2025 - FINAL.pdf

Item # Subject USG Reference Questions/Comments USG Response

1 ITSS - RFI Instructions 7.2 Capability Statement

The RFI states: "a) PL ALTESS is requesting a tailored capability statement addressing the requirements outlined in the attached PWS, with supporting documentation demonstrating organizational and staff qualifications. Offerors have the flexibility to submit capability statements covering the entirety of the work described in the attached PWS, or to submit capability statements for one or more of the specific, individual task areas within the PWS.

Regardless of the scope of the proposed effort, each capability statement must directly address the requirements outlined in the PWS for the proposed task area(s) and shall be supported by documentation demonstrating the Offeror’s organizational capabilities and the qualifications of proposed personnel."

What kind of supporting documentation is acceptable? Please confirm that the supporting documentation will be outside of page count.

PL ALTESS is seeking documentation that demonstrates both your organization's ability to perform the work outlined in the PWS, and the qualifications of the personnel you would propose for the effort. In your capability statement, organizational capabilities and personnel qualifications should be addressed accordingly and limited to 15 pages, per RFI instructions.

Responses to the questions to industry are not required, but are strongly encouraged. While no specific page limit is imposed, submissions of 10 pages or fewer are recommended.

2 ITSS - RFI Instructions 10.0 Submission Instructions Please confirm that the cover page and the Table of Contents will not be included in the 15-page limit.

The total page count of 15 does include the table of contents.

3 Has a decision been finalized regarding the contract vehicle the Government intends to use for this requirement?

A decision regarding the contract vehicle the Government intends to use for this requirement has not been made at this time.

4 Is there any updated guidance on whether the opportunity will remain unrestricted or shift toward a Small Business set-aside?

There is no additional guidance on the acquisition strategy at this time.

5 Can you share the rationale behind the move from a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) model to a Time-and-Materials (T&M) approach?

Given PL ALTESS' continuously evolving mission, a flexible acquisition strategy—rather than a Cost-Plus Fixed Fee contract—allows us to adapt rapidly to changing priorities and avoid paying fixed overhead and profit on work that may become irrelevant as requirements shift.

Additionally, could you provide any insight into the current performance or lessons learned from the existing support provided by IBM and OCTO under the current contract environment?

PL ALTESS can not share that information.

7 Background Section 2.0 Will ALTESS want one vendor to provide all services mentioned in the Section 2.0 Background, or will they split them into separate contracts?

Please reference RFI Instructions, section 7.2.

8 Background Section 2.0 Are CONUS and OCONUS locations part of the same contract scope, or will they be separate?

CONUS/OCONUS locations are part of the same scope/mission. Please reference PWS 1.5 Place of Performance.

9 Background Section 2.0 Will the work be only for DoD customers or also for other federal agencies? The work will also be for other federal agencies.

10 Special Requirements Section 8.0.c Our company’s average revenue is under $27.5M, but we don’t have an official SBA small business certification. Will we still be considered a small business for this requirement?

While meeting the revenue-based size standard is a factor, a formal SBA small business certification isn’t automatically required; the government will evaluate your response to the size representation in accordance with FAR 52.219-1 and other applicable regulations to determine small business status for this requirement.

Request for Information (RFI) Information Technology (IT) Services and Support

11 Special Requirements Section 8.0.c Will we need to provide any supporting documents to prove our small business status?

Please reference RFI Instructions, section 7.1 and ensure you provide the requested information. The government will confirm Small Business Certification status.

12 Place of Performance Section 4.0 Can you share possible alternative CONUS and OCONUS locations?

Additional CONUS/OCONUS locations have not been determined yet. These are the current locations.

PL ALTESS, Radford, VA 24143 PL ALTESS, Fort Bragg, NC 28310

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98433 Army Enterprise Data Center Hawaii, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857

US Army Garrison Bavaria, Germany, 09114 Army Enterprise Data Center Korea, Camp Humphreys, ROK 17977

13 Place of Performance Section 4.0 Will there be remote or hybrid work options, or is on-site staffing mandatory? There will be a mixture of on-site, hybrid, and fully remote staffing.

14 Quality Control PWS Section 1.8 Will a draft QCP be helpful or expected as part of the RFI, or is it only required after award? Please refence the SOW section 1.8. It is only required after award.

15 Background Section 2.0 For services hosted in commercial cloud (ECMA’s cARMY enclaves), are there specific cloud service providers (AWS, Azure, etc.) that we must be able to support?

PL ALTESS utilizes Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS currently through the Army's cARMY hosting environments. Google and Oracle are being considered based on demand and cARMY services being provided for those environments.

16 Is there an incumbent contractor currently providing these services? There is currently a prime contractor providing Information Technology Services and Support.

17 Are there any specific certifications required (e.g., CMMI, ISO, FedRAMP, DoD Impact Levels) for vendors providing these IT services?

**For FedRAMP and DoD Impact levels** The listed certifications are not directly relevant for this contract. However, things like clearance requirements for support personnel are impacted by hosting location.

18 Does the Government have any specific small business goals or preferred set-aside categories (e.g., 8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone) that would be most relevant for this requirement?

This is a full and open Request for Information (RFI). At this time, no specific small business goals or set-aside categories (e.g., 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, HUBZone) have been established for this requirement. The Government will consider all qualified responses and determine the most advantageous acquisition approach based on the results of this market research.

19 Can the Government clarify whether this requirement will be structured as a staff augmentation contract, a managed services contract, or a mix of both?

The Government is conducting this RFI to gather information and explore various acquisition strategies. While we anticipate a need for both specialized personnel to augment existing teams and potential managed services to support specific IT functions, the ultimate contract structure – whether staff augmentation, managed services, or a hybrid approach – has not yet been determined. Responses should address your capabilities in both areas to allow for a comprehensive evaluation of potential solutions.

20 Contract Type Considerations Section 5.1.1 Does the Government have a preference for T&M vs. Labor Hour vs. Firm-Fixed-Price for different service areas (e.g., managed services vs. project work)?

The Government is currently evaluating potential acquisition strategies for this requirement and does not have a predetermined preference for Time and Materials (T&M), Labor Hour, or

Firm-Fixed-Price contract types. This Request for Information is designed to gather data regarding offeror capabilities and approaches across various pricing methodologies, allowing us to determine the most advantageous approach for different service areas – such as managed services and project-based work – based on the responses received.

21 Contract Type Considerations Section 5.1.2 Will the Government consider a hybrid contract type (e.g., Firm-Fixed-Price for steady-state managed services and T&M for surge or project-based tasks)?

The Government is open to considering all viable acquisition strategies, including hybrid approaches such as a Firm-Fixed-Price component for steady-state managed services coupled with Time and Materials or Labor Hour elements for surge support or project-based tasks. This Request for Information is specifically designed to gather data on offeror capabilities and perspectives regarding various contract types and their suitability for different service areas, which will inform our evaluation of available acquisition strategies.

22 Contract Type Considerations Section 5.1.2b For on-site rural positions, does the Government anticipate offering any relocation cost coverage or incentives to help recruit key personnel? - RFI Section 5.1.2.b Contract Type Considerations

Relocation cost coverage or incentives for on-site rural positions are not anticipated to be provided directly by the Government. The responsibility for attracting and retaining qualified personnel, including any associated relocation expenses, would reside with the prime contractor or its subcontractors.

23 Does the Government require that all personnel supporting this requirement be direct W-2 employees of the prime contractor?

The Government does not require all personnel supporting this requirement to be direct W-2 employees of the prime contractor. We anticipate that a mix of direct employees and qualified subcontractors may be utilized to fulfill the contract requirements, provided all personnel meet the necessary qualifications and security clearances.

24 Will the Government permit the use of subcontractor staff or independent 1099 contractors to fulfill labor needs for this requirement?

While the Government permits the use of qualified subcontractor staff to fulfill labor needs for this requirement, the use of independent 1099 contractors is generally not permissible. All personnel performing work under this contract must adhere to applicable labor laws and regulations, and the prime contractor is responsible for ensuring compliance. We encourage offerors to clarify their proposed staffing models in their responses to this RFI.

25 Are there any specific citizenship or visa restrictions for staff (e.g., U.S. Citizens only, Green Card holders only, no H-1B or other work visas allowed)?

The Government requires all personnel supporting this requirement to meet applicable security clearance requirements, which may include citizenship restrictions depending on the level of clearance needed. While U.S. citizenship is preferred, we do not have a blanket prohibition against the use of qualified personnel holding valid work visas. However, offerors should be aware that obtaining and maintaining necessary security clearances for non-U.S.

citizens can be a complex and potentially lengthy process. Please address your proposed staffing approach, including the citizenship status of key personnel, in your RFI response

26 Does the Government have an existing DevOps or SecOps pipeline that the contractor must integrate with, or will the contractor design and implement a new pipeline?

ALTESS utilizes a number of different products to implement DevOps to include Atlassian, GitLab, and Azure DevOps and is continually evaluating other products for capabilities and cost.

Does the Government require that all personnel be fully cleared at contract start, or will uncleared personnel be acceptable for certain roles while they obtain clearances? – RFI Section 5.5 Security Clearance Process

All personnel requiring access to Government systems and data must possess at least an interim security clearance prior to commencing work under this contract. While full adjudication of a security clearance may be ongoing, an approved interim clearance is mandatory for initial access and performance of work. Offerors should outline their processes for initiating and managing the security clearance process for their personnel in their RFI responses, including anticipated timelines for obtaining interim and final clearances.

28 Subcontractor Management Section 5.6 Does the Government anticipate or encourage prime contractors to use subcontractors for specific services or labor categories?

The Government encourages the use of qualified subcontractors, including small businesses, to fulfill the requirements of this contract. This requirement will not be broken down by labor categories, but may be by the specified task areas, per RFI instructions, section 7.2.

29 Required Capabilities Section 6.0 Does the Government expect capability statements to map directly to each PWS section and subtask, or may we provide an overall capabilities summary that highlights relevant experience and solutions at a high level?

Please refer to RFI Instructions, section 7.2.

30 Submission Instructions Section 10.0 Could you please confirm if the 15-page limit applies just to the capability statement (including 7.0,7.1,7.2 and 7.3) itself, or should our entire response be included within the same 15 pages?

The capability statement is restricted to 15 pages. Responses to the questions to industry are not required, but are strongly encouraged. While no specific page limit is imposed, submissions of 10 pages or fewer are recommended.

Is there any additional registration or certification information the Government would like included with our company information (e.g., UEI, CAGE Code, NAICS, or proof of small business status)?

The government is only asking for the information in the RFI Instructions, section 7.0.

32 To confirm, is it acceptable to submit a capability statement for only selected PWS task areas instead of the full scope, if our company’s strengths align with those specific areas?

It is acceptable to submit a capability statement for only selected PWS task areas, per RFI Instructions, section 7.2.

33 Capability Statement Section 7.2.a Is there a preferred format for supporting documentation, for example, should resumes, certifications, or past performance references be included in an appendix within the 15-page limit?

Prioritize a concise response within the strict 15-page limit. Briefly summarize key personnel experience and relevant past performance within the main response, listing certifications directly where applicable.

34 Capability Statement Section 7.2.a Is there a preferred format or level of detail you expect for the supporting documentation demonstrating staff qualifications? For example, would resumes, position descriptions, or certification lists be sufficient?

Please see response to question #33. A list of resumes, position descriptions, or certifications would be sufficient.

35 Capability Statement Section 7.2.a If we submit a partial capability statement, does the Government anticipate making multiple awards to cover all task areas, or will partial submissions be considered for future teaming opportunities?

Offerors have the flexibility to submit capability statements covering the entirety of the work described in the attached PWS, or to submit capability statements for one or more of the specific, individual task areas within the PWS. Regardless of the scope of the proposed effort, each capability statement must directly address the requirements outlined in the PWS for the proposed task area(s) and shall be supported by documentation demonstrating the Offeror’s organizational capabilities and the qualifications of proposed personnel. Any collaboration or teaming is a matter for companies to pursue independently. The Government will not be directing or influencing those decisions. It is unknown if the Government will award a single or multiple award at this time. There cold be multiple prime awards with the way the PWS is structured.

36 Capability Statement Section 7.2.a Could the Government please clarify whether it anticipates making a single award for the entire scope of work described in the PWS, or if multiple awards may be issued for different task areas based on capability statement responses?

Please refer to question #35.

37 Capability Statement Section 7.2.b Is the Government expecting Offerors to identify specific named subcontractors at this RFI stage, or is it acceptable to describe the types of partners we plan to use?

The government is not expecting the Offeror's to identify any subcontractors in response to this RFI.

38 Capability Statement Section 7.2.b Does the Government require signed teaming agreements or letters of commitment from proposed subcontractors as part of this capability statement?

The government does not require signed teaming agreements or letters of commitment from proposed subcontractors as part the Offeror's capability statement.

39 Specific Responses to Questions Section 7.3 For question (c) about managing a team of subcontractors, does the Government want Offerors to name specific proposed subs at this stage, or is describing a general approach sufficient?

The government does not need specified proposed subcontractors at this RFI stage.

40 Special Requirements Section 8.0.a To confirm, is the prime contractor required to have an active Secret Facility Clearance at the time of proposal submission, or is the ability to obtain the FCL after award acceptable?

While an interim security clearance may be sufficient to initiate work, all contractors performing on this effort are ultimately required to possess a fully adjudicated Secret security clearance.

41 Special Requirements Section 8.0.a Will the Government sponsor new Facility Clearance applications if a small business prime does not currently have a Secret FCL but can demonstrate eligibility?

The government can sponsor an FCL application, but it's entirely at the discretion of the contracting activity (the specific office issuing the contract). They will assess the need for the

FCL based on the contract requirements and the criticality of the information involved.

42 Special Requirements Section 8.0.a Are all proposed staff required to have final clearances by proposal submission, or are interim clearances sufficient to meet the requirement?

Interim clearances are acceptable.

43 Additional Information and Submission Details Section 9.0 Is the Government expecting Offerors to address how they will comply with the QASP and PRS in their capability statement response? – RFI Section 9.0 Additional Information and Submission Details

Information regarding the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) and Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) was provided for informational purposes to illustrate the

Government’s anticipated approach to contract surveillance and performance evaluation.

Offerors are not required to address compliance with the QASP or PRS in their capability statement response to this RFI. This information is intended to provide context for understanding how the eventual awardee’s performance will be monitored and assessed.

44 Additional Information and Submission Details Section 9.0 Are the COR surveillance documents (Attachments 002–004) provided for information only, or should we address any elements of these in our response?

The COR surveillance documents are provided for informational purposes only.

45 Additional Information and Submission Details Section 9.0 Does the Government require any comments or feedback on the draft PWS or QASP as part of this RFI response?

Offerors are encouraged to provide overarching comments and feedback on the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) as part of their capability statement response, focusing on its clarity, feasibility, and completeness in addressing the overall requirement. However, specific, detailed line-by-line comments on the PWS are not required at this stage. The Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) was provided for informational purposes only and does not require feedback as part of this RFI response.

46 Additional Information and Submission Details Section 9.0

Does the Government expect Offerors to complete and submit any of the documents listed under Section 9.0 (such as the Customer Complaint Record, COR Surveillance Schedule, COR Checklist, QASP, or PRS) along with our RFI capability statement, or are these provided for reference only at this stage?

The documents are provided as reference and for informational purposes only.

47 Submission Instructions Section 10.0 To confirm, does the Government require a single combined PDF file containing both the capability statement and all responses to the Government’s questions, or may these be submitted as separate files in one email?

The government's preference is separate PDFs.

48 Confidentiality Section 11.0 How should we mark any confidential or proprietary information in our RFI response? Should we add labels on each page, use a table to highlight confidential parts, or also provide a redacted version?

Please reference RFI Instructions, section 11.0 Confidentiality. Please mark all documents accordingly.

49 Scope PWS Section 1.1 Can the Government clarify whether the full list of functional areas in Section 1.1 is mandatory for a single contractor, or if Offerors may propose to cover only certain functional areas as a prime and partner for the rest?

Please reference RFI Instructions section 7.2 - Capability Statement.

50 Transition-In PWS Section 1.2.1.1 Does the Government anticipate providing any assistance in scheduling or expediting security clearances, CAC issuance, or ASCL tokens to meet the 30-day transition timeline, especially considering the known lead times and travel requirements?

The Government recognizes the potential challenges associated with obtaining security clearances, CAC issuance, and ASCL tokens within the 30-day transition timeline, particularly considering current lead times and potential travel requirements. While we cannot guarantee expedited processing for all requests, we are committed to providing reasonable assistance to the selected contractor to facilitate these processes. This assistance may include points of contact within relevant agencies to assist with initiation of requests and tracking progress.

Offerors should clearly articulate any anticipated delays related to these items in their RFI responses, along with proposed mitigation strategies to minimize disruption to the transition.

51 Background PWS Section 1.3 Will the selected contractor be responsible for supporting both physical and virtual infrastructure at all data center locations listed under this contract?

Yes.

52 Technology Baseline PWS Section 1.4 Are there any vendor-specific certifications required or preferred for key personnel working on these systems?

Please refer to the PWS Section 6 for required qualifications/certifications for key personnel.

53 Technology Baseline PWS Section 1.4 Will the Government provide licenses and subscriptions for proprietary tools like VMware, Oracle, or ServiceNow, or is the contractor expected to provide these under this contract?

ALTESS will provide all software licenses, subscriptions, and maintain active vendor support agreements for any effort under this contract.

54 Does the Government expect the same staffing levels at each site, or will the staffing distribution vary by location?

The current staffing level is primarily located at CONUS locations. OCONUS locations vary on FTE requirements and would typically have 2 FTEs at each location.

55 Quality Control PWS Section 1.8 Do we need to submit a draft or sample Quality Control Program (QCP) now with our RFI response, or should we plan to provide it only after contract award within the required 10 days?

No. Plan to provide it within the required 10 days after contract award.

56 Performance Standards and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

PWS Section 1.9 Will a draft of the QASP be shared with Offerors during the RFI or RFP stage so we can align our Quality Control Plan accordingly?

The draft QASP will be provided in the RFP request.

57 Materials and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) PWS Section 3.2 Are there any specific hardware or software products that the Government expects the contractor to provide, or do we have flexibility to propose equivalent or better solutions?

For this requirement, there is no hardware/software that the government expects the contractor to provide. The government allows flexibility to contractors to propose equivalent or superior solutions that demonstrably provide cost-effectiveness and offer advantages to the government, provided they align with established security standards and interoperability guidelines.

58 Materials and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) PWS Section 3.2 Is there any reimbursement mechanism for contractor-furnished HW/SW if additional capacity is needed during the contract (e.g., unexpected surge support)?

There is no requirement for contractor furnished hardware/software for this requirement, however, there will be an ODC CLIN on the contract.

59 Security Access PWS Section 3.3 Are there specific clearance levels required for each role or functional area?

Please reference PWS section 3.3 Security and 7.7 for roles/functional areas that require handling or access to classified information.

60 Security Access PWS Section 3.3 Will the Government provide annual security training materials, or must the contractor deliver training that meets Army and AR 380-67 requirements?

The government will provide access to required security training.

61 Security Access PWS Section 3.3 Does the requirement for US Citizenship apply to the prime contractor company only, or must all individual contractor personnel working under this contract also be US Citizens?

Please reference PWS section 3.3 Security.

62 Security Access PWS Section 3.3 Can you clarify how the required security clearance levels (ADP Levels 1, 2, or 3) will be assigned to different roles? Will the government provide a role-based matrix or guidance to help us align personnel clearance requirements?

Please reference PWS section 3.3 Security and section 6 Key Personnel for the required levels of security clearance.

63 Cybersecurity PWS Section 3.4 Will the government provide a list of specific DoD 8140 cybersecurity certification requirements for each role, or is it the contractor’s responsibility to map each position to the relevant DoD 8140 categories?

It is the contractor's responsibility to ensure each role has the relevant DoD 8140 requirements met.

64 Objectives PWS Section 4.1 Can you confirm if support for both NIPR and SIPR requires all operations staff to hold the highest clearance, or will clearances vary by role?

Not all personnel require the highest clearance. PL ALTESS maintains a robust personnel security program and are committed to adhering to all applicable regulations, with specific role-based clearance requirements to be detailed during the RFP phase to align with the defined scope of work and data classifications.

65 Objectives PWS Section 4.1 Do we need to include sample personnel resumes for each of the five Task Areas (functional areas) with the RFI submission, or will this be required only at the RFP stage?

Not required for this RFI.

66 Contract Deliverables PWS Section 5 Could you please confirm whether any draft versions of deliverables like the Transition-In Plan, Quality Control Plan, or sample reports need to be included in the RFI response, or will these only be required with the full proposal at the RFP stage?

Only required at the full RFP stage.

67 Key Contractor Personnel PWS Section 6 Do we need to submit sample resumes for all proposed Key Personnel with the RFI response, or only with the final proposal? – PWS Section 6. KEY CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL

No resumes are required at this RFI stage.

68 Key Contractor Personnel PWS Section 6 Will the Government require resumes for all 14 Key Personnel positions to be submitted with the initial RFP proposal, or only for selected roles?

No resumes are required at this RFI stage.

69 Key Contractor Personnel PWS Section 6 Is there a requirement to submit Key Personnel resumes for each task area separately, or can some Key Personnel serve in multiple roles across task areas?

No resumes are required at this RFI stage.

70 AT Level I Training PWS Section 7.1 Will the Government provide access to approved AT Level I training modules, or do we need to source it ourselves?

The government will provide access.

71 Level of Effort PWS Section 9 Will the Level of Effort (206 FTEs) be fixed for the base and each option year, or is it expected to scale up/down depending on task orders?

The FTE level of effort is 209 vs 206. That is an error. The level of effort is expected to scale up/down, depending on mission requirements.

72 Level of Effort PWS Section 9 Do all labor categories listed in the Level of Effort table require resumes during the proposal stage, or only Key Personnel?

No resumes are required at this RFI stage.

73 Special Requirements Section 8.0 Can you please confirm if only contractor personnel must hold the required interim or final DoD security clearances, or if our company must also have an active Facility Security Clearance (FCL) at the time of proposal submission?

While an interim security clearance may be sufficient to initiate work, all contractors performing on this effort are ultimately required to possess a fully adjudicated Secret security clearance.

74 ITSS - RFI instructions Font & Margin Settings Section 10.1 Under 10.1 Font & Margin Settings, Item c. states that the left margin is to be 1.5 inches instead of 1 inch like the other margins. Please confirm that the left margin can also be set at 1 inch.

The left margin of 1.0" is acceptable.

75 ITSS PWS - att. 001 On Premise Edge Infrastructure Section 4.1.1.16 Under 4.1.1.16 On Premise Edge Infrastructure, Items a) and b) mention the Enterprise Services Infrastructure Capabilities Development Document (ESI-CDD). Can the government please provide this document so offerors will know what its requirements are?

The document is Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and cannot be distributed by

ALTESS

76 Current Baseline Support PWS Section 1.14.1 Does the customer anticipate the scope to increase or decrease from the provided current support baseline?

PL ALTESS' mission is continuously evolving. The scope is subject to increases/decreases as the mission changes. The current baseline is expected to extend into the next contract award.

77 Objectives PWS Section 4.1

Second paragraph states that "All contractors should be prepared to respond to the ALTESS Operations Center if contacted after hours for requested assistance." then continues to state that The ALTESS Operations Center contractors will support 24x7x365 staffing requirements that currently involves a first shift 0700-1730, second shift 1230-2300, and third shift 2200- 0830." Does this infer that when contractors are called to assist the ALTESS Operations Center that they should be prepared to support 24x7x365 or does this refer to the requirement outlined under PWS 4.1.1.7?

Calls from other sections shall respond to the Operations center if contacted outside of ALTESS normal business hours.

78 Task Area 2 Cloud Management PWS Section 4.1.2 Are there preferred or mandatory tools and technologies for cloud resource provisioning and management in Azure and AWS environments?

For cloud provisioning and management, ALTESS uses a combination of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM), Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, and the native cloud providers automation framework.

79 Task Area 2 Cloud Management PWS Section 4.1.2 Can the Government provide any existing limitations or preferred practices for integrating on-premise systems with cloud infrastructure per your current configuration?

For the on-premise to cloud integration, connections must traverse through the DISA BCAP, which extends NIPR into the cARMY commercial cloud. Currently we use commercial cloud to augment some storage needs on-premise and transfer that data to storage accounts in cloud.

80 Task Area 3 Cybersecurity PWS Section 4.1.3 Are there particular processes or reporting templates mandated for cybersecurity incident response and SIEM dashboards?

There are no specifically mandated processes or reporting templates for incident response and SIEM dashboards. Army policies direct overall requirements.

81 Software Assurance PWS Section 4.1.3.4 Can the Government specify the frequency and scope of Software Assurance (SwA) assessments required?

SwA Validation requests are 1-2 per week. There are few occasions with 5-7 simultaneous requests.

82 Audit Support PWS Section 4.1.5.4 Requirement states that the contractor shall work with a chosen Independent Public Accounting (IPA). Will the Government be responsible for acquiring the IPA? Or will the contractor have to select and have as part of the Offerors team to support requirements?

The government will acquire the IPA. Contractors shall work with selected IPA with government oversight to assist with all financial audits that are supported by the hosting facility.

83 Key Contractor Personnel PWS Section 6.0

The Government should provide what the proposal requirements are going to be for key personnel early into the process to allow Offerors to acquire personnel with the right skill sets and qualifications. Is it a good assumption that resumes and possibly letters of intent will be a proposal requirement?

This aligns with our understanding and expectations.

84 Table 4 Level of Effort Summary PWS Section 9.0 Table Total on page 77 states 206, when you total the quantities it equals 209. 206 is an error. The total count is 209.

85 What are service level requirements for Operations? MttR, RTO, RPO, availability, etc. Will detailed metrics be established, or are vendors to state based on industry best practices?

The service level requirements vary by system as those requirements are defined at the system level.

86 PWS Sections 4.1.1.1 & 4.1.1.3 Will the government provide infrastructure and networking diagrams for existing systems prior to transition planning? Will a complete hardware and software list be made available?

Existing system documentation and diagrams will be provided as needed to facilitate transition. Keep in mind documentation for SIPR systems will require proper clearance to view.

87 How will non-core hours support be enabled and managed contractually? Compensation and guaranteed minimums?

Support during non-core hours will be enabled and managed through contractual agreements between the Government and the prime contractor, and subsequently by the prime and its subcontractors. The government does not directly compensate for overtime or non-core hour work. Compensation for personnel providing support outside of standard business hours will be governed by the internal policies and guidelines established by the prime contractor and its subcontractors, ensuring compliance with all applicable labor laws and regulations.

88 PWS Section 4.1.4.a What is the total number of applications and percentage which exist in cloud, non-cloud, and hybrid?

The numbers vary on a regular basis but current snapshot is 111 on prem, 107 commercial cloud, 0 hybrid.

89 Does the government expect modernization of on-premise workloads while remaining on-premise? Replacement of hardware or decommission and migrate to cloud?

Yes, modernization efforts are ongoing. Each customer hosted has different requirements that we meet whether on prem or in the cloud.

90 Which groups own responsibility for attaining and maintaining Authority to Operate for supported systems? The System Owners or the awardee of this contract?

For the PL ALTESS ITSS contract, the ultimate responsibility for attaining and maintaining Authority to Operate (ATO) for supported systems rests with the System Owners. However, the awardee of this contract will play a critical and collaborative role in that process.

91 PWS Section 4.1.3.5 In addition to CORA support, what other cybersecurity operations are required? CCRIs? Blue team assessments?

CORA is the new CCRI. We routinely complete SCA-V and KPMG Financial Audits and support a variety of the audits and assessments as required/requested.

92 PWS Section 4.1.4.a What percentage of supported systems exist on SIPR versus NIPR? Will remote SIPR access be available to contractor personnel?

ALTESS supports SIPR requirements in many locations around the globe. Remote access from ALTESS is provided through RDS or Citrix to other sites.

93 PWS Section 4.1.4.a What percentage of supported systems are based on COTS, GOTS, and custom software? All software is COTS.

94 PWS Section 4.1.4.a Will source code be provided for custom software systems? If not, what level of support will those require?

ALTESS will provide appropriate access to custom software code based on the level of support required.

95 PWS Section 1.4.1 Can the government provide historical volume metrics for budget, contract, and support activities beyond the table in PWS 1.4.1? Is there an expectation that these baselines increase each year? If so, by how much?

While we are unable to share specific historical data at this stage, we anticipate the RFP will include a more comprehensive data package, including historical volume metrics. We are currently evaluating potential growth projections and will incorporate those into the RFP.

96 PWS Section 4.1.5.3 Will the government provide customer relationship management KPIs and frequency of evaluation/collection?

The government does not intend to expand upon the requirements outlined in the current PWS within this RFI process. This RFI is focused on understanding your capabilities and approaches to ITSS; detailed performance metrics will be established during the contract development phase to ensure clear accountability and measurable outcomes. We welcome your insights during the solicitation phase on potential KPIs, but they will be considered within the scope of a potentially revised PWS.

97 PWS Section 4.1.4 Does the government anticipate growing, static, or decreasing total number of supported applications? Please provide as annualized estimated percent growth/reduction.

PL ALTESS' mission is continuously evolving. The scope is subject to increases/decreases as the mission changes. The current baseline is expected to extend into the next contract award.

98 PWS Section 9.0 Will the government provide incumbent FTE and labor category levels?

That information is proprietary information for the incumbent prime contractor. The ITES-3S is a baseline for labor categories and labor rates.

99 PWS Section 9.0 Will the government provide more detail on the methodology utilized to estimate required FTE level of 206?

The actual estimated number of required FTEs to support PL ALTESS' mission is 209. The 206 is an error. That is solely based on past and current mission requirements.

100 What is the largest system contained within the environment in terms of users, data storage, and ticket volume? What is the median system size in relation to those same metrics?

PL ALTESS supports approximately 120 various systems with different requirements on size, space, etc. Ticket counts (Incident, Change, Service Request) supporting all environments average approx. 25,000 per year.

101 PWS Section 4.1.1.1, 4.1.1.3, 4.1.1.9, 4.1.2 & 4.1.4 Does the government have a technology roadmap that can be shared with industry?

The government has a technology roadmap but it's sensitive governmental information that cannot be shared. In general, ALTESS considers industry trends, overall lifecycle costs of current and potential technologies, and DoD and Army policies affecting usage of any technologies.

102 PWS Section 1.5 Will the government please provide possible additional working locations both CONUS and

OCONUS)?

Please refer to question #12.

103 PWS Section 4.1.4.a Will the government provide a list of supported applications for PWS 4.1.4.a?

ColdFusion, C# (Framework and Core), Java, JavaScript (Angular, AngularJS, jQuery) are support applications.

104 PWS Section 4.1.4.1 Will the government provide a list of unsupported or outdated development platforms?

Please refer to question #106 for the applications currently supported. PL ALTESS does not offer support for applications outside of this list, we are continually evaluating our offerings and would consider adding support based on demonstrated demand.

105 PWS Section 4.1.5.7 Is the Shipping & Receiving warehouse located in Radford? If not, what is the location? Shipping/receiving warehouse is located in Radford on the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.

What factors will the Government consider in evaluating a small business’s ability to perform as a prime contractor on this requirement? In addition to experience and past performance, will technical approach, program management strategy, or teaming structure be considered as indicators of readiness and capacity?

As this RFI is solely for market research, no formal evaluation is taking place. The government is gathering information to understand the capabilities of potential vendors, including small businesses, regarding the PL ALTESS program. While the government is interested in experience and past performance, we also seek insight into your technical approach, program management strategy, and teaming structure as indicators of your overall readiness and capacity – not as evaluation criteria at this stage. This RFI will assist the Government in defining the requirements and evaluation factors for the upcoming RFP

107 Will contractor past performance in supporting government clients with successful program transitions be considered during evaluation?

Yes, contractor past performance supporting government clients through successful program transitions will be a key consideration during the ITSS RFI evaluation.

Has the Government identified any recurring challenges in prior or current contracts (e.g., underperformance, labor category misalignment, clearance delays, quality issues) that offer insight into desired improvements under this requirement?

As this is a market research RFI, we are not at a stage to publicly disclose specific challenges encountered in prior or current contracts. The purpose of this RFI is to gather broad industry input and identify potential solutions, not to solicit feedback on existing contract performance.

Based on references to an estimated 206 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) and the inclusion of contractor information in the draft evaluation documents, can the Government confirm whether updated versions of the Performance Work Statement (PWS), labor category definitions, or position descriptions will be released prior to the solicitation? Additionally, will contractors be allowed to propose tailored labor mixes or role alignments, particularly in areas such as financial operations (FinOps), which do not appear to be explicitly represented in the current labor category structure?

The FTE level of effort is 209 vs 206. 206 is an error. The draft PWS is subject to revisions as responses to the RFI are evaluated. Contractors are encouraged to propose tailored labor mixes or role alignments.

Does the Government intend to utilize a Best Value Tradeoff evaluation methodology for this requirement? If so, does the Government anticipate considering evaluation factors such as technical merit, proposed innovation, key personnel qualifications, program management approach, or ability to successfully transition and staff complex programs as part of its tradeoff decision?

That decision will be made by the Contracting Officer and not applicable at this RFI stage.

Can the Government clarify if support will be fully on-site, hybrid, or if remote work will be authorized for some roles? If hybrid/remote models are permitted, will location flexibility or telework capabilities be considered during evaluation of technical approach?

Support staff will be a mixture of on site and fully remote.

112 Acquisition Strategy Is the opportunity restricted to the R3S IDIQ, or is the Army considering contract vehicles, such as GSA-MAS, OASIS+, and STARS III?

RFI's were also posted on SAM.GOV and CHESS ITES-3S for the purposes of this RFI. The KO will make the determination of where to post the RFP.

113 Acquisition Strategy Will the Army award a single Task Order for this effort? And then modify the TO per location as needed? Or is the Army considering a Single-Award IDIQ, Multiple-Award IDIQ, or BPA?

Historically, this requirement has been a Task Order against an IDIQ. It is unknown if the Government will award a single or multiple award at this time.

114 Transition-In PWS Section 1.2.1.1 The Army has stated that this is new work; however, the draft PWS includes a Transition-In period. Will the Government share incumbent information and related contracts?

IBM is the current incumbent - Contract number is W15QKN-21-F-0531

115 Transition-In PWS Section 1.2.1.1 Will the Contractor be working with one incumbent or multiple? It is unknown at this time.

116 Level of Effort Section 9.0 The Level of Effort Summary (FTEs) includes an estimated 206 FTEs. Could the Government share a summary of the FTEs per the CONUS/OCONUS location?

The current level of effort is actually 209, vs 206. 206 is an error. The majority of the FTE's are CONUS and are a mixture of on-site and fully remote.

117 Locations Radford is the primary location, however, are there other locations that are in pipeline to cover or is the expectation from the central location Radford?

There are multiple OCONUS locations with expectations of adding more as the mission expands, please reference question #12. Staffing will be centrally located in Radford, with an estimated FTE count at each OCONUS location of two (2) FTEs.

118 Locations (CONUS/OCONUS) OCONUS was mentioned as a possibility to resource, however, have those locations already been identified? Would resources be required at a moment's notice or is that an already planned activity?

There are already several OCONUS locations established, with expectations of more as the mission progresses. Please see question #12.

119 Organizational Chart Can you provide an Organizational Chart that shows the leadership chain and how this organization support fits into the mission?

Providing an organizational chart detailing the Government’s leadership chain and mission integration is not a requirement of this RFI. As this is a market research exercise solely focused on evaluating potential offeror capabilities, we are not seeking detailed information about our internal structure at this time. Your response should focus on demonstrating your company’s ability to adapt to and support the government’s environment, leveraging your experience in successfully integrating IT support services into complex organizations.

120 Facilities Support HVAC service and support, is there an active contract or agreement in place with a local company to support the HVAC for each of the facilities in question?

Yes. The government has active support contracts for each CONUS and OCONUS locations.

121 Facilities Support Data Centers - can you provide the number and size of each of the data centers in question?

Are they communications closets or full-scale data centers?

Please see question #12 for locations. The Radford data center is full-size; at the other locations, we have racks within existing full-size data centers.

122 Training Support What are the class and type of training classes /sessions you require as part of this task? We have extensive experience with providing training OCONUS and CONUS, but would prefer a better understanding of classes required.

Training for this task will require a tiered approach encompassing foundational security and compliance modules for all personnel, role-specific technical training for data center operations, cybersecurity, virtualization, and potentially cloud computing, and a train-the-trainer component for sustained support. Mandatory courses will cover security awareness, information assurance, and Army-specific regulations, while technical training—ranging from server maintenance to ethical hacking—will be tailored to specific roles and technologies like VMware, AWS, or Cisco. Delivery methods will likely include instructor-led, virtual, and self-paced online options, all adhering to Army standards and requiring potential security clearances and accreditation through Army learning management systems, with the specific content and depth dependent on the skill level of Army personnel and the technologies supported.

123 Current Staff/Vendors What is the current number of vendors (prime and subs) in the environment? There are currently 12 subs under the prime.

124 Current Staff/Vendors Where are the resources assigned staffed currently? We would be targeting incumbent capture where it makes sense and bring in new resources to fill gaps.

Currently, the majority of FTEs supporting this effort are located at Radford, with a mixture of personnel working both on-site and in fully remote capacities. We anticipate and welcome qualified offerors targeting incumbent capture where it makes sense to leverage existing expertise, and supplementing those resources with new personnel to address any identified gaps in capability or coverage. We encourage you to assess the current support structure and propose a staffing plan that optimizes both continuity and innovation.

Font & Margin Settings: Would the Government please consider allowing a reduction in font size for the body, graphics and tables from Arial 12 to Arial 10? The current requirement for Arial 12 throughout the proposal may limit offerors’ ability to present complex information, particularly in graphics, tables, and data-heavy sections, in a clear and space-efficient manner. Allowing a smaller font size for these elements would enable more effective visual communication and help offerors fully convey their capabilities within the page limitations, without compromising readability or evaluation clarity.

Reduction of font sizes in tables to Arial 10 pt is acceptable.

Besides the general…