Questions_and_Answers_20180319.docx

Questions (Q) and Answers (A) Q1: In order for us to provide a detailed quote, we request a site survey for the KAF CAF-WIFI (W91B4N-18-Q-0039) solicitation.

A: A site survey will only be granted to the awardee.

Q2: 3.1 Services: the U.S government will provide access facility, As per POP located at building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J at KAF; Do the contractor will have place facility for 10% to 12% bench stock parts along with the Manpower and his/her technical/key personnel at the stated location? All these resources “personnel and 10% bench stock parts” need to be placed for daily O&M “Operation & Maintenance” of this contract to avoid and less such kind of technical and non-technical service downtime or service impact or any other related incident(s)?

A: The only space the Government will provide is within the building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J at Kandahar Field Airfield, to facilitate the transfer of network service from the contractor to government owned equipment.

Q3: What are the current HW/SW asset inventory of the Cyberspace infrastructure, based on that the contractor will consider and take plan of all technical facilities, flexibility, compatibility, expected solutions and consider bench stock for existing hardware/software of “Cyberspace” the LAN “Local Area Network” behind the internet service and further today’s U.S built next-generation “NG” equipment which to help the contractor on cost estimation and to fulfill the requirements of this contract?

A: On hand equipment and currently install equipment added as attachments

Q4: Does the U.S government will provide HAC/Air Conditioning and Power feeds from existing power plant to all equipment that would be provided by contractor or the contractor should consider a separated power plant for all equipment that would be installed in POP at building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J at KAF? The overall concern is; the services should be up 24/7 without services interruption from 3.3 utilities aspects?

A: All communication rooms have adequate HAVC systems installed to ensure IT equipment is placed in environmentally controlled facilities.

Q5: For the stated contract the contractor would like to build NOC “Network Operation Center” to consider all expected technical and management solutions such as NMS “Network Management Solution which will covered NPM “Network Performance Monitor”, NTM “Node Tracker Monitoring”, BUM “Bandwidth Utilization Monitoring”, TTS “Trouble Ticket System” and etc. so for all these the U.S government consider a place/ at building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J at KAF?

A: The only space the Government will provide is within the building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J at Kandahar Field Airfield, to facilitate the transfer of network service from the contractor to government owned equipment.

Q6: Will the Government allow us to perform an onsite survey several days before we submit our proposals, due on 24 March?

A: A site survey will only be granted to the awardee.

Q7: Regarding Table 1, page 23 of 71: “** Supply separated copy Redacted” Question: What are we to redact?

A: Redact any company specified information, i.e. company name, logos, point of contact information etc.

Q8: Regarding PWS, Page 9 of 71, section 1.4 Scope: “Demarcation Point shall be the Point-of-Presence (POP), building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J at Kandahar Field Airfield.” Question: Is building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J one room in one building? Or, one building with multiple rooms? Or, are these multiple buildings?

A: Four separate facilities with one environmentally controlled communications room each.

Q9: Regarding PWS, Page 9 of 71, section 1.4 Scope: “In the event of a surge of personnel for the 451 Air Expeditionary Group (AEG), the contractor will have the ability to provide expansion by maintaining a 10% on hand bench stock supply to support the bandwidth at KAF and new requirements.” Question: What does the Government define as bench stock?

A: Connectors, Cables, Access Points and Switches etc. Any materials utilized to provide the CAF WIFI service.

Q10: Regarding PWS, Page 10 of 71, section 1.7.8 Records: “ The Contractor shall maintain records of WiFi transactions for the U.S. Government and upon request, make such records available to properly designated contract representatives within a reasonable period of time.” Question: Are the WiFi transactions mentioned between the desktop and building APs? Does the contractor need to provide tools, monitoring SW/HW to document each transaction, or will this be provided as GFE?

A: Records of transaction are user requests and data usage details. The contractor shall provide all personnel, all the internet infrastructure, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide Commercial Internet Service to Kandahar Airfield (AF

Q11: Will the Government allow us to perform an onsite survey several days before we submit our proposals, due on 24 March?

A: Requester can submit a KAF entry request through the ANA at OP1

Q12: Regarding Table 1, page 23 of 71: “** Supply separated copy Redacted” Question: What are we to redact?

A: Redact any company specified information, i.e. company name, logos, point of contact information etc.

Q13: Regarding PWS, Page 9 of 71, section 1.4 Scope: “Demarcation Point shall be the Point-of-Presence (POP), building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J at Kandahar Field Airfield.” Question: Is building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J one room in one building? Or, one building with multiple rooms? Or, are these multiple buildings?

A: Four separate facilities with one environmentally controlled communications room each.

Q14: Regarding PWS, Page 9 of 71, section 1.4 Scope: “In the event of a surge of personnel for the 451 Air Expeditionary Group (AEG), the contractor will have the ability to provide expansion by maintaining a 10% on hand bench stock supply to support the bandwidth at KAF and new requirements.” Question: What does the Government define as bench stock?

A: Connectors, Cables, Access Points and Switches etc. Any materials utilized to provide the CAF WIFI service

Q15: Regarding PWS, Page 10 of 71, section 1.7.8 Records: “ The Contractor shall maintain records of WiFi transactions for the U.S. Government and upon request, make such records available to properly designated contract representatives within a reasonable period of time.” Question: Are the WiFi transactions mentioned between the desktop and building APs? Does the contractor need to provide tools, monitoring SW/HW to document each transaction, or will this be provided as GFE?

A: Records of transaction are user requests and data usage details. The contractor shall provide all personnel, all the internet infrastructure, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide Commercial Internet Service to Kandahar Airfield (AF)

Q16. In reference to RFP, PWS (not currently mentioned): Does the Government require security clearance for personnel working at KAF on this contract?

A: Security Clearances is not required for this contract. However, all vendors shall be JCCS approved prior to contract award.

Q17. In reference to PWS, 1, General: Who is the current network service provider?

A: This PWS is a solicitation for contract award not current service provider information.

Q18. In reference to PWS, 1.1, General: What is the current service delivery platform (i.e., satellite, M/W, fiber or delivery platform)?

A: Fiber Optic

Q19. In reference to PWS, 1.3.2, Sustained bandwidth: What is the current maximum throughput of the network?

A: The Contractor shall configure and maintain equipment to provide Unrestricted Commercial Internet Service at a sustained bandwidth of not less than 465 Megabits per second

Q20. In reference to PWS, 1.3.6, Latency no greater than 150 milliseconds: Networks using Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites have mouth-to-ear one-way latency of 180 milliseconds for voice. Would the Government accept a solution which has a slightly higher latency than 150 ms for voice?

A: 1.3.6 Latency no greater than 150 milliseconds

Q21. In reference to PWS, 1.8, Quality Assurance: Is the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) a Government-provided document?

A: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP). An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of contractor performance. The COR will evaluate the service of the Contractor to determine whether or not they meet the performance measures of the contract.

Q22. In reference to PWS, 1.8, Internet HW & Infrastructure Rqmts.: Who is managing network security?

A: The contractor who is awarded the WIFI contract.

Q23. In reference to RFP, PWS, Section 1.8.3: In reference to sect. 1.8.3, "Operation, Maintenance, & Management of Previously Installed Government Furnished Equipment & Property": Would the Government please provide a list of GFE equipment currently installed inside KAF?

A: The government provided attachments with the listed equipment

Q24. In reference to RFP, PWS, Section 1.8.7: How many Wi-Fi access nodes and users are there and where are these nodes located?

A: Access points are located throughout the entire base. 267 depending on installs and removals

Q25. In reference to PWS, 3.2, Facilities: The only space the Government will provide is within the building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J. Are 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J four buildings or one building?

A: 4

Q26. In reference to PWS, 3.2, Facilities: If the answer to the previous question (#9) is four, is there existing fiber connectivity between buildings 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J at Kandahar Field Airfield that the contractor could use to distribute the 465 Mbps?

A: Yes internal base infrastructure is in place and currently utilized.

Q27. In reference to RFP, pp. 22-23: The instructions to offerors says, "a system source document must be included" in or with the response to Sub-Factor 1. But the PWS, sect. 1.8.2 says that, "The Contractor shall also make available, at the COR's request, a copy of the systems source document to verify model year." Please clarify the nature of the system source document and whether it is to be provided with the proposal.

A: The system source document shall be provided with the proposal. Equipment provided by the contractor shall be no older than 2 years old. Therefore, the COR can request a copy of the update system source at any time to ensure that the equipment is up to date.

Q28. Will this document, the SF 1449, reps. and certs., or the signed amendments be counted against the page limit of 10 pages for this section?

A: No

Q29. In reference to RFP, p. 21-22, "52.212-1 Addendum": The last paragraph of page 21 mentions: "include the following . . . Signature on the first page of the Combined Synopsis Solicitation." Is the "Combined Synopsis Solicitation" the first page of the SF 1449?

A: Yes

Q30. In reference to RFP, p. 23, Table 1: Unlike the first three rows of the table, the last row, (Factor 3 - Past Performance) does not say "Supply separated copy Redacted." It merely says "Past Performance Redacted," which could be interpreted as meaning that the Past Performance section in original proposal itself is to be redacted, with no copy provided. May we assume that we need to provide an unredacted original and a redacted copy of Past Performance just as we do for Factor 1, Sub-factor 1, and Sub-factor 2?

A: The table has been updated to read “**Supply separated copy Redacted” for past performance.

Q31. In reference to RFP, p. 22: The instructions to offerors require us to deliver a redacted version of the proposal. Please clarify what information needs to be redacted.

A: Redact any company specified information, i.e. company name, logos, point of contact information etc.

Q32.Paragraph 1.3.4 – If the Government is requesting a point of presence (PoP) at the following locations:

a. Bldg 041G

b. Bldg 126

c. Bldg 4200

d. Bldg 8766J

1a. Does the Government require four separate entry cables?

A: POP already exists along with the fiber optic infrastructure

1b. What GFE is located at the PoP sites?

A: Contractor shall provide all hardware and network infrastructure to support KAF. The contractor shall provide all internal hardware to include but not limited to, satellite dishes, cables, switches, receivers, power systems, wireless access points, and routers to support KAF WiFi.

1c. Is it acceptable to connect to the PoP’s through the other designated locations?

A: No, infrastructure is already in place for that purpose

1d. Is the Government suppling the on base transport from the cable entry point to the PoP’s?

A: fiber optic infrastructure is already in place for that purpose

1e. What terminating equipment is located at the PoP’s?

A: 3750 Cisco Switch and fiber optic cabling

Q33. Is the WIFI currently being used for LAN distribution?

A: Yes

Q34. Will the Government provide a list of GFE equipment that is to be maintained and monitored?

A: Contractor shall provide all hardware and network infrastructure to support KAF. The contractor shall provide all internal hardware to include but not limited to, satellite dishes, cables, switches, receivers, power systems, wireless access points, and routers to support KAF WiFi.

Q35. Paragraph 1.8.1 – The contractor is required to provide all hardware and infrastructure to support the base WIFI.

a. What area is to be covered by WIFI?

A: Kandahar Air Field Afghanistan

b. Is the ARMY Transport team suppling and infrastructure?

A: Army transport is not involved.

c. Is the WIFI only used in the PoP buildings?

A: It is used on Kandahar Air Field Afghanistan

d. If the WIFI is used for the Base LAN and deployed to cover the base will the Government provide a diagram of the distribution?

A: Yes, if awarded the contract

e. Will the Government provide a list of the WIFI GFE?

A: Contractor shall provide all hardware and network infrastructure to support KAF. The contractor shall provide all internal hardware to include but not limited to, satellite dishes, cables, switches, receivers, power systems, wireless access points, and routers to support KAF WiFi.

f. How many users and what throughput is required on the WIFI?

A: 1200-1500 users, Sustained bandwidth of not less than 465 Megabits per second (Mbps), Latency no greater than 150 milliseconds

g. Can the Government please provide a specification, GFE list and equipment locations of the WIFI Equipment and distribution?

A: Contractor shall provide all hardware and network infrastructure to support KAF. The contractor shall provide all internal hardware to include but not limited to, satellite dishes, cables, switches, receivers, power systems, wireless access points, and routers to support KAF WiFi.

Q36. Paragraph 1.8.2 states that all equipment must be new and unused and not more than two model years old.

a. Does the GFE meet the requirements of paragraph 1.8.2?

A: Contractor shall provide all hardware and network infrastructure to support KAF. The contractor shall provide all internal hardware to include but not limited to, satellite dishes, cables, switches, receivers, power systems, wireless access points, and routers to support KAF WiFi.

Q37. Paragraph 1.8.3 states that the contractor is responsible for Operations, Maintenance and management of previously installed GFE.

a. Will the Government provide a list of all GFE with manufacturer, model #, on base location and operational status of all GFE?

A: Contractor shall provide all hardware and network infrastructure to support KAF. The contractor shall provide all internal hardware to include but not limited to, satellite dishes, cables, switches, receivers, power systems, wireless access points, and routers to support KAF WiFi.

Q38. Paragraph 5.3.2 states then contractor will provide 24/7 customer support and maintenance/repair services.

a. Does the customer want on-site technical support?

A: 100% Yes 24/7

b. Does the Government provide housing for assigned personnel on base?

A: Contractor will work own living quarters though ASG

Q39. Does the Government require the service to be U.S.-based Internet? If the users expect to access U.S. content such as Netflix, Amazon and other entertainment and shopping sites you will need to specify that the Internet Service Provider (ISP) is U.S.-based; for example, users should access google.com (U.S. ISP) and not google.de (German ISP).

A: US based Internet

Q40. Paragraph 1.7.3 states that the award will be based onBest Value. However, in paragraph 52.212-2 Addendum, Evaluations and Commercial Items, paragraph 1, Basis of award states that the Government intends to award a contract resulting from this solicitation using the evaluation method of “Lowest Price Technically Acceptable” and to the most responsible quoter whose quote conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Could the Government please clarify?

A: Award will be made to the Lowest Price Technical Acceptable. The PWS has been updated.

Q41. Paragraph 1.3.6. states that latency shall not be greater than 150 milliseconds. Can the Government please define the demarcation of this latency requirement?

A: PoP

Q42.Does the 465 Mbps internet service is required for each demarcation point (buildings 041G, 126, 4200, and 8766) or is this bandwidth (465 mbps) a requirement out of the contractor internet distribution point? Meaning the total BW should be 4x465 Mbps or just 465 Mbps shared amongst all buildings’ personnel?

A: 465 Mbps for the base

Q43. What is meant by “the contractor shall be in place 30 days prior to contract effective date to ensure commercial internet service is provided”? Is this the time required to set up the facilities/WIFI, LAN, etc. to make sure everything is in place prior to commencement of internet service?

A: There should be no user WIFI down experienced between contract awards

Q44. Paragraph 1.3.4 Demarcation Point – Is the contractor responsible for the distribution of the Internet service within each build, or only to the PoP within the buildings?

A: PoP and installation of Access points to ensure WIFI is throughout facility

Q45. Paragraph 1.3.6 Latency – How is the 150-millisecond latency determined?

A: latency is the time that it takes to a packet to go from source to destination.

Q46. Paragraph 1.4 – Can the Government please confirm that each PoP will have access to the total 465 Mbps internet capacity?

A: Each POP is fiber optic and 3750 Cisco Switches

Q47. Paragraph 1.8.1 – Can the Government please describe the KAF WIFI requirements? There are no details for the coverage area inside or outside buildings. Also, can the Government please provide details on the requirement to record the WIFI transactions – what information is required to be recorded, in what format?

A: WIFI forms are filled out by the user, verified by the Communications person and sent to contractor to program MAC address’s and file for record

Q48. Paragraph 1.8.3 – Operation and maintenance – Can the Government please provide the details of the existing Local Area Network Infrastructure?

A: Assets listed in attachments.

Q49. Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) #1 states the following Standard: “The contractor shall provide not less than 465 Mbps 99.99% of the month or greater.” It also states a Performance Threshold of 95% uptime. Request the Government clarify PRS #1. What is the difference between the 99.99% Standard versus the 95% Performance Threshold?

A: The threshold of 465 Mbps should not drop below 465 Mbps for 99.99%. It is understandable that sometimes there will be maintenance down time but not to exceed a 95% total performance threshold.

Q50. 52.212-1 Addendum - Instructions to Quoters states, “Quotations must be received no later than 24 March 2018 at 0900 am Local Bagram.” Would the Government please grant a 2-week extension from the date answers to questions are received?

A: An extension will not be granted at this time.

Q51: Is this tender soliciting a contractor provision subscription based Internet and billing services to the end users? or only a dedicated Internet connectivity service to the Air Force (AF), which will assume responsibility to provision to the end users on existing infrastructure?

A: The contractor shall provide all personnel, all the internet infrastructure, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide Commercial Internet Service to Kandahar Airfield (AF), Afghanistan. The Contractor shall provision end users.

Q52:Will the contractor inherit an existing access management and billing platform?

A: Yes there is a current billing platform.

Q53: Can the AF provide the details of the billing scheme required? How much should each subscriber be charged for unit (GB? Hour?) of service?

A: Subscribers will not be billed. Contract for bid is 465 Mbps bandwidth provided to KAF. Authorized Air Force users are MAC filtered my contractor and entered into the database by contractor once verified by COR.

Q54: Is the requirement to manage wireless Access Points on a per user bases, if so how is currently provisioned in terms of.

A: Wireless access points are contractor installed and utilized by end users on MAC filtered basis. Currently 250 access points.

Q55: Reference 1.3.4 and 3.2: “Demarcation Point shall be the Point-of-Presence, building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J at Kandahar Field Airfield” Is the AF expectation that the contractor provisions Internet connectivity to the end users at these demarcations?

A: The POP is the point of presence from the contractor will install and maintain all equipment necessary to provide WIFI to KAF.

Q56: Reference 1.4 Please provide clarification of “The Contractor shall provide subscription-based bi-directional Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity to the commercial Internet backbone”. Is this referring to “end user” subscriptions? If so, are there currently processes and equipment in place to facilitate this service?

A: End users are MAC filtered, contractor will provide WIFI availability to all users.

57: Reference: 1.4 “In the event of a surge of personnel for the 451 Air Expeditionary Group (AEG), the contractor will have the ability to provide expansion by maintaining a 10% on hand bench stock supply to support the bandwidth at KAF and new requirements.” Is there an associated timeline for this requirement? Does the AF know of the AFTEL response time to provide the additional 10 %?

A: On hand simply means the contractor will have on hand during the award of this contract the equipment to support a possible surge of increase of personnel. Example, there are 250 access points, contractor will be expected to have 25 access point on hand in the event of a surge.

58: Reference: 1.6 “The contractor shall be in place 30 days prior to contract effective date to ensure commercial internet service is provided.” Can clarification be provided relative to the definition of the term in place?

A: There shall be no service interruption between current and future contract awards.

Q59: Reference: 1.7.8 “The Contractor shall maintain records of WiFi transactions for the U.S. Government” Need clarification of “WiFi transactions” do these pertain subscription billing transactions?

A: MAC and end user agreements sent from the COR to contractor. Again there is no end user billing

Q60: Reference: 1.8.1 “Contractor shall provide all hardware and network infrastructure to support KAF. The contractor shall provide all internal hardware to include but not limited to, satellite dishes, cables, switches, receivers, power systems, wireless access points, and routers to support KAF WiFi.” Does this RFQ require provisioning any LAN infrastructure beyond the specified “Demarcation point”? Is the contractor expected to provision wireless access points, wireless controllers, network access controllers, etc.?

A: Yes, all aspect of the WIFI system to ensure MAC filtered end users on KAF have access to WIFI

Q61: Reference 1.8.3 & 1.8.6: “Operation, Maintenance, & Management of Previously Installed Government Furnished Equipment & Property” We kindly request a list of all associated GFE prior to submission, A: GFE assets are listed in attachments

Q62: Reference 1.8.7: “The Contractor shall provide real-time wireless network-level configuration control, wireless network restoration, quality control and performance standards, status reporting, and other actions required by government communications policies and guidance. The Contractor shall provide the COR a means to immediately disable all MoraleNet internet services to all KAF users.” This statemen implies an onsite personnel requirement, please specify what type of wireless equipment, wireless, access controllers, monitoring etc. are necessary.

A: Yes on site personnel are required. Contractor must have the ability to PMI, troubleshoot and install the entire WIFI system.

Q63: Reference 3.3: “The Government will provide standard facility power and air conditioning only in building 041G, 126, 4200 and 8766J on Kandahar Field Airfield” Should we assume standard power indicates no UPS?

A: All POPs have uninterrupted power supplies installed as well as climate control