Attachment 0007 Vendor Questions and Answers List V2 - FINAL_21APR2025.pdf

Attachment 0007 Version 2

The Combined Synopsis and Solicitation/ RFP Vendor Questions & Answers (Q&A) List:

1. Question: Some documents reference 25 sites and 2 NMS location and some only reference 22 sites; which is the correct number?

Answer: The correct number is 25 sites and 2 NMS locations.

2. Question: Will the vendor be permitted to submit for payment as equipment is delivered & accepted?

Answer: Yes, once the equipment is delivered and accepted in Jordan.

3. Question: The clauses and provisions are listed in the SAM posting, but there are no clauses or provisions in full text. Is this an oversight?

Answer: The Combined Solicitation only has clauses that are not full text. Vendors should expect the contract to have some normal full text for commercial. Vendors will be able to review contract before signing.

4. Question: If the items are being purchased outside of the United States (Ciena has multiple offices outside of the United States), are the contractor / subcontractor still required to be registered with the DDTC since no items are being imported or exported from the United States?

Answer: Yes, the Contractor must be registered with DDTC. The PWS 4.5 will be updated to remove the requirement for "all sub-contractors" to be registered.

5. Question: The equipment is being installed on Jordanian military bases, so why are AT Level 1 Training, iWATCH Training, and OPSEC Training required?

Answer: These are standard CECOM SAMD operational security requirements that apply across all of our FMS contracts. Award can only be made to a US Based vendor. US Vendor that interfaces with the USG is required to meet USG training requirements.

6. Question: PWS 5.2.3 Performance or Delivery in a Foreign County – states the key AT requirement is for non-local national contractor personnel; so AT should not be applicable to local national personnel?

Answer: Please refer to DFARS 252.225-7043. The clause describes how it applies to 'U.S. entity', 'U.S. nationals' and 'third country nationals'. The clause does not apply to local nationals, but general AT awareness and guidance applies to all personnel, U.S. / foreign / local national, who are directly supporting the project.

7. Question: Why must training be conducted in CONUS (refer PWS 3.1.2.3)? Will training be allowed to be conducted OCONUS?

Answer: USG requirement to conduct training CONUS.

8. Question: Many in the Jordanian Armed Forces do not speak English well, should written training materials be provided in Arabic and English?

Answer: Training will be conducted in English. Training material will be provided in English, as per the PWS.

9. Question: Will the contractor be permitted to hold the CDR at an OCONUS location (refer PWS 3.1.2.2.2)?

Answer: No, the CDR is to be conducted CONUS.

10. Question: In reference to CDRL, Data Item E0001, Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) – will an OCONUS location be permitted?

Answer: No, the FAT is to be conducted CONUS.

11. Question: If the contractor is not allowed to order equipment prior to the CDR, will additional time be considered for the delivery of all equipment?

Answer: No, the period of performance is 18 months.

12. Question: The instructions say that the technical proposal is not to exceed 60 pages. We believe that site-level details showing chassis used and free slots, Itemized Bill of Materials (BOM), Preliminary Project Schedule (IMS), Completed Verification Cross- Reference Matrix (VCRM) spreadsheet, and datasheets for offered equipment should not count towards page count. Please confirm that these required documents do not count towards the page count limitation.

Answer: The BOM, Preliminary Project Schedule (i.e., IMS), VCRM and datasheets do not count towards the 60 page limit.

13. Question: Within the VCRM, column G of “FOWAN SRC VCRM” are for “Proposal

Reference”. Is it acceptable to reference pages # and Section Headers of data sheets when applicable as opposed to writing in the technical proposal narrative which is not to exceed 60 pages?

Answer: Yes, it is acceptable to reference datasheets in the VCRM "Proposal Reference" column.

14. Question: Please provide the shipping address for all equipment to enable offerors to accurately estimate shipping costs and durations from their point of origin to the point of inspection.

Answer: Shipping Address:

Directorate of Supply Royal Jordanian Air Force King Abdullah I Street Marka Zip code: 11134 P.O. Box 340796 Amman – Jordan

15. Question: Please confirm that the scope for 12-months of maintenance/system support is included in the base contract, and there is an option to extend that for an additional 12 months.

Answer: Yes, the base contract scope includes 12 months of maintenance/sustainment support and warranty that starts after the end of POP (i.e., 12 months support coinciding with months 19 thru 30 from T0). The option for maintenance support and warranty is for an additional 12 months (i.e., months 31 thru 42 from T0).

16. Question: Is there a minimum FAT duration?

Answer: FAT duration is planned for 5 working days.

17. Question: Please clarify the expectation of traffic migration. The network will be configured/activated with the ports to be ready for any service connectivity. The contractor will work with RJAF to train on traffic provisioning between source and destination. Who then is responsible for the full network services migration?

Answer: The Contractor shall establish end-to-end connection in the new platform which is able to host the legacy nodes as clients and the interoperability shall be guaranteed by the Contractor. RJAF is responsible for the legacy nodes traffic migration. Refer to SRD 4.1.9.

18. Question: In most requirements, lambda is referenced being at least 100G linerate or 100G/200G per lambda. However, in the following requirements only “100G” is mentioned. Please confirm that this is a minimum lambda, and 200G is also compliant.

4.1.1 The use of transport node (platform) and ROADM using (1λ/channel) carrying unencrypted coherent (100G) optical line.

4.1.2 ...RJAF requests on this phase to implement (1λ) carrying coherent (100G) traffic through the optical lines between nodes

4.1.6 The client interfaces at each node can be groomed and aggregate and transported using OTN switching / packet fabric technology within the network using the coherent (100G) within (1 λ) and future additional (λ)

Answer: Confirmed. 100G is the minimum lambda and 200G is also compliant in accordance with SRD 3.2.5 which defines "…(100G/200Gbps) traffic per lambda..."

19. Question: Do meeting minutes (C002) need to be provided for each Site Inspection/Acceptance requirements verification event, or is the CoC (G002) sufficient?

Answer: Yes, per PWS 3.1.2.2.3 meeting minutes are required for requirements verification events.

20. Question: SSDD (CDRL D001) and SVDD (D002) state to “Submit initial draft within 160 calendar days after contract award... The documentation shall be submitted for Government review 15 calendar days after system acceptance.” Please confirm our understanding that these are two separate deliveries (the initial 160 days ARO, and the final 15 days after FSA), and the government review cycle is the same length for each.

Alternatively, for D001, the SSDD is due 160 days ARO, and then the As-Builts are due 15 days after FSA.

Answer: Yes, CDRL D001 and CDRL D002 each require separate deliveries for (#1) initial draft 160 days after award and (#2) final version 15 days after system acceptance.

CDRL D001 shall incorporate incremental updates as the site CoCs are completed prior to system acceptance.

Note: CDRL D002 contains an incorrect reference in Block 16.; this should refer to the Software Version Description Document as defined in PWS 3.1.1.3.

21. Question: We request that the sole source requirement of the System Requirements Document (SRD) paragraph 3.1.2, “The platform shall use Ciena products.” be deleted in order for this project to provide best value and least cost to the tax payers of United States.

Answer: The brand name requirement will not be removed from the solicitation. The foreign partner nation’s Letter of Request (LOR) specifically identifies Ciena products as required to meet operational and expansion needs. Under FAR 6.302-4 – International Agreement, acquisitions conducted pursuant to an international agreement, such as Foreign Military Sales (FMS), may specify particular sources or brand names when required by the foreign government.

Accordingly, we will proceed with the solicitation maintaining the Ciena brand name requirement in order to comply with the terms of the LOR and the applicable statutory authority.

22. Question: Will offerors be permitted to source Ciena equipment from alternate authorized global channels if the local distributor is non-cooperative?

Answer: Offerors' proposals will be evaluated against the requirements which include the use of Ciena products.

23. Question: Can the Government confirm that Ciena or its exclusive Jordanian distributor or affiliates are not submitting a bid as a prime or subcontractor?

Answer: No, the Government cannot confirm.

24. Question: Can the government require Ceina as this is a stated requirement, to provide normalized pricing to all bidders including its exclusive local distributor

Answer: No, the Government cannot control Ciena and the pricing it offers to bidders.

25. Question: What remedies are available to ensure a level playing field if the OEM or distributor is materially limiting access to required components?

Answer: None. This opportunity has been competed as a brand name requirement and will be awarded on an exception to full and open competition as set forth in FAR 6.302-4 International Agreement.

26. Question: We would like to inquire if the Government would be open to considering this alternate solution as part of our proposal.

Answer: The Government will accept any proposal and evaluate it using LPTA approach against the stated requirements.

27. Question: Site Visit Coordination - Are physical site visits permitted in the coming week to assess site readiness and validate civil, power, and fiber infrastructure?

Answer: Site visits will be conducted after contract award and shall be identified in Contractor's IMS per the PWS.

28. Question: Current Network Infrastructure Blueprint - Can you provide detailed diagrams or documentation of the current network topology, transmission nodes, data centers, and server room layouts?

Answer: The Network architecture is already provided in Annex D. The transmission nodes, data centers, and server room layouts will be provided during site survey.

29. Question: Current Hardware Inventory & Compatibility - Can you share a list of existing transmission, optical, and network devices in use? Which components are expected to be reused, upgraded, or retired?

Answer: The current network has Ericsson (OMS) nodes and all of those nodes are out of support and will be reused as clients to handle legacy traffic up on new DWDM platforms.

30. Question: Faulty Fiber and New Cable Installations - Is the replacement of faulty in-ground or intra-facility fiber optic cables included within the scope? Are any new fiber cable installations or underground boring works required between sites?

Answer: The project does not include any work related to fiber optic cables, except for the patch cords required for the new stations.

31. Question: Current User Base and Scalability Targets - What is the current number of end users, and what growth is expected post-upgrade? This impacts network design, service capacity, and licensing.

Answer: The PWS has been comprehensively developed to cover all current end user communication services which can be found in Annex C, as well as the anticipated communication services for the next ten years.

32. Question: Infrastructure Readiness at Key Locations - Are the existing data centers and telecom rooms fully prepared for the new upgrades (i.e., raised flooring, cooling, PDUs, backup generators, FMS)?

Answer: All sites are ready to host new equipment. Any extra furnishings (i.e., raised flooring, cooling, PDUs, backup generators, FMS) will be JAF/RJAF responsibility. The project scope is to have new platforms with power supply and batteries as mentioned in

SRD 4.1.10.

33. Question: Inter-Site Fiber Topology and Ownership - Are the inter-site fiber paths fully owned by the agency, or are any circuits leased? Will fiber path documentation and test results be made available?

Answer: Yes, all cables and paths are owned by JAF/RJAF and only the cable test results will be shared without disclosing the cable paths; refer to Annex A and Annex B.

34. Question: Legacy System Coexistence & Migration Strategy - Is the upgrade to be executed as a hot cutover, or will the new network run in parallel with the legacy system during transition?

Answer: Both. Some segments have additional fiber strands that will allow the ability to run the new platform in parallel with zero downtime for existing legacy nodes. Other segments lack additional strands and require the Contractor to follow a procedure to minimize the downtime as much as possible.

35. Question: Access Policy and Physical Security Constraints - Are there any specific access control protocols, escorts, or security clearance requirements that apply to field teams at certain sites?

Answer: All necessary clearances should be obtained before starting the work. In addition an escort will be available through all project stages. Please refer to the PWS for additional information.

36. Question: Encryption Requirements - What level of encryption is required on the transport and client interfaces (e.g., AES-256, FIPS 140-2/3)? Are FIPS-certified modules mandatory?

Answer: All encryption requirements are identified in the PWS and SRD.

37. Question: Cabling Evaluation and Upgrades - Will the project scope include evaluation and possible replacement of legacy fiber cabling within facilities?

Answer: The legacy fiber cables can be evaluated during site survey, but replacement is out of the scope.

38. Question: Acceptance Testing Criteria (FAT/SAT) - What are the defined success criteria for Factory Acceptance Testing and Site Acceptance Testing? Who will oversee final sign-off?

Answer: The Contractor shall submit an Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP) for both FAT and SAT, including methods and criteria for meeting each requirement. CECOM and JAF/RJAF will witness sign-off for the FAT and SAT.

39. Question: Disaster Recovery and Redundancy Goals - Is the new network expected to support specific disaster recovery mechanisms, path protection, or failover times?

Answer: Please refer to the SRD requirements for protection schemes, redundancy, failover times, etc. (i.e., SRD paragraphs 3.3.1.2, 3.6.6, 3.7.3 and 4.1.11).

40. Question: Available Backup/Spare Assets - Are there existing spare units, shelves, optics, or other hardware that should be utilized during the upgrade?

Answer: Optical distribution frames (ODFs) will be provided by RJAF. In case of any defected item during installation a spare asset, if Contractor provided, can be used to expedite installation effort and shall be compensated by the vendor without any extra cost.

41. Question: Remote Access and NMS Security Policies - Are there any restrictions on remote management tools, log retention, or data sovereignty that the NMS solution must comply with?

Answer: Yes, remote access will be limited upon request. Please refer to the PWS and SRD for additional information.

42. Question: Client VPN/DNVPN Requirements - Is secure VPN or dynamic VPN tunneling expected for remote access or inter-site management of transmission nodes?

Answer: Connection will be provided by JAF/RJAF when needed. Please refer to the PWS and SRD for additional information.

43. Question: Access Point and Wireless Network Upgrades - Should this proposal consider upgrading any wireless access infrastructure (WAPs, controllers) as part of broader connectivity improvements?

Answer: No, wireless integration is not within the scope of this project.

44. Question: Timing/Synchronization Design - Are there specific timing precision requirements (PTP, NTP), and will GPS/Grandmaster clocks be required?

Answer: A Synchronization system exists with cesium clock and GPS clock with interface E1 and 2 MHZ.

45. Question: For the circuit migration from the legacy system, will RJAF personnel be responsible for the physical circuit transition and the contractor just be responsible for configuration and monitoring? Or will this contract care for the entire migration both physical and logical configurations?

Answer: RJAF personnel will be responsible for the physical circuit transition and the Contractor will be responsible for configuration and monitoring.

46. Question: What is the anticipated duration and preferred location of the Critical Design Review (CDR)?

Answer: CDR duration is planned for 5 working days. Location at Contractor's CONUS facility.

47. Question: Can the Government provide additiD VCRM tab has columns D, E, F & G which appear to be areas for additional bidder input.

Answer: Unable to understand this question. The vendors must complete the VCRM and submit with their proposal.

48. Question: In most places there is reference to lambda being at least 100G line rate, or 100G/200G per lambda.

However, in a few places specifically in the requirements below only ""100G"" is mentioned, we understand that the channel specs and wording must be consistent across all channel requirements. Can the Government please clarify these requirements immediately below with respect to line rates?

4.1.1 The use of transport node (platform) and ROADM using (1λ/channel) carrying unencrypted coherent (100G) optical line.

4.1.2 RJAF requests on this phase to implement (1λ) carrying coherent (100G) traffic through the optical lines between nodes.

4.1.6 The client interfaces at each node can be groomed and aggregate and transported using OTN switching / packet fabric technology within the network using the coherent (100G) within (1 λ) and future additional (λ)

Answer: Confirmed. 100G is the minimum lambda and 200G is also compliant in accordance with SRD 3.2.5 which defines "…(100G/200Gbps) traffic per lambda..."

49. Question: Our assumption is that if network acceptance occurs prior to the 18 months POP deadline, maintenance and warranty will still need to be covered for the 18month initial POP and there is a requirement to quote for one extra year from the 18 months.

Can the Government please confirm this assumption or clarify otherwise? Also see question immediately below which is related.

Answer: This assumption is correct. The base maintenance/sustainment support and warranty period will run through the 18-month base POP, and shall also include a 12-month maintenance support period that starts at the conclusion of the 18-mo initial POP.

The vendor is required to provide cost for an optional 12-month period (i.e., months 31 thru 42 from T0).

50. Question: Please clarify the maintenance requirement. Maintenance is to start at project completion and sign off required verification on a per site basis (we believe this is what is required) This could be months of difference as the sites are stood up within the infrastructure. When does maintenance start? Is it on a per site basis upon sign off or is it after all sites have been signed off?

Answer: The base maintenance/sustainment support and warranty coverage will extend throughout the full 18-month base period. Following the conclusion of this base period, a 12-month maintenance period will begin. If a site is accepted prior to the end of the base period, the vendor remains responsible for providing maintenance support and warranty during that time. The 12-month maintenance period will not have staggered start dates; it will commence uniformly after the base period ends, regardless of when individual sites are accepted.

51. Question: Will RJAF accept partial shipments to ship/deliver material/equipment?

1. If yes to above question, will the Government support partial payments associated with delivery of equipment and services?

Answer: Accelerated delivery at no additional cost to the Government is accepted and encouraged. Partial shipments are authorized at no additional cost to the Government.

52. Question: Due to the extensive solution and requirements, we would like to formally request a 2-week extension to the proposal due date if possible.

Answer: RFP bidding period has been extended to 6 May 2025.