RFI_Palo_Alto_NGFW_Alternatives_FA8307

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Current Software: Palo Alto NGFW

Requirement:

Palo Alto provides cloud delivered security services using ML (Machine Learning) powered next-generation fire wall (NGFW) to deliver real time protection against zero-day threats. Palo Alto will supply the Platform One Cloud Native Access Point (P1 CNAP) value stream with NGFW delivering in-line network security to provide (Layer-7) visibility and enforcement of Kubernetes environments. This will protect against known and unknown threats, affording dynamic scaling of network security without compromising the speed and agility of Development Security Operations (DevSecOps), and align with P1 value streams for ease of deployment and management.

There is a concern that the loss of the current Palo Alto software would disable all Platform1 external facing services. This is the Boundary appliance allowing traffic in and out of P1 AWS Cloud Accounts.
 

There is a concern that there are few firewall appliances that:

• Are Cloud ready
• can support Cloud architectures,
• and are on the Government’s National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) and Department of Defense Unified Capabilities Approved Products List (DoD UC APL).

There is a concern that reconfiguring a different Firewall product would be at least a 1-year endeavor.

There is a concern that a loss of Palo Alto NGFW would disable all Platform1 External facing services as this is the boundary appliance allowing traffic in and out of P1’s AWS Cloud Accounts.

Could you please provide information:

What other firewall licensing options do you offer that are ready for cloud application, can support cloud architecture, and are on the NIAP and DoD UC APL? For each option/license identified please provide the following information:

1. Alternative License Capabilities: 

   • A capabilities summary or list
   • How those capabilities differ from the Palo Alto NGFW
   • How they are similar to the Palo Alto NGFW
   • A confirmation and supporting documentation that affirms that the specified firewall license is capable of working in a Cloud Environment, can support cloud architectures to include any restrictions, and whether or not the license is listed on the NIAP and DoD UC APL.
   • Please provide a list of systems/software that the license is currently compatible with and if there are plans to expand that list.
2. Pricing Information: 
   • What are the estimated transition costs associated with these alternative licenses for both transition from Palo Alto NGFW and transitioning from the proposed firewall?
   • What are the estimated training costs for the software?
   • Are there maintenance costs associated with the firewall?
   • Are the licenses priced in trial (weekly/short term), monthly, quarterly, and/or annual? If so, please provide the pricing plans and any links to existing contracts or your website.
   • Is your company willing to enter into longer term contracts to include options for up to 4 subsequent years? Can those subsequent years be priced or is there a parent Government contract that will control that price?
   • Please provide any existing Government contracts your company has on either DoD ESI or NASA SEWP.
3. Feature Comparison:
   • Are there any additional features or benefits associated with the different licenses that we should consider? (This may include capability PDFs, website links that describe the firewall, and customer/reference information.)

We are eager to find a solution that will best support our needs and ensure continued productivity.

Please Note: No award will be made under this RFI. Only a warranted Contracting Officer can obligate on behalf of the United States Government and that will be executed through an official request for quote (RFQ). The Government reserves the right to cancel this RFI. In the event the Government cancels this RFI, the Government has no obligation to pursue procurement or to reimburse an Offeror for any costs.