DMEA Request for Information (RFI) Local and Local Long Distance Phone Service

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN GENERATED FOR REQUIREMENT PLANNING PURPOSES. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS AN OBLIGATION MADE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT. NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS SYNOPSIS. PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST A COPY OF A SOLICITATION FOR THIS REQUIREMENT, AS ONE DOES NOT EXIST. The Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA) is conducting market research and is seeking information from potential sources that can provide feedback regarding Local and Local Long Distance Phone Service proposed local and local long distance phone service requirements and commercial performance capabilities. DMEA is located at 4234 54th Street, McClellan, CA 95652-2100. Please see the attached DRAFT Performance Work Statement (PWS) for a description of the potential requirements for contemplated contract action; changes are likely to be made in any resulting solicitation. This requirement was previously solicited on FedBizOpps under solicitation numbers 5M15D101, 5M15J301-2, and 5M15J301-3; none of which resulted in a technically acceptable award. The Government hereby requests feedback from commercial service providers to assist the Government in developing a PWS that meets commercial practices and capabilities, identifies potential solutions to meet the Government requirement, and increases competition. Services are currently being provided to DMEA under a non-competitive, simplified acquisition made to Verizon Business Network Services, Inc., under award number H94003-11-P-1135. The contemplated contract action is anticipated to be issued as a purchase order under FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items, and FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The contemplated contract action is anticipated to have a firm-fixed-price contract line items (CLINs) for recurring monthly phone service. The Government will consider alternative CLIN structures proposed in response to this RFI, as based on commercial practices. The contemplated contract period of performance period is anticipated to be structured using a base annual period of performance and potential option years. It is currently anticipated that the total duration of the contract may allow for extension of service (through the exercise of option years) for up to five (5) years. The Government may also consider increasing the period of performance to ten (10) years of service, based on commercial interest and capability proposed in response to this RFI. The contemplated contract ceiling is anticipated to be approximately $50,000.00 for five (5) years of service; this estimate is in no way a guarantee or obligation on behalf of the Government. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this notice or any follow-up information requests. The Government will consider all responses received to determine how to proceed regarding the contemplated contract action. The anticipated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) Code for the contemplated contract action is 517110 for Wired Telecommunications Carriers. The small business size standard for this procurement, as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration, is 1500 employees. The Product and Service Code for this procurement is D304, IT and Telecom Telecommunications and Transmissions. Potential sources are requested to submit a white paper or response that addresses, but is not limited to, the following topics: 1. Company overview and contact information, including company Dun & Bradstreet number (DUNS) and/or Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code. 2. Information regarding commercial terms, processes, and/or other requirements. 3. Business size status (small or large) and/or other business classification information (SBA 8(a) program participant, women-owned business, service-disabled veteran owned business, etc.). 4. Please provide comments regarding the proposed PWS, including: a. Whether you have any questions based on the information presented. b. Any aspect of work that may have been omitted or other areas that you think should be addressed. c. Any aspects of work described that your company is unable to perform, why, and what alternatives you would recommend so that your company might be able to perform. d. Any aspects of work described that conflict with commercial practices. e. Any other comments or recommended changes. 5. The most critical element of the PWS is that DMEA retain existing phone numbers, as 231-XXXX numbers are no longer available. Are you able to meet that capability? How might you propose to do so? DMEA's current DIDs: ================== 275 DIDs in the 231 NXX (1505 to 1679 and 2801 to 2900) 500 DIDs in the 999 NXX (2600 to 2799, 2800 to 2999, and 3300 to 3399) 6. What is the typical installation lead-time for turnover to a new service provider? What needs to be accomplished to complete the service provider turnover process? What factors might lengthen or shorten the lead-time? 7. Please describe your proposed phone service system and plan. 8. Regarding potential CLIN structure, pricing, and billing: a. How is your pricing structured for federal Government contracts? b. Are there portions of the pricing structure that can be handled as flat rate? c. Are there any portions that cannot be contracted at a flat rate? d. How is a typical bill from your company set up? e. Please address how you contract for any required tariffs. 9. Will the vendor support the Tadiran PBX? Will the vendor support a T1 connection (PRI circuit -- 23 ISDN channels)? What alternatives would the vendor likely recommend or propose? 10. If VOIP is proposed as a replacement for the T1, please identify any system vulnerabilities, and ways that your company mitigates security concerns. How would a VIOP solution be implemented? 11. Regarding the security of VOIP solutions: a. Are your aware of any issues with the use of STEs over VOIP circuits? b. What success, or lack of success, have you had with VOIP lines? c. How do VOIP lines interface with STEs? d. What success or lack of success have you had with the use of STEs over VOIP circuits? 12. What type of trouble reporting / service outage notification system do you use? Do you limit the number of callers authorized to report service outages / issues? If so, how many? 13. For DMEA's location in the in the 916 area, what do you define to be the local area vs. the intraLATA area? (local vs. local long distance) Do these terms or designations need additional clarification or revision in the PWS? What might be more appropriate? 14. Typical federal Government service contracts are structured using a base annual period of performance and option years that the Government can exercise to extend the term for service. The Department of Defense may enter into telecommunications service contracts for any period or series of periods, not to exceed a total of 10 years. a. Many service contracts do not exceed five (5) years - is your company capable and willing to provide service to DMEA for that length of time? b. Is your company capable and willing to provide service to DMEA for up to ten (10) years? c. If not, what is the longest period of time for which you are willing to contract for telecommunication services? d. Do you have any questions or ideas regarding potential contract periods of performance? Responses are requested to be no more than twenty (20) 8.5 x 11 inch pages, with not less than 10-point font. Responses should be submitted to Nickie Cruthirds at contact@example.gov by 0900 / 9:00 AM, Pacific Standard Time (PST), Tuesday, 3 May 2016. Potential sources are also encouraged to submit questions, requests for clarification, and other PWS or performance recommendations via e-mail. Sources Sought Notice Attachments: 1) DRAFT Performance Work Statement (PWS) (2 pages) 2) Request for Information Questions (2 pages) (End of Notice)