Iraq Network Operations Center Upgrade and Training

The Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for communications equipment, services and training for the Iraq Network Operations Center (NOC) upgrade. This requirement is for the procurement of "Brand Name" supplies and services in support of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense (MoD) Iraq Defense Network (IDN) in order to maintain effective infrastructure requirements to uphold effective backbone connectivity for their critical communication systems. Cisco, Dell, Caterpillar, Schneider, Microsoft, SolarWinds and Symantec are the "Brand Names" required to be compatible with existing equipment requiring upgrade currently in use throughout Iraq. In support of the decision to use an International Agreement Competitive Restrictions (IACR) for these brand name requirements and to restrict competition to the brand names listed in lieu of a Justification and Approval (J&A), ACC concluded that AFARS 5106.302-4 states that when citing the authority at 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(4) as implemented in FAR 6.302-4 and DFARS 206.302-4(c), the IACR may be used to restrict competition to a brand name product(s), provided the agreement or treaty, or the written directions, contains sufficient information to explain why the use of other than competitive procedures is required - for example the citation of a specific brand and/or part number proprietary to a specific brand; and even in the absence of a sole source note on the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), as is the case with both LOAs for this requirement; the IACR serves that purpose. This requirement is in support of Security Assistance Management Directorate (SAMD) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases IQ-B-ADU and IQ-B-ZCA for the Iraq Ministry of Defense. This is an FMS action via LOAs in accordance with DFARS 225.7302(1)(i), funded by FMS dollars. The scope includes: a. System infrastructure design b. Iraq Site surveys c. Equipment purchases of all equipment requested d. Installation and integration services in CONUS and Iraq e. Conus engineering build and First Article Test (FAT) f. Project Management/Systems Engineering Services g. Information Assurance and Security Services h. Maintenance Services i. Help Desk Services j. In-country Field service Representative Services k. Software/Hardware Infrastructure Services (1) Procurement (2) Install (3) Design (4) Integration (5) Configuration (6) Operation l. Configuration Management Services m. In-Country Training n. Regional Training o. Enterprise Architecture Services p. System Testing The purpose of this synopsis (pre-solicitation notice) is to receive feedback and input from industry related to the Performance Work Statement (PWS) attached to this notice. Industry feedback received may be used to finalize the PWS which will be issued with the Request for Proposal (RFP). Requests For Information (RFIs) will not be answered directly through this notice but will be vetted and may be incorporated in the final RFP. Interested vendors are asked to submit their RFIs to Lenore Brock at lenore.d.brock.civ@mail.mil by 4:00pm EST on 4 Nov 19. No RFP is available at this time. The official release of the RFP will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunity (FBO) website currently located at https://www.fbo.gov/. The online version of the RFP will include all applicable documents. No hard copy RFP will be issued. Amendments, if any, will be posted at the same location as the RFP. The complete package, including amendments, should be received and reviewed prior to submitting a response. It is the responsibility of those responding to the RFP notice to obtain all amendments and/or other applicable documents. Other documents, as necessary, will be posted when available. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor the FBO website on a regular basis for any updates.