NWS Networks and Other Telecommunications Services on the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contract

Questions and answers are provided below in response to the EIS RFI. Question 1: In order to respond to section 6.1, paragraph 10 concerning using Quintillion Networks, we need some additional information. Our understanding is that Quintillion Networks will complete its Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay Terrestrial Segment in April 2017. In April 2017, the Terrestrial Segment will have points of presence at Prudhoe Bay, Fairbanks, Valdez, Whittier, Seward, Homer, Nikiski and Anchorage. The Quintillion Networks Subsea Segment including Barrow, Wainwright, Point Hope, Kotzebue and Nome will be completed end of Q2 to Q3 2017 and will be connected to the Terrestrial Segment at Prudhoe Bay. Ethernet services will be available up to 10 Gbps at each point of presence. Depending on NWS locations, circuit speed and diversity requirements, connection from each NWS location to the Quintillion point of presence could be provided by Metro Ethernet, point to point circuits, etc. provided by other service providers. So that we may determine the feasibility of using Quintillion Networks, please provide a list of each NWS or other NOAA location in Alaska, its requirements and other connections. For example, Facility: Alaska Region HQ Location: 222 W. 7th Avenue, #23, Room 517, Anchorage, AK 99513 Requirements: Ethernet 2x2 Gbps over 10 Gbps physically diverse access Other Connections: Alaska Comms MPLS and CenturyLink MPLS Facility: Weather Station Anchorage Location: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Requirements: Ethernet 2x100 Mbps over 1 Gbps physically diverse access Other Connections: Alaska Comms MPLS In addition, a NWS network map for Alaska would be most helpful. Answer 1: As described in the RFI and as can be found via the URL in section 1 of the RFI, NWS has equipment presence in several locations listed as covered by the Subsea segment of the Quintillion Fiber. In addition, NWS presently has minor offices in Barrow, Kotzebue and Nome that may be included. Other major NWS locations, such as the ones in Anchorage and Fairbanks are covered in the RFI. There is other NOAA presence in Fairbanks and Barrow, outside of the scope of this RFI. Capacity requirements guidance for the smaller NWS locations affected by this deployment follows the RFI. More detailed capacity and locations requirements information will be available in the EIS SOW. Question 2: I have questions on Section 6.1, paragraph 4. The NWS telecommunications infrastructure includes mission-critical remote locations that are served by legacy TDM-based services with no IP addresses. What is your transition framework/methodology to migrate such locations from TDM to IP-based services? Are these legacy TDM-based services with no ip addresses terminated on a T1 dsu/csu card on a router or other equipment? What device(s) are connected to the other end of the circuit? Answer 2: The RFI introduces three varieties of mission critical remote locations, ASOS, NWR, NEXRAD/TDWR. The latter is mostly T1 CSU/DSU locations, with a router and IP addresses, the other two are not. In detail they are different and in short the answer is no, they are not T1 DSU/CSU cards and a router and they are not IP addressable. NWR is served mostly by single channel analog circuits e.g. DS0's on a dedicated copper pair and a POTS line. ASOS has several POTS lines each at NWR locations, the end device is a radio transmitter, and at the ASOS sites a modem.