SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- BULGARIA: National ICT Network Project
- Notice Date
- 3/18/2009
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- United States Trade and Development Agency, USTDA, USTDA, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, C/O US TDA 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, Virginia, 22209-3901
- ZIP Code
- 22209-3901
- Solicitation Number
- 200981009A
- Archive Date
- 4/25/2009
- Point of Contact
- John Kusnierek, Phone: (703) 875-4357
- E-Mail Address
-
jkusnierek@ustda.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND ANSWERS 3.4 SECTION 4: TECHNICAL APPROACH AND WORK PLAN Describe in detail the proposed technical approach and work plan. Discuss the project requirements as perceived by the Offeror. Include a brief narrative of tasks within each activity series. Begin with the information gathering phase and continue through delivery and approval of all required reports. Prepare a detailed schedule of performance that describes all activities and tasks within the Technical Work Plan, including periodic reporting or review points, incremental delivery dates, and other project milestones. Based on the Technical Work Plan, and previous project experience, explain when and where Offeror will require support from the Grantee. Detail the amount of staff time required by the Grantee or participating agencies and any work space or facilities needed to complete the Study Comment: The type of work plan being described in 3.4 Section 4 is common to an implementation or construction project where the scope of work is clearly defined and there are few variables. This project however is a feasibility study in which the final outcomes (deliverables) are defined however the scope of work can only be estimated. For example we do not know how many IT systems current exist at the agencies involved. In the Proposals submitted we can explain the processes that will be used to accomplish each task (1-8) and provide milestone dates; for each deliverable, when our teams would be in country studying, and comment periods. It is not realistic to assume the contractor can provide the level of detail required in 3.4 of Section 4 without actually seeing the systems involved. Detailing staff time required at each agency/location, defining each subtask and activity, setting additional periodic reporting or review points is not feasible without detailed information on the IT systems that will be part of the overall ICT Network. If such a work plan was submitted we would expect numerous contract modifications would need to be made as the study progressed and the true nature of the system and the challenges in linking them was determined. We recommend that Section 3.4 Section 4 be removed. The RFP specifies that the bidders must explain how they will accomplished the tasks including submission of deliverables. A statement that the bidders should submit a schedule defining when work on each task will start/stop, deliverables will be submitted, comments periods, and when team members will be on-site could be added. Answer: In general, please keep in mind that this feasibility study is the first step in a more detailed process, and that the study budget should provide an indication to bidders of the level of effort expected for the tasks. Additionally, the work plan submitted in the proposal will not automatically be incorporated into the contract. TASK 1: Network Infrastructure Assessment In the text is the following “Based on inputs from the two organizations, the Contractor shall propose a plan and timetable for the full integration of the Grantee's national backbone network with CoM's metropolitan networks throughout the country, addressing both technical and organizational issues” “Deliverable: The Contractor shall develop a preliminary Grantee/CoM Network Assessment and Integration Plan, including; a definition of services and how they relate to mission and technical objectives; a baseline assessment of the current network infrastructure with respect to network and service capabilities, capacity utilization, infrastructure requirements, operations, and implementation planning requirements; and identification of major gaps in the existing network status and future development plans” Comment: The contractor is being asked to propose an Integration Plan before the assessments and evaluations in Tasks 2-6 are conducted. The section is titled Network Infrastructure Assessment which is the logical first step in a project of this nature. If the text quoted & underlined above was removed from the Task 1 description and the words “and Integration Plan” were removed from the Deliverable text the flow of work would be orderly. Answer: The contractor should view this as a preliminary integration plan that will be refined/modified as the other tasks are completed. TASK 2: Interoperability, Reliability, and Security Assessment In the text is the following “The Contractor shall assess current security systems, develop a top-level security architecture for the enhanced network (including, but not limited to, encryption, access control, hash & digital signature), and develop a set of policy, organization and implementation recommendations for the security system” Comment: This is a feasibility study and the development of architecture is being specified, yet it is not required as a deliverable. The development of the architecture can be a costly venture and in this case highly difficult to estimate since the size of the system, its functions and applications are unknown to the bidders. Answer: The budget for this activity provides only for the feasibility study, not project implementation. A relatively high-level analysis is expected in the feasibility study. TASK 3: Enterprise Architecture Development In the text is the following “Based on the technical conclusions from Tasks 1 and 2, and on detailed discussions with the Grantee, the CoM, and other ministries agencies, the Contractor shall develop the framework for the creation of a Government-wide Enterprise Architecture.” “Deliverable: The Contractor shall develop an Enterprise Architecture Governance Model and institutional Framework Guide for the Bulgarian National ICT Network. This report should integrate key technical network elements and connectivity, interoperability, and capacity issues from Tasks 1 and 2 into a broader management, institutional capacity, services organization and planning document.” Question: Is the contractor to develop a Framework for the creation of a Government-wide Enterprise Architecture or are they developing the Enterprise Architecture Governance Model? Answer: The latter. The words ‘framework’ and ‘model’ are used synonymously. Again, this will be a high-level plan to provide guidance and key concepts. TASK 4: Economic and Financial Analysis In the text is the following “The Contractor shall conduct an economic analysis of the project, which should provide information regarding economic contingencies, market conditions for technologies and network services, supply and sourcing agreements, alternative methods of achieving desired network functionality, or any other economic parameters that could impact on the potential successful implementation of the national ICT network.” Comment: On a project of this nature a contractor can provide Rough Orders of Magnitude (ROM) on the cost of a system, training, maintenance, and operations. They can also explore sources of available financing. An analysis of economic contingencies and market conditions for technologies is in and of itself a project that would, if properly conducted, nearly equal the cost of this contract. Is this intended? Answer: Yes, ROM estimates and exploring financing sources are appropriate. Again, the budget for this feasibility study should be an indication of the level of effort expected.
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