Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Procurement & Grants Office, Contracts & Purchases Branch, 255 E. Paces Ferry Road, NE, Room 419, Atlanta, GA 30305

D -- INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER SOL 98I001 DUE 121697 POC Phillip Green, Contract Specialist, (404) 842-6573 This is a COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION for Internet Services Provider (ISP) commercial item service prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This synopsis/solicitation number 98I001 is issued as a Request for Proposal. This solicitation document incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-02. This procurement is unrestricted. The standard industrial classification code (SIC) is 7379. Small business size standard: Average annual receipts for each of the three preceding fiscal years do not exceed $18.5M. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES TO BE ACQUIRED: THE CDC/ATSDR (CDC) wishes to acquire an Internet Service Provider (ISP) which can offer direct high speed connectivity to Internet backbones and all other Internet connected access points and end nodes. Dueto the large amount of data traffic originating to and from the CDC that is Internet based, the definition of 'high speed connectivity' is a minimal bandwidth of nine through sixteen megabits per second (9 -- 16Mbps) dedicated in a link (i.e., not shared with any other network entity) from the CDC to the ISP Point of Presence (POP). The Contractor shall provide the services needed to meet the following criterions: (1) provide a dedicated, high speed connection to the Internet network and architecture; (2) the service data link from the CDC to the ISP POP is 9 -- 16 Mbps or higher in a bandwidth so that the entire bandwidth is available as a single connection (i.e., no "load-balancing" between multiple lines); (3) the service data link bandwidth is available for bidirectional transmissions (i.e., to CDC from the Internet or vice versa) and is not shared with other ISP customers between CDC and the ISP's POP); (4) the service is compatible with all standard network protocols used via the Internet and cantransport (route) such protocols without error and will be compatible with any standard protocol upgrade that may occur during the life of the contract; (5) the ISP must have a direct link (be directly connected) between the POP connected to CDC and two or more Internet Network Access Points (NAPs) for network performance and reliability -- a NAP is defined as an interconnection point for multiple regional ISPs, such as MAE-EAST; (6) each link between the ISP's CDC-connected POP and adjacent NAPs should be connected via two or more T-3s (45Mbps), OC-3 (155 Mbps), or greater; (7) the ISP must have redundant and diverse routing to multiple NAPs on the Internet in case of problems or failures on a particular NAP link (i.e., a network link failure between the ISP and a single NAP must not result in loss of connectivity between the ISP's CDC-connected POP and all other NAPs); (8) provide, on a 24-hour, seven (7) days a week year round basis (no holiday or other exceptions), ISP Network Operations Center that: (a.) operates a staffed Network Operations Center (NOC) that proactively and grammatically monitors network connectivity between CDC and the ISP; (b.) provides maintenance capabilities to resolve problems; (c.) provides access around-the-clock to customer network support and service personnel through a nationwide toll-free number; (d.) provides automated escalation notification and tracking system procedures for timely and managed problem response; (e.) provides written usage reports to CDC indicating network link statistics between the ISP and CDC including average utilization (by percent of capacity) and peak utilization on an hourly and daily (24 hour period) basis by month; (f.) provides a provision for and coordination of Primary and Secondary Domain Name Services (DNS) for the CDC if required by the CDC; (g.) provides a USENET news service, e.g., Network News Feed using standard NNTP transmissions to the CDC; (h.) provides capability capable to serve as a backup or relay SMTP (Standar Mail Transfer Protocol) mail host for the CDC if desired or required by the CDC; (9) provides a guarantee of service dependability and reliability which meets all of the following (note that where the term 'inoperative' is used, it is defined as 'the inability to transmit Internet data packets successfully from the CDC to the Internet or vice versa' through no fault or negligence of CDC): (a.) the high-speed network link between the CDC and the ISP must have reliability characteristics such that the network link is inoperative no more than 3 total hours on a given consecutive 24-hour basis; the high-speed network link between the CDC and the ISP must have reliability characteristics such that the network link is inoperative no more than 6 consecutive hours on a given consecutive 30-day basis; (b.) the high-speed network link between the CDC and the ISP must have reliability characteristics such that the network link is inoperative no more than eight consecutive hours or 12 total hours on a given consecutive 90-day basis; (c.) in cases where the network link between CDC and ISP is inoperative, the ISP must notify CDC within 30 minutes of the inoperative period; (d.) in cases where there is such a period of an unscheduled inoperative state in the network link that exceeds the criteria above, CDC will be granted a credit of 10% of the overall monthly ISP charge for each hour that the network link is inoperative and exceeds the criteria above (not to exceed 100% of the monthly charge). Note that "inoperative" time periods are unscheduled" periods of an inoperative state as opposed to "scheduled" periods where the ISP has notified CDC in advance of a period of inoperative status. Scheduled period of inoperative status is permissible in cases where CDC is notified 72 hours in advance of the inoperative time period both verbally and in writing. The scheduled inoperative time period must be between the hours of 7:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M. EST/EDT and not exceed a period of more than 6 inoperative hours. Scheduled inoperative periods also mustnot exceed 12 hours in any given 30-day period. Otherwise, the inoperative time will be considered as 'unscheduled' and subject to credit against monthly charges in a similar fashion as stated above. The offeror must propose items (1) through (9) with CDC providing the equipment (CSU/DSU Modem, Inverse Multiplexer, and Router) necessary to meet the requirements of this solicitation, AND propose as an option item (1) through (9) with the offeror providing the equipment necessary to meet the requirements of this solicitation. The optional proposal should include the terms and conditions of both their lease agreements and purchase buyouts for the equipment based on the resulting contract period of performance. Equipment may be acquired through a 36-month lease to ownership which includes an option to purchase. Offerors must propose equal monthly lease payments, as well as a purchase price for CDC's option to purchase, and a factor for each of the months of the lease term that CDC can apply to the purchase priceor the monthly lease payment to determine the cost of terminating the lease and acquiring title to the equipment at any point during the lease. Offerors will also state the terms and conditions, e.g., such as ownership of the domain name, associated with meeting the requirement for providing primary and secondary Domain Name Services (DNS) for the CDC. Offeror must demonstrate that they have the equipment to establish, maintain, and operate the systems/networks required and be fully operational within sixty calendar days of contract award. The contract must be in effect and service startup established not more than 60 calendar days after contract award. The contract will contain an initial contract period from date of contract award through September 30, 1998, with two optional periods of 12-months each, and one short option period for a total of 36 months. The network link of the ISP to the CDC must terminate at the CDC geographic location stated and known as 'CDC, Building 16 -- Basement, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30333'. Award shall be made to the eligible, responsible offeror whose offer, conforming to the solicitation, is determined most advantageous to CDC price and other factors considered, and judged to provide the Best Value to CDC. A technical, past performance, and cost trade-off analysis will be exercised in selecting the most advantageous alternative to CDC, considering technical merit, past performance, and price of proposals. The determination of the greatest overall value will be made by comparing the differences in these factors. CDC will not make an award at a significantly higher overall price to achieve only slightly superior performance. EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD: All offers will be evaluated against the following factors in descending order of importance: (1) TECHNICAL CONFORMANCE/CAPABILITY: Offers will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis as to the conformance and capability of the proposed services with the minimum specifications identified in the synopsis. The proposal mustidentify the proposed services and include equipment descriptions, specifications, product literature, etc., sufficient to substantiate that the services offered meet the stated requirements. CDC reserves the right to require and obtain validation of the information supplied with the RFP. (2) PAST PERFORMANCE Offers will be assigned a risk assessment based on information that CDC obtains from the offeror's past performance information. In addition, references other than those identified by the offeror may be contacted by CDC and used in the evaluation of the offer's past performance. Risk assessment will be a subjective rating (high -- greatest risk, moderate, and minimal -- lowest risk). Offerors shall provide a list of the last ten contracts with Federal, State, Local Governments, and or private/commercial customers in-process or completed during the past three years, which are similar in size, scope and complexity to this acquisition. The following information is required for each contract reference: a) name and address of customer/client or Government agency, b) contract number, c) services provided/description of contract, d) type of contract, e) total contract value, and f) Contracting Officer and Project Officer names, addresses, and telephone numbers. (3) PRICE -- A firm fixed monthly price will be evaluated to determine fair and reasonableness as it relates to required services items (1) through (9). The optional proposal may be considered for items (1) through (9) if the government elects to have the offeror provide the equipment. The proposals submitted by the offeror can contain such information that adds value to the minimum specifications stated in this solicitation. However, those value-added items must be stated as such. The offeror can detail multiple options within their proposal, such as different or multiple tiered network bandwidth offerings from the CDC to the ISP with each having a particular cost/pricing structure (such as 9Mbps/16Mbps/T-3 link/100Mbps/OC-3, etc.). The characteristics of the equipment needed to complete the data connectivity from the CDC to the ISP is such that it might be beneficial to CDC to purchase and/or provide and manage network equipment such as a router or switch within the premises of CDC. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options periods to the total price for the initial contract period for the basic requirement for a total contract period, if all options are exercised, not to exceed 36 months. Optional proposals will be evaluated similarly. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). CDC intends to evaluate proposals and award a firm fixed-price contract without discussions to the offerors, except where clarification or minor detail information is needed. Therefore, all offers initially made should be the best offer available. CDC reserves the right to include more detailed discussions if it is later determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary. CONTRACTCLAUSES: Offerors are advised that the following FAR provisions are applicable to this requirement: 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial, 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certification -- Commercial Items (Offerors are to include a completed copy of this provision), 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items, 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (E.O. 11246), 52.222-35 Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans (38 U.S.C. 4212) and, 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers (29 U.S.C. 793) apply to this acquisition. Offers are due December 16, 1997, 2:00 P.M. local time. Please submit offers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/PGO, Attn: Phillip R. Green, 255 East Paces Ferry Rd., NE, MS E01, Atlanta, GA 30305. (0329)

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