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60 -- INSTALLATION AND FIVE-YEAR LEASE OF FIBER OPTIC LINK BETWEEN THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER AND THE SONNY CARTER TRAINING FACILITY SOL 9-BJ33-T39-8-11Q DUE 080398 POC Linda S. Dunn, Purchasing Agent, Phone (281) 244-5351, Fax (281) 483-9741, Email linda.s.dunn1@jsc.nasa.gov -- Rodney J. Etchberger, Contracting Officer, Phone (281) 483-8530, Fax (281) 483-9741, Email rodney.j.etchberger1@jsc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/JSC/date.html#9-BJ33-T39-8-11Q. E-MAIL: Linda S. Dunn, linda.s.dunn1@jsc.nasa.gov. The purpose of this modification (No. 1) to the CBD synopsis which was posted on July 2, 1998 is to: a) answer questions received from prospective offerors; and b) change the proposal due date from July 21, 1998, to August 3, 1998, by close of business 4:30 p.m. CDT. a.) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS QUESTION NO. 1: What is the relative risk of damaging the existing cable by qualified technicians during installation? Reference paragraph 1.2 ANSWER NO. 1: The risk is low but the successful Contractor needs to be aware that the risk does exist and it will be responsible for repair to any damaged cable. QUESTION NO. 2: Will the government provide assistance if the local government delays the fiber-optics cable installation and we can not meet our contract completion date? Reference para. 1.2.1 ANSWER NO. 2: No. All off-site installation is the responsibility of the Contractor and this also includes obtaining the necessary easements. QUESTION NO. 3: Will the government set up coordination for the JSC on-site installation with Southwestern Bell & JSC maintenance personnel to mark current on-site cable runs? Reference para. 1.2.2.1 ANSWER NO. 3: Yes. When the contractor submits its marked up site plans for the proposed route, the Contractor will be issued an excavation permit. Marking of the other on-site cables will be the responsibility of the Government. QUESTION NO. 4: Are directional couplers and amplifiers considered splices? Reference para. 1.1, 1.2.3.1 ANSWER NO. 4: Yes. The requirement specifies fiber, connectors, and a maximum of 2 fusion splices. NO DIRECTIONAL COUPLERS, NO AMPLIFIERS, NO ELECTRICAL/OPTICAL EQUIPMENT (IN GENERAL, NO ACTIVE DEVICES), NO PATCH PANELS. QUESTION NO. 5: Will you work with Engineer's limitations, i.e. fiber optics cable changing directions? Reference para. 1.2.3.1 ANSWER NO. 5: Yes. Presuming the question refers to the SCTF on-site installation. There is enough margin to work over the added cable length. QUESTION NO. 6: What is the pay schedule? Do we get paid for the fiber-optics cable installation on 1 Oct 98? When does the 5-Year Lease payments begin and are the 5-Year Lease payments paid out monthly? ANSWER NO. 6: Each Offeror may submit a proposed schedule for acceptance; however, generally the Government pays once a month and the Contractor can expect to have the Electronic Funds Transfer in its bank account not later than 30 days after signature by the Contracting Officer. The 5-year lease begins once the Government inspects and accepts the installation of the fiber optic cable. Each Offeror is encouraged to submit its most favorable lease agreement terms and conditions for consideration by the Government. Generally speaking, advance payments are not the norm. QUESTION NO. 7: Will you pay for changes/exclusions to the Statement of Work/Specifications, I.E. up-grades in technology? ANSWER NO. 7: No. The Government is seeking industry standard single-mode fiber and connectors. The bandwidth of the fiber is sufficient to satisfy the requirement with room to spare. It is the endequipment that is the limiting factor which is not part of this acquisition. QUESTION NO. 8: Has the engineering been accomplished for the fiber-optic cable route? ANSWER NO. 8: Civil engineering work has not been done. Electrical/optical requirements have been determined and will not affect the Contractor's installation because all of the electrical/optical equipment is being supplied by the Government. QUESTION NO. 9: In one part of the solicitation August 1, 1998 is mentioned as the due date and in another area July 21, 1998 is mentioned as a due date. What specifically is due on each of the dates? ANSWER NO. 9: The intended date was July 21, 1998; however, the due date is extended to August 3, 1998. Offers are due by 4:30 p.m. CDT. QUESTION NO. 10: The drawings were not found on the mentioned WWW address. Are they going to be added later, and if so, when? If they are not going to be accessible on the WWW address, can they be mailed to us at the address below? ANSWER NO. 10: The drawings will be mailed onJuly 15, 1998. QUESTION NO. 11: In one area of the solicitation it mentions that this acquisition is being conducted under the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program using SIC code 7379. After that statement it is mentioned that "all qualified responsible business sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency". It is our interpretation that this solicitation is for full and open competition. Is this correct? ANSWER NO. 11: The solicitation is open to both large and small business concerns. QUESTION 12: For the SOL No. 9-BJ33-T39-8-11Q, it says "The small business size standard for this procurement is $18M average annual receipts for three years." My question is that the "$18M" requirement is maximum or minimum limit. ANSWER 12: The size standard indicates the maximum allowed for a concern, including its affiliates, to be considered small. Posted 07/15/98 (D-SN223937). (0196)

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