USDA, ARS, North Atlantic Area, Contracting Office, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038

70 -- CHECK POINT SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES FIREWALL SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT FOR TWO (2) LOCAL AREA NETWORKS SOL 35-3615-99 DUE 091599 POC Lisa M. Botella, (215) 233-6551, fax (215) 233-6558, Contracting Officer and Point of Contact The USDA, Agricultural Research Service requires a Check Point Software Technologies to be furnished and installed on the two (2) Local Area Networks located at the Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania. This particular brand is require by Agency mandate. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the Format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; prices are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The Solicitation number 35-3615-99 is issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-12. This procurement is unrestricted. There are two separate Local Area Network (LAN) systems in operation in the Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC) building located in Wyndmoor (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania. One LAN supports the North Atlantic Area (NAA) Administrative Office staff, the ERRC secretaries and clerks who are using ARS administrative programs, and twelve (12) remote locations. The second LAN supports the entire research community of ERRC. The two LANs are physically connected to each other through the infrastructure and share network traffic via six (6) shared SynOptics 3000 series Managed Hubs. Devices located on the ERRC network are routed through the ERRC router. Devices located on the NAA network are routed through the NAA router. NAA'S LAN is a 10BaseT network and consists of the following: Compaq production servers (2); Test servers (1) (additional planned); Cisco 2511 access server (1); Cisco 4500M series router (1); Point-to-point T1 line (1); NT-based Kasten Chase VersaPath Secure Gateway (1); Windows 9x workstations (approx. 75); JetDirect printers (4-7). The NAA LAN shares cabling with the NT server-based Eastern Regional Research Center LAN, and it is on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) backbone to the Internet. The NAA LAN provides critical functions including e-mail, InForms, daily and full client backups, Internet access, X.25 access to other USDA agencies, etc. In the future it is anticipated that some or all of the North Atlantic Area web pages will be maintained on an NAA LAN web server. ERRC'S LAN is 10BaseT based and contains the following: Windows NT servers (approximately 10); Sun UNIX workstations (approximately 4); Digital OpenVMS Server (to be phased out shortly); Windows 3.x and Windows 9X client workstations (approximately 250); Windows NT workstations (approximately 12); Printers, print servers and other miscellaneous network devices. Network traffic through the router is IP based. Internally other protocols are also used (but are not routed). The network supports primarily scientific applications. In many cases scientific collaborations require allowing selective access to certain computers utilizing Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, and other protocols. The network connects to the Internet through the ERRC Cisco 4500M router and a ADC Kentrox Datasmart T1 SMDSU. The SMDSU connects to a Bell Atlantic T1 speed SMDS line and the Internet service provider is Verio Inc. The main hub, the router, and network management equipment is all located in room 0022 of the ERRC facility's main building. The Check Point Software Technologies FireWall shall include all proposed hardware, software components, maintenance support agreements, licenses, etc. and used to enhance the security of both LANs, including the servers and the attached clients. ITEM 1: 1-EACH, Furnish, deliver, and install a Check Point FireWall Software/Hardware System for the NAA's LAN located in Wyndmoor, PA, in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications contained in this document. ITEM 2: 12-MONTHS, Software maintenance for the NAA LAN. ITEM 3: 1-EACH, Furnish, deliver, and install a Check Point FireWall Software/Hardware System for the ERRC's LAN located in Wyndmoor, PA, in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications contained in this document. ITEM 4: 12-MONTHS, Software maintenance for the ERRC LAN. ITEM 5: PER HOUR, Maintenance Service Support (Time and Materials) (24 hours/day, 7 days/week) for the NAA & ERRC LANs. ITEM 6: 2-JOB, INSTALLATION. ITEM 7: 1 JOB, TRAINING. ITEM 8: 12-MONTHS, Software maintenance for the NAA LAN. ITEM 9: 12-MONTHS, Software maintenance for the ERRC LAN. ITEM 10: PER HOUR, Maintenance Service Support (Time and Materials) (24 hours/day, 7 days/week) for the NAA & ERRC LANs. ITEM 11: 12-MONTHS, Software maintenance for the NAA LAN. ITEM 12: 12-MONTHS, Software maintenance for the ERRC LAN. ITEM 13: PER HOUR, Maintenance Service Support (Time and Materials) (24 hours/day, 7 days/week) for the NAA & ERRC LANs. The period of performance of this contract is from date of award through September 30, 1999 plus two (2) 12-month option periods. DESCRIPTIVE LITERATURE-Companies are REQUIRED to submit descriptive literature on the product(s) being offered and include identification of: SOFTWARE BRAND NAME and MODEL NO. and EQUIPMENT BRAND NAME and MODEL NO. Descriptive literature must be submitted with the offer even if it has been submitted previously. This literature MUST address all aspects outlined in the specifications. If an area is not addressed in the literature, companies must submit a written substantive statement describing such area. FAILURE TO SUBMIT DESCRIPTIVE LITERATURE SHALL RENDER THE OFFER NONRESPONSIVE. "Year 2000 Compliant," (a) Definition: as used in this clause, means that the information technology (IT) (hardware, software and firmware, including embedded systems or any other electro-mechanical or processor-based systems used in accordance with its associated documentation) accurately processes data and date-related data (including, but not limited to, calculating, comparing, and sequencing) from, into, and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and the years 1999 and 2000 and leap year calculations, to the extent that other information technology, used in combination with the information technology being acquired, properly exchanges date and date-related data with it. (b) Any information technology provided, operated and/or maintained under this contract is required to be Year 2000 compliant. To ensure this result, the Contractor shall provide documentation describing how the IT items or services demonstrate Year 2000 compliance, consisting of: standard product literature or test reports. (c) The Contractor warrants that any IT or service under this contract that involve the processing of date and date-related data are Year 2000 compliant. SITE VISIT. A Site Visit will be held at the USDA, ARS, NAA, ERRC on September 8, 1999, at 1:00 p.m. Contractors interested in attending must contact Ms. Lisa Botella in Wyndmoor, PA, not later than close of business on September 7, 1999, at telephone number at (215) 233-6551 to make reservations. Attendance at this site visit is not mandatory for offer submission. However, failure to visit the site will not relieve or mitigate the successful Contractor's responsibility and obligation to fully comply with the terms, conditions, and specifications contained and/or referenced in this document. Any questions arising from this solicitation prior to the site visit should be submitted to the Contracting Officer in writing not later than close of business on September 7, 1999. Questions arising from the site visit must be submitted to the Contracting Officer not later than close of business on September 10, 1999. Questions may be submitted via mail to the address in Item 7 on page 1 of this solicitation or by fax (215) 233-6558. Questions should reference the particular section in the solicitation or specification section of concern, if applicable. SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES. The system and all required documentation shall be delivered F.O.B. Destination within Consignee's Premises, to the USDA, ARS, NAA, Eastern Regional Research Center, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, within 45 calendar days after receipt of the purchase order. Delivery shall be made within the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays and shall be scheduled with the COR's named at the time of award. Installation shall be completed within three (3) weeks after receipt of the purchase order. Training shall be completed within three (3) weeks of installation. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS. The system shall include all proposed hardware (except routers which are currently installed and operational and personal computers which will be provided by the Government) and software components and be furnished, delivered and installed at the North Atlantic Area Office Computer Room and the ERRC Computer Room in Wyndmoor, PA. It shall be configured, and tested for full functionality, and must be fully operational at project completion. The proposed system shall use a Windows NT based Check Point Software Technologies FireWall solution from Check Point Software Technologies FireWall Ltd. and must be 100% compatible with the USDA and Agricultural Research Service Check Point based solutions. It shall also be compatible with the following: MS-DOS 6.x or above, Novell NetWare 4.x/5, ARCServeIT 6.6 and the ARCserve Open Files Agents, Novell GroupWise 5.5, InForms 4.x, Cheyenne Inoculan and InoculateIT, Oracle Version 8, the X.25 protocol, Windows NT, and the Kasten-Chase VersaPath Secure Gateway. System hardware components, if any, shall allow for system expansion and system software components shall be upgradeable to accommodate future needs and functional improvements. The Check Point FireWall shall be an open architecture that is extensible to new and custom application. The system shall perform as follows: a. Provide security to the LAN to screen malicious content, such as viruses and malevolent Java/ActiveX applets; b. Detect network attacks and misuse in real time and respond automatically to defeat an attack; c. Ensure the privacy and integrity of communications over the Internet; d. Grant selective network access to authorized users; e. Authenticate network users before granting access to sensitive data and systems; f. Allow high availability of services to authorized users at or near current optimum throughput; g. Provide detailed logging and accounting information; h. Prevent disclosure of internal network addresses over the Internet; i. Be configurable using a rule based editor; j. The Check Point FireWall devices for this facility must allow independent configuration for the ERRC and NAA traffic without these configurations being able to interfere with each other; k. Full control of all functions affecting the ERRC Check Point FireWall from within room 0022 and full control of all functions affecting the NAA Check Point FireWall from within room 2017; l. Software shall be "Y2K" compliant. Any required licencing agreements shall be submitted with offer; m. Must have available manufacturer-provided software maintenance for upgrades/patches after any initial free upgrade period; n. Must have available on-site maintenance capability on a time and materials basis with a 24-hour turn-around per day/ 7 days per week; o. The Check Point FireWall shall be certified by a third-party organization such as the National Computer Security Association (NCSA) now called the International Computer Security Association (ICSA). PACKING AND SHIPPING. All items packed and shipped shall have the mailing label addressed as follows: USDA, ARS, NAA, Eastern Regional Research Center, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, and include the purchase order number. INSTALLATION. The Contractor shall install the software and any associated equipment at the location designated by the Government. The Contractor shall also perform verification testing and provide technical support. Installation of this system is to be coordinated with the COR's (to be named at time of award) and completed within three (3) weeks after receipt of the purchase order. SETUP AND TRAINING. The Contractor shall be responsible for performing all start-up operations to ensure the system is fully functional for its intended purpose. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) at least one (1) week in advance to coordinate the date for installation and training. The Contractor shall provide a minimum of eight (8) hours training (on-site at the ERRC, Wyndmoor, PA) to four (4) employees on the proper operation and use of the system and include: administration, maintenance, and reconfiguration. Training shall be completed within three (3) weeks from installation and include all pertinent training materials. DOCUMENTATION. The Contractor shall provide two (2) copies each of the operation, repair, maintenance manuals, service instructions, operating instructions for the software and equipment. The manuals are to be submitted with the software/equipment at time of delivery. WARRANTY. A standard commercial warranty shall be provided for the software and equipment. A copy of such warranties must be provided with the offer. The provision at 52-212-1, Instruction to Offerors -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. ADDENDA TO FAR CLAUSE 52.212-1. 1. Item (a) SIC CODE is 7372 with a Small Business size standard of $18.0 million dollars. 2. Item (b) Submission of Offers is amended to include the following: Submit your proposal, acknowledgement of amendments (if any), software licencing agreements, maintenance service agreements, descriptive literature for the proposed equipment and software, warranty information, past performance information, and the Certifications at FAR 52.212-3 and 52.225-1, Buy American Certificate, to Lisa M. Botella, USDA, ARS, North Atlantic Area, Contracting Office, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038. FAILURE TO SUBMIT THIS INFORMATION SHALL RENDER THE OFFER NONRESPONSIVE. TELEGRAPHIC OR FACSIMILE OFFERS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. 3. Item (c) Period for acceptance of offers is amended to include the following: The offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 120 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following evaluation criteria are included in paragraph(a) of that provision. The Contracting Officer will make award based on price and price-related factors (i.e. Technical capability, past performance, and price). The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). ADDENDUM TO FAR CLAUSE 52.212-2. EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD-Any resulting order will be issued to the company offering the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. Listed below are all the factors that will be considered. Technical capability, past performance and price. Technical capability and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than price. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION RELATIVE TO EACH EVALUATION FACTOR SHALL RENDER YOUR OFFER NON-RESPONSIVE. 1) TECHNICAL CAPABILITY OF THE FIRM. Technical capability will be based on product literature, technical features and/or warranty provisions. Each offeror is required to submit warranty information, descriptive literature or other documentation, manufacturer or brand name and model of the item, and show how the offered product meets or exceeds the requirements as specified in the Specifications. 2) PAST PERFORMANCE. Past performance history may be based on the Contracting Officer's knowledge of any previous history of this type of work, customer surveys or any other verifiable information available to the Contracting Officer. The offeror's lack of performance history will not result in disqualification, but will result in a neutral past performance rating. A neutral score could be considered less favorable than a favorable past performance score. In order to be consideredfor a contract award, Contractors shall provide a list of five (5) contracts of a similar nature and complexity that the were awarded within the past five (5) years or that is/are currently in force. This information must be submitted with your offer. For each contract, list the following: 1. Name, address, and telephone number of the contracting organization, the Government's Project Officer and Contracting Officer. 2. Contract number, type, and dollar value. 3. Date of contract and period of performance. 4. List any contract(s) terminated for convenience or default (partial or complete) within the past three (3) years. Include the contract number, name, address, and telephone number of the terminating officer. 3) PRICE. Price includes all equipment/software, transportation, training, warranty costs, discount terms, maintenance service, options, and any software licencing fees. Offerors shall include a complete copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror/Representation and Certifications-Commercial Items, and FAR Clause 52.225-1, Buy American Certificate with its proposal. The full text of these clauses may be accessed electronically at this address: http://www.arnet.gov/far/. FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following terms and conditions are added as an addendum to this clause: 1. Includes AGAR 452.246-70 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE (FEB 1988). Item (b) is amended to: Inspection and acceptance will be performed at destination location. 2. Item (g) Invoice is amended to include the following: The invoice shall be submitted in an original and one copy after delivery and installation of all items. Training and installation may be billed separately. The Invoice shall be mailed to: USDA, ARS, North Atlantic Area, Eastern Regional Research Center, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, Attn: Lisa M. Botella. 3. Item (o) Warranty is amended to include the following: The Contractor shall extend to the Government the full coverage of any standard commercial warranty normally offered in a similar commercial sale, provided such warranty is available at no additional cost to the Government. Acceptance of the standard commercial warranty does not waive the Government's rights under the Inspection clause nor does it limit the Government's rights with regard to the other terms and conditions of this contract. In the event of conflict, the terms and conditions of the contract shall take precedence over the standard commercial warranty. FAR Clause 52.212-4 is amended to include the following clauses by reference: 52.204-4, Printing/Copying Double-sided on Recycled Paper (JUN 1996); 52.247-35, F.O.B. Destination Within Consignee's Premises (APR 1984); 452.211-70, Brand Name or Equal (NOV 1996); 52.214-34, Submission of Offers in the English Language (APR 1991); 52.214-35, Submission of Offers in US Currency (APR 1991); 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services (AUG 1989); 52.217-9, Option to Extend The Term of The Contract (MAR 1989); 52.224-70, Confidentiality of Information (FEB 1988); 52.227-19, Commercial Computer Software-Restricted Rights (JUN 1987); 452-228-71, Insurance Coverage (Alternate I)(NOV 1996)(NOV 1996); 52.228-5, Insurance-Work on a Government Installation (JAN 1997); 52.232-19 Availability of Funds for the next Fiscal Year (APR 1984); 452.237-75, Restrictions Against Disclosure (FEB 1988); 52.242-15, Stop Work Order (AUG 1989); 52.242-17, Government Delay of Work (APR 1984); 52.245-1, Prope Posted 08/30/99 (W-SN374194). (0242)

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