Department of Commerce, NOAA, 200 World Trade Center, Room 209, Norfolk, VA 23510-1624

70 -- AMENDENT # 2 SUBMISSION NO.429535 SOL RFQ-EASC-00-77 POC W. L. Taylor, Contract Specialist (757) 441-6888 Questions and Answers: 1. Question: I need to know the model number of the SP2 node (RS6000 IBM) in order to quote the correct host bus adapter card. Answer: The node is an IBM "Silver Wide" node, model # 9076-307, feature set 2051. 2. Please let me know the location that the disk sub system will be installed,so that I may quote next day technical support. Answer: 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 3. Question: In reference to the RFQ for the NCDC, you have quoted a requirement that the read performance be at "25MBps" and the Write operation perform at 20 "Mbps". My question is: Should the write operation also be at 20 "MBps" (Mega Bytes per Sec)? Answer: Yes 4. Question: Could you provide a list of any other questions that have been asked and pertanant answers? Answer: See CBD. 5. Question: Is there a required format that the quote should be formatted on. We would like to make this easy and straightforward for you as we can. Answer: 6. Question: What is your anticipated growth rate for the next three years? Answer: This question is not relevant to this RFQ. 7. Question: What are your plans for the 6 week test period. Do you need someone there for the setup time for the whole 6 weeks? Answer: It is not anticipated that the acceptance period last 6 weeks. That is the maximum and is dependent on the government priorities and schedule. If the vendor wants to provide an Engineeer to facilitate installation and test, that is acceptable. Assuming adequate documentation, the government can set up and perform testing. 8. Question: What type of connection do you want to use fibre-channel or Ultra SCSI? Answer: We expect the vendor to provide the best price/performance solution and we do not recommend a particular connection. 9. Question: Can the 6 week period be waived with proof of compatibility? Answer: Yes, if the potential vendor can provide a reference of an existing system that is configured using an IBM SP2 node, and the government is able to verify. 10. Question: What is your price range for this system. Answer: This depends on the budget allowance at the time. 11. Question: Do you have a preference between IBM and Hitachi for the proposed solution? Answer: No preference. 12. Question: How many hot swappable drives do you require (as spare backups) ? Answer: Each array should have at least one hot swappable drive available to it. 13. Queston: Do you have a preference between 18gb or 36gb drives and do you care if they are 7,200 or 10,000 rpm? Answer: No preference, as long as the proposed system meets performance requirements. 14. Question: Will that system be used as your "starter" set of storage (the 60mb) ? At what point will you need the total storage of between .5 and 1.5tb ? Is this a planned phased implementation or what is your plan for the total utlization? Answer: The 60mb system is the mimimum required for testing of the vendors system. The proposed system should be priced for the .5tb minimum size, up to 1.5tb. There is no planned phased implementation. No further questions will be considered. The RFQ closing date is March 21, 2000. Quotes may be faxed to W. L. Taylor at (757) 441-3786. Posted 03/14/00 (W-SN434380). (0074)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0239 20000316\70-0005.SOL)