Dept. of the Army, Directorate of Contracting, Attn: ATZS-DKO-I, P.O. Box 12748,Fort Huachuca, AZ 85670-2748

D -- TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING A VIRTUAL PRIVATE SOL DABT63-99-R-0017 DUE 042899 POC Peggy Corcoran, Contract Specialist, e-mail: corcoranp@HUACHUCA-EMH1.ARMY.MIL E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contract specialist via, corcoranp@HUACHUCA-EMH1.ARMY.MIL. (i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation/RFP for commercial items 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 requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are in effect through the 1997 reissue of the FAR. (iii) This is a full and open competition under SIC 7379. (iv) GENERAL INFORMATION: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) envisions the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to provide its workforce with remote access to the DARPA internal network. For purposes of this solicitation, a VPN is defined as a system that facilitates access to the DARPA internal network from the Internet. DARPA wishes to use current industry infrastructure, support services and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies to satisfy this requirement. The VPN architecture must support the transfer of data between the DARPA facility and employee residences, and between the DARPA facility and non-specific, other remote locations in the continental United States (CONUS). (v) OBJECTIVES: Develop, install, and support a VPN. The offeror has complete flexibility to present innovative, cost-effective solutions that will meet the objectives. General: Solution must provide dedicated, secure, around-the-clock access to the DARPA internal network from the Internet. The encryption used in securing the VPN traffic must use 128 bit keys, at a minimum. Solution must provide challenge/response remote access authentication. Solution must provide ability to prevent computers running the VPN client from being compromised thereby allowing traffic to be routed through the VPN client to the DARPA internal network. Solution must provide full implementation to twenty (20) employees within 120 days after contract award and must provide full implementation to the entire user base within the first year of the contract. Management: Solution must obscure the DARPA connection; there must be no reference to DARPA in any Internet accessible registrations. DARPA will maintain administrative control of all systems that are attached to the internal DARPA network. Solution must provide a simplified billing structure i.e., flat rate billing/unlimited use accounts. VPN client software must be useable when connected to other networks with Internet access. VPN traffic is to be separated from DARPA's current Internet service, default routes, and internal traffic. Performance: Solution must support a total of 600 users, and provide telecommute-speed connectivity for 200 of these users from identified locations within the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Solution must provide high-speed modem dial-in connectivity throughout the Continental United States. Solution must support a minimum of 50 simultaneous connections to the internal DARPA network. Solution must provide ability to scale service up in the future increase numberof simultaneous active connections, increase number of off-site users, and implement new technologies, as they become available. Ease of Use: Solution must be easy for the end user to operate. Solution must provide off-site users with full and unrestricted access to all Internet protocols, services and resources without contacting the internal DARPA network, when the VPN is not in use. All network traffic must be routed through the VPN when the VPN client is in use. Solution must provide the ability for users to create personal web pages, supporting Microsoft FrontPage extensions, without identifying DARPA affiliation. Solution must provide turn-on/turn-off, installation/de-installation, and maintenance for connectivity to VPN service, at named off-site user locations. Support & Service: VPN client solution must be centrally configurable, lockable, and deployable by the DARPA Help Desk staff. Solution must provide around-the-clock support to end users for resolution of dial-in and contact problems; usersmust have ability to place their own trouble ticket to resolve remote access problems. Solution must provide support to DARPA Help Desk staff who will coordinate support issues. Solution must provide training and documentation to both DARPA Help Desk staff (10 -- 20 persons) and documentation to DARPA end users. Solution must monitor network traffic and report usage using a secure method of communication. Solution must monitor and report status of customer calls using a secure method of communication. (vi) Period of performance will be one (1) year beginning on or about 1 July 1999 and three (3) 1-year option years, total not to exceed four (4) years. (vii) Solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items (Aug 1998) is hereby incorporated by reference. (viii) Solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-2(a), Evaluation -- Commercial Items (Jan 1999). The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (1) Technical; (2) Past Performance; and (3) Price. Technical evaluation is significantly more important than price. Price is more important than past performance. Technical and price when combined are significantly more important than past performance. Award will be made to the proposal determined to be the most advantageous to the Government, all factors considered, and may be awarded to other than the offeror with the lowest price. Offeror's shall submit four (4) copies of their technical and price proposals, not to exceed 40 pages. Catalog pricing may be submitted to support price proposal. Proposals shall be due on 28 April 1999, NLT 4 p.m. MST (Arizona does not change their clocks). Any proposal received after this date and time will not be considered. (ix) Offeror's are reminded to include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items (Feb 1999), with proposal. (x) Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Condition -- Commercial Items (Apr 1998), is hereby incorporated by reference. (xi) Clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Item (Mar 1999), is hereby incorporated by reference, paragraphs b(1), b(6), b(11), b(12), b(13), b(14), and b(15) apply. The following paragraphs apply to this solicitation and any resultant contract (b) (1) 52.203-10, (b) (2) 52.219-8, (b) (3) 52.222-35, (b) (4) 52.222-36, (b) (5) 52.222-37. (xii) The solution shall be Y2K compliant. (xiii) Collaborative/teaming arrangements to develop a full working solution are encouraged. (xiv) Evaluations may or may not be conducted by both Government and Contracted Personnel. (xv) The Government intends to make one (1) award to the offeror that provides a complete best value solution, to include equipment/support/services. (xvi) Delivery Instructions/Address: U.S. Postal Service to Directorate of Contracting, ATTN: ATZS-DKO-I (VPN Solicitation), P.O. Box 12748, Fort Huachuca, AZ 85670-2748; Federal Express or Hand Carry to the Directorate of Contracting, ATTN: ATZS-DKO-I (VPN Solicitation), 21112 Hines Road, Ft Huachuca, AZ 85613. (xvii) The Government anticipates making award on or about 18 June 1999, with performance starting on or about 1 July 1999. (xviii) For information please contact Peggy Corcoran via e-mail at corcoranp@HUACHUCA-EMH1.ARMY.MIL. Posted 04/14/99 (W-SN320471). (0104)

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