D -- ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONNECTIONS WEBSITE

Notice Date

October 25, 2001

Contracting Office

General Services Administration, Federal Technology Service (FTS), Solutions Development Center (9TE), 1301 Clay Street, Suite 500 North, Oakland, CA, 94612

ZIP Code

94612

Solicitation Number

9TE-PM-02-0001

Response Due

December 4, 2001

Point of Contact

Paul Martin, Contract Specialist, Phone (510) 637-3884, Fax (510) 637-3883, Email paul.martin@gsa.gov -- Paul Martin, Contract Specialist, Phone (510) 637-3884, Fax (510) 637-3883, Email paul.martin@gsa.gov

Description

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR COMMENTS TO THE DRAFT RFP. COMMENTS ARE DUE BY December 4, 2001. The General Services Administration, Federal Technology Service (GSA) intends to issue the Connections DRAFT Request for Proposal (RFP) for comment on or about November 5, 2001. The Government intends to solicit this requirement as unrestricted and anticipates Multiple Award, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity, Firm Fixed Price type contracts. The anticipated term of this requirement is a base period of three years with five one-year option period, for a maximum of eight years. IT IS BEING EMPHASIZED THAT THIS REQUEST IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. BACKGROUND: It is envisioned that the Connections contract vehicles will provide for a telecommunication infrastructure focus offering choice, best value, locally based vendors, and equipment and technical support. Connections should allow for a turnkey solution that addresses local, national, and international telecommunication infrastructure requirements. Connections support the requirements between the customer's desktop and the point of network access. The requirement provides for telecommunications equipment and services to include a variety of customer premise equipment, cable and wiring, analytical services, implementation, integration, and installation services, operations, equipment purchasing and/or leasing, and equipment maintenance. The requirement would also include emerging technologies for the purpose of facilitating the convergence of voice, data, video and transmission elements into a single integrated telecommunications system within the Federal workspace. To further that goal, GSA wants to provide maximum choices for Government agencies, based on locality-specific pricing. GSA is seeking different platforms, manufacturers' equipment, and service and maintenance options for any/all localities within the Continental United States, Outside the Continental United States, and overseas. Connections seeks to provide for equipment and services similar in scope to the FTS niche contracts such as: a) Aggregated System Procurement (ASP); b) Purchase of Telecommunication Services (POTS); c) Wire and Cable Services (WACS); d) Technical and Management Support (TMS); and e) Telecommunications Support Contract 2 (TSC2). The vendors will perform a variety of functions including, but not limited to, the following: a) Planning and Analysis, Operations Support, Installation, Implementation, Integration and Maintenance Support; and b) Providing equipment to include Desktop terminal equipment; Switching and messaging equipment; Video Teleconferencing equipment; Data communications, Broadband, Converged equipment and systems; Distribution Systems (copper, coax, fiber -- inside/outside); Microwave and trunked radio systems ***** ABOUT THE CONNECTIONS DRAFT RFP: GSA IS SOLICITING COMMENTS ON ALL SECTIONS OF THE DRAFT DOCUMENT. GSA is seeking further comments on all aspects of the proposed contracting approach embodied in the draft RFP to use the innovative powers of the marketplace for meeting GSA's mission objectives. Comments in response to this Notice should be received by GSA no later than December 4, 2001. GSA is interested in receiving comments with regard to the following area: 1) Any terms or conditions that GSA should consider in formulating this acquisition. GSA will consider and may utilize all information recommendations and suggestions provided in response to this Notice. Respondents should not provide any information that they consider to be privileged or confidential or which the respondent does not want disclosed to the public. GSA does not intend to respond to comments, either to individual commentors or by publication of a formal notice. Only electronic comments will be accepted. Electronic comments shall be marked "Comments on Draft Connections" and forwarded to the following E-mail address: Connections@gsa.gov. ****** HOW TO OBTAIN THE CONNECTIONS DRAFT RFP: Since the Connections Draft RFP is large and includes numerous attachments available only in electronic format, GSA will NOT be providing the CONNECTIONS Draft RFP to the public in an all-paper form. The DRAFT RFP and related information about the Connections is posted on the Internet at http://answer.gsa.gov/connections. GSA intends to use this website to provide information about the Draft RFP, Bidder?s List and Questions and Answers, etc. The website will allow vendors to download the Draft RFP and enter questions and/or comments to the Connections Question and Answer section, place their name on the Bidder?s List, etc. Vendors are encouraged to visit the Connections website for all information regarding the Connections requirement. CONNECTIONS BIDDER?S LIST: A Connections Bidder?s List will be generated which will be available for viewing on the website. This database will provide interested parties with information about other firms also interested in the Connections effort so that partnering, teaming, subcontracting relationships can be developed for the anticipated formal proposal submission. CONNECTIONS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: GSA requests that interested parties submit questions and/or comments regarding the Connections Draft RFP via the Connections website or directly by email to Connections@gsa.gov.=20

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/GSA/FTS/9TEP/9TE-PM-02-0001/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011029/DSOL004.HTM (D-298 SN5115T8)