REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) RFI-ACT-SFN-06 · Request For Information No. RFI-ACT-SFN-13-06...

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Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation

On behalf of

Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO)

Liston, Portugal

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

RFI-ACT-SFN-06

This document contains a Request for Information (RFI) as part of a market research initiative to explore possible commercial Communication and Information Systems (CIS) support for STIRKFORNATO located in Lisbon, Portugal. The information obtained from this RFI will be used by HQ SACT/STRIKFORNATO as a basis for further discussion and the possible development of an RFP/IFIB. Suppliers wishing to respond to this RFI should read this document carefully and follow the guidance for responding.

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General Information

Request For Information No.

RFI-ACT-SFN-13-06

Project Title

SFN CIS SUPPORT DETAILED REQUIREMENTS FOR EXTERNAL CIS PROVIDER TO SETUP AND RUN SFN’s OWN NETWORKS

Due date for submission of requested information

29 July 2013 NLT 1200 Eastern Standard Time

Contracting Office Address

Contracting Points of Contact

NATO, HQ Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT)

Purchasing & Contracting

Suite 100

7857 Blandy Rd.

Norfolk, VA, 23511-2490

Ms Tonya Bonilla, e-mail:

[email protected], Tel: +1 757 747 3575

Mr Curtis Day, e-mail: [email protected], Tel: +1 757 747 3583

Technical Points of Contact

CDR Borja Aguirre de Cάrcer, ESP N, email: [email protected] Tel: +351 21 440 4546

Col Pete Yeager, USMC, e-mail: [email protected] Tel.: +351 214 404 470

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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1.0 Description

1.1 HQ Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) announcement in order to collect written information regarding the capabilities of potential CIS service providers and Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) costs for transitioning CIS support services to Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) Headquarters in Lisbon Portugal to a commercial vendor. All responses will be used for comparative purposes, cost/benefit analysis and to determine ultimate feasibility of this project.

1.2 Information obtained through this RFI may be used in preparation of a Request for Proposal (RFP)/Invitation for International Bid (IFIB). This RFI DOES NOT constitute a current Request for Proposal (RFP)/Invitation for International Bid (IFIB) or a commitment to issue a future RFP/IFIB. HQ SACT is not seeking proposals at this time, and will not accept unsolicited proposals with respect to this RFI. Respondents are advised that HQ SACT will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in responding to this RFI. The costs for responding to this RFI shall be borne solely by the responding party. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any subsequent RFP/IFIB if issued in the future.

2.0 Background

2.1 Introduction to STRIKFORNATO

STRIKFORNATO is NATO’s premier Maritime Battlestaff and the Alliance’s primary

link for integrating US Maritime Forces into NATO operations. STRIKFORNATO is

manned by a staff of 121 persons on its peacetime manning document.

Managed by a Memorandum of Understanding comprising 11 Nations,

STRIKFORNATO is a rapidly deployable, Maritime Headquarters that provides

scalable command and control across the full spectrum of Alliance fundamental

security tasks.

As a part of the NATO Command Structure Reform, STRIKFORNATO relocated its

Headquarters from Naples, Italy to Lisbon, Portugal in summer 2012.

STRIKFORNATO became fully operational in Lisbon as of 01 August 2012.

The SFN Headquarter’s ability to exercise effective Command and Control of

assigned forces as well as to support the effective coordination of combined

operations is essential. This ability is achieved through state of the art

Communication and Information Systems.

http://www.nato.int/

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2.2. - STRIKFORNATO CIS services.

STRIKFORNATO has its own Communications and Information Systems

division which is in charge of coordinating reliable and redundant CIS for the

Headquarters. The CIS division has the capability of providing CIS close support to

end users but this capability is limited due to current levels of manning. It is possible

that SFN may increase its manning levels in the CIS division in the future, but until

then, SFN needs an external CIS provider able to deliver CIS ‘services to the wall’.

Simplifying things, at present, the SFN Communications and Information Systems

division (CJ6 division) can provide the CIS support from the wall (drops) to the end

users. Conceptually, considering the drops in the wall as a border between internal

and external service provision is useful to understand SFN’s CIS services

requirements.

SFN has signed a one-year temporary Service Level Agreement with the NATO

Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) for CIS support during 2013.

NCIA is using its own network infrastructure in the compound and in the building as

well as existing servers to provide the support required. While NCIA CIS services

provided in Portugal are excellent, they may exceed industry norms for cost since

STRIKFORNATO is the only major NATO customer in the area. For that reason and

in order to try to reduce costs, SFN is undertaking a research of the market to

explore alternatives for CIS service provision for 2014 and beyond. One possible

alternative is seeking commercial CIS support by way of an International,

competitively awarded contract.

SFN is trying to find out the costs of building, setting up and managing by an external

CIS provider all the CIS services that are now being provided by NCIA (“services to

the wall”).

3.0 STRIKFORNATO external CIS provider requirements.

Broadly, the CIS services SFN requirements from an external CIS provider include

to:

Design, build and setup the network infrastructure for two complete networks, one Classified (fibre optics wiring) and one Unclassified (copper wiring), with the entire network infrastructure needed (cabling, routers, switches, drops, etc.)

Build from scratch, administer and manage an Unclassified Microsoft network (complying with NATO Unclassified Network requirements) with basic network, data/file storage, MS email, MS Office groupware, printing, Internet &

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Intranet browsing, back-up and COMPUSEC services. This network must be connected to the NATO cloud.

Migrate all the data on the current unclassified network to the new one.

Build from scratch, administer and manage a Classified Microsoft network and mission Secret network (complying with NATO Classified Network requirements) with basic network, data/file storage, MS email, MS Office groupware, printing, Intranet browsing, back-up and COMPUSEC services. This network must be connected to the NATO cloud.

Migrate all the data on the current classified network to the new one.

Provide SharePoint and Document Handling System (DHS) services in both networks.

Migrate all the data on the current SharePoint portal and DHS to the new one on both networks.

Blackberry Server services at the moment, IPhone service in the future.

Commercial software license provision, installation, configuration and management for both networks.

On site CIS technical support on a daily basis during working hours needed to keep all CIS systems up and running and aid in troubleshooting any kind of IT problem or incident that may occur out of the scope of our technician’s skills (1 or 2 persons)

IP and analog Telephone services.

Secure Video Teleconferencing (VTC) services through NATO VTC services.

NATO WAN services – Even though the NATO WAN services are provided by NCIA, the external provider must provide final connectivity to the NATO Cloud after having all networks accredited by NCIA.

A number of NATO Functional Services (NATO owned software) are also required over the Classified Network. Some of these software systems are provided and managed centrally by NCIA, the official NATO CIS provider, located in MONS (Belgium). Some Functional Services are locally managed by SFN and may need support from the external CIS provider.

Additional CIS services may be needed in the future so the provider must have the skills and knowhow requested to provide them:

o Secure Voice Over IP over the Classified network. o Internet desktop TV news channels.

This set of requirements should be considered as an initial and high level overview in

an effort to evaluate if there are any commercial CIS support providers potentially

interested in this project and to determine a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) of the

potential cost. This will help to evaluate the feasibility of using a commercial source

for CIS support.

If it is considered feasible, full external CIS support requirements will be carefully

detailed in a formal (and competitive) Invitation for International Bid (IFIB).

Items for consideration:

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All the desktop hardware (client workstations, printers, keyboards, webcams etc.) will be provided by STRIKFORNATO.

All the servers required to start the network and the services (Domain Controllers, Exchange servers, Applications servers (COMPUSEC), Sharepoint/DHS servers, Blackberrry Servers will be provided by the external CIS provider but should be budgeted as an initial standing-up investment and not as part of the annual CIS support cost.

Both networks—Classified and Unclassified—will need to be accredited and validated as complying with NATO and NCIA’s security regulations and requirements to be able to connect to the NATO cloud.

The workers and the company itself will need to be accredited and validated as complying with NATO and NCIA’s security regulations and requirements to be able work with NATO.

All the software licenses required to start the network and the services as well as all the Baseline software licenses needed for the Workstations will be provided by the external CIS provider (see paragraph 3.1).

All required data backup hardware must be provided, installed and configured by the external CIS provider.

There is an existing Network Infrastructure (cabling, switching, routing, drops…) up and running right now but all the cabling and the network electronic devices, switches, routers etc. are NCIA owned, administered and managed. If SFN finds a feasible and reliable commercial alternative to NCIA CIS

support, it may be an option to lease the present Network infrastructure from

NCIA instead of building it, should it prove to be a more cost effective option

than investing in brand new network infrastructure. The negotiation and the

cost of leasing would be a SFN responsibility.

SFN will provide a work space for the technicians/managers of the external CIS provider needed locally to provide the required CIS support on site.

3.1 Summary of Baseline SW for SFN Client Workstations (Classified/Unclassified networks):

Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 32/64 bits – SP1

Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Access, Publisher, InfoPath, SharePoint Workspace, Lync)

Classify for Outlook

Internet Explorer 9

Google Chrome Frame BHO 9.0 (Only for Classified network)

Visio 2010 viewer

McAfee Virus Scan Enterprise (latest authorized version)

McAfee Anty Spyware Enterprise (latest authorized version)

McAfee agent (latest authorized version) - distributed by ePO Server

DLP ENDPOINT SECURITY MEDIA ENCRYPTION (latest authorized version) NCIRC INFOSEC (Endpoint Security Encryption R73 HFA3)

VLC Media Player (latest authorized version)

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.Net framework

JCHAT Client

MS Silverlight

Adobe Acrobat Reader (latest authorized version)

Adobe Flash player (latest authorized version)

Java (latest authorized version)

WinZip (latest authorized version)

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3.2 STRIKFORNATO CIS equipment to be supported by the external

Provider.

See the below table with the CIS equipment to be supported as a reference of the

dimension of our Networks. All this equipment is provided by the customer except

the fixed IP telephones,

CIS Equipment * Quantity

Average number of users 130

Average number of Classified Workstations 150

Average number of Unclassified

Workstations

70

Printers (Classif. + Unclass. networks) 30 + 25

Digital Senders (Classif. + Unclass.

networks)

10 +10

Fixed IP telephones 150

Blackberry telephones 25

Plotters 2

Analogue Fax 1

VTC suites 2

4.0 Expected input from industry

For the purposes of this initiative, the RFI process will be used to gather information

and recommendations for:

Development, implementation and maintenance of commercial CIS support to STRIKFORNATO;

Acquiring Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Cost for this project; and

Getting insight into the Responders capabilities, experience, and offerings.

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5.0 Requested Information

5.1 Answers to the RFI

One electronic copy in MS Word format or PDF should be sent to

[email protected] and [email protected]. Please use the RFI template

provided in Appendix A for your responses. Your proposal should also include:

A cover letter which summarizes your response and includes areas to which you are responding and must also indicate if supporting documentation is included in your response.

The response itself, covering any or all of the areas of information requested by this RFI.

Responses must be received no later than Monday, August 12, 2013 12:00 PM

(Eastern Standard Time). There is no page minimum/maximum for responses.

5.2 RFI Response Contact, Review and Clarification Process

This RFI is issued with the intent to survey industry in an effort to obtain information

that provides guidance, which may be used in the preparation of a Request for

Proposal (RFP) or Invitation for International Bid (IFIB). Based on those responses,

the technical experts will engage in a feasibility study and cost/benefit analysis that

may or may not lead to an RFP/IFIB. To fully comprehend the information contained

within a response to this RFI, the technical experts may request further clarification

in the form of brief verbal communication by telephone, written communication,

electronic communication, or a presentation to the RFI technical experts.

Companies responding to this RFI shall designate a single contact within that

company for receipt of all subsequent information regarding this RFI. This

designated individual and contact information should be clearly annotated on the

RFI.

5.3 Handling of Proprietary information

Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and clearly marked as such. Please be advised that all submissions become HQ SACT property and will not be returned.

6.0 Questions

Questions of a technical nature about this RFI announcement shall be submitted by e-mail only to the above mentioned technical POCs with a copy to the above mentioned Contracting POCs. Accordingly, questions in an e-mail shall not contain proprietary and/or classified information. HQ SACT does not guarantee that questions received after 9 August 2013 will be answered. Answers will be posted on the HQ SACT P&C website at:

http://www.act.nato.int/budfin/contracting-procurements

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.act.nato.int/budfin/contracting-procurements

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7.0 Response Date

12 August 2013 NLT 1200 EST

8.0 Summary

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. HQ SACT has not made a commitment to procure any of the items described herein, and release of this RFI shall not be construed as such a commitment, nor as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement will be required or sought. It is emphasized that this is a RFI, and not a RFP/IFIB of any kind.

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Appendix A (RFI Response Template)

1. Template for Provision of Communications and Information

Systems Support by a Commercial Source.

1. General Information

1.1 Firm Name:

1.2 Street Address:

1.3 City, State, Zip:

1.4 Primary Business:

1.5 Point of Contact:

1.6 Title:

1.7 Voice:

1.8 Fax:

1.9 Email:

1.10 Willing to make a

presentation for

STRIKFORNATO if

requested?

Yes No

1.11 Parent Company (PC)

Name:

1.12 PC Street Address:

1.13 PC City, State, ZIP:

1.14 PC Primary Business:

2. Technical Information

2.1. Please explain how your company would approach STRIKFORNATO CIS

Service Support requirements.

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2.2. Explain your company’s involvement in other projects to support CIS

needs.

2.3. How would your solution meet the requirements specified in this RFI?

2.4. Please provide 2 Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Costs:

One ROM cost for the initial standing-up of the services and networks

Second ROM for the annual CIS support cost Use the following structure considering all the requirements provided in the RFI

i. Network infrastructure design, build, setup and accreditation (routers, switches, drops)

ii. Unclass Network Implementation and accreditation

iii. Classified Network Implementation and accreditation

iv. Unclass email setup and configuration

v. Classified email setup and configuration

vi. Unclass Data Migration

vii. Classified Data Migration

viii. Sharepoint, DHS and Blackberry Servers setup and configuration

ix. Commercial license purchasing and management (For both network servers)

x. Commercial SW license purchasing and management (Client workstations)

xi. Secure VTC capabilities over Classified Network

xii. Data/files Backup system

xiii. IP and analogue Telephone Services

xiv. Unclass Network management and administration

xv. Classified Network management and administration

xvi. Unclass email management and administration

xvii. Classified email management and administration

xviii. SharePoint, DHS and Blackberry servers management and administration

xix. Servers maintenance

xx. Network infrastructure maintenance (routers, switches, drops)

xxi. On site CIS support (1 or 2 persons)

xxii. Other Components

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2.5 Please propose a timeline for the completion of the project.

2.6 Describe past successes you’ve had in delivering similar solutions.

2.7 In this transition, provide a list of what you view as STRIKFORNATO’s

responsibilities versus what your company will do for STRIKFORNATO.

2.8 Based on your understanding of the scope of this project, what challenges

or areas of concern do you have?

2.9 Provide a sample staffing model including level of expertise.

2.10 How would you propose that we transition from our current system to the

new system?

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) RFI-ACT-SFN-06 · Request For Information No. RFI-ACT-SFN-13-06...

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