Commercial Internet Service Provider (CISP)

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides clarifications and answers to questions regarding a Request for Information (RFI).

• Contract Extension: The current contract ends on March 31st at midnight. There may be a lapse in service until a new circuit is installed, as extending the contract past April 1st is considered near impossible.
• Technician Access & Requirements: Technicians will be escorted on base and within manhole ducts. Any cables connected become base property.
• CMMC Requirement: Non-compliance with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1 requirement, as stated in the evaluation criteria on Page 24 of the solicitation (Clauses 252.204-7021 and 252.204-7025), is a disqualifier. CMMC Level 1 is required at a minimum.

This RFI clarifies critical details regarding contract timelines, site access, and a mandatory CMMC certification, which directly impacts bidder eligibility and proposal preparation.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks proposals for commercial high-speed fiber internet service for Westover Air Reserve Base (ARB). The service will involve connecting to an existing Charter Communications fiber feed in Building 1800 or providing a new fiber feed to that location. The government will provide the connection from Building 1800 to Building 1510, where the contractor will install a router/gateway and firewall.

• Provide commercial high-speed fiber internet service.

• Connect to existing fiber in Building 1800 or provide a new fiber feed.

• Install router/gateway and firewall in Building 1510.

• Maintain a current Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1 or higher for all information systems processing, storing, or transmitting Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price.

• Period of Performance: Base Year (April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027) with four one-year option periods.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but pricing is requested for a base year and four option years.

• Offer Due Date: March 25, 2026, 12:00 PM.

• Evaluation Criteria:

  1. Meeting Statement of Work requirements (100%).
  2. Lowest acceptable price among technically acceptable offers.
  3. Proof of achieving CMMC Level 1 or higher.

• Proposals must provide sufficient information for the 439 CS to find them acceptable.

• This acquisition is currently set as UNRESTRICTED.

• The solicitation incorporates FAR clauses 52.212-1, 52.212-3, and 52.212-4 by reference.

• Payment requests and receiving reports must be submitted electronically via Wide Area WorkFlow (WAWF).

• Attachments include a Wage Determination, CISP Diagram Map, and Statement of Work (SOW) for CISPv2.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To provide high-speed internet services, including necessary infrastructure, equipment, and technical support, ensuring seamless connectivity for authorized users and systems at Westover ARB.

• Provide symmetrical internet connectivity with a minimum speed of 1 Gbps (download/upload), scalable to 2, 3, and 4 Gbps for approximately 900 devices.

• Connect to existing fiber in Building 1800 or provide a new fiber feed utilizing the Westover Manhole Duct System.

• Install Router/Gateway device and Firewall at Building 1800.

• Bandwidth: Minimum 1 Gbps, scalable.

• Uptime Guarantee: Minimum 90.0% annually.

• Latency: Max 50ms for local traffic, 100ms for regional traffic.

• Scalability: Support bandwidth increases with minimal disruption.

• Contract duration: Base year + 4 option years (plus a 6-month bridge if required).

• Locations: Services to be provided to multiple buildings including Building 1850, 1204, 7075, 1610, 1100, 3400, and 7015. Government reserves the right to expand service to other areas.

• Technical Support: 24/7 support with 60-minute response for critical issues, 4-hour for non-critical. On-site support within 2 hours for critical outages.

• Dedicated account manager required.

• Network Protocols: Support for all IP protocols (UDP, TCP, IPSEC) without filtering/proxies/NAT. Allow government VPNs. Public IPv4 and IPv6 compatibility.

• Installation: Deliver circuit to demarcation point, including labor, equipment, cabling, and permits. End-to-end testing and documentation required.

• Security: Adhere to DoD cybersecurity requirements. Contractor equipment isolated at demarcation. Background-checked personnel with clearances if on-site access is needed. Report security incidents within 1 hour.

• Quality Control: Develop and maintain a Quality Control Plan (QCP) within 60 days of award.

• Personnel: Must pass background checks and adhere to base access protocols. Employees must wear non-government badges.

• Government-Furnished Items: Government will provide fiber pathways, routers, switches, modems, access points, and cabling.

• Points of Contact: Specific contacts for service interruptions and technical support are provided.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a network diagram illustrating the Cyber Infrastructure Support Plan (CISP) for Westover Air Base. It visually represents the connectivity of various buildings to the base fiber network and the internet.

• Internet Connectivity: Shows connection to the internet via Westover Air Building 1800 DCO.
• Base Fiber Network: Depicts a central "Base Fiber" cloud connecting multiple buildings.
• Building Connectivity: Illustrates connections to specific buildings, including:
  • Building 1204 (Wg Conf Ctr)
  • Building 1100 (Chapel)
  • Building 1700 (Gym)
  • Building 1850 (PA)
  • Building 7075 (Pax)
  • Building 7072 (MXG)
  • Building 3400 (CS)
  • Building 1610 (Base OPS)
• Network Components: Includes icons for Switch, Firewall, AP (Access Point), and router.

This diagram provides a visual overview of the existing network infrastructure. Bidders may use this to understand the physical layout and connectivity of the CISP, which could be relevant for proposals related to network upgrades, maintenance, or support services.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a pricing sheet for an opportunity, requiring bidders to fill in the green areas for pricing. It outlines CLINs (Contract Line Item Numbers) for ISP services and a one-time installation.

• CLINs: Details various contract line items for ISP Service (1Gig) over multiple years, with specific periods of performance (PoP).
• Installation: Includes a one-time installation CLIN.
• Pricing Fields: Requires Unit Price and Total Price for each CLIN. Columns are provided for different bandwidth tiers (2 Gig, 3 Gig, 4 Gig) and their respective totals, though the primary focus appears to be 1 Gig service.
• Special Notes: Indicates that certain CLINs (*CLIN5001) are not calculated in the total price and will not be evaluated. Another note clarifies that pricing for increased bandwidth (beyond 1 Gig) is for information if/when required.
• Evaluation Criteria:
  1. Meet 100% of requirements in the Statement of Work (SOW), evaluated by 439 CS.
  2. Price: Lowest price among vendors meeting SOW requirements, evaluated by 430 CS.
  3. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC): Offerors must provide proof of achieving at least Level 1.

Bidders must use this sheet to provide their pricing for the specified ISP services and installation. The evaluation criteria highlight the importance of meeting SOW requirements, offering competitive pricing, and demonstrating CMMC Level 1 compliance. Bidders should pay close attention to which CLINs are evaluated and which are for informational purposes only.