Federal Acquisition Service
U.S. General Services Administration
U.S. General Services Administration. Federal Acquisition Service.
CONNECTIONS II – Federal Telecommunications Infrastructure Solutions in Buildings and Campuses
Debbie ClarkConnections Program Managerwww.gsa.gov/connectionsii703-306-6546
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HOW CONNECTIONS II MEETS REQUIREMENTS
Overview
Features
Examples
Partners
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CONNECTIONS II Overview
Global Telecommunications Infrastructure (awarded Oct 19, 2011)
Multiple Award ID/IQ (base 3 years, 3 months; and six 1-year options)
21 Pre-competed Contractors• 9 are small businesses
Full and Open Competition Delivery / Task Order Model Fair Opportunity Firm Fixed Ceiling Prices for equipment, labor, services Supports Performance Based Contracting Approach
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CONNECTIONS II Scope
Multiple award contracts to provide connectivity from the user’s desktop to the point of interconnection of the customer’s network service providers.
Increased focus on capability of providing enterprise-wide solutions.• Includes all labor, products and solutions necessary to
support the integration of telecommunications, networking and network-centric applications at the LAN, building, campus, and enterprise level.
Network services, including services that provide transport and access to and between customer sites, are OUT OF SCOPE.
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CONNECTIONS II Acquisition
CONNECTIONS II will be a multiple award, Indefinite Delivery - Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract procured as a FAR 15 acquisition.
Period of performance:• Base period of three (3) years, 3 months;• Six (6) one year options.
Geographic scope is GLOBAL – however minimum award eligibility requires vendor to deliver services nationwide.
Contract ceiling: $5 Billion
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CONNECTIONS II – A Better VehicleCNX II provides enterprise-wide integration
capability from EXPERIENCED telecom vendors
CNX II’s geographic scope is GLOBAL Equipment provided under the contract can meet
Supply Chain Risk Management practicesSustainability (incorporated Green)
Requirements Davis-Bacon & Service Contracting Act language
incorporatedTask Order Flexibility – ability of vendors to propose
“unpriced CLINs” in task orders – reduces/eliminates base contract modifications
CNX II is complementary to Networx Task Orders can be fixed price or T&MAccess to Secret, Top Secret & TS/SCI cleared
personnelCustomer choice of Direct Order or using GSA
Assisted Acquisition
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CONNECTIONS II Supply Chain Risk Management
Creating a track-able and traceable supply chain Utilizing qualified suppliers Verifying genuine ICT (Info and Comm Technology)
products - not counterfeit or illegally modified Proper labeling of remanufactured or repaired
products Valid licenses for products Tracking standards (NIST)
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CONNECTIONS II Sustainability
Helping agencies meet government energy goals Designing a working environment that requires less
energy, is less toxic, with less waste (LEED, EPEAT) Solution longevity - more time to replacement -
extended warranties Recycle (Demanufacturing) and Reuse Standards (ISO 14001 Environmental Management)
– make our processes and operations more efficient Renewable or alternative energy options
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Connections II Complements Network Services Contracts to Provide Overall Communications and Network Focused Solutions
1010
Communications and Networking● Planning● Design● Integration● Transition
Building/Campus Facility Preparation● Cabling/Wiring● Trenching● Power Systems● Construction
Operations, Administration, and Management ● Network
Monitoring● Management● Repair
Customer Service and Technical Support● Help Desk● Web Design● Back Office
Support
Network Services Contract Portfolio
Connections II
CNX II Solution Development and
Integration Capability
Resources Within CNX II
Contract (Equipment and
Labor)
Other GSA Contracts
(i.e., SATCOM II, Regional
Contracts)
Networx
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Skill Sets Examples
Consultants Engineers Integrators Analysts Developers Technicians Specialists
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Examples of Support Services
• Acquisition Support• Inventory Management• Configuration • Management Assessment• Billing and Account Management• Help Desk Operations
• Network Management• Maintenance• Installation and Testing• Customer Service • Disaster Recovery• Network Security
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CONNECTIONS II – A Networx Transition Tool
CONNECTIONS II can enhance your Networx transition planning effort
CONNECTIONS II can provide:• Equipment: additional end user modems, phones, PBXs,
switches, firewalls, servers, routers, intrusion detection• Manpower: transition management, support personnel,
qualified technicians• Solutions: transition planning-execution-documentation-
design of integrated contractor services
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CONNECTIONS II - Transition Functions
Pre-Planning• Inventory validation, technology analysis
Strategy• Organizational scheduling and communications• Architecture alternatives• Transition planning – orders and disconnects
Transition Coordination• Site surveys, cutovers, reporting, billing verification
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CONNECTIONS II as an Integrator
CONNECTIONS II can be used as an Integrator to:• Coordinate with access, transport, and equipment vendors• Monitor end to end performance
– Time to repair, downtime, meeting service levels– Supply agency with real-time insight into measures
• Coordinate trouble handling/definition• Look for trends in performance• Act as single POC with all involved contractors
– Propose procedures to address problems• Report / Recommend / Develop business cases / Return on Investment
(ROI) analysis Might use Networx for IXC, MAA for local access/transport,
Schedule 70 for equipment (or other combinations)
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CONNECTIONS II Prime Contractors
• CONNECTIONS II contractors can add sub-contractors at any time• Please see http://www.gsa.gov/connectionsii for contractor contact
information
A&T Systems General Dynamics Information Technology
American Systems Corp. Government Telecommunications Inc
APPTIS Harris IT Services
AT&T Technical Services HP Enterprises Services
Avaya Government Solutions Netcom Technologies, Inc.
BAE Systems Information Solutions Nextira One Federal dba Black Box
Ciber Qwest Government Services dba Century Link QGS
Concert Technologies Science Applications International Corp - SAIC
EPS Corp. The Centech Group, Inc.
Futron Vector Resources
Verizon Federal
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HOW AGENCIES MAKE BUYING DECISIONS
Timeframe to Procure• Can you get what you want when you want it?
Price (Best Value)• Can you get quality at a competitive price?
Reliability & Credibility of Contractors• Will you have access to best performing contractors?
Source: GSA FAS Blueprint Survey
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Top Customers in Connections I
1. State Department2. Army3. Veteran Affairs4. General Services
Administration5. Air Force 6. Navy7. Social Security
Administration8. Agriculture
9. Justice10. Homeland Security11. Transportation12. DOD13. Federal Trade
Commission14. Treasury15. Health and Human
Services
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Customers Won with CONNECTIONS
State Department• Operate, manage, maintain existing domestic
Enterprise Telecommunications network• Umbrella task order
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Customers Won with CONNECTIONS
General Services Administration• Maintenance & support of 26 PBX switches
throughout Region 9 (California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Pacific territories)
• Approximately 62% cost savings over 5 years• Task was issued, awarded and implemented in
approximately 3 months
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Customers Won with CONNECTIONS
Federal Trade Commission• Awarded a 5 year CONNECTIONS task order• CONNECTIONS Category 2 award• Manage a centralized service call center, supporting
several locations• Provide on-site end user support to several locations
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HOW TO BUY FROM CONNECTIONS II
Procurement ProcessHot Topics
• CONNECTIONS II and Performance Based Contracting• CONNECTIONS II and “Unpriced items”
Tools and Resources
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CONNECTIONS II Procurement Process
Ordering Contracting Officer (OCO) Ordering Options• Self-service• Assisted-serviceNote: Delegation of Procurement Authority (on-line, like Alliant)
Gather requirements Develop Delivery Order / Task Order Request (BOM,
SOW or SOO) & other required acquisition documents Ensure “Fair Opportunity” throughout the process Negotiate as needed Issue order Manage delivery
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Performance Based Contracting
Standards of performance (indicators): Indicators by which a contractor’s performance is measured
Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Baseline indicator levels used to evaluate quality of service
Incentive arrangements: Incentives are offered based on whether the contractor’s delivery is meeting the SLAs
Intended to ensure that required performance quality measures are achieved and that total payment is related to the degree that services performed meet contract Standards.
Note: Refer to Section 37.6 of the FAR for a more detailed description of Performance Based Contracting.
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Unpriced Items and CONNECTIONS II
Under the CONNECTIONS II contract unpriced items were anticipated and are allowable. Information on proper use of unpriced items is discussed in Section G.3.1(e) of the contracts. General Information:
• On individual task and delivery orders, unpriced items need to be evaluated on an individual item basis and labeled appropriately
• Unpriced items will be governed by the same terms and conditions of the contract as CONNECTIONS II CLIN items
• Maximum allowable amounts will be established by task order as outlined by the OCO
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Web Tools
CONNECTIONS II CLIN Checker• Verify pricing• Advanced version
CONNECTIONS II Management Reporting System (GWAC MM)
• Contractor reports awards• Provide feedback on accuracy
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CONNECTIONS II One-Stop-Shop Website
Key Information on Portal• FAS Points of Contact• Industry Partner Points of Contact• CONNECTIONS II Contract• Delegation of Procurement Authority for OCOs• Roles and Responsibilities• Fair Opportunity Guideline• Statement of Work (SOW) Examples • Contractor E-mail Addresses for Orders• Gateway to CONNECTIONS II Clin Checker • Website: www.gsa.gov/connectionsii
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CONNECTIONS II Summary
Telecommunications infrastructure contract High degree of flexibility and customer choice No project too big or too small Equipment, Services and Solutions driven 21 prime contractors and their subs GSA value add with assisted service Task Order driven - enhances competitive process Dovetails well with GSA transport contracts www.gsa.gov/connectionsii
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Thank you for your interest and participation!
CONNECTIONS II is:Telecom in buildings and campusesPre-competed high qualified contractorsFlexible, easy to use, customer choice
Please remember:
Email: [email protected]: www.gsa.gov/connectionsWebsite: www.gsa.gov/connectionsiiPhone: 877-387-2001
For more information
contact: