Connections II Overview - August 2013 Webinar

Federal Acquisition Service

U.S. General Services Administration

U.S. General Services Administration. Federal Acquisition Service.

CONNECTIONS II – Global Federal Telecommunications and Network Solutions in Buildings and Campuses Debbie Clark Connections Program Manager www.gsa.gov/connectionsii 703-306-6546

http://www.gsa.gov/connectionsii�


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HOW CONNECTIONS II MEETS REQUIREMENTS

Overview

Features

Examples

Partners


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CONNECTIONS II Overview Global contract (awarded Oct 2011), ceiling $5 Billion Multiple Award ID/IQ (base 3 yrs and six 1-yr options),

FAR 15 acquisition 21 Pre-competed Contractors

• 9 are small businesses Task / Delivery Order Driven Fair Opportunity

• Must include all 21 primes – on average 3-5 respond • For set-aside, must include all 9 small businesses

Supports Performance Based Contracting Approach


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CONNECTIONS II Scope 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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The “Big” Picture


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CONNECTIONS II – A Better Vehicle Provides enterprise-wide integration capability from

EXPERIENCED telecom vendors Geographic scope is GLOBAL Equipment provided under the contract can meet

Supply Chain Risk Management practices Sustainability (incorporated Green) Requirements Davis-Bacon & Service Contracting Act language

incorporated Task Order Flexibility – ability of vendors to propose

“un-priced items” in task orders – reduces/eliminates base contract modifications

Complementary to Networx Task Orders can be fixed price or T&M Access to Secret, Top Secret & TS/SCI cleared

personnel Customer choice of Direct Order or GSA Assistance


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)


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 (De-manufacturing) and Reuse Standards (ISO 14001 Environmental

Management) – more efficient operations


Connections II Complements Network Services Contracts to Provide Overall Communications and Network Focused Solutions

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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

• Network Management • Help Desk Operations • Network Design • Installation and Testing • Maintenance • Configuration Management

• Inventory Management • Billing and Account Management • Customer Service • Disaster Recovery • Network Security • Acquisition Support


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CONNECTIONS II – A Network Transition Tool

CONNECTIONS II can enhance your transition planning or relocation efforts

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, local access/transport, Schedule

70 for equipment (or other combinations)


Connections II and IPv6 Migration

OMB deadline looming Functions Connections II could perform:

• Migration planning and system analysis – Inventory/assessment

• Purchase, test and integration • Pilot deployment on selected LANs • Full deployment in the production network

SOW template available soon to provide guidance • Complete with sample instructions for contractors

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CONNECTIONS II Prime Contractors

• CONNECTIONS II contractors can add sub-contractors at any time •Asterick denotes small business • Please see http://www.gsa.gov/connectionsii for contractor contact information

A&T Systems* General Dynamics Information Technology

American Systems Corp.* Harris IT Services

APPTIS HP Enterprises Services

AT&T Technical Services Netcom Technologies, Inc.*

Avaya Government Solutions Nextira One Federal dba Black Box

BAE Systems Information Solutions Qwest Government Services dba Century Link QGS Concert Technologies* Science Applications International Corp - SAIC

CRGT (Ciber) The Centech Group, Inc.*

EPS Corp.* Vector Resources*

Futron* Verizon Federal

VISION (GTI)*


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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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CUSTOMER SUCCESSES

Top Customers Successful Projects


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Top Customers in Connections I

1. State Department 2. Army 3. Veteran Affairs 4. General Services

Administration 5. Air Force 6. Navy 7. Social Security

Administration 8. Agriculture

9. Justice 10. Homeland Security 11. Transportation 12. DOD 13. Federal Trade

Commission 14. Treasury 15. Health and Human

Services


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Customers Won with CONNECTIONS

State Department • Operate, manage, maintain existing domestic

Enterprise Telecommunications network

• Nation-wide task order


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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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Federal Trade Commission

• Awarded a 5 year CONNECTIONS task order

• 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 Process

Hot Topics • CONNECTIONS II and Performance Based Contracting • CONNECTIONS II and “Un-priced items”

Tools and Resources


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CONNECTIONS II Procurement Process Ordering Contracting Officer (OCO) Ordering Options

• Self-service – Delegation of Procurement Authority required

easy, fast, on-line, 48 hour turnaround • Assisted-service (DPA required for GSA OCOs too)

Gather requirements Develop Task Order / Delivery Order Request (BOM,

SOW or SOO) & other required acquisition documents Ensure “Fair Opportunity” throughout the process Issue order Manage delivery


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Request a Connections II Delegation of Procurement Authority Warranted contracting officers must fill out this form to request a Delegation of Procurement Authority (DPA) for Connections II. It takes approximately five minutes to fill out. Before requesting a DPA

•Before you can request a DPA, you must review these documents: •Delegation of Procurement Authority Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) (PDF, 275k, 04/16/2012) •Eligibility to use GSA Sources of Supply and Services (PDF, 46k, 10/12/2011) •Fair Opportunity Guide (PDF, 338k, 04/16/2012) •Customer Slides (PowerPoint, 3,200k, 10/25/2011)

After requesting a DPA •GSA will review the form and initiate the Delegation(s) of Procurement Authority; •You should receive delegation confirmation within two business days; and, •After receiving the confirmation, you will be able to issue task orders on Connections II.

Information Form Field First name… . . .

Submit


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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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Un-priced Items and CONNECTIONS II Under the CONNECTIONS II contract un-priced items

were anticipated and are allowable. Information on proper use of un-priced items is discussed in Section G.3.1(e) of the contracts. General Information:

• On individual task and delivery orders, un-priced items need

to be evaluated on an individual item basis and labeled appropriately

• Un-priced 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

• Un-priced items will be on the task order; need not be on contract


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Web Tool

CONNECTIONS II CLIN Checker • Verify pricing on contract • Advanced version for searches


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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 RFQs • Link to CONNECTIONS II CLIN Checker • Website: www.gsa.gov/connectionsii


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CONNECTIONS II Summary

Telecommunications and Networking contract High degree of flexibility and customer choice 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/Networks in buildings & campuses Pre-competed high qualified contractors Flexible, easy to use, customer choice

Please remember:

Email: [email protected] Website: www.gsa.gov/connections Website: www.gsa.gov/connectionsii 1-855-ITAID4U

For more information

contact:

mailto:[email protected]�


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Connections II Overview - August 2013 Webinar

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