Cisco Enterprise Infrastructure & Advanced Engineering Support Agreement (CEIAESA) (VA-25-00000385)

Request for Information (RFI) This RFI is for planning purposes only and shall not be considered an Invitation for Bid, Request for Task Execution Plan, Request for Quotation, or a Request for Proposal. Additionally, there is no obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services described in this RFI. Your response to this RFI will be treated only as information for the Government to consider. You will not be entitled to payment for direct or indirect costs that you incur in responding to this RFI. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. Please provide a revised ROM for these services based on the revised PWS. Please provide a recommendation for cost containment within the PWS should VA have a budget shortfall and please detail the potential price impact for that cost containment. If you would like a copy of the install base please email matthew.newell@va.gov and Evan.Lee1@va.gov The PWS includes software only support for IP Telephones. What level of services would the VA receive without this software support. Would VA technicians still have the ability to download latest code?

Background
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Information and Technology (OIT), aims to provide high-quality IT services to Veterans. This contract is focused on maintaining and supporting Cisco Systems, Inc. networking and communication devices that are crucial for VA's IT infrastructure. The goal is to ensure continuous support for over 420,000 Cisco branded devices, including routers, switches, servers, telephones, video devices, and wireless systems.

The contract will facilitate 24/7 support services including Cisco Smart Net Total Care (SNTC) and advanced engineering services.

Work Details
The contractor shall provide the following services:
1. **Cisco Smart Net Total Care Service (SNTC)** - Proactive and reactive technical support for VA staff with access to Cisco engineers and resources.
2. **Cisco Focused Technical Support Services** - Includes portal management, escalation support, and troubleshooting.
3. **Advanced Engineering Services** - Embedded engineers will assist with planning, design, configuration, implementation, and testing of Cisco-related infrastructure.
4. **Asset Management Tool** - A tool for tracking and managing products covered under the contract.
5. **Educational Credits** - To enhance the knowledge base of VA personnel.
6. **Project Management** - Including a Contractor Project Management Plan (CPMP) detailing approach and timeline.
7. **Monthly Reporting** - Status reports detailing work completed and issues encountered.
8. **Service Level Agreement Monitoring** - Regular monitoring of service levels with reports on performance metrics.
9. **Security Vulnerability Reporting** - Proactive notifications regarding critical security vulnerabilities affecting VA systems.

Period of Performance
The contract has a base period of one year starting from October 1, 2024, with four optional one-year extensions available, totaling up to five years.

Place of Performance
Tasks will primarily be performed at contractor facilities with some work at remote locations as agreed upon by the VA Program Manager.