Question 1: Are the 3 identified hardware suggestions (HP/IBM/Cisco) the only hardware platforms requested at this time? Or can another product be represented? Answer 1: Respondents must comply with the RFP Specifications and present solutions from the vendors specified. Question 2: In reference to the 3 Zero Client devices presently outlined, (HP/Dell WYSE/Cisco) can other manufacturer be considered? Answer 2: Respondents must comply with the RFP Specifications. Question 3: Does the Offeror also provide complete connection and configuration to Microsoft Cloud Services? Answer 3: APS is already Federated with Office 365 for Student accounts (Email, Sharepoint, etc.) The Offeror is responsible for leveraging the student s Sharepoint Online space for their document storage and accessing their profile data. Question 4: In section 3.6 Server Platform, three specific server platforms are specified (HP, IBM and Cisco). As discussed in the RFP meeting, please verify that other server vendors can also, since these are simply provided templates. Answer 4: APS will not introduce another Server manufacturer to support into their environment. Respondents must comply with the RFP Specifications and present HP, IBM or Cisco blade servers. Question 5: In section 3.7 HP, Dell Wyse and Cisco are specified for zero clients. As some of these products are OEM versions of alternative manufacturers, will alternative cost and performance equal thin clients be accepted? Answer 5: Respondents must comply with the RFP Specifications and present solutions from the vendors specified. Question 6: In section 3.8 VDI Accelerators, only three solutions are mentioned for use as a VDI accelerator. Since the purpose of the VDI accelerator is to increase performance without the use of any traditional SAN connectivity, can other solutions be used? Specifically the NexentaVSA for View SAN-less VDI deployment tool? Answer 6: Respondents must comply with the RFP Specifications and present solutions from the vendors specified. Question 7: In order for all manufacturers to honor the hardware warranties, all server memory, disk drives, processors, and internal components must be original OEM components. Please confirm that you wish to be compliant with manufacturer warranties. Answer 7: Yes, Offerors must present solutions that comply with all manufacturer warranties. Question 8: It appears all of the options listed (hard drives, memory, processors) are for the Cisco, HP, and IBM Intel server configurations. Please confirm. Page 1
Answer 8: Confirmed. Question 9: Since HP, IBM, and Cisco all have different part numbers for hard drives, memory, processors, do you want pricing for all these optional components listed for each manufacturer. We are referring to Attachment A, Optional Components. Answer 9: Yes, for the manufacturer that you are presenting for your solution. Question 10: In order to compare apples to apples, would you like the response to include all manufacturers part numbers for the configs in Section 3.17 to 3.22 (Pages 6 and 7)? Answer 10: Each Offeror must choose which product they will present as part of their solution from each category. Only include Manufacturer part numbers for the products you are offering. Question 11: Section 2.3.b.2 Will the creation of student ID s in Office 365 be the responsibility of the vendor? Answer 11: No, this is already complete and is maintained by APS personnel. Question 12: Section 2.3.b.2 Will the migration of any student data or profile information from the current systems to Office 365 be the responsibility of the vendor? Answer 12: The successful Offeror will be responsible for integrating with the existing Student Office 365 environment. Question 13: Section 2.4.a.4 Will APS entertain options in which the requirement to push Windows 7 to the end-users device is minimized? Answer 13: Offerors must comply with the requirements contained within the RFP. Question 14: Section 2.4.b.1 Is the primary objective of this RFP to push Windows 7, or deliver student, teacher, and parent content and applications? Answer 14: Both. Question 15: Section 3.4.b The RFP states, will require the flexibility to add additional licenses for the same cost per license How long does APS require the initial per connection price guarantee to be honored? Answer 15: For the length of the contract. Question 16: Section 3.13 Does APS expect any residual value of the removed equipment to be returned to APS? Answer 16: No, for most items. In some situations, hardware purchased with restricted funds must be retained by APS and cannot be removed by the successful Offeror. This should represent less than 10% of the equipment to be removed. Page 2
Question 17: Section 6.12 (Section 2.h) Is the current APS Active Directory federated with Office 365, or will that be the responsibility of the vendor? Answer 17: The process is complete. This will not be a vendor responsibility. Question 18: Section 6.12 (Section 2.l) This section requires the vendor to guarantee pricing for the term of the life of the contract. Section 8.2 states that the contract shall be for one 1 base year with four (4) one-year renewal options. Does APS intend for the vendor to guarantee pricing for all five (5) years without the guarantee of renewal? Answer 18: Yes. Question 19: In several sections of the RFP, the word streaming is used. Is this a generic word to describe application deliver, or a technical term meaning the application will be streamed to the end users device? Answer 19: a technical term meaning the application will be streamed to the end users device Question 20: Is it the intent of APS to award this contract to a single prime vendor? Answer 20: Yes. Question 21: We noticed that in the VDI proposal section titled "3.7 Zero Clients" In order to provide the best value to the district, units from HP, Dell Wyse and Cisco are being specified for this solicitation. Is HP, Dell, Wyse and Cisco the only sets that would be considered? Which we have deployed in several other places, the solution does function with VMware View. Answer 21: Only manufacturers specified in the solicitation will be considered. Question 22: The line items below 3-8 should not be in the Virtualization Technology portion at the top. These items are related to the entire vmware server environment and not just VDI. These options should be priced in the ALTERNATE Pricing section that begins on line 66. These ARE NOT required to meet the functional requirements of VDI as outlined in this RFP. VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY 3 VMware vcenter Operations Manager for View (Concurrent Users) Licenses 8,000 4 VMware vcenter Operations Manager for View - 1 Year Basic Support (Concurrent Users) Licenses 8,000 5 VMware vcenter Site Recovery Manager 5 Enterprise Licenses 200 6 VMware vcenter Site Recovery Manager 5 Enterprise - 1 Year Basic Support Licenses 200 7 VMware vcenter Operations Management Suite Enterprise 5.0 Licenses 200 VMware vcenter Operations Management Suite Enterprise 5.0-1 Year Basic 8 Support Licenses 200 Page 3
Answer 22: Pricing sheet is updated with this addendum. Question 23: The NetScalers you specify are, as we advised you, models MPX-11500 for the main data center and 9500 s for the DR site. However, since the beginning of APS s architecture design process, Citrix has begun shipping an updated HW platform which overlaps with the MPX-9500s. These are the MPX 8200, 8400, & 8600 models. The MPX-8400 Platinum is priced exactly the same as the 9500 Platinum and has these benefits: - The 8400s are rated at 4Gbps system throughput. The 9500s are rated at 3Gbps. - The 8400s come standard with two 10Gbps SFP+ ports. The 9500s do not have 10Gbps ports available. - The 8400s are designed with updated processors, more memory, and a Lights Out Management port. - The 8400s are SDX HW capable. (SDX is Citrix s multitenant/consolidation services offering. SDX SW for that platform is a future for us). With all that said, the MPX-9500s are still a completely viable platform which we will sell if you wish. Citrix s HW Lifecycle policy mandates a minimum of 5 years from the EOS announcement before the platform can enter EOM/EOL, and we have not announced any end of life on these models. Our recommendation is that you purchase this newer model, the MPX-8400 for the DR site. We don t want to slow the process, but felt this is important for you to know. How would you like to proceed? Answer 23: Pricing sheet is updated with this addendum. Question 24: In section 3.5 you state: In a Citrix environment e. APS will utilize Access Gateway/NetScaler hardware appliances for secure remote access and load balancing. And In a Vmware view environment e. APS will utilize Netscaler hardware appliances for load balancing. The question is: in a View environment does APS wish to use NetScalers for secure remote access? If so, partners will have to include the universal access license. If not, how will secure remote access be achieved with this solution? Answer 24: Universal Access is not needed in a VMWare/Netscaler proposal. Universal Access for VMWare proposals is not a requirement for this solution. Question 25: The RFP states no SAN and to use local SSD storage in the Hypervisor host servers. Please verify that this is the case. Answer 25: Present a solution that matches the specifications of the RFP. Question 26: The RFP includes detailed configurations including all part numbers and quantities for the Cisco, HP, and IBM server configurations. Please confirm that you wish to see the Cisco, HP, and IBM server configurations WITH VDI ACCELERATION TECHNOLOGY detailed in the same way showing all manufacturer part numbers and quantities. This relates in particular to the Fusion IO acceleration technology since complete new server Page 4
configurations will need to be included in the RFP response if a vendor is proposing a server solution using this technology. Answer 26: If presenting a solution leveraging Fusion-IO, provide the appropriate server configuration to match the requested specs. Question 27: When using some models to support Citrix ICA/HDX, some manufacturers clients enhance the ICA/HDX protocols by adding key features to make each more valuable (multi-display, USB redirection, multimedia acceleration, and flash acceleration). Please advise where the annual TCX Suite software cost should be included in the Citrix Price Form response as only additional hardware or support is referenced. Answer 27: The TCX software is specific to one Zero Client Manufacturer and would be included in their licensing costs. It is not part of the Citrix licensing. Question 28: Please confirm the selected vendor will be installing all of the zero clients in the schools. Answer 28: Confirmed. Question 29: What is meant by loose leaf paper? neither? Do you not want the responses bound or in binders or Answer 29: The documents should not be bound in a manner that damages the documents if the binding is removed. A binder with hole punched paper is acceptable. Question 30: Would APS consider granting an extension of the proposal due date due to the highly technical nature of the response? We are requesting sufficient time to engage our team of engineers in order to offer APS a complete solution to adequately meet all of your needs. Should APS extend the proposal due date, would you also consider granting an extension for clarification questions to allow sufficient time for review and additional clarification? Answer 30: The deadline is firm. Question 31: The RFP specifically asks for, Offeror to provide written validation that each manufacturer included in the solution has certified the architecture and design of the solution before starting the pilot phase of the project. Has APS confirmed that the architecture proposed will support the environment? Is it expected that liability will fall on the Offeror, should the solution that APS is asking for does not work as expected? In addition, if there are changes by the time we complete implementation, based on the manufacturer s feedback or our engineer s suggestions, does the Offeror have the flexibility to make suggestions and/or changes to the proposed solution? Answer 31: The solution must work as expected by APS. Changes in technologies from the proposed vendors that impact the proposed solution, between now and implementation, will be considered on an as needed basis. Question 32: The RFP states that all existing applications will need to be supported by this solution, but we did not see a list of applications included. Could you please provide this information? Has APS completed your own Application Analysis to ensure these applications can be supported in a VDI environment? Page 5
Answer 32: Primary applications are Windows 7, Office 2010 and Internet Explorer (Office 365, Sharepoint and many other browser based applications). There are only a handful of traditional client/server apps being used by students and that number is declining over time. Question 33: There are original equipment manufacturers (OEM) other than HP, Wyse, Dell and Cisco, that have zero/thin client product available that APS should consider due to the benefits. One of these is a Cloud Stand that provides the same functionality as a traditional VESA-mounted zero or thin client (box) with the ability to utilize existing monitor assets that allows a fully integrated all in one solution. One OEM s Cloud Stand integrates key components (monitor and zero/thin client functionality) for a more unified desktop allowing quick set up time, reduced cable management and a cleaner desktop. Other benefits of the Cloud Stand option are ease of installation, flexibility to use legacy monitors, ergonomics, etc. By allowing this technology as an alternate OEM submission it will increase competition with potential savings. Will APS allow OEM s other than the 4 listed to offer their solution which will benefit APS customers? Please confirm that alternate proposals will be accepted. Answer 33: Offerors must comply with the specifications of the RFP. Question 34: What is the core network infrastructure (core switch and router)? Answer 34: Currently, APS has two Cisco 6509 s at the core with three Cisco 6513 s at the Distribution layer. Question 35: Will cabling be provided by APS wholly or partially? If partially, what will the offeror be responsible for? Answer 35: APS will be responsible for cabling. Question 36: What are the WAN link speeds, types, and carriers for each remote school, and the breakdown of endpoints/school? Answer 36: Currently ENA provide 100Mbps MetroE circuits to every district site. Over the next two years, these will be upgraded to 10+Gbps connections to every site. Question 37: Will the new equipment be delivered for APS employees to deploy, or will the vendor be responsible for the delivery and deployment of the new equipment within the schools? Answer 37: The vendor will be responsible. Question 38: Will APS be removing the old equipment from the desks and packing the equipment to be available for pickup on the dock, or will this be the Vendor s responsibility to pack, wrap, and ship? Answer 38: The vendor will be responsible. Question 39: Is there a determined refresh schedule rate, i.e., number of units per school, per month, planned? (Example: 25 units per week, per school, etc.) Page 6
Answer 39: The goal is to complete the 3 school pilots in the Spring and be ready for District-wide deployment starting after schools get out at the end of May. We would like for the project to be completely wrapped up by the end of 2013, at the latest. Question 40: Will a school be completely implemented at the same time or room by room. And will equipment be all old equipment be picked up at the same time or in multiple trips? Answer 40: Scheduling will be determined as part of the staging and piloting process. APS will work with the vendor to develop a schedule that has the least amount of impact to student instruction. Question 41: Are you open for Atlantis Computing to offer a disk-backed solution to offer a more apples-toapples comparison to FusionIO and Whiptail? Answer 41: Provide a response that complies with the RFP specifications. ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS Randall Sellers, Director, Procurement Services Page 7