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-
- GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
- Washington, DC 20405
-
-
- FIRMR BULLETIN C-18
-
- TO: Heads of Federal agencies
-
- SUBJECT: Federal Telecommunications System 2000 (FTS2000)
-
- 1. Purpose. This bulletin provides information on FTS2000
- contract services.
-
- 2. Expiration date. This bulletin contains information of a
- continuing nature and will remain in effect until canceled.
-
- 3. Contents.
-
- Topic Paragraph
-
- Related material..........................................4
- Information and assistance................................5
- Definitions...............................................6
- Acronyms..................................................7
- General...................................................8
- FTS2000 services and features.............................9
- Assignment of agencies to networks........................10
- Mandatory use of FTS2000 services.........................11
- Exceptions to the use of FTS2000..........................12
- Agency support............................................13
- Ordering of FTS2000 services..............................14
- FTS2000 pricing...........................................15
- FTS2000 and other acquisitions............................16
- Cancellation..............................................17
- FTS2000 Services/Features............................Attachment A
- Assignment of Organizations to Networks..............Attachment B
-
- 4. Related material.
-
- a. FIRMR 201-20.305-1
- b. FIRMR 201-24.101
-
- 5. Information and assistance.
-
- a. Further information and assistance can be obtained by
- contacting the Office of Network Services at the following
- locations:
-
-
- TC-90 Attachments
-
- FEDERAL INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT REGULATION
- APPENDIX B
- FIRMR Bulletin C-18
-
-
- (1) Service Oversight Center for Network "A" (SOC-A):
-
- General Services Administration
- Office of Network Services (KN)
- AT&T Service Oversight Center (SOC-A)
- 7980 Boeing Court
- Vienna, VA 22182-3988
-
- Telephone: (703) 760-7530 or FTS 393-7530
-
-
- (2) Service Oversight Center for Network "B" (SOC-B):
-
- General Services Administration
- Office of Network Services (KN)
- US Sprint Service Oversight Center (SOC-B)
- 13221 Woodland Park Road
- Herndon, VA 22071-3022
-
- Telephone: (703) 904-2923 or FTS 393-2923
-
- b. Questions regarding the mandatory use of FTS2000 contract
- services or requests for an exception to the use of FTS2000 should
- be directed to--
-
- General Services Administration
- Authorizations Branch (KMAS)
- 18th and F Sts., NW
- Washington, DC 20405
-
- Telephone: (202) 501-1566 or FTS 241-1566
-
- c. The contractors' points of contact are as follow:
-
- (1) Network "A":
-
- AT&T Federal System
- 7980 Boeing Court
- Mail Stop 70
- Attention: Service Order Department
- Vienna, VA 22182
-
- Telephone: (800) 462-1031
-
-
-
-
-
-
- 2
- FIRMR BULLETIN C-18
-
-
- (2) Network "B":
-
- US Sprint
- Federal Systems Division
- Attention: Account Management
- 13221 Woodland Park Road
- Herndon, VA 22071
-
- Telephone Number: (800) 366-3377
-
- d. FTS2000 rate schedules can be obtained from:
-
- National Technical Information Service
- Department of Commerce
- 5285 Port Royal Road
- Springfield, VA 22161
-
- Telephone: (703) 487-4600 or FTS 487-4600
-
- 6. Definitions.
-
- "Intercity" as it applies to FTS2000 services means a
- telecommunications transmission between two or more locations that
- cannot be accomplished within a local service area. The terms
- "intercity" and "long distance" have the same meaning.
-
- "Inherently long-distance feature" means a feature that can be
- provided only as part of or by a long-distance network.
-
- "Local service area" means within a 25 mile radius, within a Local
- Access and Transport Area (LATA), or within a metropolitan area.
-
- "Local network" means locations, within a local service area,
- interconnected by communications circuits.
-
- "Non-inherently long-distance features" means features that can be
- provided without the use of a long-distance network.
-
- "Government-furnished services" (GFS) are services directly
- acquired by the Government and subsequently made available to a
- contractor.
-
- 7. Acronyms.
-
- DAR Designated Agency Representative
- SOC Service Oversight Center
-
-
- 3
- FIRMR BULLETIN C-18
-
-
- 8. General. GSA awarded two ten-year, fixed-price contracts
- covering FTS2000 services on December 7, 1988. American Telephone
- and Telegraph Company (AT&T) was awarded the network "A" contract
- and U.S. Sprint Communications Company (U.S. Sprint) was awarded
- the network "B" contract.
-
- 9. FTS2000 services and features.
-
- a. The same services will be available on both networks to the
- extent practical and advantageous to the Government. The service
- categories of FTS2000 are:
-
- (1) Switched Voice Service for the transmission of voice
- or data up to 4.8 kilobits per second (kbps).
-
- (2) Switched Data Service for the digital transmission of
- data at 56 kbps and 64 kbps.
-
- (3) Switched Digital Integrated Service for the
- transmission of voice, data, image, and video at transmission rates
- of up to 1.544 megabits per second (mbps).
-
- (4) Packet Switched Service for the transmission of data
- in packet form.
-
- (5) Video Transmission Service for the transmission of
- both compressed and wideband video.
-
- (6) Dedicated Transmission Service for the point-to-point
- private line transmission of voice and data.
-
- b. Attachment A lists the features available for each category
- of FTS2000 service. Full use of FTS2000 features is dependent upon
- the capabilities of installed customer premise equipment.
-
- c. FTS2000 will sustain and enhance the Federal Government's
- National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NSEP) capabilities.
-
- d. As reflected in the FTS2000 solicitation and reaffirmed in
- General Services Board of Contract Appeals Decision No. 10450-P
- (February 28, 1990), GSA's intention is to maintain FTS2000 as
- state-of-the-art, up-to-date long-distance telecommunications
- services throughout the life of the contracts. Accordingly, GSA
- will make enhancements to the FTS2000 network in accordance with
- agencies' needs, contract clauses, governing regulations, and
- statutes. GSA will determine whether a requested change is within
- the scope of the FTS2000 contracts.
-
- 4
- FIRMR BULLETIN C-18
-
-
- e. FTS2000 is a services-only contract. No federal
- information processing equipment or customer premise equipment
- other than that which is required to provide an FTS2000 service
- will be furnished. To support some FTS2000 features, the FTS2000
- contractors will be required to provide service directly to an
- agency's terminal equipment interface. For example, the FTS2000
- contractor might provide a terminal adaptor to an agency location
- in order to connect FTS2000 ISDN services to the agency's terminal
- equipment.
-
- 10. Assignment of agencies to networks. Agencies are assigned to
- the networks on a whole agency basis to the extent possible.
- Attachment B lists the organizations assigned to each network.
-
- 11. Mandatory use of FTS2000 services. FIRMR section 201-24.101
- requires the use of FTS2000 network services by Federal agencies
- for all acquisitions subject to 40 U.S.C. 759.
-
- 12. Exceptions to the use of FTS2000.
-
- a. An agency may request and obtain an exception to the use
- of the FTS2000 network from GSA based on a determination that--
-
- (1) The agency's requirements are unique and cannot be
- satisfied by the FTS2000 network; and
-
- (2) The agency acquisition action for such requirements
- would be cost-effective and would not adversely affect the
- cost-effectiveness of the FTS2000 network; or
-
- b. An agency may request and obtain an interim exception to
- the use of the FTS2000 network from GSA based on an established
- date for transition to the FTS2000 network.
-
- c. A unique requirement is any requirement that cannot be
- satisfied by FTS2000, as ultimately determined by GSA, by the date
- that the requirement is needed. In order to achieve the most
- cost-effective acquisition for a unique requirement, agencies
- should prepare a benefit/cost analysis comparing the various
- alternatives that would satisfy that requirement. This analysis
- should examine only benefits and costs involved with satisfying the
- unique requirement. Agency traffic or services that are being met
- by or could be met by FTS2000 should not be part of the
- benefit/cost analysis nor should they be included in any of the
- alternatives. The following steps are required to perform the
- benefit/cost analysis:
-
-
-
- 5
- FIRMR BULLETIN C-18
-
-
- (1) Identify all reasonable alternatives; e.g., those
- alternatives that are both technologically and operationally
- feasible.
-
- (2) Identify all benefits and costs of each alternative
- over the project life cycle and estimate where in the cycle the
- benefits and costs will occur. The analysis should include the
- initial benefits and costs as well as all recurring and
- non-recurring benefits and costs. Non-quantifiable benefits and
- costs should be identified and discussed in the analysis.
-
- (3) The benefits and costs should then be discounted
- using the present value method. In this connection, applicable OMB
- management guidance should be followed. The alternatives can then
- be compared on the basis of their net present values. The
- alternative having the highest net present value would be
- considered the cost-effective alternative.
-
- d. If a requirement is unique and the resultant agency
- acquisition would be cost-effective, the rebuttable presumption is
- that the agency acquisition would not adversely affect the
- cost-effectiveness of FTS2000 network. However, when reviewing a
- request for an exception to the use of FTS2000, GSA may require
- additional information.
-
- e. If the agency does not plan to use FTS2000 services to
- satisfy a long-distance telecommunications requirement, the agency
- must request and obtain an exception to use of FTS2000 services
- from GSA in accordance with FIRMR section 201-24.101-2. GSA will
- make the determination on whether or not to grant an exception to
- the use of FTS2000.
-
- f. Agencies need not seek exception to the use of FTS2000
- services under FIRMR section 201-24.101 for requirements that were
- previously authorized and awarded under prior FIRMR provisions
- until the end of the current contract life for those requirements.
- However, agencies must use available FTS2000 network services that
- can satisfy their requirements upon completion of such contracts
- unless an exception to the use of FTS2000 is obtained from GSA.
-
- g. Before exercising renewal options under existing contracts
- that will result in the provision of long-distance
- telecommunications services after September 30, 1991, agencies
- shall obtain an interim exception to the use of the FTS2000
- network. This interim exception will allow GSA and the agencies
- time to plan an orderly transition to the FTS2000 network.
- Agencies should have completed their transition to FTS2000 or have
- a GSA agreed upon transition plan by September 30, 1991.
-
- 6
- FIRMR BULLETIN C-18
-
-
- h. FIRMR section 201-24.101 provides an exception to the use
- of all non-inherently intercity features of the FTS2000 when
- requirements for such features are satisfied within a local
- network. For example, some agency requirements for electronic
- mail, audio conferencing, or protocol conversion that can be
- satisfied either through a local network or through FTS2000
- services, may be implemented locally, if the agency finds it more
- beneficial.
-
- 13. Agency support.
-
- a. GSA is responsible for oversight management of the FTS2000
- contracts and performs these functions through two GSA FTS2000
- Service Oversight Centers (SOC), one for each network. The
- principal mission of each center is to oversee the day-to-day
- operation and administration of FTS2000 and to ensure contract
- compliance. These centers help resolve agency problems with
- FTS2000. This assistance includes help with FTS2000 pricing. The
- SOCs receive network performance and status information. Portions
- of this information is available to agencies via direct access.
- Agencies should contact their SOC for instructions on how to obtain
- this information.
-
- b. GSA's Telecommunications Customer Requirements Office will
- support agencies in identifying service requirements for FTS2000
- and in initiating actions to satisfy those requirements.
-
- 14. Ordering of FTS2000 services.
-
- a. Prior to ordering any new service, an agency must complete
- and sign an Interagency Agreement, an Agency Funding Document, and
- provide requirements estimates to GSA. Additional orders may be
- placed within the scope of the agreement.
-
- b. Designated agency representatives (DAR) will request
- FTS2000 services from their network contractor. The request may be
- submitted by mail, by telephone, or by direct electronic access
- (either dial-up or dedicated). The contractor reviews the request
- for feasibility and then submits it to the SOC. GSA personnel at
- the SOC will review the request to determine if it is within the
- scope of services available on FTS2000, has proper authorization,
- and to ensure funding is available from the Information Technology
- Fund. If approved, the SOC will then issue a service order to the
- contractor.
-
-
-
-
-
- 7
- FIRMR Bulletin C-18
-
-
- 15. FTS2000 pricing.
-
- a. At least until commercial computer models are available,
- GSA will assist agencies and vendors in FTS2000 cost evaluations.
- Vendors interested in agency solicitations should contact agencies
- on FTS2000 pricing questions. If agencies need further assistance
- in answering FTS2000 pricing questions, they should contact their
- SOC.
-
- b. FTS2000 switched voice service prices will be equivalent
- to or better than comparable commercially available prices. The
- primary source of competitive prices was the initial competition.
- Price redeterminations for switched voice and the other services
- may be done during the fourth and seventh years of the contracts on
- the basis of price and quality of service. Additionally, the
- prices of other services will be monitored throughout the contract
- and, if they appear to exceed the available commercial
- alternatives, the contractors will be notified. If issues are not
- resolved, GSA will consider other options.
-
- 16. FTS2000 and other acquisitions.
-
- a. When an agency's overall acquisition requirements include
- any long-distance telecommunications requirements that are within
- the scope of FTS2000 services, FIRMR section 201-24.101 applies to
- the telecommunications requirements. Accordingly, agencies shall
- require their contractors, in new awards subject to 40 U.S.C. 759,
- to satisfy any agency long-distance telecommunications services
- requirements by using the Government-furnished services of the
- FTS2000 network, as such services become available, unless GSA
- grants the agency an exception to the use of FTS2000 for that
- acquisition.
-
- b. FIRMR section 201-24.101-2 requires Federal agencies to
- satisfy long-distance telecommunications services requirements by
- using available Government-furnished FTS2000 contract services.
- The agency can:
-
- (1) Include in its solicitation an expected solution for
- the use of FTS2000. Offerors need not include the price of FTS2000
- services in their offers if they are using the expected solution.
- Offerors would be required to separately price Government-furnished
- services of FTS2000 only if their offers show a different use of
- FTS2000 than the Government's expected solution.
-
-
-
-
- 8
- FIRMR Bulletin C-18
-
-
- (2) Decide not to include an expected solution for the
- use of FTS2000. In this case, all offerors are required to
- separately price Government-furnished services of FTS2000 in their
- offers.
-
- c. Offerors should contact the soliciting agency for any
- questions regarding FTS2000, including pricing questions, during
- the solicitation. Offerors should clearly designate any
- proprietary information that they provide to the Government. The
- Government will take appropriate action to ensure the
- confidentiality of the material.
-
- d. Prior to contract award, an agency requiring assistance on
- FTS2000-related questions should contact GSA at the appropriate
- SOC. After contract award, an agency can continue to contact its
- SOC on FTS2000-related questions or talk with the FTS2000
- contractor directly.
-
- e. After contract award, the contractor should continue to
- work through the agency on FTS2000-related questions and also
- concerning any questions related to non-FTS2000 equipment. An
- agency may choose to give a letter of agency to the contractor,
- which would allow it to contact the GSA SOC or the FTS2000
- contractor directly, subject to agency discretion. However,
- service requests must be submitted to the SOC by the agency DAR.
-
- 17. Cancellation. This bulletin cancels FIRMR Bulletins 11, 12,
- 29, 33, 38, 43, and 60.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Thomas J. Buckholtz
- Commissioner
- Information Resources
- Management Service
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- 9
- FIRMR Bulletin C-18
- Attachment A
- FTS2000 SERVICES/FEATURES
-
- SWITCHED VOICE SERVICE
-
- Agency Recorded Announcements
- Uniform Numbering Plan
- On and Off Net Calling
- Network Intercept and
- Recorded Messages
- Call Screening and Blocking
- Conferencing Arrangements
- Meet-me
- Pre-set
- Add-on
- Attendant Assisted
- Attendant Service
- Authorization Codes
- Critical User Services
- Transmission of Data Up To 4.8 kbps
- Inward Station Access (800
- type Service)
- Inward Selected Access (800
- type Service with call
- prompting)
-
- SWITCHED DATA SERVICE
-
- Full-Duplex, Synchronous Data
- Transmission in a Digital
- Format at 56 & 64 kbps
- Authorization Codes
-
-
-
- DEDICATED TRANSMISSION SERVICE
-
- Voice Grade and Analog Data
- up to 4.8 kbps and at
- 9.6 kbps
- Full-Duplex, Synchronous,
- Digital Data at 9.6 kbps
- 56/64 kbps and
- 1.544 mbps
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- 1
- FIRMR Bulletin C-18
- Attachment A
-
- PACKET SWITCHED SERVICE
-
- Dial-Up Access
- Asynchronous Data
- Transmission at 300 bps,
- 1.2 kbps, and 2.4 kbps
- Synchronous Data
- Transmission at 4.8 kbps
- Electronic Mail
- Dedicated Access
- Voice Grade analog for
- speeds up to 4.8 kbps
- and at 9.6 kbps
- Digital Data Transmission
- at 9.6 kbps and 56 kbps
- CCITT X.25 Protocol
-
- VIDEO TRANSMISSION SERVICE
-
- Compressed and Wideband Video
- Two Way; Point to Point
- Interactive
- One Way; Point to Point or
- Multi-Point with Audio
- Return
- SWITCHED DIGITAL INTEGRATED SERVICE
-
- T-1 Interface
- Type 1 Standard Pulse Code
- Modulation (PCM)
- Type 2 Low Bit Rate PCM
- ISDN*
- Primary Rate Interface
- (PRI)
- Basic Rate Interface (BRI)
-
- * ISDN has a tentative availability of 1991-1992.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- 2
- FIRMR Bulletin C-18
- Attachment B
-
- ASSIGNMENT OF ORGANIZATIONS TO NETWORKS
-
- NETWORK "A"
-
- Action
- Administrative Conference of the United States
- Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
- Advisory Committee on Federal Pay
- Affirmative Action Committee
- Agency for International Development
- American Battle Monuments Commission
- Appalachian Regional Commission
- Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
-
- Board for International Broadcasting
-
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Commission of Fine Arts
- Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Other Severely
- Handicapped
- Consumer Product Safety Commission
-
- Delaware River Basin Commission
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Defense (Air Force, Army)
- Office of the Secretary
- Defense Contract Audit Agency
- Canada-United States Permanent Joint Board on Defense
- Defense Communications Agency
- Defense Investigative Service
- Defense Logistics Agency
- Defense Mapping Agency
- Department of Defense Inspector General (Defense Audit
- Service)
- Joint Mexican-United States Defense Commission
- Department of Education
- Department of Energy
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of the Interior
- Department of State
- Department of Transportation
- District of Columbia Public Service Commission
-
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Export-Import Bank of the United States
-
-
-
- 1
- FIRMR Bulletin C-18
- Attachment B
-
-
- ASSIGNMENT OF ORGANIZATIONS TO NETWORKS
-
- NETWORK "A" (CONTINUED)
-
- Federal Communications Commission
- Federal Election Commission
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Federal Labor Relations Authority
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
-
- Inter-American Foundation
-
- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
-
- Marine Mammal Commission
- Merit Systems Protection Board
-
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Capital Planning Commission
- National Commission on Libraries and Information Science
- National Gallery of Art
- National Science Foundation
- Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
-
- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
-
- Panama Canal Commission
- Peace Corps
- Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation
- Postal Rate Commission
-
- Railroad Retirement Board
-
- Selective Service System
- Securities and Exchange Commission
- Smithsonian Institution
-
- United Nations Information Center
- United Nations International Labor Office
- United States Mission to the United Nations
- United States/Japan Friendship Commission
-
-
-
-
-
- 2
- FIRMR Bulletin C-18
- Attachment B
-
- ASSIGNMENT OF ORGANIZATIONS TO NETWORKS TO NETWORK "B"
-
- Administrative Office of the United States Courts
-
- Commission on Civil Rights
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Council for State Governors
-
- Department of Defense (Navy)
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Department of Justice
- Department of Labor
- Department of the Treasury
- Department of Veterans Affairs
-
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Executive Office of the President
-
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Federal Maritime Commission
- Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
- Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
- Federal Trade Commission
-
- General Services Administration
-
- Institute of Museum Services
- Interstate Commerce Commission
-
- Judicial Branch
-
- National Archives and Records Administration
- National Credit Union Administration
- National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
- National Labor Relations Board
- National Mediation Board
- National Transportation Safety Board
-
- Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
- Office of Personnel Management
- Office of Thrift Supervision
-
- Public Defenders Service for the District of Columbia
-
- Small Business Administration
- State Governors Offices
-
- United States Information Agency
- United States International Trade Commission
- 3
-