CONTRACTING DEPARTMENT

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2 A. The following are questions received and FCS s responses for the above-referenced solicitation: 1. What is current version of VMware being utilized by FCS? FCS is currently using versions 5.1, 5.5, and Does FCS plan to move the current versions of VMware at the implementation of the proposed solution? What version(s)? We will deploy VMware This section describes the data center core elements of 41 virtual servers, 15 physical Windows servers, and 4 SAN storage systems. The virtual server and SAN storage requirements are defined in the Equipment Specifications section 4.1 but where are the physical Windows server requirements defined? They do not need to be defined here. 4. Server Specification #2 requires a minimum of 80GB iscsi connectivity. Should this be 80 GB iscsi connectivity? We need a minimum of 8 x 10G FIBER Ethernet connections. 5. Can you expand on the meaning FCS has for Managed Services? Does FCS desire monitoring and management services for the new infrastructure? FCS desires proposals that would allow FCS to choose various types of managed services ranging from help desk, to deployments, to on-site support, at the discretion of FCS. 6. Will FCS be installing the VMware environment? Or do you want the Offeror to install? FCS wants the option to do both. 7. Will the Offeror be migrating applications? If yes, how many and provide descriptions? Are the applications being migrated certified with the VMware version that FCS will be implementing? This is beyond the scope of this proposal. Applications will be migrated when they are supported. 8. What is the current FCS backup solution in use today? Barracuda and CommVault. 9. Is FCS seeking options only or a recommendation for a backup solution? FCS is seeking options and recommendations for a potential future backup solution. 10. What is FCS seeking with regard to Cloud storage? For backups? Or to supplement the SAN? FCS is seeking hosted and hybrid cloud solutions for off-site backups, supplemental storage, X As A Service, etc. 11. How many teachers and staff could potentially contact the Help desk? This section is describing the vendor s help desk for supporting the server hardware. FCS techs will be contacting this support. 12. Is the Help Desk s only purpose for the proposed hardware infrastructure? See above answer. 13. Would the Help Desk calls include any other support needs? If yes, please describe. See above answer.

3 14. What are the maximum storage IOPS required per virtual machine? There is no specific requirement. 15. Is this going to be a virtualized environment? Yes. 16. If so what is the virtualization platform? VMware. 17. Want to confirm if you re looking for 10 ports of 10G Ethernet for each server. Yes of the 400GB Solid State SAS with 2 Fusion I/O SX300 SSD Storage cards, is this multiple options or required for each server? Required for each server. 19. Is FCSD considering a blade center rather than 2U Rack servers? FCS does not desire a blade solution. 20. Will the SAN be part of this environment? Could the requirements listed above moved to the SAN instead of the server? SAN will be part of this environment and no, requirements listed above cannot be moved to the SAN instead of the server. 21. Are 3 tiers of storage in the SAN a requirement, or are there specific workloads that need to be met? 3 tiers of storage in the SAN is a requirement. 22. Is the hardware requested in the proposal slated to replace the current hardware that is supporting the 41 VM hosts and 15 Physical Windows servers? 23. Will both physical and virtual workloads need to be migrated to the new hardware? Yes, both will be placed on the new hardware. 24. Is there any other operating system other than Microsoft Windows installed on a physical server that will need to be supported on the proposed configuration? Not at this time but perhaps Linux in the future for physical servers. 25. What is FCS current licensing level and version with VMware? FCS current licensing levels are 5.1, 5.5, and 6.0 Enterprise Plus. 26. Does FCS currently utilize VMware SRM? FCS will implement this within the next 12 months. 27. What switches does FCS use for 10GbE fabric? Brocade VDX. 28. Will FCS require SFP+ for all 10GbE connections? Yes, we also use Twinax whenever possible. 29. With regard for the FCS requirement, for Two (2) Fusion I/O SX300 SSD storage cards or equivalent for use with VMware 6.0 VSAN technology, what is the total capacity with both cards? Each card should have a minimum of 1.8TB of capacity.

4 30. Does FCS have a total IOPS and usable capacity at what raid level for the SSD tier? FCS is requesting virtualized storage and this type of storage has no RAID level requirements. 31. Does FCS have a total IOPS and usable capacity at what raid level for the PCIE accelerator tier? 32. What are the applications for the ten 10GbE ports, (i.e., dual connect for production, management, vmotion, storage)? FCS uses all of the above and many are used for hot and cold standby. 33. What is the average expected VMware count per server? No average is available. 34. What is the expected time to arrive onsite for the 5 year critical care requirement 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, next business day? 4 hours is the minimum, every day. 35. Was Server Specification #2 going to be renamed storage configuration #1 or something similar? This was mentioned at the bidder s conference. 36. As discussed at the bidder s conference, can FCS confirm the capacity of the storage configuration that was listed under Server Specification #2 for the 9.64TB of Tier II requirement? The question asked was this supposed to be 96.4TB of Tier II capacity? This was addressed in the addendum. 37. There were a couple of possible typos in the bid that were to be addressed quickly, and I have not seen an addendum posted since the pre-bid conference. We are working on the SAN configuration and there was a possible typo with those requirements. Can you please address? This was addressed in the addendum. 38. Is FCS interested in a Managed Cloud Deployment in lieu of a Physical Hardware/software upgrade of FCS existing Data Center(s)? FCS desires both. 39. Is FCS allowing vendors to bid on certain items of the RFP vs all of the items in the RFP (Bid on Section 4.2, page 29 without bidding on Section 4.1, page 28)? FCS desires a single vendor for the entire RFP but reserves the right to award to multiple vendors if a single vendor cannot provide all components of the RFP with the best value to FCS. 40. Is the 9.64TB of Tier II storage correct or is that a typo that should read 96.4TB? Can you please restate the tiering requirements for Server Spec 2? This was addressed with the Addendum. 41. Item 3 (RFP page 26) indicates the Scope of Service to include establishing a co-located DR site. We assume this means this will be a non-fcs facility that is not presently available to FCS, established for Disaster Recovery purposes. Is this correct? Correct.

5 42. Has a co-location provider been selected? If not, is the evaluation and selection of the colocation provider part of the scope of service? A co-location provider has not been selected. The evaluation and selection of the colocation provider can be part of the scope of service if the vendor has something to offer. 43. Are all application/database/system workloads now migrated from the old data center (Westlake High School) to the primary Data Center (Powers Ferry), such that only DR instances of these applications exist at the old data center? Or do some application/database/system workloads need to be migrated from old data center to the new data center.and then DR instances of these applications moved from old data center to the new co-location DR site? FCS is in the process of migrating from the old data center to the new location and will seek a future co-location hosted DR solution. 44. Can FCS OIT elaborate on what application/database/system workloads will need to be migrated (old data center to new data center, old data center to new co-located DR site)? There are numerous applications referenced on RFP page 29 (top of page). i. Old data center to new data center includes applications/database/system workloads to be migrated? ii. Old data center to new co-located DR site includes applications/database/system workloads to be migrated? FCS is asking for example pricing of professional services. There are no specific projects underway that this proposal will address. 45. Item 3 (RFP page 26) indicates the Scope of Service includes expanding the VMware environment. Can the FCS OIT team elaborate on the scope of expanding the VMware environment, in context of existing physical and virtual servers and the VMware products recently purchased in the VMware Enterprise License Agreement? What VMware products are presently in use today? What versions? FCS currently use VMware 5.1, 5.5, 6.0, vrealize, SRM, NSX, and VSAN. 46. What VMware products are presently owned but not implemented? (e.g. VMware vsan, VMware NSX, VMware vrealize Suite, VMware Site Recovery Manager, etc.) NSX and SRM have not been deployed as of the release of this addendum. 47. How does the FCS OIT team envision expanding the VMware environment with these tools and others? FCS has no specific answer to this question. 48. Would the consulting services for these VMware scope expansion activities be paid for by the PSO credits under the recently awarded VMware ELA? Or outside of that RFP/procurement vehicle? Outside of the PSO credits, FCS is asking for example professional service offerings for future projects. There are no specific projects being addressed by this proposal.

6 49. Item 3 (RFP page 26) indicates the Scope of Service to include cloud storage deployment. We assume this means acquisition of cloud storage solution(s) and deployment/migration of selected data to the cloud storage solution(s), correct? Yes, FCS is currently purchasing and plans to continue purchasing cloud storage solutions. 50. What cloud storage solution(s) does FCS already own (e.g. Barracuda backup, Microsoft Azure)? Azure and VMware vcloud. 51. What applications or databases are targeted for deployment/migration of selected data to the cloud storage solution(s)? FCS has not specified workloads to be deployed in the cloud yet. 52. Is FCS OIT asking for inclusion of new cloud storage deployment solutions (software, hardware, services) in this RFP? If so, where..and where should these be described and priced? FCS is asking for professional services and things like cloud storage to be proposed as value added ancillary services. Provide examples of what you have to offer along with a basic pricing model. 53. Item 3 (RFP page 26) indicates the Scope of Service to include expanding all network functionality to new hardware technologies. Can FCS OIT elaborate on this scope? Does this mean that the FCS network will simply add the additional server and storage nodes to the existing core network? Or is there a fundamental core network re-design anticipated including consulting services (e.g. to cover the new co-location DR, the existing data center, schools, etc.?) FCS has no current re-design in mind. FCS desires a dynamic solution that can adapt to future technologies to include vendors who provide industry leading solutions. 54. Item 4.2 (RFP page 29) indicates professional services for Hardware and Environment Monitoring Capabilities. Is this capability anchored around specific software tools presently owned by FCS (e.g. Microsoft System Center, SolarWinds, other tools)? If so, which one(s)? Or is it tied to software that is not yet owned by FCS but would potentially be acquired under this RFP? Is FCS OIT asking for inclusion of new hardware and environment monitoring capabilities / solutions (software, hardware, services) in this RFP? If so, where..and where should these be described and priced? Does the pricing table on RFP page 63 (including the 9 different roles for skillsets) include one or more roles that would perform hardware and environment monitoring capabilities? If so, which one(s)? response at the discretion of the vendor and their capabilities. 55. Item 4.2 (RFP page 29) indicates professional services for Consulting Services. Are the consulting services specifically to achieve the Scope of Service outlined in item 3 (RFP page 26) [including establish a co-located DR site, expand the VMware environment, cloud storage deployment, growing demand for storage, expand all network functionality to new hardware technologies] or are there other/additional objectives designed to be accomplished by the Consulting Services?

7 In the pricing table on RFP page 63 (including the 9 different roles for skillsets) intended to be inclusive of all roles necessary for the consulting services to be accomplished? If not, should additional descriptions be added to the pricing table in the RFP response for additional resources? response at the discretion of the vendor and their capabilities. The vendor can propose additional options, roles, and pricing. 56. Item 4.2 (RFP page 29) indicates professional services for Managed Services and On-site Support. Can FCS OIT elaborate on Managed Services in this context? Is this primarily Staff Augmentation services that supplement the existing OIT team to provide specific skillsets and perform specific activities as directed by FCS OIT? Or is Managed Services providing a turnkey/outsourced solution for a specific scope of activities? Can FCS OIT elaborate on On-Site Support in this context? We assume this means a resource matching a specific skillset who is resident on-site, and providing support for a specific technology area? Does the pricing table on RFP page 63 include the 9 different types of Managed Services and On-site Support sought by FCS? If the pricing table on RFP page 63 does not include pricing for Managed Services and On-site Support where should these offerings and prices be described? response at the discretion of the vendor and their capabilities. The vendor can propose additional options, roles, and pricing. 57. Item 4.2 (RFP page 29) indicates professional services for Application and System Deployment offerings. Can FCS OIT elaborate on the meaning of Application and System Deployment by providing examples of specific applications and systems to be deployed? Are these new system deployments? Or system migrations from one location to another, or repurposing systems for other/new purposes? Does the pricing table on RFP page 61/62 include the line items for pricing system deployment (basic rack/stack/configuration) or does deployment have a different meaning than basic rack/stack/configuration? If the pricing table on RFP page 61/62 does not include pricing for application and system deployment offerings where should these offerings and prices be described? Does the pricing table on RFP page 63 include the role names (#1-9) inclusive of Application and System Deployment offerings? If not, where should these offerings and prices be described? response at the discretion of the vendor and their capabilities. The vendor can propose additional options, roles, and pricing. 58. Item 4.2 (RFP page 29) indicates professional services for data backup options. Today, we understand FCS performs data backup with Barracuda appliances including their cloud options, and FCS has acquired limited space on Microsoft Azure for storage (backup/recovery, etc.). Are the professional services for data backup options tied to these/other existing FCS-owned solutions or tied to new data backup options that may be purchased through this RFP?

8 Is FCS OIT asking for inclusion of new data backup solutions (software, hardware, services) in this RFP? If so, where..and where should these be described and priced? response at the discretion of the vendor and their capabilities. The vendor can propose additional options, roles, and pricing. 59. Item 4.2 (RFP page 29) indicates professional services for cloud storage, IAS, PAS offerings. Today, we understand FCS performs data backup with Barracuda appliances including their cloud options, and FCS has acquired limited space on Microsoft Azure for storage (backup/recovery, etc.). Are the professional services for cloud storage, IAS, PAS offerings tied to these/other existing FCS-owned solutions or tied to new cloud storage/ias/pas offerings that may be purchased through this RFP? Is FCS OIT asking for inclusion of cloud storage, IAS, PAS offerings (software, hardware, services) in this RFP? If so, where..and where should these be described and priced?? response at the discretion of the vendor and their capabilities. The vendor can propose additional options, roles, and pricing. 60. Item 4.2 (RFP page 29) indicates professional services for Any other offering or capability that would benefit the District and include examples of services offered and a pricing framework. Where should these be described and priced? Should these be using supplemental documentation as noted on page 60 of the RFP? Provide services examples and pricing in the section where the information is asked in the RFP. 61. For the Proposal (RFP page 35) -- Section II: Technical Capabilities is the focus of the offeror s response to be in context of Item 3 (RFP page 26) focusing on the Scope of Service? Yes, plus anything additional the vendor would like to add. 62. For the Proposal (RFP page 35) -- Section II: Technical Capabilities please distinguish the differences between B.1.3 (page 35) and B.1.4 (page 36) as these sound very similar. FCS has no response to this question. 63. In the Pricing Table (RFP page 61) item C - On-site, on-call Tier II server/storage support technician we assume this resource would be dedicated to FCS, located on-site, for a period of either one year or 3 years, tied to the co-location DR facility. Is that correct? Or is it also applicable to the main data center (Powers Ferry)? Or both? Both. 64. If an Offeror is already under contract to perform these services for existing server/storage technology, should the description and pricing of the existing contract be reiterated here? This is at the vendor s discretion. 65. In the Pricing Table (RFP page 61) item D - On-site, on-call Service Desk technician for one year (quoted at 40 hours/week) we assume this resource would become a member of the existing FCS Help Desk / Service Desk team, correct? Correct.

9 66. Is the role designed to be a Level 1 technician (answer calls, log nature of incident, coordinate and document resolution with and through L2 / L3 resources) spanning all types of calls and all types of technologies? Or is the role designed to be a Level 2 or Level 3 technician specifically tied to the selected server/storage solutions? L1 / L If an Offeror is already under contract to perform these types of L1 services, should the description and pricing of the existing contract be reiterated here? This is at the vendor s discretion. 68. In the Pricing Table (RFP page 62) item F - Cost derivatives/adjustments can FCS OIT elaborate on the intent of this line item? And what a sample response would be? (Example: Is this intended to provide FCS OIT with an understanding of future hardware costs or cost increases? Future software costs or cost increases? Future services costs or cost increases?) FCS desires a way to calculate estimated future costs. Examples might be a percentage off the list price, percentage off the state contract pricing, or percentage of expected future increase in cost stated in the RFP by the vendor. 69. In the Pricing Table (RFP page 63) number 10. Is the information for the Offeror to provide in this area tied to the pricing associated with numbers 1-9? Or is this where additional offerings and prices should be listed? FCS wants no surprises, submit potential surprise costs to all services priced in the cost section. 70. In the Pricing Table (RFP page 63) number 11. Please elaborate on what CCSD is? CCSD is a typographical error and can be ignored. 71. In the Pricing Table (RFP page 63) number 12. Please define what or where Attachment A is? (We were unable to locate an Attachment A) Error, Attachment A should have read APPENDIX IV. 72. What provisions have been made for the handling of old hardware? Outside the scope of this RFP. 73. Regarding your Disaster Recovery site, what is the minimum distance requested/required between the site and existing Data Centers? 35 miles is desired. 74. Regarding your Disaster Recovery site, what is the maximum distance requested/required between the site and existing Data Centers? It depends on if the solution is co-location or X As A Service. There is no limitation for X As A Service. Co-location would be potentially 50 miles. 75. Are the sites located only in GA? US only. 76. What is FCS DR strategy going forward? Data protection and high availability.

10 77. Will the data in sites be balanced and/or replicated between the sites, or will there be separation of responsibilities and/or access? Replicated and balanced for high availability. 78. Does FCS want to place hardware in Disaster Recovery site or leverage IAAS, (Infrastructure As A Service)? Does FCS want the offeror to supply the hardware, or just want to pay for the service? Does FCS want to leverage the Cloud? FCS is ready to see proposals for all of the above. 79. How are FCS s locations connecting to the Data Centers? AT&T Metro-E. 80. What speed? 2G up to 10G depending on type of site and student population. 81. What is the average bandwidth at locations accessing data? 2G to 10G. 82. What is the connectivity between Data Centers and FCS sites? 2G up to 10G depending on type of site and student population. 83. Is there growing demand for storage? What is the annual growth rate percentage, actual for the last 3 years? 84. What is the expected growth rate percentage for the next 5 years? 85. What is the status of existing network? Outside the scope of this RFP. 86. Can FCS supply a schematic of their current Network? Outside the scope of this RFP. 87. Does FCS have available space and infrastructure for the new and old equipment to co-exist? Yes 88. Does FCS have sufficient racks? Yes 89. Does FCS have sufficient power? Yes 90. Does FCS have a sufficient network? Yes 91. Does FCS want the offeror to consolidate? No 92. Does FCS want 2U servers only? 2U and 4U. 93. Will FCS consider Blades? Blades are not an option at this time. 94. Why is FCS asking for so much storage capacity on the local servers if there is a SAN? VMware vsan technology is used by FCS.

11 95. What is the intended/expected use of the storage in your non virtual servers? VMware vsan technology is used by FCS. 96. FCS will be replicating data to "Other" storage arrays. What are your existing SAN configurations? Compellent. 97. Do they include your actual and expected from question #7, above? N/A. 98. Are the 2U configurations only for storage? 99. FCS currently has 500 virtual machines. What, if any, is the anticipated growth in virtual machines? 100. What are FCS s current recovery Target Actuals? 101. What are FCS current recovery Target Objectives? 102. What are ideal backup retention schedules for mail? 6 months to 1 year for DR purposes 103. What are ideal backup retention schedules for SQL? 6 months to 1 year for DR purposes 104. What are ideal backup retention schedules for files? 6 months to 1 year for DR purposes 105. What kind of Support is FCS looking for? 4 hours minimum every day How does FCS want to submit Tickets? Phone Support? Customer Portal? Support? All of the above What are FCS expected Service Level Agreements? What are FCS expected Service Level Objectives? 108. Are you looking to provide training for End Users? 109. Are you looking to provide training for Support Staff? Yes Are you looking to provide training for Administrators? 111. Are you looking to provide training for Developers?