Request for Information - IT Support for DABS Existing Data Center, New Disaster Recovery Center and Load Centers

Dear Interested Offerors,The U.S Agency for International Development Mission in Afghanistan (USAID/Afghanistan) is issuing this Request for information (RFI) in order to identify sources that can fulfil the subject requirement as fully described in Attachment 1 “Draft Statement of Work (SOW)”.USAID requests all interested parties to review and comment on Attachment 1. All responses or questions to this RFI must be submitted in writing by the due date via email to kbloaaoiteam@usaid.gov. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted.This RFI is solely issued to gather information for planning purposes as an attempt to identify capabilities of potential offerors and to gain feedback on the draft SOW (Attachment 1). Therefore, interested offerors are advised that any information submitted may be used to inform the development of the anticipated SOW. This RFI is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP), a solicitation, or an indication that

USAID will contract for the requirement contained in this RFI.  Interested offerors are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested Offeror’s expense.  Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.  If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Contract Opportunities website currently located at beta.SAM.GOV. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor the federal contract opportunity site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.The Product and NAICS codes for the equipment and services listed under this RFI are as follows:Product Service Code: D325 – IT AND TELECOME – DATA CENTERS AND STORAGENAICS Code: 423430 – COMPUTER AND COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE MERCHANT WHOLESALERSGeneral guidelines/ Submission Instructions for responses: Responses to this RFI shall include the following as a minimum:Title - Please include the title “IT Support for DABS Existing Data Center, New Disaster Recovery Center and Load Centers” Project in the subject line of your e-mail and/or attachment (if applicable) Business Type - Indicate your organization type (e.g. U.S, Non-U.S., small business, large business).  The information collected from this RFI will be used to help make planning decisions and will not be released publicly.Organizational Capabilities relative to the draft SOW - Please provide your relevant organizational capabilities relative to the draft SOW in Attachment 1.  Respondees may include organizational information such as: past performance or other information relevant to an organization’s ability to successfully perform the tasks outlined in this RFI. Past Performance information or any other relevant information is limited to one (1) page.Technical feedback on the draft SOW – suggestions, comments or questions on the attached SOW.Response Format:Please provide one (1) electronic copy of your response in PDF and Microsoft Word format in one email to Kbloaaoiteam@usaid.gov.  Response format guidelines: Responses should not exceed five (5) pages (not including cover page) total typed, 12-point Times New Roman font, single-spaced with one-inch margins on the electronic equivalent of 8.5 x 11-inch paper.In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are NOT considered offers and CANNOT be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Therefore, USAID is not seeking technical or price proposals at this time. Please do not submit a full proposal as these will not be reviewed and will be discarded.Responses to this RFI are strictly voluntary and USAID will NOT reimburse respondees for the preparation of information submitted in response to this RFI. Submissions in response to this RFI will NOT be returned and respondees will NOT be notified of the results of the review. Respondees may however receive a confirmation of receipt of the response.This RFI does NOT restrict the Government's acquisition approach on a future solicitation nor does it obligate USAID to issue a solicitation.USAID appreciates any feedback provided. Thank you for your time and interest in USAID programs.Sincerely,Aaron RubleDeputy Director, Office of Acquisition and AssistanceCognizant Contracting OfficerUSAID/Afghanistan