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DEFINING REQUIREMENTS: COMSATCOM PROVISIONING PROCESS
Defining requirements is the most critical portion of the COMSATCOM provisioning process for new service requests. It is also the most labor-intensive part of the process. Time spent clearly defining a requirement on an initial Commercial Satellite Service Request (CSSR) reduces the overall provisioning time, improves the quality of vendor responses, and holds the potential for significant cost savings. The COMSATCOM Services Branch works with the customer during the preliminary phase, to help ensure clear requirements on an initial CSSR.
COMSATCOM Provisioning Process
The Customer Satellite Service Requirement (CSSR)
The CSSR is structured to ensure that all requirements are clear and that the contractor selection process is fair and consistent. Each CSSR should address, at a minimum, the following:
- Summary of Required Services: Provide a brief description of the services sought and when the products or services are required. The service request should also include an Satellite Database number (SDB), Mission Assurance Category (MAC) level, and Program Designator Code (PDC).
- Purpose: Provide a short discussion of the project’s background which can include:
A. Brief description of the agency organization
B. Scope of the requirement
C. Current technical environment to describe the current architecture and any services provided by current contractors. -
Requirements: Describe the work to be performed without being too restrictive to the vendor’s approach. This should include technical requirements, e.g. , type and quantity of bandwidth, and performance requirements. For performance requirements, a description of performance requirements and metrics used to assess quality of service delivery based on contract specified performance measures, or others as needed, including technical interface requirements should be incorporated.
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Place of Performance/Delivery: Indicate where the service or product is required.
- Period of Performance/Delivery Schedule: Required service date and delivery schedule.
- Security Requirements: Personnel and information security requirements necessary to support the CSSR.
The Telecommunications Request (TR)
Additionally, the customer submits a Telecommunications Request (TR) to document the SATCOM, terrestrial, and other network connectivity requirements. The TR submission is completed via the DISA Direct Order Entry (DDOE) Web site.
Entering the information into DDOE officially turns the requirement into a TR. Customers are required to obtain a User ID and then utilize the registration tool to obtain the appropriate role for access to the various DISA direct tools. Customers can find the registration link in the left hand column under “Registration Center.”
Upon completion of the TR in DDOE, DDOE converts the TR into a Telecommunication’s Service Request (TSR). The TSR document is required by the Defense Information Technology Contracting Office (DITCO), to generate an inquiry or Request for Proposal (RFP). Concurrently, the customer’s Authorized Funding Official (AFO) validates and approves funding for the procurement based on the Chief Financial Executive’s (CFE) Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE.) The CAM then submits the TSR and all completed requirements documentation to DITCO’s Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO).
Requirements Completion
Once the customer finalizes the requirements, DITCO PCO uses the TSR to compile an inquiry or RFP and distributes it to the DSTS-G vendors. These vendors develop solutions to the customer’s service need as defined in the RFP. Changing requirements at this time significantly delays the provisioning process as those changes are reviewed, priced, and redistributed to all the vendors.
View a list of COMSATCOM points of contact.
(Posted: January, 2010)